So Close...Ugh

Lets get random and drown my sorrows with Hall & Oates. 

My stupid foot has me perplexed.  It's had over two full weeks of rest, a new shoe, ice, and plenty of stretching.  What more could it possibly want?!!  


During my run yesterday I was so optimistic; on that third mile and not feeling any pain at all.  Then right as I turned the last corner I started feeling it again and it accelerated pretty quickly.  I was so close to the end!  At this point I'm just not sure what to do.  I don't want to be over-dramatic, but I feel side-lined.  Depending on how I feel tomorrow, I may need to get an x-ray, though I can't imagine there's anything I can do about it.

Last Thursday I worked out on a bike and an elliptical machine.  I felt fine, but those machines do not provide the same workout as running does, and certainly aren't appropriate for marathon training.  I really don't want to give up on this race in October, but it's about six weeks away, and the furthest I've been able to go at this point is twelve miles...not even half.  If I don't see improvement in my foot, this blog may become more about a quest for healthy decisions and less about running a race.

I guess that proves that while much of running is mind over matter, I have to be responsible and listen to my body.  Hopefully things turn around, though.

The Nefarious Peroneus

Pain is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle.  The process of getting in shape always involves pushing the body beyond its supposed limits.  However, understanding this simple truth doesn't make it any less miserable.

I am no stranger to pain during physical activity.  Whether losing a chunk of my scalp during a soccer game to some fool going up for a header with his mouth open (which, by the way, is a great way to bite your tongue off), or playing basketball with a mouth full of blood after getting nailed in the face (ahh...the good ol' days of braces), this blundering accident-prone guy can take it in stride.  Unfortunately this leads me to where I've been for the last week.

Upon completing my 12-mile run last Monday, I was experiencing an alarming pain shooting up the side of my right foot and into my ankle.  That night my entire body was in pain, so I attributed it to the average aches and pains that plague the body after strenuous activity.  However, it didn't go away.  Tuesday, the pain grew sharper as the day went on, and continued into Wednesday.  I spoke with one of my doctor friends, and they suggested it may be a strained or sprained tendon on my foot or ankle.  That's no good for me.  After a messed up week of irregular routine in Oklahoma, I really needed to get back on my training plan.  But because I couldn't put any weight on my foot, I decided it would be wiser to rest it for a week and come back to the schedule on Monday.

Well...today is Monday.  And I thought I had rid myself of this problem.  I was feeling better this weekend, no longer gimping around and looking like a cripple.  I got around mile 2.5 of a 4-mile run and began to feel the pain shooting back up my leg.  BLERG.

I'm trying not to get discouraged.  I want to be smart and make sure that I'm not pushing myself too hard and end up with possible serious damage, but I also don't want to lose out on my endurance.  This race is coming up fast!  I have roughly six weeks left of training, and I don't want to slow up.

I know I said I was going to get some new shoes...yeah, haven't done that yet.  I'll go tomorrow.

Sweatpants, I have missed you

Who doesn't love to be comfortable?  I have this pair of sweatpants that haven't been worn in like four months because it's been so blasted hot outside.  Well, today was cooler, and after my run I decided to go for something comfy.  Now all I need is a footbath.  This bucket I'm using just isn't the same.  Yes, I'm sitting in sweatpants with my feet in a bucket of hot water.

Today was rough people.  I've been a little off schedule lately due to all of my traveling, and getting back into the routine just might turn out to be torturous.  My legs reached a point during this 12-mile run that they've never reached before, even during two-a-days for soccer back in high school.  They weren't just quitting on me--they were rebelling.  Mutiny of the legs is not something I can have if I have to run 14.2 miles further than I did today, so I will have to beat them into submission.

I'm going to buy new shoes tomorrow.  I know they'll be expensive, but I think it will be a worthwhile investment.  I can't keep running on my cheapo Adidas' that I got at Dunhams.


I've got 14 planned for Saturday...Hopefully I can recover by then.

OKC

Greetings from HOT Oklahoma!  I got in last night around 10:00PM, so I didn't have a chance to run yesterday.  I'm pretty sure I got in a couple of miles of walking in the Atlanta airport though, because my plane was delayed for a while.  I walked four of terminals, so it may have even been longer.  Who would have thought that the Atlanta airport would have a Villa Pizza?  Random flashback to MSU cafeterias.

Anyways, onto the running-in-travel-status experience.  It was roughly 101F today in OKC.  Woof.  Running outside is not going to happen here.  I had grilled chicken and green beans at Earl's and had a really good discussion with one of our trainers who just finished her first marathon a few months ago.  It's always good to talk with people who have already completed a race to get advice and hear things from their perspective. 

I ran five miles on a treadmill in the fitness center of the hotel, which took a lot out of me.  I don't know how to run on a treadmill.  I find the pacing hard to figure out, and I feel like I'm running against a clock instead of what comes naturally to me.  It also just feels like the run will never end because I can't help myself from constantly looking at the clock and the mile-counter as it clicks by .01 miles at a time.  It's killer. But I did it, and I will do it again tomorrow. 

Everything is thrown off this week due to all of this travel.  This was supposed to be a 4-6-4-12 week, and it's turning into a 5-5-12 week with the 12-mile scheduled for Friday night after I get home from Oklahoma City.  I'm going to Chicago with some friends on Saturday, so I won't have time to run in the morning.  I guess it just goes to show that even when you can't keep a concrete routine, one still must remain disciplined and make the time necessary to complete the objective.  

Wormy Dog or Biting Sow?

Whenever an exercise plan is put together it is important to allow some wiggle room and flexibility.  Life never stops moving, and sometimes priorities or circumstances change, and we are forced to cope with the consequences of those changes.

I am being sent to Oklahoma City on Monday for training.  Believe it or not, I am very excited about it!  This trip is coming at a good time of year where I need a break from the office.
 


I spent three weeks in Oklahoma City last summer for training, and met some great people and saw a lot of cool things.  Especially the names of the bars and restaurants (as referenced by the title of this entry).  It's always nice to be sent away on business to a place where you wouldn't normally go on vacation.

Anyways, back to the point.  Monday is usually a running day for me, and unless I get up super-early to get in 4-miles before I leave, there will be no time for it.  And I'm not getting up super-early before I leave.  Additionally, OKC has been about 15F higher on average than it has been here in Michigan.  Oofda.  I guess I'll be doing my running during the evenings, and even then I'm going to roast.

So I think I am going to run 5 miles on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then do my 12-mile route on Saturday after I get home.  It's one less day of running, but after finishing my 11-mile route this morning I'm finding that I need more time to recover from the long runs anyway.  It's been a physically challenging week, with none of my runs feeling all that great after my 10-mile last weekend.

I've discovered that my body really enjoys an 8-mile run.  During the 9th mile, the pain becomes noticeable, and the sweat really starts to poor, and during the 10th mile, I start to want to die.  It's those freakish hills I have to run up to get out of the valley. >:-(  Humph.  I finished today with a time I'm not too happy about.  I may need to spend a little extra cash before my run next Saturday and invest in a heart monitor and a new pair of shoes.

Have a great weekend everyone, and my next post will be coming to you from Oklahoma City!

Unrequited Love

*Sigh*

One of the benefits of running in Suburbia is the concept of Lawn Competitivity.  I made that up.  Competitiveness?  No.  There's a right way to say it, but I just can't come up with it.  Anyways, Lawn Comp...etition.  People use sprinklers so they can have soft green grass and show up the neighbor who hasn't mowed for a century and is basically hosting a bee colony in their front yard because of all the weeds.

As a runner, the sight of a full-powered geyser visible further up the road can be compared to stumbling upon an an oasis after staggering through the Sahara Desert.  It's like the equivalent of seeing a loved-one after months of being apart--you want to run up to it and hug it.  Well I'm about to tell you a sad story about a man whose love of sprinklers was not returned.

Tonight I was doing one of my 4-mile routes.  It covers two subdivisions behind my apartment, both of which are full of Yuppies with lots of money, evil German Shepherds, and well-manicured lawns.  Considering the temperature, I was hoping to come across a sprinkler or five to keep me cool and comfortable.  Well, things got weird.

It's like these people were deliberately TRYING to deprive me of the refreshing goodness that comes from running through a sprinkler.  Not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES I ran joyously up to a sprinkler to have it shut off less than a second before I could partake.  Yes.  Partake.  Now I'm not into conspiracy theories, but it was like these vindictive people were all on the phone saying "let's mess with this guy."  Oh Sprinkler, why doest thou deny me?  POR QUE?!

So I was grumpy when I got home.  I had a decent time (though they aren't improving much).  I've been struggling this week.  I haven't felt good during the work-out...it almost feels like I'm pulling a truck behind me or something.  I just feel...heavy.  I compromised and did a short run last night (hence the lack of a blog for yesterday) because it was late and I was feeling sluggish.  Hopefully that decisions doesn't have adverse effects for the eleven miles due on Saturday.

Keep It Interesting

Running is kind of boring, especially when the distance requires an hour or two.  I find myself zoning out fairly often, but eventually I start to think about my feet and ankles, and then my knees, and then all of the sudden I can feel my heart beating and hear the sound of my lungs gasping for breath.  These are great things to focus on while running, right?  Um, no thanks.  Before you know it you feel like you're carrying around 20 pounds of extra weight from the sweat on your drenched shirt and way too aware of the chafing going on in all the wrong places.  It's gross, but we all experience it.

So lets focus on ways to keep the mind busy during a work out.  I know some of my running buddies absolutely have to have music.  The fast beat keeps them moving, they can't hear their bodies begging to stop, and they get lost in the latest Ke$ha or Black Eyed Peas song, most likely on repeat.  You know who you are.  I'm not linking to Ke$ha. pfft...

This approach doesn't work for me.  I'm not all that into music, and I usually end up with a headache after about ten minutes from the constant pounding in my ears.  Combining that with the pounding of my knees as my feet hit the pavement, the pounding of my heart in my chest, and the occasional careless arm movement I don't really need the extra abuse.  But hey, whatever works for you.

Some people like to think about work.  I don't understand this strategy, unless you're visualizing running away from the office for good, never to return.  I try not to think about work while I'm not at work.

Another strategy could be to appreciate nature and observe the world around us.  Sometimes I think we lose our appreciation for the beautiful planet we live on, and noticing the simple things we normally take for granted can make for a very enjoyable run.

Most of the time, as I said above, I completely zone out.  It's like I click the "start" button on my stopwatch and I disappear for a half hour.  I usually snap back into it for the last  half-mile or so, and use that to visualize the upcoming race and how I want to finish.  Holding a mini-celebration at the end of a run never hurts.  What are some of your strategies when it comes keeping your mind occupied during a run?

Today was a bit rough.  4 miles isn't bad, but I think I was still recovering from Saturday.  Plus I had 2 cups of coffee in the morning and didn't drink enough water in the afternoon.  Figures.

Mind over Matter

It always feels good to complete an intimidating task.  Personal achievements always mean more to us when they involve a risk or effort that pushes us beyond what we believe to be possible for ourselves.  It makes sense that these moments are logged in our memories because they redefine our perception of our capabilities.  Once finished, we can no longer say to ourselves "I can't do that."

I must admit I haven't attempted very many projects that were all that intimidating.  As I mentioned in my first post, I tend to look for ways to cut corners or find a host to parasite off of (lol).  I felt that way about college while I was in it.  I've never liked to study or do homework, and my tests scores often reflected my efforts (or lack of efforts).  But when it came to walking across that stage and receiving my diploma, that day will forever be stamped in my mind.  College is over.  I have my degree, and I don't have to go back.  But if I ever do (please no.  NO!), I know I can finish it.  But I don't want to.  I don't even want to talk about it.  =D

Ten miles is a big deal for me.  Before I started training for this marathon, the furthest I had ever run was six miles, and that was forced on me during a soccer practice.  I've walked up to twenty (due to my irrational distaste for buses) in San Francisco...and that was crazy.  I wouldn't do that again.  Completing double-digit miles for running serves as a huge confidence boost for me.  I know it's still not even half of the race in October, but I now know for sure that even when I'm tired or I lose motivation, I have the capability to know that a lot of running this race is mind over matter.  Of course it is important to listen to one's body, but there shouldn't be a problem if adequately prepared through training.

It was a great run today!  Low 70's, cloudy.  No mosquitoes!  Things were fine until about the last mile and a half.  I really started to fade running up the hill between Fuller and Observatory.  I probably could have finished a minute or two earlier had it not been for waiting at all of the stoplights.  Running in the city is fun, but the times don't really portray actual running time.

Three mile runs are over.  My "short runs" are now at four miles, and my mediums are at five.  I progress to eleven miles next Saturday.

If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?

First off, I want to say thank you to those of you who are reading and commenting!  It's great to know that people are reading, and that this isn't just for me.  This is an exciting time in my life, and I'm glad that I can share it with you!  So here goes...

In my quest towards healthy eating, I have tried a lot of bad recipes and gross new "health foods," which have done everything to my body except for make me want to ever eat them again.  I also somehow managed to resist the yuppie Ann Arbor culture and have stayed out of both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.  Meijer all the way, peeps.  It doesn't get any better.  Shut up haters.

I've basically always despised vegetables, and I feel like I'm chewing on a tree when I eat a salad.  To me, there's really no difference between the leaves on the maple tree outside my apartment and the leaf of lettuce that comes out of your refrigerator.  In my mouth, they taste the same.  And I'm pretty sure if you gave a rabbit one of each, it would eat them both.

But one health food that I have (surprisingly) come to LOVE is grilled asparagus.  I go through asparagus the same way that Chris Farley goes through those fries (I love this video...one of the best skits ever).  Asparagus goes well with chicken, pork, salmon...any of the meats that I cook out on the grill.

Asparagus is good for the heart and is high in vitamin K and Folate, which is beneficial for blood and bones.  Lately I've been cooking on Mondays and eating leftovers for the rest of the week.  Although the vegetables aren't the best re-heated, when mixed into a sort of stir-fry the mushiness can be hidden by the texture of the meat.   My usual has been to create a packet out of foil, and put 10-12 asparagus inside with chopped up zucchini and summer squash.  I usually crush a couple of garlic cloves and mix that in with a little bit of olive oil and spread all over the veggies.  Then just throw the foil packet on the grill next to the fillets of (insert meat here), and take off a little before the meat.  It works great and tastes SO good!

My 3-mile run went well tonight.  One of my faster times, and no dogs!  I do like dogs--just not ones that try to eat me.  I'm resting up tomorrow for the big 10-mile on Saturday.  I'm sure I'll have a pretty detailed report of how it goes. ;-)

Invisible Fences are not cool

I have a beef with invisible fences.  And evil German Shepherds.  I may or may not have mentioned the numerous demon-possessed dogs on my route in the blog so far...there are a lot of them.  And the invisible fence, while convenient for the dog owner, brings no comfort at all to the random passer-by.  Seriously!  Dogs sprint off the porch, barking their faces off, straight up to the edge of the road inches from my legs.  I thought I left rabid dogs behind when I left the Philippines, but I guess not. :-\

On the bright side, I really enjoyed my 5-mile run this evening.  We had thunderstorms earlier today, so the air was cooler, somewhat damp, but a clear night so you could see the stars.  I finished planning my 10-mile route today...that's definitely going to take some effort to finish, but I think if I can cover it at a decent pace it will boost my confidence when it comes to the longer runs.

Hydration

I don't claim to know the science or physiology behind our bodies and what happens to them when we exercise.  My specialty is in plants, which work a little bit differently than mobile organisms.  But one thing I do know is that it is extremely important to be well-hydrated for a run--especially an 8-mile run.

I have to admit even though I know it's important, I often shrug it off.  I completed my 8-mile run this evening (which is further than I've ever done at once), and I was definitely feeling it.  I planned to run this morning, but due to the rain I postponed it to later in the day.  So, naturally, I allowed myself to drink two cups of coffee this morning.  Not smart.  I knew that the 12oz bottle of Gatorade wouldn't be enough, and I was definitely correct.  I've found that I don't have a problem when running after work, where I drink over 32oz of water in an 8-hour period.  

The run tonight was rough.  It was too hot and humid, an evil German Shepherd tried to attack me (I have no faith in those invisible fences), and I didn't really enjoy the route I took.  I need to make sure I'm more prepared for my 10-mile run next Saturday!

Product Integration

I thought I'd use my off day to do a little shameless plug for my new favorite product.

The Blender Bottle is a simple, yet genius invention.  As a person who loves smoothies but hates doing dishes, there aren't too many better options out there.  Seriously, are there any dishes more irrtating and difficult to clean than blenders?  As one of those crazy freaks who has to wash all the leftover food off of the dish in the sink before placing it in the dishwasher, it has always been my #1 concern that I would one day slice my finger in half on one of the blades.  Or I just don't know how to clean my blender, but anyway...

Basically a Blender Bottle is just a dishwasher-safe plastic bottle with a screw on cap (that is NOT annoyingly attached to the bottle like on Nalgenes), with a wire ball inside resembling a whisk.  Just throw in your components and shake.  It's that easy.  AND, it doesn't leave backwash--you know those last few milileters of liquid that are impossible to get from the bottom due to the flat cylindrical top of a Nalgene?  That = DEATH (or at least a wet t-shirt) in a car if you're trying to drive and finish off a beverage at the same time.  Nalgenes are so stupid.  >:o(

Blender Bottles are great for things like yogurt smoothies (unfortunately the ball doesn't puree fruit), protein shakes, and even for batters like pancake mix or eggs.  I have two of them--one at work and one at home--and I primarily use them for breakfasts and an after-run protein shake to aide in muscle recovery.

For a pretty good breakfast at just 200 calories, try a yogurt smoothie:

- 6oz of your favorite light seedless yogurt = 100 calories

-1/2 cup fat-free milk = 45 calories

-1/2 cup fruit juice = 5 calories (I prefer diet V8 Splash tropical blend.  It's only 10 calories/cup).

-1 serving of vanilla protein powder = 50 calories (I use Biggest Loser Protein by Designer Whey.  The other brands often contain 100 calories/serving.  It's only slightly more expensive.)

-Just throw all of the ingredients in the bottle, shake, and drink on your way to work.

If I eat dinner early and run later, I typically like to drink a shake after I get back from the run.  I have a major sweet tooth, and sometimes it's hard to say no to dessert.  Just straight up chocolate protein powder and water do it for me, but sometimes I'll add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, which adds a bit more protein and thickness to the shake.

More recipes are available on the recipe page of the Blender Bottle website.  The bottles typically run for about $8.99 at GNC stores, but I bought one of mine online from Amazon.com for $4.99+shipping (so it was about the same price).  It's totally worth it and if you're into counting calories or you want an easy breakfast, I definitely suggest you purchase one of these.

Lets talk Discipline

"Bryce...Bryce doesn't like to practice.  Bryce doesn't like to run, or do push-ups..." 

All I could do was laugh.  In front of all of my teammates and their parents (and even worse, MY parents) at the end of the year dinner for my soccer team, the only thing my coach had to say about me was that I griped a lot about physical activity.  Story of my life.

I am the youngest of three, with two older sisters.  You could say I was the prime definition of the "little brother."  If there was a short-cut to take, I had it mastered.  If there was a way to dump work on someone else or could mooch off of a classmate, there I was--leaching off of lab partner after lab partner.  By the way, thanks Alex.  I owe you my diploma.  The bottom line is that my #1 battle in life is laziness.  Given the option to lay around all day, I would...If I could somehow get paid for it.  TV Critic would have been my best career option.

Developing a plan of action is difficult for anyone, even those with "unbridled enthusiasm" or tons of ambition.  Planning takes commitment, dedication, and most of all--Discipline.

Over the past 5 weeks, I have kept to my running schedule of four days a week.  I have a sixteen-week calendar I am following (courtesy of marathonrookie.com), and so far have not allowed myself to stray from it.  But keeping up with the running is the easy part.  All this training is not only for a race, it's a change in lifestyle, a realignment of priorities.  Multiple aspects of daily life need to change: diet, sleeping habits, cross-training, hydration....the list goes on and on. 

I had McDonalds today.  I had Wendy's on Tuesday.  Tonight, I had waffles, cinnamon french toast, and bacon for dinner.  Not exactly what I should be going for, right?  I also skipped my strength-training I had scheduled on my calendar...twice this week.

A change in lifestyle takes both time and effort, and I'm learning that I have to be gracious with myself.  Working out and running take a good two-hour chunk out of my day that I used to have for other activities...which I'm now having a hard time finding a place for in my schedule.  There needs to be a balance to everything, including working out and diet.  I don't know if I can bear the though of never eating another Jet's 8-corner pizza ever again.  *sigh*

Tomorrow I get a rest from running, and Saturday it's a full 8 miles.  It's time to think about getting some new shoes...

The Beginning

About five weeks ago, some friends and I were eating dinner at a bar downtown Ann Arbor.  $1 burgers and $3 drafts are hard to pass up after a rough day of work.  Conversation took it's usual course--the odd happenings of our respective jobs, obsessive quoting of 30 Rock, counting down to the weekend... the usual.  Then someone had to change the subject to something that would change my life, my beloved and cherished routine, for the next 16 weeks and most likely longer.  "We should run the Detroit half-marathon."  WHAT.

At this point I was walking the 2.5 miles to work each morning, and running home.  That is, whenever I could drag myself out of bed forty minutes earlier than I needed to if I were driving.  The running days were slowly becoming a thing of the past.  And this was nothing unusual for me.  I have a long history of saying I'm going to accomplish something, only to give up a week or two later and justify it by listing off a series of super-lame excuses.  "I'm going to write a book.  I'm going to learn how to play the guitar.  I'm going to run a marathon."

RECORD SCREECH.

That evening, while wolfing down my $1 burger, it all clicked.  I was finally going to run a marathon.  Now my friends... they, of course, know my history.  All three of them looked at me with that typical "whatever you say Bryce" look.  Not only was I committing myself to 13.1 miles--I was committing to twice that distance. 

I immediately began telling everyone I knew that I was going to complete this journey to running 26.2 miles on October 17, 2010 as a way of holding myself accountable.  Over the past five weeks of training, I must say that I am impressed with my discipline and commitment to following through with what I've said.

This blog is going to chronicle my quest for fitness.  I plan on including recipes, strategies, schedules, as well as my own internal thoughts and observations--never without my sarcasm, I'm sure.  I hope this makes for an interesting read, and maybe I can perhaps inspire someone else to do what I did and leave their life of greasy potato chips and sugar-saturated snacks behind them.  This isn't about just running a race, it's about choosing a healthy lifestyle.