TRAINING WITH A STUPID FOOT ~ WEEK 4~

I went back to the Doc today. I went shopping with my Mom on Friday (for 9h!!!) and my foot was really sore at the end of the day. I thought this was a very bad sign and wanted to get it checked before I start the new job (Date is set! January 28 is my first day at my REAL job!).

Anyhow, I have no pain where the PF usually was. I can now stand on my heels and walk (which I hadn't been able to do for the past 15 months... ). It's a slow process, it is normal for my foot to be sore and feel 'weird' as I changed my way of walking to not feel too much pain when the PF was there.

Since the pain is not constant and it comes after a long day of walking or an intense run in the snow. She suggests RICE and not pushing it. Which is what I am going to do. Overall a positive meeting. I am still on the waiting list for the MRI but she thinks nothing will come out of it.

Here's last week in Review

Monday: Long strenght training following the lovely Carrie's program

Tuesday: Bike speed session . I ramped-up the 'speed' intervals this week from 10 mins to 15 mins. So includind warm up and cool down 35 mins on the bike

Wednesday: 25 mins run in Minus Mental (-34°C/29F)

Thursday: Short strength training and the first swim since November! 1.25K in a very respectable 29 mins I wasn't as rusty as I thought!

Friday: Rest = 9h of shoping!!

Saturday: Long ride on the trainer with some 'hills'.

30 mins @ Ride easy

10 mins @ 15 sec climbing out of the saddle every 2 mins (hard)

10 mins @ 30 sec climbing out of the saddle every 2 mins (really hard)

10 mins @ 45 sec climbing out of the saddle every 2 mins (holy f'ck hard!!)

10 mins @ cool down

Sunday: The worst run in the history of runs. 3.9 miles outside, streets and sidewalks were not plowed. I couldn't find my yak trax so this was like torture would feel. It was the worst run ever. Slow and bad footing. I hate winter.

Today I took a rest day, the mix of intense spin on Saturday and the bad footing of yesterday's run made my legs very tired and sore. Back to regular programming tomorrow. As much as I am excited to start the new job, I am also super scared of the real world. Hopefully, I won't suck too much LOL

Have a good week everyone!

TRAINING WITH A STUPID FOOT ~ WEEK 3~

Training is going well but I've been asked if my foot hurts... no it does not hurt BUT it doesn't feel quite right... sigh... is that a BIG problem?? It is really tight and it goes up my calf too, so I am stretching a lot and massaging too...

Otherwise it's been a great week. Nutrition is back to a normal level and I lost a couple of pounds this week.

Here's last week in Review
Monday: 40 mins run with my Dad

Tuesday: Bike speed session . Same as last week but a lot easier so I am ready to ramp-up the 'speed intervals this week.

10 mins warm-up

10 mins speed session (30 sec hard/30 sec easy)

10 mins cool down

Wednesday: We got hit with 30 cm/12 inches of snow. My parents left for a trip so I was in charge of all the shoveling by myself.... 2h30 of shoveling later I was too exhausted to run!

Thursday: 2h of shoveling, 25 mins run on the treadmill and I wanted to die the whole time (shoes were great though!). Finished it off with a long strenght training... I was sore from shoveling so this wasn't my smartest idea LOL

Friday: 1h shoveling (and totally done!)

Saturday: Long ride on the trainer; riding easy for 55 mins then 15-30 sec pick up climbing out

of the saddle (hard!)

Today: 'Long' run well if you can call 3 miles like that which was totally AWESOME!

Most of the streets where plowed and I wanted to test how fast I could go, still comfortably hard.

Mile 1: 11:27 min/mile

Mile 2: 11:34 min/mile

Mile 3: 11:26 min/mile

I am so very happy with this run. =) I was afraid I didn't have it in me cause I am running with my Dad often and the pace is really slow (for me, not for him). I want to run 12 min/mile at ATB so better get started. I did a 20 mins cool down on the trainer when I came back home. I'm really liking the indoor trainer.

Have a good week everyone!

AU REVOIR, GOODBYE, AUF WIEDERSEHEN 2008

Very happy to see this one go.... It has been a very hard year for me both physically & mentally.

I was hyper stressed from January to April working on finishing my Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry. This is my proudest life accomplishment so far and something that was really hard to do. I was very hopeful for a great year after my thesis defense but it only went downward from there.

I moved back home, I struggeled to find a job, I was injured and could barely run (just enough to keep my sanity). Then 2 months and a half ago I had to stop running completely, became really depressed and started packing on the pounds (again! I had lost 60 lbs in 2006)...

I had envisoned something different for my life once I graduated from grad shool.

Now, with 2 job possibilities in front of me and a foot that is not so f*cked anymore, I am looking at 2009 with a more positive eye. Good things happen to those who wait they say... I waited long enough, it is my turn, 2009 be kind with me!

Thanks you all for always coming back to read my posts. I appreciate your support through my 'stupid foot' injury!

Happy New Year everyone!

p-s I've just started a new training plan, I'll talk about it in another post! =)

IT'S OFFICIAL....

I have a cold.... I'm all stuffed up and can only think about sleeping. My head hurts and I cannot breathe properly. I just bought that cold FX remedy... hopefully this can pull out some miracle in time for the marathon. I've been struggling with the thought of missing my last LSD tomorrow (8miles). I rarely miss runs, I feel like I'm being lazy if I even just think about skipping a run... I will see how I feel tomorrow morning but I feel tiny bit silly to even considering going... It's just 8 miles and I know it should not affect my performance on marathon day....

Other than that, I felt pretty zen about the marathon... not as excited as the previous one. I guess it didn'T help that I had a crazy week at school + some personal turmoil... I went back to read my blog entries from last October before the marathon and it got me all excited again. So, I know when I'm going to stand on the starting line, game face will be on and I will do my best

I decided to share my expectations with you and will try to not be disappointed if I can't pull it off my first goal...

1) Finish in 4:30-4:40 (Pace = 10:15 to 10:40 min/mile)

2) Finish between 4:41-4:49 (Pace = 10:45 to 11:00 min/mile)

3) Finish between 4:50: 4:59 (Pace = 11:05 to 11:25 min/mile)

I do not think that my first goal is out of reach. According to MacMillan and my fastest half-marathon, I could do 4:33. Hopefully, the weather gods will be on my side and I will feel good on race day!

Here is the week recap

Tuesday 4 miles @ 11:07 min/mile

Wednesday 3 miles @ 11:33 min/mile with my pooch

Thursday 4 miles @ 10:39min/mile

Have a good week-end everyone

GETTING READY...

To tackle my second and last 20 miler of this marathon training schedule! I cannot believe this marks the end of the hard part of my training.... and taper will officially begin tomorrow night! =) I'm very excited to lower my mileage and spend more time walking the pooch, I feel I've cut short his walks so many times during this training.... hope he still loves me ;-)

I've talked to my chiropractor and I will get some new orthotics made up especially for running. My old ones were made for walking and they are very soft and don't seem to give me enough support while running.

Here is a picture that was taken at the finish line of last week's race. You can't see my face very well but there is a huge smile there! =)

This week's Recap:

Tuesday 5 miles @ 10:35 min/mile (PACE)

Wednesday 5 miles @ 11:42 min/mile

Thursday 4 miles @ 10:47 min/mile

Thanks for reading everyone and have a good week-end!

QUICK UPDATE!!

I think we're all pretty busy with life right now. Like Jelly and Laurel, I haven't had much time to blog lately! But it's not because I am not running! I raced a half-marathon on Sunday, Run for Retina, in London. And I had a blast there, I ran at LSD pace (ok a bit faster) but I was able to maintain a conversation with Jill for 11 miles!! She is a great racing partner from Running mania. We spoke back and forth in French and English, it was great! At mile 11, she started having some knee problems so I went on my own. Finished strong at 2:24:01. I cannot believe the difference between this half-marathon and my first one (2:23). I felt like this has become so easy for me =) and finish with the same time!

Running with someone who has exactly the same pace as you is so much fun! I didn't feel like she was holding me back and it was the same for her. Too bad she lives in Winnipeg!

Here is one picture before the start of the race, Jill on the left, me and Trixee.

Anyway, sorry for the short race report but I'm overwhelmed with schoolwork as I have a presentation on Thursday and I'm not done analysing my data! I gotta get back at it now!

Here's last week in review:
Tuesday 5 miles @ 11:09 min/mile
Wednesday 8 miles @ 11:42 min/mile (in pouring rain with 45 km/h wind!!)
Friday 5 miles @ 11:00 min/mile
Sunday 13.1 miles @ 10:45 min/mile at the Run for Retina Half-marathon

Have a great running week everyone!!! =)

HAPPY EASTER!!!

My parents are in town for Easter and I am going to celebrate this by running 19 miles tomorrow (so I can eat as much chocolate as I want!) =) We went shopping in the states today and I got 2 new pairs of running shoes (NB and Saucony). I'm very excited to try them out. I didn't find any running skirts there which was my main goal... And I spent way too much money on other things... summer dress and sandals...

Here's last week in review:
Saturday 12 miles @ 11:09 min/mile
Tuesday 5 miles @ 10:23 min/mile (PACE)
Wednesday 5 miles @ 11:03 min/mile (45 km/h wind!!)
Thursday 5 miles @ 11:14 min/mile (35 km/h wind!!)

Happy Easter and have a great running week everyone! =)

I'M EXHAUSTED!!

I am feeling physically, intellectually and emotionally very tired. I had a big week at work in the lab everyday, and althought I wasn't that sore after ATB, standing all day took a toll on me. I hadn't much time to recover from the race as I took only Monday off and resumed my training schedule on Tuesday.

Here's this week in review:

Tuesday 5 miles @ 11:23 min/mile

Wednesday 8 miles @ 10:31 min/mile (PACE)

Thursday 5 miles @ 11:09 min/mile

The last 2 runs were very hard, I was running on the waterfront and there was a lot of wind. I felt like I was fighting with the wind more than running. I was tageting 10:20 for my pace run but I was not able to maintain it. I believe it's a mix of the evil wind and being tired. I actually had to nap for a hour before Thursday's run!

I'm happy this is a step back week, I'm only doing 12 miles tomorrow and that will feel like nothing after last week's 19!! =)

Here are some pictures from ATB.

Before the race with Tim (tdiller on RM)

During the race, look at the swing of my hair!! I almost didn't recognize myself! I think it's a great picture!

I really like the finish line one.

As you can see my gun time was 3:25:32

AROUND THE BAY, HERE I COME!

I am leaving tomorrow morning for Hamilton and I'm very excited to be racing the oldest road race in North America which was established in 1894!!! =) It even started 3 years before Boston! This will be very fun! I'm not going to race it, I will be running it as a LSD (targeting 11-11:30 min/mile). I don't really have a goal time in mind anything around 3h30 will be fine with me. I think this is a great way to get a 19 miles run in while getting out of Windsor and seeing some Maniacs.

As far as this week's recap:
Tuesday: 5 miles at 11:14 min/mile
Wednesday: 8 miles at 10:52 min/mile
Thursday: 5 miles at 11:05 min/mile

Have a good week-end everyone!

1 WEEK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE RACING SEASON!

And I am very excited!! I'm hoping all my shin splints problems will be gone by then. As I said in my last post, I went to see a sports therapist (ST) on Monday and an ART chiropractor Friday and I have to say I was shocked to hear what the ST had to say!! He's a Varsity ST and he was telling me that I should expect at some point to run with pain and that shin splints are not a big deal... I'm like running is my HOBBY and I want to do it pain free, I'm not competing at the university level, I am no professional athlete. This is all about fun and enjoying myself for me! =) So, from that meeting I got some stretches and exercices to do and that was pretty much all.... and I'm not planning to ever see this person again!

On the other hand, I really liked the chiropractor =) He took me seriously and gave me tons of information on where this could be coming from. He was also very happy I came to see him at the first signs of pain. And since I missed my long run last week-end, I didn't have pain at the time I saw him but I could feel it when he put pressure there. He thinks the shin splints will be gone with 3 appt. He says if it does persist he could videorecord me running and see if it's coming from somewhere else (bad posture or hand movement that makes me pronating...). He says it's no surprise the pain is coming from the leg where I had no knee problem as my other leg is probably compensating for the weaker knee. He also looked at my hip flexer and said they are a source of shin splints but they seemed alright. So overall, I'm very satisfied with the whole massage and his hands on approach to the problem.... we'll see how tomorrow's long run will go =) I just learned we're expecting a snow storm here...arghh wish I had ran my 12 miler instead!! Tomorrow will not be fun... oh well if it's snowing and icing in Burlington next week I'll be ready!!

Here's this week Recap:
Tuesday: 5 miles at 10:35 min/mile
Thursday: 3 miles at 11:06 min/mile with a new running buddy (Andy)
Saturday: 3 miles at 9:51 min/mile (Pace)

Have a good long run all! =)

A WEEK WITH ALMOST NO RUNNING....

We got hit pretty hard with a snow storm last Tuesday and I decided to stay home instead of running. (Call me lazy but weather was CRAZY!) Then with all the snow on the ground and being in Windsor (i.e. VERY slow plowing) I went to the gym on Wednesday and run 40 mins at 9:30 min/mile but by the end I had some shin splints and my calf was thight too. I stretched a lot that night and decided to do the 3 mile recovery run on the bike, so there again I went to the gym (I hate that place!)! Somehow I hurt my back (another reason to hate the gym) so after a lenghty phone call discussion with my brother, I decided to take the week-end off running... like he said: "Better take a break now and run the half in 2 weeks". Which is a very sage decision and I'm happy I went with it =) Although the week-end seemed sooooooooooo long without running.

I went to see the sport therapist today and that was pretty much a lost of time and money... but I ran 3 miles on the treadmill afterwards and the leg was alright =) On Friday, I'm trying something new called Active Release Technique, I've heard it made miracles for other runners so I'm hoping this will help me too!!

Have a good running week everyone! Weather is finally nice so enjoy!

RUNNING UPDATE

Well it's still very cold out, I'm not going to pretend I enjoy running in -30 weather. I ran 5 miles yesterday, will do some speedwork tonight (9X 500m at 5K pace) and then 3 miles at recovery on Thursday. I'm thinking about going to the gym... but I gotta walk to the gym so why not run outside? Ahhhh so many dilemmas…There is less than a month before the Chilly Half-Marathon, I feel ready and I really can't wait to race again!