Indianapolis Marathon 2011

I did it. It's done. Thank goodness! (Warning: Do not read this post to be inspired; it is actually quite negative, my first marathon was more inspiring)

My first marathon I enjoyed my training so much more than this time round. I think this time it's because I've been more tired (I think that's due to the fact that now I have three kids and Chris is a lot busier than when he was in school), I've been trying to avoid injury by running at a slower pace (it's not as fun if you can't push yourself and see your time improve), and at the very beginning of the training I changed my running form from heal striking to running on the pads of my feet (I've loved the change because it's allowed me to run longer distances but it's put extra strain on my achilles and calves.)

Back in July a friend in Chicago suggested I start training and run the Indianapolis marathon with her and a couple other girls from church. I really wanted to but who was I kidding?! I'd been running but it was sporadic and the most I'd run at a time was three miles. I told Chris about it and he was such a great motivator that I decided heck, why not start training and see how it goes? I can bow out if it's too much I thought. Problem #1: I don't bow out very well; I hate quitting.

My first week of training was 3, 4, 3, 7. My first three-mile run I ran half on my heals and half on the pads of my feet and since then I've been running on the pads of my feet. Problem #2: not allowing myself sufficient time to adjust to a new running style. After every long (Saturday) run I was sore as my body tried to adjust to being pushed beyond its capacity. These muscles had no base to go off of.

Problem # 3: Not figuring out how to avoid injury. Whenever my IT band flared up (my previous injury) all I’d do is slow down my pace and maybe not go out for one of my runs during the week. My friend, Stephanie, (the one who also ran the marathon) had been telling me about the foam roller specifically for the IT band and how wonderful it was. I finally made the time to go buy one just two weeks from race day. My knee gave me lots of pain in my 19 mile run and was uncomfortable in my 20 mile run (I had slowed my pace down for this run to 10 min miles. I typically aimed for 8:50 to 9:20 min miles on long runs and 8:20 and below for pace runs). Anyway back to the foam roller. I started too late and I should have figured out or gone to a specialist or running classes (something!) to find out what all I should be doing. But in my little head, I was thinking maybe this is enough. I had just finished a 12 mile run when I got the roller, so all I had left for long runs was an 8 mile run. I did a pace run and ran it averaging 8:10 min miles and felt fine. Hmmmm… maybe I could try to qualify for Boston after all, which became problem # 4. When training for my first marathon I realized after my 20 mile run that qualifying for Boston was within my grasp. I was ahead of pace to have a qualifying time on my first mararthon until I injured my IT band. Thinking back on this made me believe, I might be able to try and qualify this time, which was a bad idea.

So race day came (quick side note: Wednesday that week I woke up with chills, headache and sore throat, rested lots in hopes it’d go away. Friday came, still there. Went to the doctor, strep throat, but cleared to run the next morning). I slept better than I’d ever slept before a sporting event. I woke up once at 2:00, ate a bagel, drank two cups of water, took my antibiotic and tried to go back to bed (took me an hour). Then at 6:30 the alarm woke me up.

I felt good and ready, a little nervous, and unsure as to how to run but ready to get it done. I started off feeling fine and thought why not keep a good pace and see how it goes. To qualify for Boston I’d have to run it in 3:40 or faster. I started off running with the pace group 3:45 and felt fine up until… mile 10 when I felt my knee flare up and I knew I had to pull up. I slowed my pace down but knew it was bad news. By Mile 14, I didn’t know what to do. Last time I just sucked it up and ran the whole thing but paid dearly for it afterwards. I wanted to be smarter especially knowing I had to do my regular day to day activities and no one would be around to assist me in my recovery like last time. At Mile 14, I made one of my better, harder choices: I stopped, stretched, and walked. Do you know how weak I felt?! Mile 14?! You have to know something about me… I. hate. walking. And for a race? I didn’t do cross country in high school but two of my sisters did, and their coach always said, “You can run as slow as you can walk.”

As people passed me I wanted to shout out, “I’m not walking because I’m exhausted or giving up, it’s my knee”. From then on out, I took MANY breaks to stretch and walk. I kept thinking I
shouldn’t finish because I was hurting me knee more by continuing. But who likes to quit? See Problem # 1. It was hard seeing all the pacing signs pass me by seeing how far behind my goal I was getting. Somewhere around mile 18, I changed my form to allow my right leg to be as straight as possible when running to put minimal strain on the IT band. I’m sure I looked funny/awkward. Finally by mile 22, I saw Chris and the boys. It was THE highlight of the whole race. And since there was no running for time I took my time and gave hugs and fives and chatted about how I didn’t feel great. I finished at 4:27:33.

Stephanie and me after the race

Afterwards I was sore. Whenever you run at different paces you are using either new muscles or using muscles differently by changing the cadence. I was all across the board on my pace and I also walked (speed walked) a good deal. My calves were on fire! After my nice, long shower I rested by my sleeping Miles while Chris took the older two swimming with our friends the Watkins and their two girls. Then when walking to lunch, I felt like my calves were going to split with each step they were so tight. I was cursing myself for finishing and worried if I felt this bad now how would I feel tomorrow morning. After lunch I came back and iced (should have done this first thing). I started out with just one bag of ice for my knee but by the end of the night I went to bed with seven bags of ice all over my legs.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling better than I thought. Thank you ice! And on our way home I sat in the back seat by myself with my legs covered with bags of ice for two hours before I couldn’t take it anymore. Then when we got home I took an ice bath for about 15-20 mins. I truly believe the ice, and me not running the whole marathon, has made all the difference in my recovery. I was sore and walking funny Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday I was walking normal. Occasionally I have a little pain, but I’m feeling great. I’m not sure when I can go out for a run again. I tried running from my car to the museum on Friday and could tell my knee still needs time but hopefully not too long.

So now I have completed two marathons and strangely enough I still want to do another one. BUT I’ve got to figure out how to avoid injury allowing me to run at faster paces. Because it’s not going to be fun for me to go out and run a slower pace when I know I can do better. If I’m going to enjoy it I want to push myself and strive to be better or it loses its appeal. We’ll see when my next marathon will be… For now triathlons are next on my agenda:)

This One's For You Dad!

My dad was an avid supporter of his children when it came to sports. He went to all the competitions he could and he spent hours researching to try and help us become better. He was supportive in all our sports but I think he loved running the most.

He was like a personal trainer for us. When my sister Angela started running there wasn't a good program in place so after researching different training programs he wrote up one for her. He did more than her coaches and they ended up using his running schedule. He was passionate about our running and you could sense his pride when watching him watch his children run. I will never forget the year that Angela was a state champion in the 1600 and 800. What an exciting event and just thinking of it now I remember the butterflies I felt while watching her run and win those events!

I will also never forget the year that the batton was knocked from my hand during the state 4x4 race. I was devastated and crushed. As I walked off the field I wanted to cry but I couldn't. I hate having people see me cry. All I wanted was my dad. Usually I would want my mom when I was emotional but this time I felt my dad understood more than anyone what I was going through. As I approached the gate where only athletes and coaches were allowed to enter there stood my dad. When I saw him I got choked up and as I reached him he embraced me and the tears finally came and he just held me. He didn't have to say anything but I knew he understood the hurt I was experiencing. So this past January or February Angela and I expressed to each other how we wanted to run a marathon. She commented how cool it would be to run it for dad. After I found a marathon we could run and still have time to train for before I left for Chicago Angela also thought it would be cool to open the invitation to everyone in the family who wanted to participate in either a marathon, 10k, or 5k walk.

So this past Thursday Mom, Heidi, Angela, Camille, and I ran/walked for our dad. Angela and Camille ran on hurt hips and knees and then came and ran the last 3 miles of the marathon with me to help me push through an aching knee and ankle. Although my dad could not speak to express what he felt, Heidi witnessed how proud he was once again as he watched and cried to see his girls run again and to know it was for him. Right before I crossed the finish line I almost started crying. When I stopped running my legs turned to jello and I almost fell from weakness. And once again after running, I wanted my dad. As I approached him after the race I was emotional and met an even more emotional dad. For all the time, energy and commitment you gave to us before in all our activities, This ONE was for YOU Dad!!! WE LOVE YOU!

Marathon Aftermath

Ouch!!!!! Pain!!!!!! Swelling!!!!!!!! Give me more IB Profen!!!!!

So it is now Sunday and I am still limping around with ice strapped to my knee and ankle. I know I pushed it too hard but I had a goal and I wanted to accomplish that goal.

At the beginning of my training for the marathon I had one goal, To Finish! I had a schedule, Hal Higdon's, and I was pretty strict to obey the mileage but that's all I was doing, running the miles. Chris kept prompting me to push it a little more. But I was content with my pace and didn't want anything but to finish. But then my friend Ali invited me to run a 10 miler with a group she was organizing with another friend. I guess it was the group setting that made it feel more like a "race" but I ran it significantly faster than what I previously had been. I was running at 10 minute mile pace and ran those 10 miles under a 8:30 min pace. After that run I decided I could push myself a little more.

I kept pushing and ran my 20 mile run at a 8:15 min pace. I realized I was on pace to qualify for the Boston Marathon!!! I just needed to run it in 3:40 How Exciting! After every run Chris would ask me my time and it started to be fun to try and speed up my pace. I have the greatest husband who supported me 100%. He was my little cheerleader and motivator. He watched the boys when I went out in the mornings and didn't complain even though his time is precious when studying to take the bar. In fact with the bar less than a week away he came and supported me during the race and stayed after to help me recoop. I love you!!!
When the marathon started I knew I didn't want to start too fast and burn out too quickly. Here was my pace for the first few miles: 8:00, 7:00, 7:30, 7:30. I felt wonderful. Then my pace slowed down as I ran uphill for over a mile and a half (killer!) But then I got my pace right back on to my 8:00 minute pace. Halfway I wanted to be at 1 hour 50 minutes. I was at 1:46:30. A little a head and felt good but I was starting to have a little pain in my left knee and right ankle.

All I could do was say a little prayer and keep going. I didn't want to slow down so I kept up my pace. But by mile 18 the pain had intensified and my pace dropped significantly. I wasn't too tired to keep up the pace and my breathing wasn't labored but everytime I tried to pick up my pace pain shot through me so I slowed down. I must say the last 8 miles seemed like the longest miles in my life. Chris, Angela and Camille, drove past me around mile 20 and shouted, "You're on Pace you can do it!!!" I just shook my head and knew there was no way. I wanted to go faster but I couldn't. When Chris saw me again at 23 miles he realized the significant decrease in time. I went from 8:00 minutes miles to about 12:00 or 13:00 minute miles. Soooooooo frustrating!!!!!

At that point my little angels ran with me for the last three miles even though their knees and hips hurt. I was never so glad to see a finish line. I never once stopped running through the race, even through the water stations. I wanted to be able to say I really "ran" a marathon. My finishing time was somewhere around 3:55.

After the marathon I came to Idaho for a reunion and probably been on my feet too much. Saturday morning I woke up in an extreme amount of pain. I could not move my knee at all. I tried to move it just a little and could not without pain shooting everywhere and then throbbing several minutes just for attempting to move. Luckliy Camille was by me and I woke her up and she ran to get me three IB Profen. I was going to see a doctor but after some research I think I have Iliotibial Band Syndrome and just need to do the RICE treatment (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) along with an anti-inflamatory drug like IB Profen.

These are my ankles, really swollen especially around the bone on the outside of the ankle on the right ankle.

The following I took from Runner's World:

"ITB syndrome can result from any activity that causes the leg to turn inward repeatedly. This can include wearing worn-out shoes, running downhill or on banked surfaces, running too many track workouts in the same direction, or simply running too many miles.

It's not the knee, it's the ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin. "When the band comes near the knee, it becomes narrow, and rubbing can occur between the band and the bone. This causes inflammation," says Freddie H. Fu, M.D.

Some experts believe that the incidence of ITB syndrome has increased among all runners in recent years, although the reasons aren't clear. "It could be because so many runners have ramped up their mileage for marathons before they're ready to handle the distance,"says Stephen Pribut, D.P.M., a Washington, D.C., sports podiatrist.

Dr. Pagliano describes most runners with ITB pain as "Type A's." "They run high mileage," he says. "They're not willing to back off, and they are willing to run through pain."

How can you tell if you have ITB syndrome? "The best way is to bend your knee at a 45-degree angle. If you have an ITB problem, you'll feel pain on the outside of the knee," says Dr. Fu. "Sometimes an MRI can confirm it. An X-ray is usually negative, but an MRI can show a partial thickening of the band -- which results from inflammation."

It goes on to say to stop running immediately and give it lots of rest. I had knee problems one time when running 14 miler. I stopped running streched and tried to keep running. I didn't go away so I ended up calling Chris. But this time I pushed through it. I wanted to finish. I just hope I didn't do too much. I want to still run and I hope I didn't do any damage. So right now I just have to give it time.