Not good at waiting....

I am a very inpatient person...I hate waiting...so not good at it! Sooo here is the thing...I need to wait until December 8th for some results...I finally broke down and went to a Sports Med Doc...

Last week I had two amazing acupuncture sessions...I am so impressed and will have a full review and videos I took of it in a few weeks...BUT I still was having pain that is with me pretty much throughout the day...I drive stick and so I notice it when I use the clutch...and after walking long distances or doing some of my core workouts I noticed it...I went for one run last week and again noticed it....not good...not good at all..

I am pretty fortunate to have access to one of the best sports med clinics in all of Canada. I had an appointment we had a discussion...I cried telling him how running was my life...and did a few tests on my left leg...felt around...and then said those dreaded words all runners hate...

STRESS FRACTURE or some type of ligament issues but he is treating it like a stress fracture
no running and he is letting me try cycling...I have serious doubts that cycling will be pain free...basically I can pinpoint some direct pain and then my knee just aches all over...ugh...everything is tights and uncomfortable...so I wait until December 8th, 2011 when the results of my xray and ultrasound come back...we discussed a bone scan but I declined as I do not think the amount of radiation I would be exposed to is worth it...

Anyway...that is what is up with me....I am going back to acupuncture which excites me big time and I will need to book a massage for December to help out as well!

Allied Medal Disply Review and Photos!

Remember way back in the early summer when I got a tattoo? Here is a pic just in case you forget :)




After many months of trying to figure out how I wanted to display my race medals I gave in and decided that I needed a Medal Hanger. There was no question where I was going to go...I knew immediately that Allied Medal Displays would be for me!

Before finalizing my decision I contacted Joel at Allied Medal Displays and he answered all my questions and was speedy about it too!

I meant to take a picture of the wonderful packaging but I was WAY too excited and opened it immediately!!

I have been pretty down about not being able to run the past few weeks...this was the PERFECT pick me up...The handy hubby of mine installed it for me in about 2mins flat!




So back to my tattoo....well the Medal Hanger Matches :)






I am so please with how it turned out Allied Medal Displays was wonderful to work with, the quality is amazing...and it looks super sleek and just play awesome! If you haven't checked them out I def' would...get those Medals out of your drawers and shoe boxes and put them on Display!

I Ran :)

I ran 5km...super slow...pain free...have been stretching and am keeping my fingers crossed that I can begin to slowly add some km...I am doing strength training exercise classes at work which are awesome and kicking my butt...as well I hope to get the bike on the trainer this week...

woohoo...feeling some relief but I also know that I am no where near out of the woods...

Goodbye October and Hello November

Hi Everyone,


October has been a bitter sweet month for me...I had an amazing time in Chicago and was able to celebrate my 30th birthday! Although I am so proud of finishing Chicago I also know that it was not my best race...

The week after I felt amazing...did a very slow recovery run 4 days later and had NO PAIN...it felt great...

The Sunday after I did a 24km run...my plan was to run the Road2Hope full marathon...my body was feeling great and mentally I was doing even better...near the end of that run I started to have some weird knee pain...I stretched out my legs and finished and felt fine...I chalked it up to not so great shoes....I switched back and took a solid rest day...

I then ran a 5km and 10km runs both had more knee pain...I took the rest of the week off and even skipped my long run...I made the executive decision to switch from the Full Marathon to the Half. I ran a great 5km and had no pain for 4.8km and suddenly that twinge came back...I immediately stopped and walked home...(during this time I have been stretching like MAD and rolling and icing).

I did yoga and I also saw my massage therapist....She basically thinks that EVERYTHING is tight...IT band, Quads, Calves and Hamstrings...It was a painful session that is for sure...I took MORE rest days then on Sunday I attempted a VERY slow 12km...it was okay a little off...later that day and since then my knee feels like garbage...I am basically benching myself from running for a minimum of two weeks...Then I'll attempt to SLOWLY increase my mileage...If things don't get better I'll go to the sports doctor...I am pretty sure this is just an overuse injury and a few other this..but most importantly my body needs rest from running...

So in the mean time...I will continue to get my Yoga on...I've started a pushup challenge with girlfriends and I am taking FULL advantage of the awesome fitness classes offered through my work...today was Tanktop Arms and tomorrow is some strength and conditioning and stability classes...I will beat this but not beat myself up over it....I will be back in full force in time for January training...I know I have a sub 4:27:53 marathon in me...I also know I am so close to a Sub 2:00h marathon....

Now that Halloween is over I need to find my self control again, keep moving, eat less and get my sweat on...this will only make me stronger!!

Chicago Marathon Race Report

Wow...I can't believe another year has passed and that I've completed my fourth marathon...I would have NEVER thought that back in 2006 when I graduated grad school that this would be the life I have...It is pretty darn wonderful...

So Lindsay, Catherine and myself piled into the car and made the 4-5hour drive to Kalamazoo, MI for our first stop. We decided that since we wanted to head to the expo bright and early on the Friday and to be as rested as possible that it might be best if we drive part way...It was the BEST idea ever...Thursday ended up being extremely hectic at work and some other things going on...I was so relieved when we got in the car and were on the road...It was an easy drive and we soon tucked ourselves in for the night...

We woke up and enjoyed the complimentary breakfast and were soon on our way...We arrived in Chicago around Noon and pre-registered at the hotel and we were on our way to catch the Expo Bus near Niketown!





Once at the expo we picked up our kits, shirts and started to pick up as many free samples as possible! I may have picked up 3 huge (and heavy) bottles of coconut water :) Lindsay was not too thrilled when they made her plastic bag break a la Kevin from Home Alone...Don't worry...I helped her and got her another bag....

We then got in line where I met Ryan Hall...American Marathon Record Holder....

He was beyond nice...It was really pretty awesome meeting him.





We then headed for a fabulous dinner at Webber's Grill...The next day me and Lindsay toured the city....and just took it easy before we met Catherine for a pasta dinner....





We headed back to the hotel nice and early and just relaxed watching TV before we headed to bed...Here is my race outfit...I don't have too many pictures of the race itself yet....When I get more I'll post...






The Race:

Well there is not much to tell....we got to the start line at the same time as last year but this time around it was PACKED...I couldn't make it to where the 4:15:00 pace bunny was and in fact I couldn't make it into the Open Corral...I was too scared to jump the fence....so I waited and started with the 5:30:00h group...All was good and then my garmin singnal messed up after about running for two minutes...I always know that this could happen and especially in Chicago but the pace was not just a little off it was WAY off...I used the pace band and my general time...


Splits:

5km: 30:48 6:07 per km or a 9:55 per mile **This isn't too bad...passsing people
10km: 1:00:30: 6:03 per km or 9:34 per mile ** Wow it is hot...lots of people
15km: 1:31:01: 6:04 per km or 9:50 per mile **I am stuck I can't pass anyone...it is so HOT
20km: 2:02:29: 6:07 per km or 10:08 per mile **Okay settle in...you can do this...
21.1km: 2:09:32 *Not great let's got for a 4:30h as it is hot
25km: 2:35:56 6:13per km or 10:45 per mile *I am stuck again...can't pass...MOVE PEOPLE
30km: 3:11:59 6:23 per km or 11:43 per mile **I am too hot...I am fading....
35km: 3:50:39 6:35 per km or 12:27 per mile ** Have to walk because of stomach cramps...
40km: 4:30:52 6:46 per km or 12:57 per mile **PLEASE let me beat last years time...
42.2km: 4:47:00 6:48 per km....*VERY happy to be done...

Basically I crashed and burned...I was passing too many people couldn't run a tangent...and the biggest thing was the Heat...I am trying to not beat myself up too much over this as I am so proud to have finished but after my great results at Mid-Summer and my 10km tempos....I was hoping to beat my PB of 4:27:53....This fall was not it...

I have run a few times since Chicago and am struggling with some knee pain...I have no idea of what my next plans are but I do know that in the spring I'll be running another full...there is no doubt in my mind....

Chicago Goals

Hi There,


I can't believe a YEAR has passed and I am returning to Chicago....I am really proud of the training that I have done in a year...I have made great strides and am so proud of the accomplishments I have had this year (PR's in ALL distances)

This week I have faced many challenges...I have been very busy at work, have a sick grandma and I am also sick myself...I am not going to lie...I will be really relieved once I am in the car and starting my trek to Chicago...

I will keep this simple...here are my goals...I have re-evaluated them after this cold that I have...

D: Finish Upright and Smiling :)
C: Beat Last years time of 4:49:xx
B: Sub 4:30:00
A: PR (Current PR is 4:27:53 from May 2011 at Mississauga Marathon)
A+: Sub 4:20:00

I have had an incredible training cycle...lots of great tempos, a 30km PR and a 10km PR...I just hope that after this week I can pull off a great run...I am not going to lie...I am physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted...I also know myself in that I might perk up pretty quickly once I hit the car :) No matter what, PR or not I have a lot to be proud of...I have come so far over the past year...Running is a passion for me...It is part of who I am and what I need...In the end Sunday is one race in a list of many...

Good luck to all of those racing!!!

September Rewind

This month was a great month...

I ran 232km....I am happy with this...I only missed one 10km and that was on Thursday...my legs have not been acting nice the past few weeks...I went to my massage therapist for a tune up....let me tell you...it was PAINFUL...she even had to use a tool to get at certain parts of my legs...That was Thursday and today is Sat. I am still feeling the effects of the massage...although my legs are recovering I can def' notice a difference...


Current Focus....I will be running my 4th Marathon in 8 Sleeps!!!



I will continue to use the next week to fuel and rest my body....am I nervous? Yes...I will do a post about my goals...It seems so surreal that it has been a Year and I will be heading back to the Windy City and trying to improve from last year...

I am off to do 16km...feels weird to be running this distance on a Saturday...