ankle weights are cool

so for the past 2 days i have done all my rehab wimp leg exercises. they're pretty tough lemme tell you. I basically go to Equinox, strap something that looks like this to my ankles (yes, both) then I lie on my back and raise my leg for 3 sets of 12. Then I lie on my side and alternate between abductions and adductions on each leg. Also 3 sets of 12. Then i do this thing where you raise your leg and bring it forward and back and forward and back until i'm bored out of my mind.

Last night I did some abs work with a 4 lb ball, passing it under my knees and back over. I did some regular crunches too, some butt exercises (that don't engage the knee) and then I did some back extensions (which also don't really engage the knee). That's about it for last night. On Tuesday I did arms, chest press, bicep curcls, tricep extensions, deadlifts with rounded knees.

I had a nightmare last night that no store would sell me gels. Like only the ones that would make me puke. And then I was running and projectile vomiting. Fun huh? I need to go get more gels though so I suppose the dream makes sense.

On the positive side, my throat feels better, mustve been allergies!!!

Peace out.

bad news

Last week I went to the infamous knee doctor. Well, I wouldn't recommend him. I didn't think he listened to my body clues (my scoliosis, when my knee started hurting (when I changed sneaks)) and he only looked at one xray. He told me I shouldn't run. What sports injury doctor won't give you a plan of attack when you ask for one? I have run how much? And your best advice is "Gee Jen you're in a tough spot?" You suck Doc.

I saw Brandt (massage therapist) later that night and we came up with a better strategy. Take a week off, ice, take meds, do the rehab exercises, rest a lot. We think its my new sneaks that I boguht abotu 5 weeks ago (maybe 6). They apparently fixed my huge pronation and did end my shin splints. But what good did that do me? 6 weeks later shin splints gone, knee inflation- WOW. Apparently my right knee has a tilt angle of 24 degrees whereas my left knee has a normal tilt of about 10. The good news (also why I think the knee is fine and curable quickly) is that the overall angle of my knee is 137 on the right and it should be around 136 or below... so we're not working with something too too terrible. Its not swollen on the XRay or anything but more like he thinks its swollen because of the pain- its not visible on the XRay or to the naked eye- also good news I think.

I was in Puerto Rico this past weekend and got back last night-- i hung out a lot but didn't do the pool running i said i would. I did ice, I did take meds. We had a really good time. We stayed at La Concha in Condado and the wedding was really fun too. Unfortunately there was no kayaking or the like and I didn't make it to the gym. On the flip though I did rest a lot and eat a lot and sleep alot. My carb stores are definitely all restored- ha!! Overall though, it was much needed in terms of both rest and relationship. I think the winter, esp in NYC, can get to you. I know that I was stressed and feeling it from a work/knee/running perspective so it was nice to be out of that environment and be able to focus on what was really important- good friends and a good bf who rocks.

We hiked in el Yunque yesterday though and I have to admit that the way down was tough and the way up was tougher in terms of knee pain. I have ice on right now. But I suppose that's to be expected. I am going to rest the rest of the week and then Viola, it might be cured- I mean you never know. I'm going back to my old sneakers which I suspect make up the majority of the problem as it relates to the knee and to the pronation itself. In all sincerity it makes the most sense that my new sneakers which fixed the pronation in my gait actually did more harm than good given my jacked up hip from scoliosis. Perhaps my body did better when it was overcompensating for its own downfalls. It's almost ironic because maybe our bodies do know what they're doing and all this tech crap actually does more harm than good- I don't know.

I suspect that Saturday will be an awesome run :) But that's just me!!!

wed hump day

It's Wednesday and I haven't run since Saturday. I almost feel anxious about it. I have no intentions of running until next Tuesday. A full 10 days of rest. I have been working out even though I took yesterday off. My knee was iffy on Monday. I did sets of squats, one legged squats (both with a 15 lb bar), leg extensions,back extensions and then an arms and abs class. I tried to run (just to see how my knee felt) but it killed so I instead walked at a steep incline for 10 min. Blah.

Tonight, yoga and more strength hopefully. Tomorrow I wanted to run but instead I will take cardio kick (depending on what the MD says tomorrow at my 2 pm appointment) or will do boring elliptical. I have no concept of how I used to muddle through it.

Speaking of boring there is a new ipod shuffle. It looks awesome. You can have multiple playlists- I like this.

At the gym on Monday night there was a line for a treadmill... once I got to the front I decided I didn't want a treadmill in the front row mainly because I knew I wouldn't be on for very long and I'm still uber sensitive to that kind of stuff- I should get over myself. Anyway- I let a girl cut me in line and apparently the girl before her didn't SHUT OFF the treadmill so when this girl tried to step on, she went flying. I felt terrible, that would've been me. I probably would've killed my knee or back or something. I don't know but all I kept thinking was things definitely happen for a reason--- someone is looking out for me.

18+ miles almost killed me

Nic and I ran a full 18.44 miles on Saturday. And no, that's not a typo. Over 18 miles. Wow. I think the finality of running this marathon has finally sunk in. I physically ran for over 3.5 hours. Lemme tell you-- let's all pray this was my worst run ever because it was pretty damned bad. My knee was flaming up, even though we ran a pretty easy course. We started on 72nd street (our meeting point) and headed up for a counter clock loop and once we hit the reservoir (at the lowest east side point) we did 2 loops and then 2 bridle loops (the bridle loops felt soooo long and normally theyre my fast ones!!!!) I had a gel at min 25-- not a great start but was starving! (note: Mango by Clif-- the only one that really stayed down that day)... we then continued our run up to 102 (with a quick pit stop at the 97th play area) and back down the west side for a full loop of the park. By that point we had run about 10.5 miles and we were already sucking big time. We finished the loop and our mileage was at 11.5ish and I made the executive decision that we needed to stick to the lower loop 4 more times because I didn't think I would make it up the hills on the west side if we tried a 4 mile loop and a reservoir... so we then did 4*1.7m= 6.8 miles on the lower loop. The first two were ok but the 3rd started kicking my ass. At about mile 16.85 (good estimating huh?) I stopped to stretch a 'charleyhorse' in my buttocks, bent over, and promptly gagged and threw up my mocha gu. wonderful. i then proceeded to drink the rest of my water, and slowly continued running the remaining 2 miles. its my second gagging during training. wonderful.

that last 2 miles was long and terrible- but i did finish.

my knee overall felt better on sat night/sunday. i drank a gatorage, had my coffee, egg sandwich, a grilled cheese, some sunchips and olives all within 1.5 hours of finishing the run... and i did a cold bath... i think this aided in recovery big time.

sunday was such nice weather i almost considered going for a run!! does this mean I'm addicted?

Knee Schmee

Well before we talk about my knee let's talk about the fact that I did a headstand (assisted by the wall) in hatha yoga yesterday. I've been doing yoga for over 6 years and I've never even tried it. I don't really know why except I figured I couldn't. I don't know. I wonder why I've never even tried!! Now I realize that the marathon really has opened my eyes as to the concept of just do versus thinking i just can't. or even the concept of just try. I'm duly impressed. I mean forget everything else I DID A HEADSTAND!!!! Not a long one and certainly not the best one I'm meant to- but still!

On Tuesday I did strength training for 45 min. On Wednesday I did 10 min on the CardioWave, 10 min on the Stairmaster and 10 on the bike before rolling out my legs and stretching.

Yesterday Brandt massaged my legs and really just my legs although we did some neck for 75 minutes. My knee today feels healed. I've made the decision to attempt running 18 tomorrow but in the park just in case.

Restorative yoga tonight. Very excited for my nap- ha. Also heading to the nutritionist to see what is up with my metabolism!

a little inspiration

oh. and then there's this:

http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/2008/07/22/why-run-a-100-miles-just-ask-ramon/

i'm going to read this every day until the marathon.

because really, ramon is THAT inspiring

Wkd run

I ran 16.9 miles this weekend. I really wanted to hit 17 but I suppose I shouldn't obsess over 0.1 miles. It was 3:12 so that is the longest I've run so far, by 12 minutes.

On Thursday my knee felt fine and I ran 6.65 miles with Nicole. We did the whole bridle path, including the scary tunnel at the end- I was glad for a change of scenery though....

Saturday's run was unexpected. We were given the option of running, as Ramon put it, "zee perimeter of ze island" so that is what we did. After waiting in line behind some German tourists (damn closing of the restrooms at Bethesda we had to go to Boathouse) Nic and I headed up the hill on 72nd to the west side... we ran down the west side highway, around the tip past the Staten Island Ferry and up the East Side to 36th street (chk out the awesome weather) where we switched to 1st ave and then ran up to 71st street (I didnt want to run on 72nd and be tempted by the crosstown bus!!) and back into the park. Then I did a lower loop.

I definitely decided that those chalkblock things (i know this isnt the name but for the life of me I don't care) give me stomach cramps. Back to regular GU gels for me. I tried Vanilla bean this weekend- was like a cupcake icing on a shortbread cookie- super yum. I have MOcha by Clif to try next weekend and Orange Vanilla $2.50 GU. It should be like rocket fuel to charge that price!!!

Overall the run was good.. the east side was much colder and much more windy and my knee had bursts of flames which sucked. I drank a lot of water during the run and an entire gatorage by the time I got home, which I think fended off my headaches etc. Overall I felt a lot better than the weekend before- so improving!! Matt and I went to dinner at Bottino in CHelsea and i was passed out after a wonderful massage (love him!) by 11. I was up at 7 am on Sunday though so definitely need to work on sleeping a bit more on Sat nights. I did nap a bunch yesterday but I'm irritable, cranky and starved at all times. It's pretty damned sucky.

This week- a lot of strength training- My knee feels WORLDS better today so we'll see about tomorrows run. There is/will be about 10 inches of snow on the ground by tonight.... so I dont know about running outdoors in the park tomorrow!!

Feb was an 80 mile month!!! Averaging 11:26 a mile which is fine by me given how cold it was!

wk 2/23 24.38miles