Sappy Running Ramblings

5 mi - South to TP

Really was not feeling the whole getting up thing this morning. Usually I wake up a bit before my alarm due to that internal clock I've got going but this morning my running watch totally tore me out of a dream (Apparently I was horse-sitting the winner of the Triple Crown. Weird.). But once I hit the road things felt great. It's starting to warm up a bit in the mornings which is nice. Knee felt a little sore later today at work, but I think its cause I kept sitting funny as I was typing. When my knee starts to feel better I tend to forget about posture and stuff while at work, thus aggravating it again. Bad Julie.

Today I was in a pretty awesome mood though. Good run to start things off, a good day at work, and overall just reflecting on a fun weekend has put me in a positive mood. Which is nice considering I feel like last month I was up and down dealing with work, my knee, moving, and general spaziness. I feel very settled and happy right now. Things are good :) Sometimes my mood can totally hinge on one or two things, but being able to run consistently again has really kept me even in my temperament. It's this aspect of my life that steadies me. There are so many things in life that can get out of control: Work, family, relationships, etc, that just to know I can go out and hammer some miles makes the rest easier to deal with when things get chaotic. 

Ok, that's all for now. Eventually I gotta discuss my racing plans for this spring...but that'll be another day.

Weekend Recap

Saturday 5 mi - South to TP State Beach 

Sunday Off- Gym session at Frogs. 

So I had a good excuse for not blogging my run yesterday. I spent about 6 hours in my kitchen being the total spaz that I am trying to get everything ready for my housewarming party. Overall I was so happy with the way things turned out. None of the food turned into a disaster, I managed to make spring rolls despite several times being sure I was going to totally screw up, and I got to spend an evening with my awesome friends! :)

But back to the running. Yesterday was the first day that I ran after 7:30 since...i can't even remember. It was so nice to run when the air was actually warm! I don't like sleeping in, but I might try and push my runs back just a little later on the weekends because its so worth it to feel the warmth of the sun (plus, i really need to get some sun on my face. I fear I'm turning translucent).

Today was a day off and I was sooooo good. Seriously I deserve a pat on the back. First I was going to run to the gym and back since it's only 1 mile away, but i didn't! Today is an off day and running two miles isn't off. Go me. Then I was going to run today and take tomorrow off because it's just freaking beautiful out right now. But I resisted again. Two days on, one day off, stick to the plan, facilitate recovery of the knee. So, go me for being smart despite temptation. 

So currently I go to this little gym across from work, but I'm going to switch to something closer to my apartment cause I don't want to drive to carmel valley on the weekends and I am going to need something that is open later once I hit longer mileage and go to the gym after work. Wow. I totally forgot what  a real gym is like. I was going to count the number of women with plastic surgery and fake boobs, but it just got too hard. Plus I think some of them thought I was checking them out. Seriously tho, the gym cracks me up. I love judging people I don't know. Like first of all, half the women there were wearing pants and a sports bra. That's wierd to me. If its hot enough for JUST a sports bra, why aren't you in shorts? And, second, it's not that hot in the gym. At least wear a tank top.  The gym also makes me feel pretty inadeqate. Some of these women look like they could crush me without breaking a sweat. And I could probably use their abs to wash clothes. These women are intense. 

Anyhoo, that was my gym experience. On the plus side, I'm totally noticing a lot more definition in my legs from all the exercises I've been doing for my knee. It's pretty cool. 

Ok, time to go watch the Chargers. 

Running it out.

5 mi - North to end of Solana Beach

This was one of those days that I am so glad that I'm able to get out for a run. I woke up feeling STRESSED. I let some things that were out of my control get me upset. It was one of those mornings were I just wanted to stay in bed...but I managed to drag myself out of the safety of my bed and throw on my running shoes.  I don't think I was able to feel at ease until 4 miles into the run, but the last 10 minutes or so I finally felt like myself again. I'd probably still be in a funk if it wasn't for those 5 miles of just working things through.  God, I love running.

Gym Session + Random Thoughts

Today was an off day for running, but still was in the gym for about 45 minutes. My routine has gone from about 25 to 50+ minutes these days as I keep adding more strength for my knee. It's going to be difficult to figure out my schedule when I am back up to 6 days a week of running as I won't be able to both run and lift before work. I'll probably have to do a morning run and then an evening lift twice a week. Wow, i feel hardcore even thinking about it. (Note: 99% of time when referring to things such as "guns" or being "hardcore" or the like, please note the dry sarcasm underlying such comments. Thank you.)

I've also decided to link to all my former teammates' blogs that I follow even if I haven't spoken to some of you in forever. I figure if I'm stalking all of you on the 'net I might as well be open about it.

Injury Report - Knee is feeling fab today, despite the increase in mileage yesterday. Excited for a nice 5 miler tomorrow. Probably will journey North for a little change of scenery.

This weekend is the unveiling of my apartment. I'm having a little housewarming with some of my SD runner friends and co. so will probably be posting pics of the place soon. :)

Breaking the Threshold

5 miles - South to TP (probably should mix up the running route soon. May go a little wild and try going North on Friday)

For some reason, hitting five miles is a threshold distance for me. Maybe its because it was the shortest distance I'd run in college that wasn't a pre-race run. I mean, I could totally go for a 5 mile run and have that be it for the day and still feel legit (note the difference between me and some of my more mileage oriented college friends who would consider 5 mi to be no more than a warm up :-P) So stopping the watch at a little over 40 mins today felt like I had just pulled myself over the first major ledge on my climb up the recovery mountain. The knee is feeling ok. It's a little bit sore but mostly to the touch and I'm going to go with the intense massage session on the area by the PT yesterday as being most of the cause. I'd really like to get out again tomorrow and rock another 5 miler, but as my new years resolution is the be SMART about recovery, i am sticking with my current plan of two days on one day off.

I think there are two camps of runners. There are the people who race because they run, and there are the people who run because they race. I'm the former. I like racing, but it's purely an offshoot from enjoying getting out and running and training. Some people need a race in order to motivate them to run. I bring this up only because I was talking about getting out for a run and the first question one of my co-workers asked was "Are you training for a marathon." And to be honest I guess the answer is yes. I'm planning on running my first Marathon at the end of May, but it's not really my motivation. Even when I bust out some 16mi + runs, it will be for the love of the sport, and not just cause I have to "train."

But, I am going to develop some more substantial racing plans soon. I've got some ideas involving a progression from 5K to 10K to half marathon to the full marathon at the end of May. Then I need to decide if I'm going to continue the focus on the running or to begin my next goal of training for my first triathalon, whenever or wherever that might be. I think I've been a little afraid to set goals recently, for fear that it would be even more disheartening if the inflammation in my knee flared up again. But I think it's time for a little positive thinking, so I may engage in little goal planning for 2009.

There's a lot to think about, but for now I am going to stay smart and healthy.

Massive Excitement

Sat - South towards TP 4.5 miles

Sun - South towards TP 4.5 miles

Mon - Off (gym...worked on the guns)

Tues - South towards TP 4.5 miles; PT session. Learned some new strength moves. 

Ok, so I'm behind in blogging ALREADY! oops. 

Saturday and Sunday I rocked out 4.5 miles pain free, which was awesome. And there may or may not have been a dance session at a rather sketchy bar in between those runs, so the knee apparently can withstand a little booty shaking as well. Nice.  Took Monday off and ran today and still felt good at 4.5 miles. I must say, I absolutely love being able to roll out of bed, throw on running clothes, step outside and be running next to the ocean. My knee is improving just in time. 

Tomorrow is a big day. 5 miles. oooooooooh.

But on to EVEN MORE exciting things. B is blogging. Yes, the nerdiness is growing. Muhahahaha. And now that B is on the world wide web I have more incentive to be more interesting. 

And I will do that starting tomorrow.

Happy New Year

New Years Resolution: Don't be stupid about recovering from injury.

I was at my PT and complaining that my knee wasn't getting better and he asks me "How often are you running?"

"Uh, every day...i mean, i usually take one day a week off."

"Try giving yourself a chance to recover. Take more days off."

Probably the most simple and useful advice ever. That's why I pay him the big bucks, right?

So, I am consistently running 4 miles a day about 4 days a week right now.  Things aren't getting worse, and i'd even venture to say its getting better...slowly. 

So, in light of the fact that I've hit a distance where I can actually feel tired when I get back from running, I will start recording mileage again. Hopefully I'm not totally jinxing the situation.

Today: 4 miles with Lyndsey and Jim at San Dieguito Park. It was COLD. My fingers went numb. Don't I live in San Diego? I am very confused.  Knee didn't hurt when running, but on and off sore this afternoon, tho I'd like to blame part of that on moving and climbing stairs while carrying half an apartment worth of crap.  It actually feels pretty good right now, so any inflammation has gone down.  Sweet.