Marathon Day: The Last Long Run

26.2 LONG Miles are done! Thrilled to have set a goal and achieved it. It was a long training program with lots of challenges along the way, but the reward is sweet...oh so very sweet.

I am a marathon finisher...and Baby Hutch is too! Thrilled to share this first with our 11 week miracle.

Refocused

Over the last two days I've started to be more focused on training again. Never fear that I'm ignoring doctor's orders to reign it in until officially cleared. Instead I'm harnessing my "I'm pissed off I'm not training" into finding safe ways to keep training. My goal is to come out of this forced IR as strong as possible.

It's funny how being a tad pissed off can get you refocused.

I've discovered that a 45 to 60 minute high incline/high resistance elliptical workout can kick your ass. When you add in a 10-15 min pilates-inspired ab workout you are golden.

Bonus that I think the increased blood flow is actually helping my busted shoulder. I've noticed an improvement just in the last couple days.

Hmmmm...maybe there's something to this pissed off/focused thing.

Guardian Angel

As I was laying face down partially in the northbound lane of Coastal Highway this morning there was a split moment that I thought, "this could really be bad." Thankfully I had a guardian angel looking out for me.

This morning during a group ride I had a freak accident with another cyclist that resulted in a lovely trip to the ER. The good news is that I've continued my streak of never breaking a bone and other than some painful bruising, some gnarly looking cuts and road rash I'm really no worse for wear. As the doctor said in the ER --- it is incredible that I literally walked away from the accident.

The story goes that I hung back and decided to help out a fellow rider, Diana, who was new to cycling. I guess I can't help myself. I remember the frustration of being new, trying to understand all the bells & whistles and feeling frustrated. I've also greatly benefited from the kindness of others and I truly believe in the adage that you should pay things forward.

As we tackled the Indian River Inlet bridge (which is terrifying at times) we celebrated our success by rolling along toward Dewey Beach to meet up with the rest of our crew.

Diana was a bike length or two ahead of me so I could watch her and give her some pointers. As I turned to check out who was coming up behind us I noticed that two rockstar triathletes were gaining on us fast. I yelled out to shift to the right to let these folks pass. As I looked back again to check their position I didn't realize that Diana had correctly shifted right, but had also slowed. As I turned my attention forward I now was in the dangerous position of being too close and my front wheel was now dangerously too close and parallel to her rear wheel and pedal.

I made a split second decision that meant that I would take my chances trying to recover myself vs. probably saving myself from serious injury but likely taking Diana out and causing her harm.

I was able to slow, but given our speed and proximity I ended up going over the handlebars. Though some of this is still a blur I've pieced together that:

• As I tried to slow and maneuver to safety my wheel got a bit too sideways. and I went over the handlebars

• I wasn't able to safely unclip in time

• My forearm and then shoulder slammed into the pavement as me and my bike fell back to Earth

• I then started sliding across the pavement still tangled up in my bike

•. My helmet and sunglasses saved me from a serious head injury and facial lacerations (looking at the scratches on my helmet and across my left lens I am immediately aware how bad I was sliding)

• I stopped sliding partially in the northbound traffic lane of Coastal Hwy

I remember hearing someone scream, "Roll out of the road! Get her out of the road!". I soon realized that the two rockstars who were behind us quickly were on the scene and took charge.

I yelled out that I couldn't roll or even move myself to safety. I now know that it was the shock, I was a bit out of it and the pain was incredible. I (and others) initially thought I broke my collarbone or shoulder.

One of the cyclists carefully rolled/pulled me out of the road, while the other grabbed my bike. The woman gave me a quick medical assessment and we were glad to discover it wasn't my collarbone, but getting a set of x-rays would be imperative.

I'm not gonna lie --- I was bleeding, I was scared, a bit in shock and I was in pain. The left side of my body took the brunt of the crash and it just hurt. My hand, forearm and leg were bleeding and felt raw. I could feel the blood dripping.

Someone had the sense to grab water bottles and start cleaning all my wounds. Folks took off their bike socks and used them to stop the bleeding. A guy stopped and gave me three Advil. The most creative thing was when Diana tore her own pants and made a sling for my arm.

As we waited for a ride to the ER I was again impressed and grateful for all the people who stopped to offer assistance. I was also grateful for Diana --- she kept me laughing and stayed with me the entire time. I was even more touched when Diana placed her hands on my good arm and said a beautiful prayer asking that God watch over me and ensure that I was kept safe.

Luckily, soon enough we were headed to the ER where I learned that I had again escaped serious injury --- no broken bones, no stitches. Not to minimize the situation, but I literally limped away just with some soft tissue bruising/damage between my left shoulder and elbow and lacerations on my hand, forearm and leg.

I'm on IR for at least a week and racing at Nations is likely not in the cards this year. Though I am disappointed I know that I've worked hard this summer toward my fitness goals and I don't need an official time to confirm that I am a winner and would have crushed my PR.

Most importantly, I am so very grateful for the guardian angel who was watching over me today and for having the chance to take a potentially horrible situation and making a very good new friend.

Of course...least I forget...how's my bike?! I haven't done a full assessment yet, but I think considering the day she's had...she looks pretty good. It's likely I have a bent back tire or something like that b/c the rotation feels off.

All in all I am one lucky chick.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Predictability and control

After the husband got home from a 14 hour flight from Hong Kong and eventually passed out for the night I found myself with enough time to make it over to bikram yoga. After three sessions I still wasn't sure how I really felt about the class, but was still intrigued enough to show up. Apparently I wasn't the only one since the room was packed --- including 10 newbies. Must have been a coupon in the paper or something. I settled into the middle row and prepared for class.

I think I figured out what I might enjoy about the class --- aside from the energy, cleansing and free detoxing feeling after class --- it's the predictability. I know that sounds strange, but there is something to be said about practicing something consistently and watching your improvements each session. There is something about the repetition and consistency that is kinda relaxing and calming.

It is interesting that in four sessions I have seen a pretty significant improvement. I'm not sure if it's a product of having done some flow yoga this summer or what, but I look around at the newbies and others with my same level of experience and they seem to be really struggling. Obviously this is no competition, but it's hard not to notice people falling out of poses while you seem more consistently planted and calm.

It would be fabulous to take at least one day a week and devote it to some form of yoga practice because it feels good, I hope that it will limit future training injuries and most importantly --- it's centering.

PR-ed my 5k today!!!

[Post race --- I am a sweaty mess]

I must preface this by saying I'm not a fast runner. I lumber along, I don't look elegant, but I am happy to just be out there getting my heart pumping.

With that in mind I was hoping to use this morning's 5k in Dewey as a fitness test. Though I am thrilled with my PR --- 28:28 minutes (9:09 min/mile) I am bummed that I wasn't 100%.

I foolishly wore a pair of shoes yesterday at work that tore up my left heel. Just call me a slave for fashion. As a result I've been hobbling around and even drove w/o my left shoe last night to the beach. Good thing my car's not a stick shift.

Anyway, I taped it up, added three heavy duty bandages to my heel and delicately jammed my foot into my running shoes this morning. As I limped to the starting line I already had decided to just see what happens. Worse scenario --- I stop and turn around or try and limp along.

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but it's as if I passed this pain threshold and was able to just focus on the task at hand. I just wanted to "do this" and didn't give a shit about the consequences.

I felt good out of the gate. I really felt confident out there.  My first mile pace was in the 8-minute+ zone which is beyond stellar for me! I faltered a bit from mile 2.25 to 2.5-ish. I was hurting, hot (man was it humid and the sun was brutal) and scared I was going too fast so I slowed down. I swear...it's all mental for me because I still felt relatively strong.  After seeing my time I'm bummed that I didn't keep up the intensity because if I had I would have broken the 9 min/mile mark.  Oh well...just another goal.

Anyway, I just put my head down and continued to focus on passing people. Me...passing people!  Hilarious!  I had been passing people throughout the race and felt good that even toward the back-half of the race was passing people here and there.  Go me --- Though having a group of 10-year olds sprint pass you didn't feel so good.

As I rounded the second to last corner I decided to turn the jets on full blast, open my stride and sprint hard to the finish line. It was a "wheels-coming-off-the-bus" feeling, but what did I have to lose --- other than tripping over my own feet and falling into a heap just shy of the finish line?  Luckily that DIDN'T happen.

As soon as I caught my breath at the finish line I carefully removed my left shoe to reveal a painful mess. Nothing that some air, hydrogen peroxide and some neosporin can't cure...right?  Anyway, I walked around w/o one shoe and caught up with the HipAHAs. Yay!!!!  As of this evening I've got another blister courtesy of the run...but it does look "better" than this morning.

The great news --- I PR-ed!!!!!!

The good news --- I gutted it out. [You can do almost anything for 30 minutes, right?]

The bad news --- my heel is very angry with me.

il dolce far niente

As I'm flipping through the channels I came across the film adaptation of Eat Pray Love --- at the exact moment when Julia Roberts' character is taught the meaning of "il dolce far niente" --- the sweetness of doing nothing.

The Italians have it right. There is an art to just being and enjoying the quiet/simple moments...and oh how sweet it is.

il dolce far niente!

ISO Love of Running

[Stretching Bay-side post run]

Sounds very dramatic, but I've fallen slightly outta love...with Running.

I'm not sure exactly what happened or when, but the days when I'd bounce out of bed looking forward to putting on my running shoes seems to have slipped away and I am desperately trying to find that feeling again.

It likely all started with injuries and the time I had to take to recover. In my case, time away from running caused me to become smitten with something else --- biking. Oh how I love the black & white Cannondale.

As a result, I have to beg and bribe myself to set aside the Cannondale and instead grab the running shoes.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a run from Fenwick toward Bethany. It was sunny and warm and an all-around fine day for a summer run. The resulting 4.6 miles was ok. Not GREAT or FANTASTIC, but fine and acceptable. These days I'll take FINE and ACCEPTABLE.

Here's to HAPPY running in the future.

Waddle Waddle

That was me during part of this morning's 9 mile DCRRC run...I was part penguin. The recent snow disaster that hit the DC area earlier this week meant that many sidewalks were still quite a mess and we might as well as considered this to be an SLR + obstacle course. Bonus that there were branches and trees still be removed from some streets.

Forget the cold, the hills, the fallen trees, the ice, the snow...did I mention the hills??? The good news is that I did it! Here's the route we tackled today courtesy of Coach Ellen.

Around mile 6 I started feeling a bit mentally weak and started letting my mind wander. I started thinking about walking...just for a few blocks. Seriously, it's like being a drug addict or alcoholic --- "It'll make you feel good...Just walk...Just walk a few feet...Maybe just a block...Maybe just two blocks."

Luckily I was running with a group of girls and as a result I just kept focusing on them and did not let myself give up. Soon enough we were rounding the corner and we were done. I seriously love being done.

What is it they say? Waddle On.