3 Things Thursday

1. Saturday, in celebration of my cousins birthday, I'm headed to Frankenmuth, Michigan's "Little Bavaria" otherwise know as the home of Bronner's Christmas Store. (Bet you can't guess what locals really call it?! I'll give you a hint; put your head in the gutter and take out the "r." tosh.O, eat your heart out! LOL!) I haven't been there since I was like 13 so it'll be fun getting my nerd on with my cousin over all the Christmas crap.
   
   
2. Sunday Spike is running the Brooksie Way Half Marathon so I'll be putting on my Susy Supporter pants once again to cheer him on as he tests his training for Grand Rapids. (Lucky bum) Are any of you Michiganders going to be there? If so let me know!
   
   
3. Remember yesterday when I mentioned I couldn't wait for all the fun October was sure to bring? Well I just got an exciting opportunity to speak about social media at a conference next month for my company! OMG!!! I'm BEYOND excited! (and scared sh*tless.) Have I ever mentioned my fear of speaking in front of large audiences? Or that time I fainted during a choir concert? And during my cousins wedding? Um yeah, time to suck it up, put on my big girl pants and go rock it! WOOT!
   
   What do ya'll have going on this weekend? Has anything exciting happened to you lately?
   
   

September Recap/Stats

September Recap/Stats

Miles Planned/Ran: N/A / 38.92± M - And the enthusiasm level remains at Pleased. :)

Rest Days Planned/Taken: N/A

Highest Mileage Week: N/A

Long Runs Planned/Ran: N/A

Hill Workouts Planned/Ran: N/A

Pace Workouts Planned/Ran: N/A

Xtrain Workouts Planned/Completed: N/A

Current Book: - In progress:Nada. I need to get myself to the library!
Finished: "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet (on audio CD - It was 32 discs so it took all month to finish) This book just earned itself a top spot in best books I ever "read" - I didn't want to get out of my car when I arrived to work/home!

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: I'm going to keep it as tosh.0 - Seriously inappropriate, seriously hilarious and we can't stop watching.

Current Colors: Still sporting the Spartan green

Current Obsessions: I can't think of anything I'm all that obsessed over actually.

Current Drink: Always and forever, H20.

Current Song: "I like it" - Enrique Inglesias

Current Wish-List: It's a super secret wish. Maybe I'll share it later.

Current Need: A new apartment, with a washer and drying in the unit and miles of accessible running around it.

Current Triumph: 5 glorious miles this a.m.; I never thought I'd be so happy to be running 5 miles again! Arch cutlets FTW!!! :)

Current Bane of my Existence: Chapped lips. It's going to be a long winter.

Current Goal: To continue to see progress on the running front.

Current Indulgence: Pumpkin Chai Latte's from Schuler's Books. Mmm....

Current Blessings: As always my family, my amazing friends (both beloved and new) and who could forget Spike. <3>

Current Excitement: Running again, new friends and all the fun that October will surely bring!

How'd your September shape up?!?!

Running is what you make of it; Make it an Adventure!™

Monday Mash

Because its so much easier to condense weekend recaps down to bullet points...

• Spectating the Capital City River Run Half yesterday on the bike with Jen was a blast! Her hubby totally PR'd like a mofo and I got an excellent tour of the city! Susy Supporter was in full effect and while there was a momentary green eye moment, it was short lived. In my heart I know I want to toe the line of my next race trained and ready to rock!
  
  


• You know you're a runner when... as you look for a new apartment in a new city, direct access to sidewalks and less traveled roads play into whether or not its a desirable living location. "Ooo honey, look at all the sidewalk around this one!"
  
  


• After apartment hunting I headed out to Lake Lansing to run a loop with Jess; 4.63 M at an almost effortless 9:33 P. Coach EK "rewarded" me for such a good run with permission to attempt my first back to back run. Later today I'll lace up for a nice and easy 3 miler. This will be the first time I've run two days in a row in over two months! If all goes well I've also been given the green light for a 5 miler on Wednesday! Woot! Slowly but surely I am making my comeback. The enthusiasm level has officially been raised to "Pleased."
  
  


• On the run I broke in the new kicks that I picked up in Florida. I had gone to Playmakers on Saturday to pick them up their very own set of arch cutlets and after installing them I was good to go. I thought perhaps ya'll might want to see them up close and personal. (The arch cutlets not the shoes... they're just like every other pair I get. Love me some 2150s!!!)
  
  
  
  Arch cutlets; my fuzzy, random looking running lifesavers
  
  
  


• ATTENTION CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA RUNNERS: Do you like to run? Do you like to have fun running? Have you ever heard of Ragnar? If not go there now. I'll wait...
  
  Back? Good. Wanna join a team? As B.o.B mentioned the other day, the infamous B.R.A. (Brandon Running Association for all you newbie readers) have a few teams with slots for abled bodied runners. The Florida Central Ragnar Relay is November 19 - 20, there are obviously some costs involved, but a good time will most definitely be had by all!!! B.o.B and I can't frigging wait to run this year's!
  
  
  
  The teams are all different and here's how they break down:
  
  Ultra Team: 6 Runners Only so it means 23 or more miles. Coach EK is on this team.
  
  40+ Masters Team: Coach Tom is on this team and you must be 40 years or older to be on this one. I think they specifically need a female to round out the team.
  
  Regular Mixed Team: I'm pretty sure they have more than one spot available.
  
  If you'd like more info just shoot me an email: redheadrunning (@) gmail
  
  

The Injured Runner's Sin

As I slowly creep my way back into the land of the running, I have a confession to make:

I have been guilty of the injured runner's sin: Envy

Running envy, training envy, race envy... any way you wanna spin I've had a little bit of the green eye going on.

Reading race recaps, seeing tweets about training runs, watching Spike lace up to head out, I just can't stop it from happening! I try to be better than that, I try to be Susy Supporter and cheer everyone, one and all, that are training well and getting ready to rock those big races coming up. I'm sincerely excited and proud of the dedication, discipline and resolve going on out there and yet...

I've been jealous.

I can't help but think about how I should be closing in on MY big race. I want to come home sweaty and exhausted from a 20 miler and have Spike ask me how MY run went. All this "Me, Me, ME!!!" whining inevitably leads to me moping over how this time last year I was getting ready for Chicago... how six months ago I was basking in the after glow of the infamous Gasparilla PR extravaganza... And now? Now I'm reduced to spectator. Because when you can't be an athlete be an athletic supporter!

I imagine this must have been what B.o.B felt like last year when her MCM went defunct and she ended up coming to spectate me in Chicago instead. I knew it then, watching her emotionally struggle, but I understand it now: Spectating a race kinda breaks your heart.

I know I'm not alone in feeling this way; The other night at the "Injured Runner's Club" we all commiserated over this feeling. Each of our significant others are training for upcoming races while we're sidelined doing the ol' injured runner's life of "Wait, Watch and Cheer!"

Don't get me wrong, spectating is fun when you plan for it, but it's harder to put your heart in it when you're working through an injury. Because I hadn't planned to run it, spectating ya'll at Chicago will be just as fun as when I spectated the Disney Marathon back in January. When I spectated Boston I was there specifically to celebrate Spike's victory lap, not to mention it was an experience unlike any other. Spectating there inspired me to shoot for a BQ for G.R., but a mere few weeks ago at the CRIM 10 M it was a completely different scenario. As I snapped pics and yelled obnoxiously as Spike absolutely killed it, my heart was breaking just a little bit inside knowing I should be out there on the course too. If spectating a race while injured is hard, spectating a race you were supposed to run is the worst! But I'm going to work on this, starting this weekend when I ride the Capital City course with Jen. When Ms. Green starts rearing her ugly eye I'm going to remind her that running a race undertrained and risking re-injury will only land her back on the sidelines, possibly for longer than this last go round and hopefully she'll listen and turn back into to Susy Supporter.

What about you guys? Have you been guilty of the injured runner's sin? How did you deal with and overcome these feelings? (If at all) Share your tips and experiences in the comments for all the injured runner's out there working their way through...

3 Things Thursday

1. Running: Yesterday I logged another run and continue to feel Hopeful of making a full recovery. I must admit however I am still in utter amazement that these arch cutlets have seemingly solved a problem that has long stumped professionals and plagued my life to the point of having to give up on training.
   
   
2. Racing: Sunday is the Capital City River Run and obviously there's no way I could possibly run the Half so alas, another race that wasn't. I had toyed with dropping down to the 5k but after consulting Coach EK we agreed that I'm not ready for that scenario. Between the adrenaline and crowds it'd be hard to avoid falling prey to the excitement and pushing myself. I need to be taking it easy and focusing on recovery to avoid re-injury so instead I was given the all clear to attempt a nice and easy "long run" of about 4.5ish miles. I'll take it!
   
   
   
   
3. Support: Since I won't be running Sunday I have decided to join my new DM friend and spectate her husband as he races his way to a PR. I'll also be cheering from afar for a few of Spike's friends and Viper as they hit the streets of Akron for the Akron Marathon.
   
   For those of you Chicago bound folks, I just want to remind everyone to take a deep breath and relax! Taper can be maddening but you just need to believe in your training and yourself!

Monday Mash

A quickie post cuz its going to be a crazy week at work:

• Saturday a.m. I did a little of this:
  
  
  Details HERE.
  
  
• While Spike did a little of this:
  
  
  I can't decide what is worse, the outfit or the fact that his knees are about to smash into the handle bars of my child size bike? Either way it was fun to have him be the Sherpa for once.
  
  
  
• Then we went and did a little of this:
  
  
  Our tailgatin' wasn't quite as exciting as Adam's but it was def a lot of fun and the game was EPIC!!!
  
  
  
  If there's a Flamingo I will find it!
  
  
  
• 
• Sunday I rested up the legs by spending the day visiting family around the greater Mid-Michigan area
  
  
  
• Today I arrived home from work to find this had arrived:
  
  
  Clockwise: Cover, First Half Marathon w/ race recap, Muddy Buddy Page, Chicago Marathon Pages including race recap
  
  
  
  My "Road to the 2009 Chicago Marathon" photobook I created on Shutterfly! After spending months working on it, I was so excited to see the finished product. It chronicles from my first 5k through to the Chicago Marathon. I plan to store my bibs inside and the best part is that I was able to include select race recaps! It totally inspired me as I set out for my next run...

  
  
• 3.75 M - 35:58 @ 9:35 P/ Based on another successful run I have decided to raise the enthusiasm level to: Hopeful.
  
  Next run Wednesday... *Fingers Crossed*
  

3 Things Thursday

1. MIA: As warned after last weeks "Return to Running" FAIL, I needed a few days to process and assess. And cry. And to read posts like this that mirrored my feelings of frustration and dis-heartedness and posts like this that reminded me that running, while being such a huge part of my life, doesn't need to define me as a person and life can still go on. And then I visited the Playmakers Injury Clinic. Again.
   
   
   
   
2. Cautiously Encouraged: Last night I hugged a stranger.
   
   
   I arrived at the Playmakers Injury Clinic armed with every mile these legs have logged since last December accounted for by way of printed down training logs and Daily Mile entries. I brought the x-ray results from back in May, I brought the shoes I've been running in all the while, I came with print outs on Compartment Syndrome, the closest thing, through all my research, that ever came close to describing what I was feeling during and after runs. I came distraught, spirit broken and ready to shell out uninsured cash if necessary to book an appointment with a referred physician that had experience and could test me for it.
   
   
   When it was my turn the sports medicine professional who saw me was the same woman who had loosened up my calves twice before after my previous consultations at Playmakers. The two previous times I had gone, both professionals were stumped as to what the problem could be and offered strengthening exercises, orthotics and rest. Neither were confident in their diagnosis and sent me over to be loosened up by the woman that stood before me. She remembered me and I told her everything, I gave her my pile of paperwork, I showed her my shoes, I walked for her, stood on each leg and told her what I feared the problem was after extensive online research...
   
   
   She looked me square in the eyes and assured me that I did not have Compartment Syndrome and explained that CS was a common injury in new runners and for all intents and purposes I was an experienced runner so that was most certainly not my problem. What my problem was, she said in confidence, was a bio-mechanics problem.
   
   
   I'm a heel striker, this I have always known and had it confirmed just last week when I came in for a gait analysis. This was part of the problem. Another part of the problem that I was not aware of is that my right arch collapses significantly when I walk/run. Also, I had told her that since I had become aware of my "crazy kick" (When I run my right leg unnaturally kicks out all crazy) I had been consciously trying to work on not doing this and she asked me if the pain had progressed since I had begun trying to correct this? It had. She pointed out that with my scoliosis and wide hips, that "crazy kick" was my body's way of compensating for my short comings and by trying to correct it I was making things worse. Furthermore, she went on, while some people benefit from form correction others, end up doing more harm than good. As an example she told me about a famous, fast runner (who's name I now can't recall) who's form was "corrected" and he ended up slower.
   
   
   She then loosened up my calves and began probing my lower legs and going deep into the tissue. She pointed out and massaged pummeled three areas, of which are the exact areas of problem, and explained to me how they were all directly related to one another and how she believes that every time I run I am tearing the muscles and they're not repairing properly. Then she recommended I start incorporating more protein into my diet to aide in the recovery process. She gave me a list of things to pick up and instructed me to start drinking the concotion daily. (It's disgusting but I'll keep at it if it helps)
   
   
   Finally, she put wool arch wedges (kinda like chicken cutlets for your bra) in my shoes, and again in confidence said, "Give yourself a week to get used to them and you'll be running fine." When I asked her when I could start running she said, "Tomorrow. Run the same run you did last week, take a day off in between runs and increment up slowly a half mile to a mile at a time." She said it all like it was the most normal and obvious solution in the world. And that was when I hugged a stranger.
   
   
   She was the first person I've seen this entire battle who said with confidence what she thought the problem was, what I needed to do to fix it and was certain I'd be back out there running just fine. So today I ran. It went well and I am cautiously encouraged. As always, the real test will be how I feel tomorrow and more so how I feel during and after the next run. Will it really be this easy? Will I really be running pain free regularly again? Only time and patience will tell.
   
   
   
   
3. Girl's Night Out: Remember my blind Daily Mile date a few weeks back? Well I made a friend that night and tonight she and I are getting together again and have invited another Daily Mile injured runner along. They actually know each other already but I'm excited to meet another new friend and nerd out about running, commiserate over injuries and just gab with the girls. Maybe we'll make it a weekly thing and call it the "Injured Runner's Club" until we're all back up and running. Or maybe we'll just call it "Girl's Night Out" and make it all about fun.
   
   MSU vs Notre Dame Tailgate Extravaganza this weekend, time to sport my (adopted) Green & White!

And the winner is...

Jeri of JerBear Shares!!!

Jeri is gearing up for the Sioux Falls Half this weekend, so make sure you swing by her blog and wish her good luck! (Not that she really needs it, cuz she is totally going to PR like its her job!) I was totally cracking up when I saw she was the winner because she had said "I'd probably have to put my favorite red headed runner's mug on the water bottle. ;)" Girl, I assure you that is NOT necessary, what is however, is that you email me STAT to get your prize! redheadrunning (@) gmail

And now, as promised, here are a few pics from the Florida trip....

My beloved B.o.B - Reunited and it feels so good...

<3

My toes have never been happier

Disregard my lactating...

And no trip to Florida would be complete without my RJ!

I hope ya'll have a fantabulous weekend!

3 Things Thursday

1. Don't forget, you have until the end of today to enter my "Giveaway of Thanks" to win a Cafe Press SIGG Water Bottle!!!
   
   
2. Last night I attempted Run #2 on my "Return to Running" and well... I won't be returning to running after all. Guess this means the new shoes I picked up in Florida won't be logging any miles anytime soon either. I promise I'll talk about this in depth later but right now I just need a few days to process, accept, figure out a plan of action and maybe cry a little.
   
   
   Beaker Luv's "Welcome back to Florida"
   (She picked up some gear we had called in to Track Shack and supplied pre-run breakfast for Spike's run in the a.m.)
   I told ya'll I lived off Publix cookies the entire weekend!
   
   
3. You know what else happened last night? I got my first dose of Fall! The evening was crisp and clear and a little too chilly for this thinned out Floridian blood. It's only September! While I'm wholly excited to see the leaves change for the first time in 10 years, I shiver at the thought of how cold its about to get... did I mention I don't own any closed toed shoes (besides running shoes) nor do I own more than one sweatshirt or a winter jacket. Good thing my birthday is coming up, cuz this Redhead needs a new winter wardrobe!
   
   Tune in tomorrow for the winner, winner, chicken dinner of the SIGG water bottle giveaway and maybe some pics from my trip to Florida to brighten everyone's day??!?!
   
   

Tuesday Tribute: A Giveaway of Thanks

It's been quite some time since I've done a "Tuesday Tribute" and given my lack of running lately you might question the who/what/why this tribute is even occurring for in the first place. Well dear readers this "Tuesday Tribute" is dedicated to you for always being there for me whether I'm knee deep in a marathon cycle or xtraining my way through an injury. Your overwhelming support and encouragement since I accepted my fate and canned my marathon/BQ dreams right on through enduring the last 3+ weeks of my non-running related, far too much schmooping and xtraining woes posts, has really helped keep me going on the days when I wanted to give up and wallow in my own misery.

When the going got tough I would think about how much ya'll believed in me and I would push on, even while aqua slogging! Yesterday as I finished my first run in over three weeks my first thought was how I couldn't wait to jump on to Daily Mile and let ya'll know how it went. For those that missed it, I ran 3.4 miles in roughly 32 minutes and felt great! All the xtraining really worked and I didn't feel winded in the slightest! My legs felt fresh and I could've easily run further but I didn't want to push it my first time out. While the run itself went great I had a few FAIL's leading up to it;

FAIL #1 - I forgot to charge my Garmin and it died 1.3 Miles in.
FAIL #2 - I ate pizza for lunch. Can we say heart burn!
FAIL #3 - Living off Publix cookies my entire Florida trip was not the smartest idea ever.
FAIL #4 - Hydration? What's that? I didn't drink a drop of water the entire day and paid for it dearly during the run. Who forgets to drink water? This idiot. So. Thirsty.

Speaking of hydration, let's get back to the topic at hand shall we? I did say this was a GIVEAWAY of thanks so to celebrate my love for you I have collaborated with CafePress, of unique gift and T-shirt fame, to giveaway a SIGG Water Bottle! These safe and durable aluminum bottles are great for the gym, on the bike, to stay on top of hydration anywhere (I could've used this on the flight home from Florida yesterday!) and so much more! You can find millions of personalized water bottles at CafePress - for any topic, interest or brand! Can’t find the perfect SIGG design? Custom create your own! Just think of all the possibilities! Immortalize your finish line picture, your pet emu or your favorite post race indulgence....

Here are a few of my favs from the site:

Do what you love.

Run Naked

Ordinary Jane Running

Bid me run

Runner

I absolutely heart CafePress and have used their services for everything from customizing t-shirts to magnets. Last year B.o.B used CafePress to customize our Ragnar Relay Team "Half Nuts" shirts and they turned out great!

V24L!!! (Van 2 for Life)

Now that you know what the swag is, here are the giveaway requirements:
(What? Did you think I was just giving this away? I love ya'll, but not that much!!! J/K!)

Leave a comment with why you could've used one of these SIGG water bottles to prevent a hydration FAIL of your own OR what bottle you would get if you won. (If you'd customize it what would you customize it with?)

That's it. Easy peasy. You have until Thursday to enter, the winner will be announced Friday via Random Number Generator. Now go forth and entertain me monkeys enter to win!!!

3 Things Thursday

1. Giveaways: Did ya'll catch my Florida Frenemy Harold's very first giveaway? If not make sure you head over to his blog and enter to win a $40 Gift Card to CSN! Congrats on your first giveaway Harold!!!
   
   (Stay tuned and make sure you check back here next week as I have a majorly kick @ss giveaway lined up for you too!)
   
   
2. Florida! Tomorrow Spike & I head down to the sunshine state for a little R&R over the holiday weekend!!! I have been so massively homesick for palm trees and my girls, I can't wait to soak up some beautiful Florida sun, dig my toes into a sandy beach and spend the weekend with all my favorite people in one place (including my beloved B.o.B)!!!!
   
   
3. Running? Monday, upon return, I will attempt my first run in over 3 weeks! I'm nervous, scared, anxious, excited and keeping my fingers crossed that the rest and xtraining have done the trick to rid my life of those pesky leg gremlins! *Fingers Crossed*
   
   So what do ya'll have planned for the holiday weekend? Camping trip? Race? Beach? Whatever it is, have a fantabulous one!!! Catch ya'll on the flipside!!!
   
   
   
   

With a Cherry on Top...

Over the past couple of days I've been awarded the "Cherry on Top" award by my Florida gal Tobi @ Busy Running Momma & Chicago Marathon trainee, Stephanie @ Girls Just Want to Run

This is how the award works:

#1. Answer this question: If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?

#2. The second thing you have to do is, pick 6 people and give them this award. You then have to inform the person that they have gotten this award.

#3. The third and final thing is, thank the person who gave you the award.

Here goes:

1. If I could go back and change one thing in my life it would be to embrace my solo runs as an adolescent and instead of being "too cool for school" go back and join the track team. I recently mapmyrun the road I used to run during Jr. High & High School and realized that I was regularly running around 2-5 miles just for the heck of it. Why didn't I do something with that?

2. I choose the following 6 blogger peeps to pass this award on to:

Sun Runner @ Running into the Sun (That'll teach you for not blogging in 2 weeks!)

Heather @ Dietitian on the Run (Who I can't wait to FINALLY meet @ Thanksgiving!!!)

Bethany @ Our Love on the Run (Who gave me the biggest laugh when I asked for xtraining ideas!)

MJ @ Girl Running (Who needs a virtual hug right now!)

Lisa @ Early Morning Run (I've still got my fingers crossed for you girl!)

Emily @ Sweat Once a Day (Your peppy "keep up the xtraining" comments have been much appreciated!)

3. Thanks so much to both Tobi & Stephanie for the award! I'm so excited to see Tobi back pounding the pavement after surgery and then some and I hope that Stephanie has an amazing of an experience at Chicago as I did last year!

And in case anyone was wondering, I love me some confetti cupcakes with real strawberry frosting or carrot cake ones! Mmmmm cupcakes....