Uh Oh!

My blossoming running career has come to a screeching halt!

On January 31 I went on my longest run to date: 8.5 miles, and the next morning I could not set my left foot down because it was too painful. Too make a long and boring story short, fast forward to this morning, when my podiatrist (yes, I now have a podiatrist!) injected steroids to my heel and forbid me from running ANOTHER week and a half.

Rock n Roll DC 2016 is over.

But don't count me out. I will not let all my training in arctic weather go to waste. I will not give up using the National Mall monuments as my training route. I will keep running around the rich people's neighborhoods near my apartment and saying hello to all my fake neighbors. My goals will be more modest, though: train as much as I can, but geared towards 5k and 10k. If I can beat the plantar fasciitis, then think about a half marathon in the fall, or whenever, or never.

Temporary Setback

I went for a long run on Sunday. The longest run so far, 110 minutes. There is one more longer run this Sunday and from there on tapering for the half marathon. I set out with boost gummies and planned to stop at Barnes and Noble for a water break. The gummies gave me no boost. Once I was tired and spent, I remained tired and spent until I hit my bed. The next morning, disaster! I was in pain. I have taken it easy and skipped Wednesday's run. I now feel fine and will resume my training tomorrow.

Watch Out For The Runner!

Warning heard last Friday on M Street in Georgetown, while I was trying to negotiate the snow and the tourists on my tempo run. It marks the first time I've been called a runner.

The Run After the Storm

I was mortified that I did not run on Friday. When I decided to go, it had already started snowing and it was too late. So on Sunday afternoon, I set out for my long(ish) run. The streets were eerily quiet and very few cars were venturing on the roads. It was a wonderful run. Long run are definitely my favorites. I just set out with my audio book and my running app and I enjoy running at my own pace. I feel the same with long swims. Except there is no audiobook or app when I'm swimming, just the sound of the bubbles I blow out. Once I find a pace I'm comfortable with, I could swim for miles and I tend to hit the same split times.

I am finally a runner

How do I know?

1. I went for a 90 minute run yesterday. Temperature was 21. Best run yet.
2. When I heard there would be a blizzard this weekend, my only concern was my long run next Sunday.
3. I no longer give a damn whether I'm slow or slower. It is what it is, I just need to finish the race.

Running Gear

My secret santa gave me running clothes for cold weather, and so far, they have kept me comfortable on my runs. Today was especially cold, and except for my hands (I may need to double up on the gloves) and my face, I was happy wearing a lot less clothes than all the tourists I saw in my route.

Hardware

Today I saw a picture of the medals for finishers in the event in March and they are gorgeous. I want one!!!

I would copy and paste the picture, but I can't figure out how. So just trust me on this. Absolutely beautiful.

Doubts and Struggles

I have hit a wall. Don't know whether it is physical or mental, but I've experienced it in my two last runs. Once I hit an hour of running, I can't run any more. It fills me with doubts that I will be able to complete the half marathon in March and even bigger doubts about the full marathon in July.
On the other hand, I still have that lack of speed problem. Today was a speed day, and I had none to spend. I can start making excuses: that it was ridiculously cold today (true), that my upper left leg hurts, that I may be tired from swimming and running a combined 6 days a week... Oh well! The only things going for me are my perseverance and my good health. I'll keep going forward with my training.

Long Run 1

I was looking forward to today, when I was scheduled to run for: drum roll, please..... 60 minutes.
On Friday, after I ran the 5K, I felt great, but when my legs cooled off, I had muscle pain in what I imagine are the ligaments that connect my left hip to my thigh. In Spanish I would have to define it as "el bajo culo." I took Tylenol and hoped that a good night sleep would fix it, and actually, it did! But that pain came after running 31 minutes, ladies and gentlemen, and today I was expected to double that running time.

Before I set out to run, I had drama with my audio book, which disappeared from my iphone before my very eyes right before my run. Apple help was no help, the book won't download from itunes. Damn Steve Jobs! So I jumped to Audible, swearing out loud that I would never again purchase anything form the itunes store. Crisis averted, and with Born to Run reloaded in my phone, I went out running on a cool and sunny Sunday.

It may be just me, but I always feel that most of my runs are uphill. Also, is it just me, or does everybody else run faster than me? I end up passing only very slow walkers, everyone else passes me with ease. I only listen to the voice in my app, that tells me I'm doing great!

Official Results In!

Some people dream of seeing their name in lights. I'm happy spotting mine in a long list of names, times, splits, age group placement... I enjoyed participating in this race. 5K is a nice distance. Finishing in 31.43 minutes with 10.13 minute miles was something I could not even dream of doing. I'm glad I pushed myself!

The last thing J told me when I was leaving home this morning was to go at my own pace. This kept ringing in my head as the race started and I found myself running in the middle of a pack that was going faster than I wanted to go. My first 1/2 mile was at a 9 minute mile pace. I found my stride after that first half mile, and concentrated on my audio book and not on the run itself.

It was exciting to catch a glimpse of the fastest runners turn the corners at lighting speed wearing just skimpy shorts and wife-beaters, while the rest of us had layers of cold weather gear from head to toe. I ran most of the race behind a girl who could not have been much older than 6. I lost sight of her with only 1/2 mile to go, she must have stopped for water or to wait for the rest of her family, because she could definitely outrun me.

I was not expecting such a level of organization for this tiny race. They did not even take online registrations. You just showed up, filled a very simple form and got your number and your chip when you paid ten bucks. There were volunteers everywhere, and a mountain of post-race free snacks.

What a great way to start this 2016, a year were I'm trying to become a runner. I hope I can remain injury free and strong. Placing 293 of 508 finishers, 100 of 244 women and 12 out of 27 in my age group is a personal victory that I celebrated by taking a nap after I returned home.

There will be more 5K. Stay tuned!

New Year's Day 5k

Such a great experience! So well organized! I don't have my official time (have to figure out how to find it), but it was around 31 minutes. Happy new year to all!!!