Ahead of the Trend

It doesn't happen often, but every once-in-a-while I find myself engaging in some activity ahead of others.

When I opened up a recent issue of Runner's World magazine, I found an entire article written about the positive effect blogging can have on training. I didn't start keeping my blog to have any type of effect on my running. In fact, I started it at the suggestion of a reporter for the Jewish Week as a way to encourage people to support my cause.

I'm not so certain that anyone has been driven to donate by following my journey. They might just be reading it for entertainment. However, I reread my entries as a way of seeing how far I've come. How difficult this road has been. How real life has gotten in the way and has forced me to reshape my goals.

What a terrific benefit for me!

Still in the Game

I am still here. I am still training. I've got 7 weeks to go...

I met up with the Tortoises at 5:15am on Saturday. It was really dark!! Since the last time we ran together, they have really increased their time! They didn't know it...but I could tell because it felt much faster than my miles. I was only with them for the first 2.2 miles. I didn't want to reinjure myself so I figured I'd better keep it under 5 miles.

It was OK. Better than OK, actually. It was so much better than the first few weeks that I was running. Even with the many weeks that I didn't train, I obviously retained some of the stamina and strength I had established.

But I still have a lot of work to do. PC is really, really concerned that I'll injure myself. However, I believe that if I train diligently in the weeks leading up to the marathon, I will be all right. I will continue to run 3-4 times a week as well as add some cross-training 2-3 times a week in order to strengthen my muscles and get in some cardio. One rest day a week will give me some time to recuperate.

I have accepted the fact that I won't be able to run the entire distance. My goal, as of today, is to run 16 of the 26.2 miles...and walk the rest. I will start off not with the runners but with the walkers in order to have enough time to complete the race before the course is closed.

Probably the most disappointing part of this entire process has been the lack of support from my Team in Training coach and mentor. Not only have they not contacted me at all during the many weeks I did not show up for workouts...but the coach did not say a word when I returned on Saturday. In fact, he didn't even seem to notice that I'd been gone.

You know I'll be writing some emails/letters after October 23rd about that!!

I ran 2 miles tonight. Really felt it in my thighs...of course, that was because I did 45 minutes on the bike yesterday. And now that I've showered and have sat for a few minutes, I am feeling it in my lungs and abs. In a good way!!

Jerusalem Memories

It wasn't as bad as it might have been.

I thought that I would be able to run 4 miles after having been on the disabled list over the past several weeks.

I have finally begun how to successfully listen to my body. I know this because after two miles, I knew with absolute certainty that it was time to call it a day!

But I get ahead of myself!

So I thought that I was going to run with my girls down at the beach in OC. However, they called to say that they were starting super-duper early and I knew that it was pointless for me to schlep all the way down there and only run a couple of miles with them before heading back. I decided to run here at home instead.

The first mile was fine. In fact, I was surprised to find that it actually felt rather good to get back out there. I feared that it would be like the first time I had run...remember?? Way back on May 21, when I thought my heart would actully beat right through my chest.

As I was completing my first mile, however, I felt a strangly familar feeling......

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I was living in Jerusalem for my first year of rabbinical school and one of my parents' friends had invited me for dinner at her home. Her flat was in Baca or Katamon or German Colony or some neighbourhood that was a substantial walk from my then-flat (I later moved -- another story for another time) in Rehavia. I wore a skirt, which was not uncommon when trying to make a nice impression. Nor was it uncommon in the unbearable heat that July in Jerusalem can bring.

I started walking. And walking. And walking...

And before I knew it, I had the most horrendous chafing situation going on. I limped my way there, and cannot remember how I got home.

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It turned out that Saturday morning, I had forgotten the all important Body Glide. This is a product especially created to prevent chafing during athletic activities. I had never forgotten to use it before a run, and it was very clear to me that I would not be able to run another step without incurring a rash much like the one I got in Jerusalem all those many years ago.

I decided to walk the rest so that I could better control the situaion. MInd you, I walk at about the same clip that I run so my time was about the same. The impact, of course, was less.

I am going to bike and run this week and anticipate joining my girlie-girls on Saturday for the group run.

I'll keep you posted!