Doing Nothing

I’m not used to doing nothing. I hate it doing nothing. I feel lazy and guilty when I do nothing. Even when I am doing nothing for a good reason, I still can’t shake the notion that I should be doing something.

…And this is why I am purposefully doing nothing while I recover from a muscle strain in my left quad. Yesterday and today I’ve been talking myself out of just going for a little run. It won’t hurt anything if I warm up properly. Just a short run after work, that’s all (as if somehow the time of day made a difference). I’m practically fantasizing about these runs and have to continually remind myself that I am not running for a good reason and breaking the self-imposed running embargo will likely result in more time spent not running. It isn’t worth it, I keep reminding myself….and then forgetting.

In fact, I have even strictly forbidden myself from going down to workout in the gym during work. I know I should do some upper body strength training and core work since I’ve got the time and energy but I also know that the temptation to sneak in a harmless, little run on the treadmill would simply be too much for me. It’s for my own good that I skip the workouts altogether.

I don’t say this to be one of those “braggy” runners – “oh, I can’t NOT run, that would be impossible, I once ran through this injury or on that bloody stump.” I’d rather be a smart (and lifelong) runner than one of those always injured, always in pain runners who limp along bandaged together with tape, pain relievers and constant icing.

Then again, one little run wouldn’t hurt…right?

Daily Dozen:
Nothing and I am OK with that.

The Run that was Not To Be

A rare treat: temperature nearly 60 degrees and rainy in the middle of January. I actually didn’t believe the Weather Channel when I checked the temperature before picking out my running clothes this morning. I thought the website was glitchy and hadn’t updated properly so I went to the kitchen window to check the thermometer outside. Sure enough, it read nearly sixty degrees.

I grabbed a pair of shorts from the neglected stack. I haven’t worn shorts on a run since November. Shorts are so much easier than tights; easier to put on, easier to pull off. The thought that was literally running through my head was, “YAY!” (Confession: I may have quietly squealed “YAY!” as I got ready for my run this morning.)

I still braced myself for the cold as I stepped out on to the deck. Could it really be nearly 60 degrees outside? Impossible. However, my body and mind clenched for not reason. It felt wonderful outside with the steady rain coming down. Well, this should be fun I thought to myself as I walked around to the front of the house and as soon as I hit the sidewalk, I took off for the bike path ready for a good time in the rain.

I made it to the end of the block.

My left quad / inside thigh started to hurt immediately. My rule of thumb of pain while running is if it doesn’t affect my running gait, I can keep going but if it does, I stop immediately. I was definitely limping and the pain wasn’t going away. Images of my fun, rainy run disappeared; I turned around, shut off my GPS and walked back to the house.

Damn! I am able to (mostly) walk without pain so that is a good sign. I think it is simply a muscle strain and a few rest days will do the trick but I’ve had such a strong few weeks of running I am disappointed to have that much momentum coming to a whimpering stop in the rain.

When I got back to the house, I kicked off my shoes and decided to curl up on the couch for an hour and read. I also decided I would do some strength exercises (pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc.) before jumping in the shower and getting read for the rest of my day. Even if I couldn’t run, I could still do something productive.

However, I wasn’t ready for the sheer exhaustion that would overcome me when I sat on the couch. I simply couldn’t keep my eyes open. Even after that extra hour and a half of sleep, I have been exhausted for the rest of the day. My body just feels run down. I’m not sure what message it is trying to send me; I was so pumped for the run this morning and not five minutes later, I felt utterly drained. My stomach and head are also feeling a little unsettled so maybe I am fighting something and didn’t realize it.

My plan is to taking today and tomorrow off completely and go to bed early both nights. (Sleep does wonderful, healing things. It is truly a miracle.) I’ll reassess how my leg feels but hopefully be up for the planned easy four-miler on Wednesday. Fingers crossed!

Daily Dozen:
Attempted 5 mile run and strength training – thwarted! Unscheduled rest day.

2010 : I Continue

Looking back on 2009, I realized just how much I was able to accomplish in one year. I went from starting the year hesitant about running because of an injury and running about 20 miles a week on average to ending with a weekly average between 40 and 50 miles and gain confidence in my abilities. I ran personal records in every single race distance I tried, from the 5K to the marathon and I was consistent in making some sort of activity a part of my daily life. Not only am I running and walking more than I was when 2009 started, I also found new things to keep me active – camping and downhill skiing to name a few.

My resolution for 2010 is to Continue, to keep doing what I am doing – continue running strong farther and faster without injury, continue trying new things and continue doing those fun, new things I discovered last year.

I’d also like to set a few personal goals for myself, including:

• Run my 4th marathon and get close to the 4 hour mark
• Run my first ultra marathon (JFK 50 is my tentative goal)
• Try something new (Boxing? Yoga? Swimming?)
• Write a short story (put my fingers to keyboard this year…get it down, out my head)
• Paint and decorate one room in the house to completion

I’m looking forward to making it all happen in 2010!

Daily Dozen:
10.5 miles run this morning, intervals – 1 mile easy, 1 mile pushing the pace, repeat
XT and pushups in the gym @ lunch hour

2009 : My Look Back

I took the opportunity on my run this morning to think about my running last year. I started the year coming off an injury, slowly building a base in order to train for my third marathon. It wasn’t an ideal way to begin striving for a life lived in motion but it was my starting point nonetheless.

Without having the benefit of looking back over blog entries or review the numbers on my spreadsheet, I feel very positive about 2009. I had no serious injuries and showed good sense after my marathon by taking a few weeks off to fully recover. I spent many lunch hours in the gym with weights and other strength training exercises or outside taking a walk. I’ve more than doubled the amount of walking I get in each day as result of moving to a house (a house I own…along with the loan people). I stayed active on all my vacations and even built some of them around being active – traveling for a marathon and hiking mostly. To top off the year, I have built my running base up to 50 miles per week and I am running strong going in to training for my fourth marathon.

Looking back at my resolution for 2009: Be Consistent, my current higher weekly mileage and strength and confidence is proof I was able to achieve this goal. I can’t say I was always consistent with my nutrition but I do think I am getting better. Rather than take my own word for it, though, I took a look at the numbers to get an even better sense of my year.

• I took over 7 Million Steps, which means I traveled 3,193 miles on my own two feet.
• That is an average of 19,440 steps or 8.73 miles each day!
• I ran 233 times for a total annual mileage of 1,436 miles – 45% of my total miles (3,193) were run.
• I ran on 219 days or better yet, I took a rest day 146 days. This also means that on 14 days I ran twice.
• I spent 249 hours 14 minutes and 15 seconds running over the year, added together that is 10 days 9 hours and 15 minutes spent running or 0.12% of the year.
• I increased my lifetime running mileage to 4,127 miles.
• I ran 9 races in 2009 – 1 5k, 1 10k, 3 10-milers, 3 half marathons and one full marathon.
• That equals 104.8 miles raced. I also PR’ed in every one of those distances. Go me!
• My average distance per run was 6.17 miles with an average time per run of 1 hour 4 minutes 11 seconds at an average pace of 10:24 per mile.
• On average I ran 26.82 miles per week. (This needs to increase!)
• I ran the highest monthly mileage in October (177.21 miles) and the lowest in June (54.09).
• However, I took the most steps in the month of September (756,102) but June was also the lowest month for steps by far (401,715).
• I did some form of cross-training 97 times. Strength training, 89 times.

It was a good year for sure but I think I can do even better!

I was also able to achieve several of the personal goals I set for myself:

• Run a marathon or two. Check. Keybank Vermont City Marathon. Oh yeah!
• Write a short story. I haven’t put pen to paper (or rather fingers to keyboard) but I do have some ideas floating around in my head so this one is a continuing work in progress.
• Try something new. Check. Camping is so much fun.
• Buy a house. Check. YES!

Daily Dozen:
5.5 mile run @ morning

Snow Run

Yesterday, I was asked, “what motivates you to get up and run so early in the morning day after day.” At the time, I really didn’t have a good answer. “I don’t know, I just enjoy it,” was the only thing I could think to say as I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

On most days, that really is the truth. I’m not really sure why I get up at 4 in the morning, roll out of a cozy, comfortable bed and head out for a run on dark, cold winter mornings and humid, sticky summer mornings alike. I just do it – me and Nike think alike it seems.

However, this morning as I crunched the fresh snow underfoot I found another reason why I get up early to run before work, while most people are still asleep. Being the first one to make tracks in the snow is one of life’s small gifts. It means nothing, the person following in my footsteps won’t even know who made those footprints, and yet it will make me giddy every time. Like seeing a rainbow or rain on a sunny day, it just makes me smile.

This is why I got up early this morning – to be the first person to make tracks in the fresh snow.

Less than a half mile later, I found another reason why I get up early to run; because I’m not the only one out there. I don’t mean this from a competitive stand point but rather from a place of camaraderie and community. I like being part of group that gets up each and every day to go out and run regardless of the weather and conditions.

Running in snow like this – fresh, soft, crunchy…perfect – is a rare treat for a DC area runner and I took full advantage of it on my run in to work this morning. I’ve run as it was snowing and I’ve run after it snowed but to run on such pure snow is a treat. The air was cold but clear. There was little of the wind that has plagued my running lately. I took my time, fully enjoying the experience and even stopping to snap some pictures. I love being a runner in DC and I think the city looks amazing after a snow fall.

The Washington Monument

On the National Mall

On the National Mall

Perfect.

Daily Dozen:
10 mile run-commute to work

Brrrrr

Sixteen degrees with a "feels like" temperature of -2....NEGATIVE TWO....although sunny and clear there was a wind advisory, just to make things interesting.

That is the weather situation that I faced as I headed out for a long run this morning. I always feel hardcore when I run in low temperatures. Some people might be scared off by that little "dash" in front of the temperature but not me, no way.

This run was long overdue. After my self-imposed week off last week, I hit the ground running (bah) last week and it felt good. But then I wasn't feeling well Thursday (woke up to run, had zero energy, went back to bed) and Friday (headed out for a 9 mile run, felt sick after 1.5 miles, run/walk back home). I was feeling better this morning but I still headed out with some trepidation.

Would all that time off put a kink in my fitness? With the holidays and being busy on the weekends, it has been a while since I managed to get in a proper long run, would I be able to make the distance?

Faced with -2 degree temperature, a recent illness and wind, I headed out but decided to stick close to home and explore some of the streets and neighborhoods around my neighborhood instead of doing my usual out-and-back. I didn't want to be 7.5 miles from home and not be able to make it back. It took me a few miles to warm up; before my arms no longer felt like they were going to freeze off. However, once I warmed up, I felt good running through the quiet neighborhoods.

I was aiming for anything over 10 miles but under 15 miles and ended up with a final distance of 11. 72. I was getting tired (tired of fighting the wind, tired of the cold, tired of my nose running, tired of the hills -- Military Road has some killer hills; good to know) and I didn't want to stretch my endurance so soon after a break.

I feel energized for marathon training, which starts...TOMORROW!!

Daily Dozen:
11.72 miles @ morning, long run