Diddle Diddle Dumpling, my Run Song

No, not Sun Song

(Note: I kept my Soulfly flag until I moved this month)

Deep in the heart of taper week for the Chicago Marathon, my runs Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were done at a very easy pace and the miles were 6,5, and 6.

Monday I felt that continued.. ache that sometimes flared up at the bottom of my calf. No bueno, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I just took it easy. Also, I'm running from a new starting point, so I haven't gotten the feel for all my new mile markers yet.

Internally, this is my reaction to still trying to do last minute patchwork to my body:

Tuesday and Wednesday I had a rather unhappy stomach. I didn't give myself enough time for it to finish its business and I consequentially was making this face while I ran:

Tuesday my pace followed the pathetic feeling I had on my face, and dropped to a slow trot. I didn't kill myself over it, I was also trying to not feel any flare up in my hot spot in my calf. Tuesday evening I spent mostly unpacking, so my legs really didn't rest as much as I would have liked.

Wednesday went a little smoother, I decided to take some ibuprofen on Tuesday and right before my run, to see if it helped my ache/inflammation. It did. I still kept my pace slow as my stomach could react badly.

Highlights included a a side five with Erin @ Running Ruminations  (a soon to be extinct thing in Chicago... BOO!!!) and I got to meet a super speedy runner I've been seeing for months 1-2 times a run. He caught up to me ( I heard the insane cadence as he approached - run without headphones folks if it is dark out!) He is aiming for a sub 3 Chicago Marathon, and judging by how fast I've seen him go, it'll be easy. Reminded me of how I was peaking in July. I'll get back there eventually.

I was looking forward to my physical therapy visit today, knowing they would calm me down and remind me I'll be okay. I got to the office, and explained my aches at about 180 words per minute, freaking out, and observing my therapist maintain a collective face through it all.

She does some checks on my subjective complaints and says that it is very tight.. my reaction:

She then works her painfully magic fingers on the tight muscles and scar tissue. I could feel the crunchies.. My reaction probably looked like this.. just with a little more pain:

She gave me some extra tips on how to loosen up the area, hopefully it helps!

And because Maggie @ Mag Mile Runner asked for more Ryan Reynolds Gifs.. my response:

Now for the rest of you reading, you are reading right? How is your week going?  What is your go to meal the day before the marathon? Now respond!

These streets will make you feel band new

Second time writing this. First one got lost in draft...

I hesitated writing this post in the thought that I'll jinx myself. Since my run on Friday morning, I have felt... normal.. Like pre injury normal.. at least when I am not running. I walked around after my run Friday with that feeling I so dearly missed.. Feeling like I wanted to run again, not crawl into bed feeling like crumpled tin, hoping my body would repair itself in time for my next run.

I did my 90 minute physical therapy session, and then did my video gait analysis.

My review: I was already fatigued from my morning run and therapy.   They had me warm up then do some marathon paced miles. I was impressed by their stance on this.  They didn't want to push shoes, inserts, or doctors.  They wanted to see the problems and work with you instead. Good feeling to know they had no sales agenda.  The gait analysis therapist and my physical therapist talked about the inserts I bought and said that is basically to get me through the marathon if I find that I'm still getting strains without them. We'll see what happens!

Preliminary Findings: My legs, my right more than my left swings around and causes me to run with one foot in front of the other, causing the knee tapping and that fraying of the inside of my sneakers I find. Initial suggestions, increase my steps per minute by 5%, from 180 to 189 during my marathon pace, this should help me not have time to do that swing and fix up my pace.  I follow up next Friday to get the full analysis.

Saturday: 10 miles at easy pace per Hanson Marathon Method. I get out around 5am. And for the first run since July... I had no mountain of rough pain or strains to break through to run. I'm going to pause and let that feeling hang there...

I was normal, at least to start. A big mental relief.

I still had some periods of tightness and aches through my run, but that happens in all my easy paced runs.  I saw Mrs Fueling Strong as she started her CARA run and we exchanged our normal cheery hello!

Here are some photos from the run:

And for those of you who are here for a photo of my kid, here she is rocking her new fall jacket:

Only down side to the run, I focused too heavily on trying to watch my feet and how my legs were moving and flared up something in my upper glute. Some foam rolling has since helped.


Sunday: Cut back weekend, so just another 10 miles at easy pace. It was raining today and I started pain free again, which was great! My pace was felt fresh, and I just ran at whatever felt good for that mile, and ended with a sprint for the last few blocks which felt great. No blogger sightings today.

Will I be pain free again tomorrow?

Tomorrow is also Pint Night at +Fleet Feet Sports - Chicago , who is going and if so, at which location?

Now for your Sunday motivational picture:

I hope everyone had a great weekend and thank you for your feedback on how to race the marathon.  I have to fiddle around with the comfort level on the sliding scale of  enjoyment speed vs training speed, as it is my first marathon.. but I don't know what I'll do in the future for races.  I haven't found myself addicted to them yet. I love running, but I'm not sure I like races yet..

Edit: Also! BIG NEWS EVERYONE! Yesterday I went to Lickity Split for my 70th time Since October 2011 while checking in with the Belly Card! I'm kind of a big deal.

Do you even stretch bro?

Yesterday I went to my physical therapy (PT) evaluation and got reminded of how much they can make you hurt so good.  After lots of stretching, mobility checks, stability checks, and jamming their fingers into my leg, the therapist found the strain from my rear to the bottom of my calf.  Some Active Release Technique (ART) was administered and cause me to squirm like a fish out of water or laugh in discomfort, but it was so good.

I was given some instructions on stretching after about 15 minutes of my warm up in my run and a few stretches to do through out the day. I'm honestly happy to be doing therapy this time around as this means I am getting ART during the highest mileage weeks of the training cycle and can voice any ache concerns  to the physical therapist. I'll be going 2x a week for a few weeks.

This morning was a schedule fun run at an easy pace. Bare minimum is like 7 or so miles. Woke up at 3:40am and was out the door at 4:15. I wasn't super sure of how my stomach would be, but waiting around wouldn't help.  I jogged to Foster and stretched for a few minutes at the benches.  I saw one guy taking a walk and had on a cool glove with a mini built in flashlight. We said hello and went on our ways.

I then met up with Erin and got to meet Corey, and we did a few miles together back down to Corey's end point.  Erin and I then continued to run around the path, making sure to stop for water frequently with the warmer weather, until we parted ways closer to my end of the path.

I have to say, I always feel very humbled running with such experience athletes. They have so much more experience and training than me, and I'm happy when they share little nuggets of wisdom with me.

I didn't use my GPS today, and guessed I did about 12 miles, checked on Gmap Pedometer, and I did 11.8.  I got home a little bit later than planned, so I jumped straight into a cold shower, did a few PT stretches, and ran out to catch my bus, the Stick came with me today to work.

I tried to take a photo during a water break, but my camera phone does not do well with the street lights.

I am also making an effort to bring a bigger lunch as I am always hungry throughout the afternoon, so I brought an extra sandwich with me today.

Tomorrow is my scheduled rest day.

Take care and happy pre Friday Eve!