Running Pup-part 2

This morning was my second attempt at running with the running pup. I had woken up late, but really needed to get in a run no matter how short. I’m starting my training for the National Marathon but starting it slow since I haven’t been running much lately. I did 2 miles with the running pup around my neighborhood and watched the sunrise. I’m not normally a morning runner, but it’s so nice out -- high of 67 on November 30th?!?! -- you can’t beat it. I had to remember to wear a light color shirt and my reflect-o belt since I was running along the sidewalk and crossing some streets. Safety first.

Even though the running pup is about 50 pounds at 5 1/2 months he is a big scaredy cat. We were running along the road and would try to hide behind me whenever a big truck or bus would go by. He was much better this time about not coming to a screeching halt to sniff something. He did sniff along to way and pick up sticks. He wasn't wanting to run as fast as me the first mile out but the second mile he must have hit his stride because he looked up at my and took the leash in his mouth as to play tug with me. He also started running really fast. MUCH faster than I had been running before. So now I know he was holding back on me! Some running with dogs tips

Saturday is my first "long run": 6 miles...not so bad.

Cross-training: Swim

In an attempt to begin cross-training, I purchased a 6-month membership to a local rec center with an indoor pool. My theory: if I spend money on something, I'm going to use it. So that being said I am now going to swim 2-3/week to cross-train.

I was a swimmer growing up. I wasn't the best on the swim team, but I was the solid backstroke leg of the girls relay team. I never DQ-ed. Needless to say, once we moved, I stopped swimming. And God forbid that I get up any earlier in high school to go to swim practice. And then college I was too embarrassed to be in front of anyone in a bathing suit. Now I have agreed to do a triathalon with some friends next summer and this marathoner is not going to embarrass herself on the swimming leg of the race.

So I got in the pool looked at the little sign "1/4 mile=8 laps, 1/2 mile = 16 laps, 1 mile = 32 laps...1 lap is 2 lengths of the pool" TWO lengths! UGH. I thought, well 1 mile is a good goal, but after 4 lengths (only 2 laps) I remembered why swimming is a hard sport. I revised my goal to 1/2 mile. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Having a marathoner's mindset came in handy: "count strokes, breathe rhythmically...it's okay to take a break". I actually ended up taking 10-15 second breaks (sometimes longer) between each length of the pool. I felt like such a wuss, but everyone has to start somewhere. I did my 16 laps in just under 30 minutes. Which totally blows my mind. 1/2 a mile running takes me 4 1/2 minutes!!! Not that I think I'll ever be able to do 16 laps in 4 1/2 minutes, but I'd like to do it without stopping. And oh yeah, do it free-style. I reverted to my good old backstroke because I didn't have goggles and contacts don't do well in chlorine.

Swim time: 30 minutes, Distance: 1/2 mile

Back in the saddle

Running pup went for his first run this morning. He only had the attention span for about a mile and a half and did a very good job trotting along side me. He came to an abrupt stop only twice; once to do his business and once to smell some enticing invisible smell. Fortunately the run didn't tire him out one bit (hopefully he can run for longer) because as soon as I got home and got him off the leash he had a little puppy "spazz attack". He ran back and forth across the front yard as fast as he could, barking at us to come play. Crazy dog.

I mentioned our morning's activity to a friend and she said that her boyfriend's dog has taken to running on their treadmill. Both are very active people and take the dog out as often as then can, but one day they noticed him on the treadmill liking the indoor walk! I doubt Running Pup will like our stair master in the basement...but then again it's right next to where we keep his food.

Injury update: the toe obviously feels good enough to run on, but is throbbing a bit in my high heeled boots. What can I say, I'm a slave to fashion.

Injury update: the toe obviously feels good enough to run on, but is throbbing a bit in my high heeled boots. What can I say, I'm a slave to fashion.

Next race: Jingle All the Way 10K I've been registered for this race before. One year it was sleeting that morning (I rolled over and went back to sleep) and then the next year I ended up going out of town. This should be a good benchmark for my National Marathon training.

Running Pup!

Running babe (and husband) have acquired a new puppy! It was not a requirement high on the list but I really wanted a dog that I could take running with me. I know that no dog will want to do 10+ miles, but I would feel a whole lot safer if I could have one with me when I do early morning or evening runs.

Our dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback (possibly mixed with boxer) loves to run. Though we'll need to wait until he's at least a year old until we go out. His bones and joints need to reach full maturity before he takes his momma for a run!

Other dog running tips:
-be sure to not run them too hard or too far, build them up in mileage just as you would any new runner
-make sure they get plenty of water, frequent rest stops are a must
-Make sure you're not running them in too hot or too cold of weather. Remember they have fur (hot) and can't sweat (just pant). But they also have exposed paws that can get cracked if they get too cold.
-always run them on a leash, dogs like to chase by nature (cars are not excluded)

Here's a list of good breeds to have as running companions.

Some other good dog exercising tips.

Broke Toes

My most common post-race pain is very sore quads, which is due in part to not enough strength training, but this time around it was my left foot. The ball of my foot was in so much pain around mile 18-19 that I had a hard time pushing off on my toes. But I finished and didn't notice anything until about 36 hours later when it felt like I was walking on glass. My left index toe (the little piggie next to the biggest piggie) felt like it was crunching every time I stepped on my left foot. Funny that your little toes have such an effect on one's balance.

I went in for my recovery massage the next day but also scheduled an appointment with Dr. Anna to go over my injury. Sure enough I had a stress fracture in my toe. I guess it's easier to do that I thought. You can break a toe just by stubbing it. I just happened to take the brunt of the marathon on my index toe. Fortunately, the rest of me felt AWESOME!

The only way to treat my type of broken toe is to "buddy tape" it to the next toe over. So that's what I'm doing. I took a rest the week after the marathon, wore low heeled shoes and took stairs rather carefully. Now I'm back to just cross training on an elliptical, stair stepper and swimming. Cross training is good...cross training is good...

See Lance run

I'm back online...sorry for the brief disappearance...I have lots to blog about post Marine Corps, but this article in the New York Times about Lance Armstong's first marathon makes me so happy.

Lance Armstrong is a physical phenom and for him to say that running a marathon was "the hardest physical thing" he's ever done was just awesome. It made me feel that much more hardcore for doing five. I hope that this doesn't scare off other runners who would like to do a marathon one day, because Lance admits that he didn't train well enough for the race - his longest run was only 16 miles! I love how he touches on "not hitting the wall" and mental strength it takes to get through aches and pains. I agree that after a certain point it's all mind over matter...or body.

A lot of what Lance went through reminded me of my own race just over a week ago...though I was a bit slower and didn't have marathon champions and Olympic medalists pacing me :-)

This has sparked an interested to run the NY marathon next year though...