Memorial Day breakthrough!

Headed back to the gym on Wednesday and ended up in floods of tears after not even being able to run a mile. I decided to give in and rest for a few days to try and figure out what to try next...So far I think I have figured out the following:

1. I nearly always have shin splints after running on concrete and need at least 2, more like 3, days of rest afterwards.
2. Stability shoes and/or running barefoot doesn't seem to make any difference.
3. Landing on the fronts of my feet seems to help a little.
4. You can't just ignore shin splints and run anyway - it makes them worse.
5. Rest works wonders but you lose confidence, time and aerobic capabities.
6. I haven't tried ice yet because it sounds like it wouldn't work.

I spent the weekend reading running magazines and found an article that really resonated with me. It said that instead of visualizing a perfect run each time that you should visualize a terrible run, anticipate and prepare for set backs. This way you will have a plan when they happen. So this morning I hit the gym at 7am imagining the worst - terrible pain (I'll switch to the cross trainer), lousy time (that's OK - I'll keep it slow and be happy with being able to do anything at all), negative thoughts (I'll shake them off and celebrate just staying in the gym and sweating for 30 minutes), boredom (I'll listen to comedy on my ipod).

I had a fantastic run in the end - 5K in 33:33 and I felt like a rockstar! I even iced my shins when I got back to Tampa. At this point I'll try anything because when it goes well, running is just the best feeling ever:).

Pushing Through...

My surgery got scheduled for April 27th, my legs were still hurting and I was 4 sessions behind on my goal to exercise 3 times a week for the year, so I decided on April 20th to work out every day for a full week to get caught up. I did the bike (which is really boring) and the elyptical (which I hate) every day. At the end of the week I got on the elyptical machine and realized that it was actually a cross trainer which I'd never used before but Mike raves about. It was actually really good! No impact to the legs and it felt much more like running. I really feel like this may be the perfect answer to how to stay 'in the game' when I'm having leg issues. On the day of the surgery I even did the cross trainer in the morning since I wasn't sure how long I would have to rest for. At the hospital that day, one of the RNs actually said 'you must exercise' when she saw my blood pressure stats which I was thrilled about too! The surgeon told me not to work out for a week but I managed a session on the cross trainer at the weekend just fine. I ran 3.25 miles in 32:13 on Monday and did 5 miles on the cross trainer at work in 54 minutes this week too. My legs feel great after being laid up from the surgery and I feel back on track finally!

Jamaica

I was really proud of myself that I managed a 30 minute run in the gym on a broken treadmill in Jamaica. This won't even nearly make up for the ridiculous number of calories that I have been eating and drinking here though. There is rum on tap in the room for goodness sake...

Fit2Run

Went to Fit2Run at International Mall to try and make some progress with the terrible shin splints that seem to kick in after every race. I got some shin splint guards (which really seem to help the pain after the fact) and some stability shoes. After a week of not being able to get along with them at all and having numbness in my feet, I took them back and switched out for another pair which you can do if you join their club. The new Acsis shoes seem to be much better. I love the store and bought some really nice running clothes and I've finally broken 31 minutes on the treadmill!

Building the habit...

I've made some great progress over the last month or so. I went to Boston for a conference and Mike and Maddy came too. On one of the days there, I actually got up first thing in the morning to work out at the hotel gym (I've never seen the inside of a hotel gym before, let alone before 7 in the morning). I was totally shocked that there were 16 people in there - who knew! I have been trying to run the block by my house (it's about 0.8 of a mile) and so far have been able to increase my distance from the end of the street to about half way before I need to stop. I'm still not really 'running' when I'm in the gym but I am forcing myself to stay on the elyptical for 20 minutes solidly. It is boring though...The weights class at work every Monday is helping and at least I'm talking to runners about running. We met Scott and the kids in Cape Cod and he gave me some really critical advice: "If you hate it - you are running too fast." So, I have slowed right down and that is really helping. When Gail came to visit we ran together at the hotel in Orlando and at LA Fitness and I can see I'm getting better each and every time! Thank you Scott - you are a great mentor!

LA Fitness Opens!

We are so lucky to have such a great gym open just down the street. We have signed up for family membership and the daycare - I have absolutely no excuses now!