1 Word Sums Up The Road To Boston: DETOURS!

2012 remains my strongest year in running. Except for a bout with the flu, I remained injury free, got faster, and qualified for Boston at Honolulu by 19 minutes and 33 seconds (yes it DOES matter).


2012 bled into January 2013 with the Napa Valley Marathon on the horizon for March. Ran into some abdominal issues, spent months at doctors having tests done to be told they have no idea what is wrong it is some type of fibromyalgia.


Also dealt with Peroneal tendonitis, yet had logged tons of miles, so wasn't surprised and took a couple weeks off.


PR'd a half marathon with abdominal issues and was training hard for my 1st Ultra, a 50K. My coach had set up my training plan to not only get long runs in but also speed work as I wanted to break 3:20 at Honolulu in December. Dreams don't die for this girl!


My clumsiness, and apparently very high arches, left me not running for 2 l-o-n-g months after rolling my ankle at Peacock while on a 20 mile training run. Missed my Ultra and Honolulu, yet was looking at "The Big Picture" (previous post) and running strong at Boston was my ultimate goal. Spent weeks in the torture chamber physical therapy and left with some arch supports.


Started out slowly (literally) in December and by January felt comfortable adding longer runs with some speed. Other than feeling like a turtle and the occasional sharp pain in my foot and tummy, I had time on my side and was confident I could make a full recovery. Enter Stage Right: Abdominal pain coupled with back pain.

11 miles of hills!


WTH?!?!


Had some bouts with abdominal twinges again but nothing to make me stop running. Yet while pacing my dear friend at her ultra in January, I started having severe pain, which I attributed to eating too much of her mom's most amazing garbanzo bean salad. After 3 weeks of ignoring it...because that is the way it will go away....as well as taking a WHOLE 4 DAYS OFF from running, I saw my doctor after work earlier this week.

Getting all the food before the last 20!


Bottom line: Need surgery to feel better. The kind where they open you up and cannot run in foreeeeeeeever. After visiting radiology my diagnosis is my organs are stuck together...the ones you don't need when you're 29+++, so can be taken out. I'm certain that's not the medical term. Add a tumor (benign) and no wonder my tummy is unhappy.


Thankfully I have an understanding doctor who runs and "gets Boston". It's my choice to have surgery now, or wait until after the marathon. I've decided to wait. My pain being more intense when I sit, verses running, contributed to my decision. I have dreamed, sweated, and had too-many-to-count 4am wake ups to get to Boston.

Early Morning Miles!


Yet, I may suck. I don't know if I'll be able to do the workouts my coach has given me to hit my sub 3:20 goal. But I'm going to try my best. That's all I can do. My best.


It may not be the race I dreamed of. But it's Boston. And I got there!

Ramblings (!!!) of a Confused/Competitive Runner

Skip if you have any urge to slap whiney/confused runners.

The past couple months have sucked.  There is no other word it describe it.  Trying to remain positive.  Trying to look at the big picture.  And questioning my motivation and goals.

Kids are great.  Husband is great.  Job is great.  Dog #1 fine.  Dog #2, still stupid.  Body?  Not so hot.  Calf strain seems to be healed.  Abdominal/Liver/Kidney/Muscular pain still there (they named it Fibrositis, but my chiro isn't convinced).  Not just running.  Happens randomly.  Stress fracture/bruising in my foot which came on suddenly after a 5k race a week ago.  I don't race 5k's.  Ran it to raise $ for my son's high school.  Ran 6:30's.  Felt super duper fabulous with no abdominal issues.  2 hours later can hardly walk.

Is this getting old?  Like does this happen when you are 29+++?

Hiring a coach for Makai's distance running.  He wants to run a 3 hour marathon.  While communicating with the coach I considered hiring him myself.  I see women my age running 3:15's like it's a walk in the park.  I feel like. such. a. loser. with my 3:25 and 3:27 marathons.  I work hard.  I put in 50-60 mile weeks.  When I try to add more, my body breaks.

My job and family keep me busy.  I work 40+ hours a week.  Kanoa is in 4th grade which means homework and after school sports.  Makai is a sophomore and although he is independent and drives, he is involved in XC in the fall and track in the spring which means hours and hours at his races.  I missed one track meet due to a work conflict and it was awful not being there.  I wouldn't trade anything for not watching my kids in their activities.  Then there are "chores" at home. My point: I'm busy and have a very fulfilling life.  I'm not looking to fill my hours with a hobby because I sent my youngest off to Kindergarten and don't know what to do with myself. (Kiana is away at college and needs my guidance as to what type of tattoo to get and how many shots are too many!)

I went on a beach cruiser bike ride a couple days ago.  Because my foot hurts I couldn't run.  I think and pray and solve all the problems of the world when it's me and my Newtons hitting the pavement.  So I thought and prayed on my beach cruiser bike ride in slippers.  I think I averaged 13mph.  Surely Ironman has not heard of me or my phone would be ringing.

Fixed Gear Bike.  Basket for Water.  Or Wine. 

No shoes needed.

And my thoughts were all over the place but one stood out.  Why am I so determined to run a 3:15? I checked off the Boston Qualifier (x2, so it totally feels legit).  If I do run a 3:15, will I want to run a 3:05?  I'm 29+++.  My "prime" was 5-10 years ago.  Are the races becoming my goal?

I don't ever feel like running is work.  Yeah, some of those long runs suck.  And striders hurt.  I'm in a funk.  Steve asked what was wrong today.  I told him I didn't know, I felt like I was in funk.  He said and I quote, "You only ran 11 miles this week.  That's what's wrong!".  And he's right.  I only ran 11 miles because of my foot.

This morning I ran 5 miles barefoot.  Alone.  On the beach.  Splashing through the water at times.  I felt so alive.  It was NOT the best thing for my foot.  It WAS the best thing for my mind.

There really is no better place for me to be.

I have been wanting to find other women who are as crazily addicted to running as I am to run/hang out with.  Because in all honestly, I know there are people who think I am craaaaaaaaaazy.  They don't get my endorphin addiction and my competitiveness.  Just finishing a race has never been ok with me.   There has to be miles logged and a plan in place for me to even show up at the starting line.  I'm not wired to wing it and "pray" for a good outcome.

Kailua is a small town.  The military even smaller.  I ran the inaugural training run for a new running group on Saturday.  Mainly military spouses.  I really shouldn't have ran due to the foot issue.  Yet I was so excited to run with other women (and men!) who want to improve and fellowship with other runners.  :)  :)  :)

First club run.  

I'm thinking: This is great.  A couple of these girls have some impressive resumes who will help me with techniques to improve.  Maybe I can nail that 3:15.

I deferred Boston until 2014 due to races already lined up this year by the time I qualified.  Seeing my friends who are running tomorrow makes me super happy for them.  But I'm sad I'll be going to work tomorrow and not running Boston.

Does that answer my question?  Will just running and not having a race to train for be enough right now?  Or do I need to keep races on the calendar and PR's to crush to keep me motivated?

Mayors Marathon in June.  Honolulu in December.  Today I signed up for the Hibiscus Half next month.  I will get that 1:32! And who knows what could happen in Alaska...