Bad Training Week

I'm having a bad training week and I felt like I could vent to my readers about it. If you don't like venting, stop reading. If you want to read my rant, continue on.

So like I said, I'm having a bad training week - or maybe a bad training two weeks. Last Monday and Tuesday I was experiencing a sharp pain in my right knee each time I would walk up or down stairs. This has happened to me before, but it usually just happens on one or two stairs and then goes away. However, this time it decided to stick around for two days. So coach suggested that I go for a massage (well gee, if I have to).

On Thursday I went for a massage and my therapist said that I had overstretched the ligament behind my right knee. She gave me some Biofreeze samples (I totally love the stuff!) and recommended I keep icing. She left the decision of how much to run up to my coach.

Running hadn't really been bothering me. My knee didn't hurt at all to run, but I was experiencing a lot of tightness in my right calf. Sometimes it would take up to two miles for the tightness to ease, which is not usual for me. I had a 20-miler planned for Saturday. I was so excited because this was my first 20 for this training cycle and my longest distance since Boston 2007. My coach decreased my 20 back to a 14 with 12 miles at 8:20 pace so as to still keep the workout a bit challenging, but not allow me to pound the pavement for a full 20 and thus put extra pressure on my leg. He then also scaled back the following week of training (also so I could get ready for the Cape Ann 25K on September 1st).

I took some recovery time - still running, but low intensity. Within a week of my massage my leg was feeling better. Then I started just feeling like crapp - not a cold or anything, but just super tired and irritable and emotional (hm ladies, sound familiar). I am chalking it up to PMS. My running during this week was just "ick". That's the best word to describe it really. My form felt off, I was tired, my breathing wasn't quite there and I just wasn't into it. 

Cape Ann is coming up on Monday and I'm just nervous as to how it will go. I guess I can't really worry about it. It is a training race and is supposed to help me in preparation for the marathon. It's not my goal race so I just have to keep that in mind.

Quote - Making a Champion

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.

Muhammad Ali
Boxing Legend

Deena's Foot

Here's a great interview with Deena from flotrack.com regarding her foot injury that occurred during the 2008 Beijing Marathon.

Size Doesn't Matter

I don't know about any of you, but I've had my fair share of body image issues. I've always felt I was too big. Even when I was smaller than I am now I thought I was big. I thought that to be a competitive runner you absolutely had to be the tiniest little thing. Well, guess what? You don't. I think what it takes to be a competitive runner is drive, determination, training and focus. It has nothing (well maybe a little) to do with size. Erin Donahue is a perfect example. She is 5'7" and 145-pounds of solid muscle and she is one of the USA's 1500m runners in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Here is an article that I found really interesting, especially for those of us who think you have to be 5'6" and 105-pounds to find success in running.

Beijing & Other Updates

I've been missing for awhile because I've developed a new addiction called the Beijing Olympics. I was basically pulled in at the opening ceremonies because they were absolutely spectacular. After that night, I've pretty much been running and then coming home and watching the Olympics (my dishes and laundry have been completely neglected). I've watched Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals to beat Mark Spitz's record. I am still amazed watching the athletic ability necessary for water polo. I saw Nastia Lukin and Shawn Johnson go one two, respectively, in the women's gymnastics all around final. I also was an unfortunate witness to Deena Kastor getting a DNF in the women's olympic marathon due to a broken foot before the 5K mark. A 38 year old woman ended up winning that event - the oldest woman to win that event. A 41 year old woman, Dana Torres, is also competing in this years Olympics in the sprint swimming events. I also saw Shalane Flanagan win the bronze medal in the women's 10,000 meters. I am just so into the Olympics this year; more so than any other year. I think it might be due in part to the fact that I have my own personal athletic goal right now and so I feel like I can sort of sympathize with them right now. I just hope that my training culminates with a great moment - my own Olympic moment. A moment of glory.

Training Note: All training is going well. I'm feeling strong and fast. I have a little thing going on with my knee right now, but I'm working with my coach on it and we'll hopefully get things turned around soon.

Movie Review: UltraMarathon Man

UltraMarathon Man is the story of Dean Karnazes and his challenge to complete 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, otherwise known as the Endurance-50 (E50). The movie played in theaters for one night only on July 31st. Overall I was happy to have seen the movie. I found it very inspiring, however there were a few questions left unanswered for me.

The movie was narrated by Dean while he is running. Dean takes the viewer along on each of the 50 marathons. He explained that the E50 started as a family vacation, but then turned into his attempt to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. The movie touches on each marathon even takes the time to go into the the stories of those who signed up to run with him.

One woman whose story stuck out specifically was a 53-year old woman who started running at age 50. In three years she has run 50 marathons and is a 3:30 marathoner. Dean had to keep telling her to slow down! I found her inspiring for her sheer love of sport. She wasn't decked out in the latest running gear, but she carried this essence about her that seeped through the movie screen. I could tell just by looking at her face that she truly loved running. There were also many stories of cancer survivors, first time marathoners and people who had taken up running late in life. I found all of these stories even more inspiring that Dean himself.

The funniest part of the movie was when they were filming one of the men who was running with Dean. The man had his head turned to the left looking at the support vehicle and he said, "so you guys got any football scores yet." And just as soon as he finished that sentence, a girl says, "watch out - pole." And then... you guessed it. He runs right into the pole! That scened was played a couple more times throughout the movie and each time I laughed - even when they said he broke two ribs (I know it's terrible I laughed, but the scene was so funny).

Unfortunately, I did think the movie was lacking a little in one particular area. I was hoping to hear more about his family, in what ways they support his endeavors and how they feel about his ultramarathoning. Dean did say that the E50 started out as a family vacation, but we saw very little of them. After each marathon, Dean hopped in the RV with the Carmichael Training Systems team and broke down his race. I wondered if he ever told his wife how the races went or if his kids were watching and cheering at each one.

After Dean finished the E50 he did some interviews in New York City and then headed west, running 1,300 (I think it was 1,300... maybe 1,500) miles. He had said that he felt like he lost himself during the E50 and I wonder how that happens. In what way did he lose himself? And in what way did he need to find himself again?

I enjoyed the inspiration that I received from this movie, but I do wish there had been more detail about Dean and his family.