numb toes

So I went to the doc today because I've been having issues with my big toe and the one next to it on my right foot being either numb or just tingling all the time. My chiropractor has been adjusting me, but it just hasn't gotten any better;not worse and I'm in no pain, just annoyed! It just wouldn't stop! So he determined it is my sciatic nerve. Possibly a slight bulging disc or swelling around the nerve, anyway he gave me a muscle relaxer and Friday I get to get an MRI to see what the cause is. I have been in no pain, and I can still do all my workouts and running doesn't bother it at all. Which is good! My scheduled run today went well and tomorrow afternoon I will try to get some more hill training in. Friday is a day off and Saturday is a team run at Chambers lake.
till next time...... Rally On!

Hill training

So I was reading another teammates blog the other day and she was talking about hill training and sprints, (I think). Anyway she had talked to some other people she know who have done some marathons in the past and they said hill training and the sprints were very important. So, after thinking about it and talking it over with my hubby, I decided once or twice a week I would try to do some hill training on my treadmill. There aren't any hills close by to where we live, so I'm using my treadmill. I did about 12 minutes yesterday afternoon. I think it might be helpful. I think it will strenthen my lungs and make my breathing at a normal pace easier. We'll see I guess. I did my usually training run today except I did 10/2 intervals instead of 10/5, so I was able to add one interval to my time. It felt pretty darn good. I also got a massage today; that helped alot!
till next time
Rally On!

Endure For A Cure

Today was our Endure for a Cure race in Orting. It's actually a double half marathon/10K/5K, but I chose to only run today since it's a scheduled team practice day anyway. I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it, but it actually felt really good. I did the 10K which is 6.29 miles. I used my gu before the race and then at the halfway mark. I started out not feeling like I was doing very good. I felt sluggish, my legs felt heavy. Seemed like I was having a hard time getting into a rhythm of any kind. At the halfway mark, I had my gu and some water. Then it was like I got into a rhythm, or a groove, whatever you want to call it and I felt great. I got to the finish line and I actually felt like I could go another 30 minutes. Amazed me! I saw my chiropractor yesterday and she adjusted my ankles and lower back, so I only had some slight pain in my left ankle. It wasn't even enough for me to hardly notice. I can't believe how great it is to be able to to do this. And it actually feels GOOD! Who would've guessed it? I am an ex smoker, smoked for 27 years, I quit 2.5 years ago......never really was a runner of any kind......did always work out in some form.....but now I'm running 10K's and going to run a half MARATHON! People........CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?????? And I ENJOY IT! Pretty crazy uh?

Till next time......Rally On!

back at it

So last week we were gone for a long weekend so I didn't get to do my Saturday team training run. I did get back at it on Tuesday. This week I did 3 10/5 sets on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Thursday was a bit different. I ran outside on Tuesday and it felt really good. Wednesday and Thursday I had appointments scheduled so I had to get my runs in early on my treadmill. But that worked out good. Thursday was some sprinting stuff and it was easier on the treadmill than I thought it would be.
On Tuesday before my run, I tried some Gu. I found some chocolate mint flavored without caffeine and it was pretty good. It tastes like fudge/mint flavored frosting. Since my run was about 45 minutes that day it worked out great. I took it 15 minutes before I started like the directions said, did my warm up and off I went. I felt better during my run and after my run than I normally do. I didn't feel exhausted. I still had some energy left and it didn't make me sick to my stomach. Mind you, I absolutely love chocolate frosting, so it was like a treat to me! I'm glad I found something that works and doesn't make me sick!
Till next time.......Rally On!

much better

Today was much better than yesterday. I still have the soreness in my ankle and calf, but not as bad. I did some extra stretching last night while I was watching American Idol and I think that helped alot. I was scheduled to do 3 sets of 10 min run with 5 min walk. I did the first two sets just fine, then the last set ended up with me doing 2/2 until my 45 minutes were up. Actually I ended up doing 50 minutes. So not exactly as planned, but I don't want to push too much and end up getting hurt!

On another note, thanks to my amazing family and friends, I am tied with another person on my time for raising the most money so far!

Thanks to all of you!

hard day

Today I was supposed to do 6 sets of 5x2 and 6 sets of 2x1. I did the 5x2's and kind of did the the other one. I ended up doing mostly 2x2's. But I did make it the full 60 minutes. My left ankle and calf were screaming at me the whole time. I was in pain and had to keep stopping instead of my walk time I would get off the treadmill and stretch and do anything I could to make it stop. But I did do the full time, just not exactly how it was on the schedule. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

team run

Today was our Saturday team run. I did 6.12 miles in 1 hour and 23 minutes. Not sure if that's a good pace or not, but it felt goood to me. Especially since I was so sick last week and didn't do any real training.

It was good to see everyone. Missed Molly.... the weather was good; a little cold. I forgot my gloves so my hands were pretty darn cold. But the most important thing was it did not rain during my run!

Rally On!

rest day

Today was a rest day, but I did about 25 minutes of yoga. It feels good to stretch the muscles. Tomorrow is a team training run day. I am scheduled to do 70 minutes of run/walk or as Sara calls is Ralk! I like that term and I think I'm going to use it. Thanks Sara.

I'm a little nervous about tomorrow. It's supposed to rain, and I still have a bit of a cold left. Hoping it won't get worse again. I will just layer on the clothes.

I need to get a fuel belt. I also need to start trying the assorted jelly beans and gu's out there for fuel. Something called "Gu" just really doesn't sound that appealing, but I'm going to try everything until I find something I like and that will be easy on the stomach. I don't want to get worn out before I finish the 1/2 marathon. I will finish. My goal is to run the whole 13.1 miles. I'm pretty sure I will do it.

I'll let ya know how tomorrow goes!

Today started out bad.......

Today started out bad, I didn't sleep well, I stayed up too late last night. I had to talk myself into doing my scheduled training run/walk today. I did get on my treadmill, started out pretty slow. I was doing a 2min/2min run/walk interval for 40 minutes.
I had to do a lot of self talk to get myself going. I started out thinking-it's only 2 minutes, you can do it- then while I was running for the 2 minutes I had to keep up constant self talk chatter in my head......you're doing great- you can do it'- remember why your doing this- remember you have a choice to be healthy all those babies and kids don't get to choose...
and I started to picture myself at the finish line...( ok, it might sound corny, but it works ) all my family and friends who have been encouraging me all there waiting for me to cross that line......cheering their hearts out for ME! I have to say it actually made me get a little teary eyed just imagining what that is going to be like.....and guess what? Before I knew it, I was done and I felt great.
They say that with running it is more mental than physical......I think I believe that now.
Tomorrow is a rest day. I will probably do some easy yoga stretches.
Rally On!
Oh, I almost forgot......thanks to my amazing family and friends I have passed my fund raising goal.......I'm at $1,050.00!!! Woo Hoo

Woo Hoo

So today was even better than yesterday. I could not believe how good it felt during my entire training run......I felt awesome when I got done. My cold is almost gone but still did not interfere with my run.
Yeah! I'm back on track,

Reminder

Just thought I would share this again......
www.active.com/donate/2010seattlerocknroll/runforkelsie

In case anyone out there would like to donate so I can reach my goal! $0.93 out of every dollar I raise will go directly to Seattle Childrens for childrens cancer research. Just think that dollar you donate could be the one that is needed for the cure!
Thanks in advance for your support and to all my friends and family who have already donated....thank you is not enough, but that's all I can say.

I did it

Wasn't sure how I would do this morning, but I did my scheduled training no problem. I only had to stop 3 times to blow my nose! It felt so good to get back on track. I felt like I was slacking even tho I know I needed to take the time to rest, it still felt odd to not be doing something!
Woo Hoo on to tomorrow!

Monday

So, I didn't make the team training on Saturday. I am finally starting to feel like a normal person. Unless you listen to me talk, I still sound like a frog with sinus issues! But, the fever is gone and I did some strength training this morning and still feel pretty good! I think I will be ok to do my regular schedule tomorrow. I'm sorry I missed saturdays team training; they covered hill training and I wanted to be there for that. I will catch up tho!
Until next time.......RALLY ON!

Sick

So I got up this morning planning on doing my training run, but my wonderful hubby put a stop to that plan. See, I have a sore throat, my ears hurt, I'm coughing and can hardly breathe thru my nose. Yes, Saturdays freezing weather has left its mark on me......it's official...I have a crappy cold. This really sucks. I was getting on my treadmill when hubby comes in and says, I don't think so. You need to rest more, to that I said, tomorrow is a rest day...he said if you are going to try to run on Saturday with your team, you need to take two days to rest. I know he's right, but it still sucks. I have to admit tho, that I don't have the energy to even get in the shower let alone run for 40 minutes. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better and even more better on Saturday.

Back to training

Did my training run yesterday, it was 5/5. It felt really good even with a sore throat. Saturday in Vegas was so cold I woke up with a sore throat yesterday and I'm sure I'm trying to get a cold. But I did my training run today also and felt really good. I've been guzzling the water and taking wellnes formula, so I should be better by saturday for our team run. Missed everyone last weekend.

Nascar weekend

So we had so much fun last weekend. Vegas and Nascar, good combination. Friday qualifying was awesome. We got pit passes so we got to wander around and watch them work on all the cars. I got a couple of great pics of Carl Edwards....

This is one of them....pretty lucky uh? Saturdays race, the Nationwide got delayed for about an hour and a half because of rain. Yes, it rained in Vegas!!! The wind was blowing and I actually froze my ass off! Anyway, we rented headsets that allowed us to listen to the drivers and their pit crew during the races. It was great. I got to listen to Danica talking to her pit crew, until she crashed. Wasn't her fault, so I was dissappointed. She was having a really good race. Harvick ended up winning. Sunday was beautiful, sunny warm and a great race. Jeff Gordon led all the way until the last 20 laps and Jimmie Johnson took over and won the race. The last pit stop, Jimmie took 4 tires and Jeff only took 2, that's what put him out of the race. We were happy tho we won $500.00 because Jimmie won! Woo Hoo!