On This Day I Can Run...So I Will!

What a morning.  Woke up on time with plenty of time to get there.  Arrived at the National Harbor at 6:10, didn't need to be there until 6:30, but...roads were closed and we were diverted onto a ramp that took us toward DC.  My husband made an illegal U-turn and got us back in the right direction.  Then we hit the back-up.  We had to park in an upper level lot and the buses would drive us 13 miles to the starting line.  The last bus was supposed to pull out at 6:30am.  After much worry and a few choice words by my husband, we made it to the parking lot only to be guided into a lot full of washed out gravel with 3 foot ditches.  We were in our 4 x 4 truck so weren't too concerned.  I jumped out of the truck and barely made it on the bus.  The nice thing is the fact that the bus wasn't crowded and it had a bathroom.  

I found out later that my husband (with my niece) ended up getting stuck in one of those ditches in the parking lot.  As I was running they were using a window squeegee to dig themselves out of the hole.  Turns out the 4 wheel drive wouldn't engage and was worthless.

The run was beautiful.  We run along the Potomac river with gently rolling hills (until you get to the end).  Weather cooperated and the rain held off.  I met a nice lady at the porta johns and we decided we would claim our run as a training run if we did crappy and a race if we did okay.  I decided to claim mine as a race.  

I never turned on my ipod.  I kept my rhythm by repeating to myself "no excuses...no excuses".  There were a few runners who made me forget about my rhythm.  One was sock man...I met him at another race and he amazes me.  It's a little old man who looks like he can barely run, and he wears socks on his hands.  The funny thing is, he passed me.  I couldn't have that so I sought him out and put sock man behind me!  I also discovered bird lady.  She wore a golden beak mask and had sewn beautiful boa feathers on her arms and across her shoulders.  At the end of the race I was pleased when I came out of the porta john to find my niece holding bird lady's apparel (photo).

AP:  9:48      The 10:13 and 10:31 were my up hills

9:49, 9:48, 9:47, 9:59, 9:55, 9:23, 9:40, 9:49, 10:13, 9:44, 9:45, 10:31, 9:20, 8:54 (last .26 miles) 

I really did run this week.  

I ran 2 miles on Wednesday.  I was too sore Monday and Tuesday from the race.

I ran 4 miles on Friday.

Friday night a head cold hit me pretty hard.  I figured I'd try a Saturday morning run anyway.  Spent lots of time blowing my nose but ended up feeling better.  

Saturday run:  10:44, 10:33, 10:20, 9:49, 10:54, 9:06 

Can you run in ssssllllllooowwww motion?  I felt like thats what I did today.  

AP:  10:44 

10:18, 9:11, 10:13, 10:27. 

The 9:11 mile was my speed work for the morning.  Functioning off about 6 hrs sleep.  Muggy and rainy this morning.  Took a lot of effort again this morning but I feel really good now.  

 Tried again this morning but couldn't get the lead out.  Decided to enjoy a moonlit walk instead.   Beautiful morning.

I love autumn.  The sun was bright and the breeze was cool.  I left my house for a familiar route then came to a crossroad...should I take the safe and familiar route OR enjoy the benefits of a Garmin and take an old unfamiliar route?  I decided to take the old unfamiliar route since I had my mace, plenty of water, and was feeling good.  I went on a route that QP and I use to run called "the dump run".  We called it that because you pass the county landfill and there is usually interesting treasures along the road (none today though QP, sorry).  The shoulder of the road is filled with debris like rocks and sticks so you have to stay aware and it keeps your mind from getting board.  You run on a major highway for about a mile then to a country road with no shoulder.  It loops back around into my neighborhood and I ran among the streets until I reached my desired mileage.  

AP: 10:37 

Had a scare this morning.  I was running (it's dark and I have my headlamp) when all of a sudden two men were running full speed from up behind me.  I jumped to the other side of the road and faced them with my mace ready.  I was about to yell "I have mace!" when they kept on going by me.  Scared me to death!  I started running behind them (a good distance) and tried to figure out what they were doing.  Turns out they must have been late for a ride to work because they stopped about a block away where someone was waiting in a truck.  Got my adrenaline going!

Great spinning class. Always nice to chat with my spinning buddies.

A little sore from spinning and overslept. Managed to get in two miles between downpours.

My Garmin died around mile 10.  I'm guessing my AP was about 10:30.  Beautiful day for a run.  I ran on the Rail Trail (train tracks converted to a trail).  I saw two wild male turkeys with shining feathers and long beards.  I saw 4 different deer; 1 buck, 2 does, and 1 smaller doe.  The deer make me nervous because they don't run until you are right next to them.  They just stare at you like they are trying to figure out what you are.  I have even had times when I run past them (about 20 feet away from them) and they don't run at all.  Creeps me out.

Couldn't help but try to imagine running an additional 12 miles (that would make a full marathon).  Wasn't easy to imagine.  Only 3 weeks left.  Aaarrghhh! 

I have my husband to thank.  He wouldn't let me sleep through the alarm this morning.  He reminded my how good I will feel if I get up and get out there.  So I did.  and I'm glad I did.

Nice morning...not too cold.  It's funny how a dry leaf blowing across the road sounds like a dogs claws scurrying after you.   

Time to come clean.  I've been having this pain in my left foot and trying to ignore it.  It started after my 1/2 marathon on October 2nd and has been getting gradually worse.  It use to go away after the 1st mile or so but now is consistent.  I found myself dreading the pain I was going to feel on my last run.  Decided to go to the doctor.

He took x-rays and pushed and prodded.  Turns out I have sprained some tendons in my foot.  Of course he says "no running for 3 weeks", I say "I have a full marathon in 2 weeks". So he says, "no running, spinning, or any impact for 1 week, then come back in and I will give you steroid shot that will speed up healing".  He wrapped my foot and sent me on my way with anti-inflammatory meds for swelling.

Now I don't know what to do to keep my cardio and strength.  I specifically asked about spinning and he said no because of the pressure it puts on my foot.  I didn't ask him about the elliptical  so I'm thinking it might be fine but I don't see much difference between the pressure in spinning and the elliptical.  

What to do ?????!!!!!@@@@@ 

elliptical :)