No one fights like Gaston

Well, no one like me. So, as you know I went to see  a chiropractor a  couple days ago.  While there, I found out that my SA joint as a little out of alignment, but that fixing my IT band would be a little complicated. It IS fixable, but it will require work and rest. Most of the work will be done by the chiropractor, I will have to continue to stretch and rest, and the resting part will be hard for me. But, if I want to get better, I will have to do what the chiropractor says.  So, in order to fix my IT bands, the chiropractor will be performing the Graston Procedure (www.grastontechnique.com).   From the research that I did, and from what the doc said, this technique uses specialized tools (dull bent kitchen utilities in MHO) to work out the scar tissue and fibrous tissue that has formed along my IT band. Breaking up this tissue allows inflammation and adequate healing. It will allow my foam roller and stick to work more effectively.  It didn't hurt, it was just as uncomfortable as rolling, and I am a little excited to think that this might work. Maybe, just maybe I will get 3 half marathons in yet this year! I was forewarned that I will bruise, and the doc was not kidding.
I did run 3 miles today, it felt good, but I know it can feel better. I am hopeful that this technique will work, and I will keep you posted on the results. Next Sunday is my first race post half. I am just hoping to make it through, and while I know I can do 10 minute miles, I just want to use it to stretch everything out. I am really looking forward to going day shift, so that maybe, just maybe I can do steps, and other way more entertaining things to cross train.
Well, that is it for now. Hope all is well.
And Tina, I don't know when you will read this, but good luck Sunday!

1st Day back

Today  I went for a 3 mile run. More like a jog, but still, I got out and stretched my legs. I didn't even take my music, I wanted to "feel" my run. It felt good to stretch my legs, felt good to be running again. I am not sure if the soreness I felt in my IT band was from the running or from the new shoes I wore, but either way, it felt great to stretch it out. I did walk like maybe 6 tenths of a mile, I didn't want to overdo it my first day back. Man, I never thought I would say this, but man, did I miss running. Glad that I rested, maybe after my next half marathon I will be able to get back into the grind sooner, but every day got better after the half. I could barely walk Monday, but made myself go for a walk. Tuesday was even better, less soreness and stiffness, and yesterday I felt almost like new. Today, I felt blessed to have finished my first half, to have experienced it with great friends and an awesome running mentor Sarah, and it makes me eager to see what lies ahead. Now, off to the chiropractor to see if I need an adjustment, and to see if that helps with my IT band issues. Have a great Thursday!

1/2 marathon recap continued

As I got onto the track, my feet felt like crap, but oh, how wonderful that track felt. I wanted to sprint, but Sarah told me I didn't have to rush it. To enjoy it, this was my victory lap! But, when I got to that last turn, onto the final home stretch, I turned it on. Full speed ahead. I think I even passed some racers and I honestly did not have any juice left in the tank. I was handed my finisher's medal and then draped with a silver blanket. That was it. The end. Sarah hugged me, and hugged me and hugged me. I had done it. Even better, going into the race my original goal was to finish it, but I also set a time goal of 2 and a half hours. I did better than that! I finished unofficially at 2:28:15. And I couldn't be happier!

As we made our way out of the very crowded finish line, Sarah gave me a bottle of water and then we walked over to the baggage claim so that I could get my belongings. Then we had to walk up an even bigger hill to get to the food. This is my first complaint...the food lines were too long. There should have been food lines for runners, and food lines for spectators. All the research that I have read says that as runners we should eat within 60 minutes of finishing a long run. How can that be done if the lines are never ending. Gripe done. Anyway, I had to say goodbye to Sarah so she could head back to Philly, and then I reuinted with my BCR friends.  Eventually, I did get food, and it was good, even though it was vegan. The black bean brownies were awesome! The sausage made from beans were so good, I didn't realize they weren't real sausage at first. The oranges were good but the cups of water were really gross.

Anyway, when all was said and done we had to walk down what felt like 100000 steps and then return to our cars. Walking to my friend's car for the return to the fair grounds where my ride had parked I almost got hit by a security van. Who would have thought that it wouldn't have been the race that almost killed me, but crossing the street.

All in all it was a good day. Now, to rest and start planning my next 1 or 2.

1/2 Marathon Race recap

Well this is it. The day after. The day after reaching one of my biggest running goals to date. I am not dead, so to me that is a huge success. Here is my race recap of the St Luke's Half Marathon. I arrived at Jennie's house at 6:20 and waited for Bob to arrive. We were all going together, which helped settle my nerves a little bit because I didn't have to worry about driving after the race, nor did I have to worry about where to Park. After finding parking (I think they need to do a better job with the parking, IMHO) we walked to William Allen High School. We arrived there at 7ish and there were already lines for the port-a-potties, and all of the available in school bathrooms had lines. (Glad I went before we got there). Anyway, we walked into the gym and met up with the rest of the BCRs and talked and got pep talks and what not. At this point I think I was still in disbelief that I was getting ready to run a half marathon. Anyway, a little after 7 I think, I met up with Sarah who was going to pace me to complete this half. I won the opportunity to run with Sarah as a part of her 12x12 project. Anyway, it was at this moment, that it hit me. That I was going to be running and completing a half marathon! By 745 they had the 5K runners moving to their starting positions and by 750 they were getting us ready to run. It was a gorgeous day! I couldn't have asked for nicer weather. The sun was shining, there was not a cloud in the sky, it was maybe 45 degrees at this point. As we were walking onto Linden St, the sights, the people, the energy was amazing! I just tried to absorb every moment of it. It was at this time when I said, I guess I can't say my first half anymore,  unless I am talking about this one. As it was getting close to go time, everyone was getting charged up. Then it was go! Because I am so short, I couldn't see the Start sign...as we moved closer I saw huge of a sign it really was. The people in front of me were hitting it, kind of like the play like a champion today sign that ND football players hit as they leave the locker room. I didn't do that. I was too focused on hitting start on my Garmin. I told Sarah that I didn't get my garmin to start right away, she told me not to worry about that, that she would take care of that. Once we got out of the shade by the high school, we began our run in the sun. People lined up on both sides of the street, with signs...cheering everyone on. We got to the stadium where we would end our race, and the 5K racers were finishing. The drums that they had right by the stadium was AWESOME!!! The hill, not so much :( Anyway, not going to worry about that anyway. This was the first time I was EVER running without music, but I didn't want to miss out on the energy, the emotions, the whole half marathon experience. I am glad I did not have my music. Having a live band every mile was awesome, and since none of the music was the same, it really motivated you to enjoy the moment. I remember Chris running past me and motivating me by telling me "you're not last! There are a lot of people behind you" Of course, he was only telling me this because I had told him that was one of my fears, finishing last.

 I don't remember seeing a mile marker before mile 3, but I knew we were at mile 4 by the pain my IT band was giving me. I didn't care! I knew I had trained for this, and a little pain is nothing compared to the utter disappointment if I didn't finish the race. A little before mile 6, give or take at Yocco's hot dogs I saw Bob's friendly face and made sure to give him a high 5! A mile 6 the soles of my feet started to hurt, just like they did for the 10K, but I knew I could push through it. At 7 miles I knew that this was the furthest I had ever raced and started to feel proud. At mile 8 I got teary eyed because it hit me that I was going to finish.  The hills were starting to bother me more and more, so I did have to walk some of them. Not proud of it, but not finishing was not an option! I don't think I even looked at my Garmin until mile 11, there was no need. I probably could have run without it, but it's my security blanket. Anyway, mile 12.5, I started to get teary eyed again because I KNEW I was going to finish it. At this point, I didn't care what my time was, I just wanted to finish it. I never saw the Garmin Pacer the entire race, but again, I didn't need them I had Sarah, but whatevs. As we were on the home stretch, I heard those drums, and I got pumped up. But alas, one MORE FREAKIN HILL! How cruel can you be. Slowly I dredged up that last hill, and onto the track.

I will save the rest of this for a blog for tomorrow....

The day has finally arrived..

This is my last post before my FIRST HALF MARATHON!! I won't ever be able to say "first half marathon" again, unless I am talking about today. So far, I this experience has evoked every emotion possible, some emotions I didn't even know existed. We went to the expo yesterday to get bib,

 and I thought it was too much of an assembly line-all along the outside of the expo, so you get to walk through it, but not experience it. We decided to go back through the expo, and I thought that there was A LOT of stuff crammed into a little space. If you wanted to shop, you practically had to hold your breath. Well, I did manage to get some things that I needed, like The Stick (like a foam roller but better) and then these bad boys...

These are Newton's they are minimalistic shoes (still learning about them) but they were so comfortable and I was in the market for another running shoe, so I will be working on breaking them in...

All in all, we were at the expo for about an hour. I was disappointed that they offered free samples of soda, but not water, and I later learned that I missed a table of a local shop that sells fresh dried fruits and nuts...hmmm. When we came home, I put my bib on my race shirt...

 And then I relaxed. Well, I tried I should say. I think I have gone through every emotion imaginable at this point in the day, and I still had to go to a pasta party (not the one I paid for because I thought 7pm for dinner was way too late). Anyway, later I met with my 12x12 partner, Sarah and then I came home and went to bed.
Leads me to today...

I KNOW I AM READY..Bring it!!!

Never thought I would be writing this...

In 6 days is my first half marathon. I have trained for 12 weeks for this. How quick the time as gone. I am still in awe with how far I have come since September.  When I starting running in September we were on our family vacation at the beach. I thought I was going to run just for exercise, then just for a 5K. And, here I am less than a week away from my first half. 13.1 miles! Holy crap! People have probably been thinking that I was joking about the freak outs beginning, but oh, no, I was not. I am completely flipping out. Yes, I know it is just another race, but it is so much more to me. I wish I could put it into words, but how do you sum it up?!?  I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of emotions on that day. So many, that I already have my race day outfit picked out.  I will be wearing my red BCR tank, a black running skirt and some red hair bling from the awesome people at SparklySoul. I gotta have some bling. This week is my taper week. I am looking forward to it, to enjoy life a little slower this week. Today was a stretch day, which, I do anyway, but I also took it for time to paint my toe nails.  (Hoping by the time I am finished writing this I will have a picture, if not, later). Tomorrow is a 4 mile day, and on Thursday, it's 2 miles. I CANNOT remember the last time I ran only 2 miles. Look at that, me calling it ONLY 2 miles. WOW! Anyway, here is some race information for those that are reading this that want to come to the St Luke's Half Marathon....

DATE – Sunday, April 29, 2012
START TIME – 8:10 a.m.
RACE START LOCATION
Allen High School
126 North 17th St.
Allentown, PA
FIELD LIMIT – 4,000

For spectators...

Spectator Buses
All buses taking spectators to viewing points: 15th St & Martin Luther King and the Covered Bridge in Lehigh Parkway. Buses will load spectators in front of Allen High on 17th Street. All buses will run continually throughout the race.
Getting Back to Hotel or Parking Lot
At the end of the race, buses will be available at J. Birney Crum Stadium (race finish) to shuttle runners and spectators back to the Holiday Inn Allentown Center City, Wingate, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn, and Howard Johnsons with a first stop at the Fairgrounds parking lot for those who drove.

There are many good locations to cheer along the half marathon route. We offer spectator buses which will take your family and friends to the intersection of 15th St. & Martin Luther King Blvd. and the Covered Bridge in Lehigh Parkway. Buses will load spectators in front of Allen High School on 17th Street. All buses will run continually throughout the race.
Buses are free for spectators. Please understand that as per the bus company’s regulations, we cannot allow dogs onto the buses.

Starting Area

Runners will be escorted from the Allen High School gymnasium and assembled outside along Turner Street according to your starting time. Runners will then be lead to the starting line along Linden Street. The 5k runners will line up first and start their race at 8:00 am. Once the last runners leaves the starting area the half marathoners will line up.
There will be three starting corrals grouped according to your bib color: Corral 1 (Green Bib) is for anyone planning to run a predicted finish time under 1:49:59. Corral 2 (Yellow Bib) is for a predicted finish time between 1:50 to 1:59:59. Corral 3 (Blue Bib) is for a predicted finish time of 2:00 and aboveI am Corral 3!

Don't know what you will do for 2.5 hours? Check this out...there are live bands at every mile of the half marathon.

Thanks for being a part of this...see you at the finish...in hopefully 2.5 hours!

2 week hiatus

I can't believe I haven't posted in 2 weeks. I am sorry for the unintended break, I didn't think things were that crazy here, but I guess they were.  I had 1 final due last week and one due this week, so a lot of time has been spent writing them.  I am still full steam ahead on training for my first half marathon, which I can't believe is less than 3 weeks away.  I am getting excited and nervous all at the same time, I know that I am, err, will be ready, I am just trying to embrace every single moment.  Which, brings me to the last 2 days where I haven't been able to do anything.  I went to the doctors yesterday and got a cortisone shot in my knee to help with the inflammation of the IT band. I have been doing the stretches that I was given, and resting it. I guess maybe I should take some of the aleve, (although not sure how I feel about taking it when I am not hurting). One of my awesome running friends Jennie is lending me a foam roller to try out. A lot of my running friends recommend a foam roller, so I thought I would give it a shot. It can't hurt right. I am also going to start adding ab work to my regime, it can't hurt. Maybe I will start to feel better about how far I've come if I start seeing changes again. Enough about me...I know that you want to see pictures of my sweet baby girl. Here are some pictures that my cousin took on Easter, please enjoy.

I also hope that my sister doesn't mind, but here are some pictures of my niece from Easter as well..

Bubbles were a big hit! It was a great day, with an amazing family. I hope that I will be able to keep up on blogging now that there will be a break in school. I will start posting information about the half marathon soon. I am getting excited, really I am. I am just also very nervous about the race itself and about how my IT band will hold up. If you can spare it, say a prayer for my IT band (oh, and that I get the new job that I applied for, that is another blog post in itself). HAPPY WEDNESDAY!