Jodi’s Running Blog

I am appalled that I have not posted to this blog since July – the pubic ramus stress fracture has taken me out of commission, and I think my interest in running plummeted as a result. I spent much of August growing more depressed until mid-September, when Evan invited me to ride my bicycle to Ballard with him (a 19 mile roundtrip ride). It was the first real exercise I’ve had since training for the marathon last spring – and it felt terrific. I could feel my spirit rekindle just challenging my muscles and increasing my heart rate. Cardiac output is a wonderful thing.

The stress fracture is much better – I can ride my mountain bike without pain, and can even walk around in heels now without feeling it. Yesterday, as I was getting out of my car at 3:30AM after having been at the hospital during the night, I could feel a slight throbbing in that location, but it’s the first I’ve experienced in several weeks. With this in mind, Evan and I are going to attempt the Salmon Days Rotary Run 5k in Issaquah on October 8th – going at a slow speed, walking part of the way, and just seeing how things go. I had a terrific 10k experience during this race last year and look forward to returning, albeit at a much slower pace.

As for the Portland Marathon – well, I still have vacation that would enable me to participate, but I will be a spectator for this one. Evan and I are meeting Josh in Portland on September 30 and will cheer the runners on! I’m sure we will find time for good food, maybe some wine, and a short run of our own.

I am encouraged by speaking with my current neurology attending today. He and his wife participate in triathlons (and from what I can gather, they are both quite impressive athletes). After singing her praises, he was relaying to us that she is currently injured. Later in the conversation he mentioned a past injury of hers. I suppose my feeling for the past few months was – maybe I’m prone to injury and shouldn’t be running distances. But it seems injuries are par for the course when sports are a passion.

I am completing my second week on crutches for my stress fracture, and while the first two days I thought my shoulders and underarms would carry permanent pain for eternity, I found that my upper body grew strong quickly! My arms feels more toned and my pubic ramus feels much better from not bearing weight on it.

I plan to use them for a few more days and then go off of them, likely later this week. At that point I am also going to begin biking the mile and a half to work each day – nothing huge, but just a fun, environmentally-friendly way to get to work.

Speaking of environmentally-friendly ways to get to work, one of my colleagues got into a wreck when we were post-call the other day after a sleepless night on call. I used the opportunity to encourage her to ride the electric trolley bus that runs from her home on Queen Anne to Harborview, and on our next call night, she excitedly told me she had, indeed, taken the bus! One more person working against global warming.

I’m two weeks out from my hamstring injury, and while much of the pain is gone the muscle still feels very stiff in the mornings. I still feel it when I lift the affected foot up to put on a sock. I was warned that it could take weeks to months to heal, but I figured if I rested adequately, stretched, took my ibuprofen and used ice/heat properly it would speed the process. I recognize that it has only been two weeks, but I feel like I’m losing too much time on the road to the Portland Marathon.

I exercised for the first time during this two week period today by getting on the elliptical trainer and going for only about 15 minutes/2.5 miles. It felt great to get my heart rate up, but the muscle did feel very stiff following even just this amount of exertion. I spent about 20 minutes stretching afterwards. Anyway, I’ll keep you posted.

Sorry to be so negative in my title, folks, but it has been a downer of a week for training. Please refer to my previous post for a clue as to why I might feel this way.

In brief – the hamstring was injured on 6/8/06, last Thursday. The following day I was sent home from an on-call night at work because the pain was so severe I was having difficulty walking. Saturday was not much better. On Sunday, Evan was to run the Furry 5k at Seward Park in Seattle. I was actually able to park the car and walk five blocks to the event. However, this did not work out so well either – not only was Evan’s asthma acting up around thousands of dogs, but the last registration bib number was given to the person in line in front of him, so the registration person gave him a “sorry” with a shrug.

So far this week, I’m better able to walk and climb stairs, but it still hurts like crazy to lift my leg into the air in order to put a sock on. I spoke with a physical therapist at work who was kind enough to show me some stretches and exercises to assist with healing. Unfortunately, she told me these injuries can take – get this – MONTHS to heal. I absolutely refuse to believe this injury will require that much rest. An injury kept me from the London Marathon in 2005, and this time I was so much more careful, built mileage very gradually, and yes, I included speed work, but was not doing anything extreme the morning of this latest injury. I’m on call again tomorrow night and post-call on 6/15. The following day I am going to try getting on the elliptical trainer to see if I can tolerate it. If it reproduces the pain, then the next step is to obtain a membership at a facility with a swimming pool to maintain my fitness level until the muscle heals. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to send them this way.

Anyway, my brief week in review for the running I was able to do – ran a total of about 15 miles prior to the injury.

I suppose the bright side is that the marathon is not until October 1st. This is currently Week #9 of 24 in training, and while this is definitely a set-back, I believe there is still time to prepare for race day. I will likely cut out the speed workouts in favor of just getting the mileage under the belt. I’ll keep you posted.

I would like to give a shout out to my bestest pal, Austin, who has decided that she is going to complete a marathon by the age of 30. I think this a most admirable goal and plan on cheering her on! See, Austin? Now all of MY readers know you’re committed too! Not only has she decided on marathoning, but she has also created her own blog, another worthy endeavour. Strong work, Austin!

• Monday – 0:44:04, 4.24 miles (10:23/mile pace). Splits: 8:21, 9:07, 10:24, 13:45, 2:25. I ran out to Jose Rizal and repeated eight x 30 second hill sprints, lightly jogging between each for rest. I actually ended up walking a mile on the way back (as I felt that Memorial Day cook out burger not wanting to stay down where it belonged!).
• Tuesday – 0:42:52, 5.0 miles (8:34/mile pace). Splits: 8:58, 8:48, 8:35, 8:23, 8:08. Felt good!
• Wednesday – Off (Post-call day)
• Thursday – 0:49:57, 6.2 miles (8:03/mile pace). Splits: 8:50, 8:40, 8:01, 7:38, 7:43, 7:38, 1:28. I was psyched about this run – my first sub-50 minute 10k! 8) 
• Friday – Off (got home from work late and had to go straight to a work-related function)
• Saturday – Long Run! – 1:36:17, 11.0 miles (8:45/mile pace). Splits: 8:18, 8:06, 8:14, 8:28, 8:39, 8:46, 8:47, 8:54, 8:51, 11:00 (hill), 8:09. Evan biked along with me on this one! It was a very enjoyable run, but I felt very tired at the end of it. 
• Sunday – Off – I hated taking yet another day off this week (my third for the week) but I was not feeling recovered from the previous day’s long run.

Total Mileage: 26.44 miles

I suppose I am pleased with this past week’s training. Having only run four days I still increased my mileage from 21–plus last week to 26–plus this week. My long run, while not at Boston-qualifying pace, was still a decent run – a good solid workout at a somewhat brisk pace, and the mileage was important to me here. I also showed myself that I am capable of continuing to improve as I broke that coveted 50–minute mark for the 10k distance.

 I have a few maps for the week too (created by Evan and Google Earth):

Monday, May 29, 2006

Saturday, June 3, 2006 – Long Run

Here is what is in store for this week (#8 of 24 total):

I am off from work today, so not only do I get to enjoy the latest issue of Runner’s World while soaking in the tub following my run this morning, but I am also indulging a bit and getting a massage this afternoon! Life is sweet. Hope yours is too. And happy running.

This has been an interesting week. Evan and I returned from our vacation at the start of it, I ran the previous week’s long run on Monday (which was supposed to be a day off, but I wasn’t able to find time to run it on its scheduled date, Sunday, because I was in the car all day on the way back from Alberta). Anyway, so this week’s mileage technically began on Tuesday. I returned to work on Wednesday, was on call again on Thursday, was post-call on Friday – needless to say, I did not reach the total mileage I had initially wanted for the week, but after having just completed this week’s long run this morning, I’m feeling good about a marathon in my future.

That being said, another aspect to this week that was totally different is that every single run took place on a treadmill. I usually enjoy running outside and using my Garmin Forerunner to map my routes, but for some reason (possibly the crappy weather we’ve been experiencing here for the end of May – chilly, rainy, and dark) I have not wanted to stray far from home. After running 10 miles on a treadmill today, though, I think I’ll be more than willing to bundle up and head outside for the next long run!

Anyway, here’s how this week went:

• Monday – Last Week’s Long Run (9.0 miles – counts towards the previous week’s mileage)
• Tuesday – 0:30:04, 3.50 miles (8:35/mile pace). Splits: 9:01, 8:45, 8:18, 4:01.
• Wednesday – 0:24:40, 3.1 miles (7:57/mile pace). I had intended to run 5 miles on this run, but felt nearly syncopal just two miles into it – the room started spinning and I felt as if I was about to faint. I struggled through a 5k and then stumbled next door to my friend Beth’s house, who fed me sugar in the form of a brownie and milk. I felt a little better after this. I was able to work in 4×30 second fartlek sprints before stopping though (my goal had been 8). Splits: unavailable.
• Thursday – 0:45:02, 5.15 miles (8:45/mile pace). This was an easy run – no hard breathing, no pain – just an enjoyable run. Splits: 8:58, 8:58, 8:49, 8:39, 8:23.
• Friday – Off. Again, the best of intentions, right? I was post-call on this day, and as we started rounds early Friday morning the room began spinning again and I felt as if I would faint while talking with my medicine team. I had to sit down, and our student brought me water. I ate some grapes, which helped. I’m not sure what was wrong with me during these few days, but I wasn’t feeling great. I had wanted to do 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer prior to my post-call nap, but I didn’t make it.
• Saturday – Off. I hated taking two days off in a row, but it just didn’t happen.
• Sunday – Long Run Day! – 1:27:14, 10.0 miles (8:42/mile pace). I decided to start at a 9 minute pace and go from there – not to push myself too much, but to focus on making it through the entire 10 miles. Around mile 8 my left knee began to ache pretty badly and my left hamstring then joined it in bothering me, but I made it, stretched, and all feels better now. Splits: 9:09, 9:05, 8:58, 8:57, 8:48, 8:42, 8:36, 8:33, 8:26, 8:00. I’m so glad to have made it through this run – perhaps I’m out of this week’s rut.

Total Mileage: 21.75 miles

Here is what is in store for this week (#7 of 24 total):

Hopefully I’ll do a better job of sticking to my schedule this week. In any case, it still feels great to run. So I wish you all a wonderfully fit week!

Happy running, everyone!  

I have reached the conclusion of my fourth week of training (of 24 weeks total) for the Portland Marathon, and to be honest, this week’s runs have been a bit interrupted by various circumstances. I will explain in line with each day’s workout.

• Monday – I was still feeling quite sore from the previous days 8–plus mile run. I went to the fitness center to do strength training and ended up stretching for about 30 minutes instead.
• Tuesday – Unfortunately here, I seem to have lost my actual numbers from this workout, although I do know I ran 4.0 miles on the treadmill with 4×30 second strides included.
• Wednesday – Off (spent the day travelling to Buffalo, NY for my sister-in-law’s college graduation).
• Thursday – 0:43:41, 5.39 miles (8:05/mile pace), including 4×30 second strides. Splits: 8:27, 8:03, 8:09, 8:09, 7:45, 3:06. This was run on the Amherst Bike Trail (aka Ellicott Creek trail) in Amherst, NY near the SUNY-Buffalo north campus – a gorgeous, scenic run on which I saw a goose with her goslings and several young rabbits.
• Friday – Off (flew from Buffalo to Houston for the college graduations of my two cousins, Nathan and Katherine). I probably should have run on this day, but the day in airports wiped me out. I committed to myself to stick to schedule over the weekend. 
• Saturday – 0:30:00, 3.44 miles (8:43/mile pace). Splits: 9:03, 8:50, 8:33, 3:35. An easy, 30–minute foundation run.
• Sunday – Long Run – 0:52:36, 6.0 miles (8:46/mile pace). Splits: 9:05, 9:06, 8:54, 8:42, 8:41, 8:10.

Total Mileage: 18.83 miles

Yikes – this week felt more like a week off. I only ran four days, took two days entirely off instead of one, and spent a strength training day stretching instead. Furthermore, since this was a “rest” week, as every fourth week is in this particular training regimen, the mileage was scaled back anyway. So I’d better behave this week, although I admit that my muscles are feeling terrific right now!

Here is my Google Earth map, brought to you by my Garmin Forerunner and by Evan Dodds, for this past week’s run on the Amherst Bike Trail:

Foundation Run – Thursday, May 11, 2006

Evan and I are off tomorrow morning on a week-long camping trip through the Northwest. We are eager to see several national parks (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier), as well as Lewis and Clark Caverns in Montana and Waterton Park in Alberta, Canada. I am also psyched about creating maps of my runs in the different areas from my Garmin Forerunner. By the way, I think I may have sold my uncle, Randy, on considering a purchase as he has gotten into running lately.

Here’s what is up for Week 5:

I am so eager to start my trip tomorrow morning – and to see Western Montana/Wyoming on foot. Have a great week everyone! “See” you when I return. 

It has been another terrific week! At the end of Week 3 out of 24 in my training, I’m still fired up about my upcoming marathon. I am continuing to have fun with my Garmin Forerunner too. Perhaps the highlight of my running week was being reunited with one of my best friends, Joshua. He was my classmate at the Medical University of South Carolina, and he trained for Grandma’s Marathon with me in 2002. He is now doing his residency in Emergency Medicine in Loma Linda, California, but came to visit us in Seattle for the weekend. He was also kind enough to run with me on Saturday and Sunday mornings. As always, Evan continues to be incredibly supportive. What can I say? I’m lucky.

Week 3 went like this:

• Monday – Off
• Tuesday – 0:42:28, 5.00 miles (8:29/mile pace), including 6×30 second strides. Splits: 8:28, 8:17, 7:59, 8:19, 9:23.
• Wednesday – Core Strength Training and Stretching
• Thursday – 0:45:06, 5.50 miles (8:12/mile pace), including 6×30 second strides. Splits: 8:54, 8:40, 8:25, 7:35, 7:37, 3:55.
• Friday – 0:30:00, Alternative Cardio (Elliptical Trainer), 4.30 miles, Splits: 7:03, 6:40, 6:29, 6:41, 3:08. 
• Saturday – 0:37:32, 4.07 miles (9:12/mile pace), splits: 8:18, 8:59, 12:13 (walked up a big hill), 7:21, 0:39.
• Sunday – Long Run – 1:10:01, 8.32 miles (8:24/mile pace). Splits: 9:06, 8:46, 8:44, 8:36, 8:13, 8:10, 7:53, 7:59, 2:29. I really enjoyed my long run this morning – I ran around the Green Lake Park loop trail three times and the time flew. I felt comfortable the entire time, starting at a slower pace to warm up and gradually picking it up with each mile. Evan, Josh, and I ate a delicious brunch at Salty’s in West Seattle to celebrate our early-morning exercise, as well as Josh’s presence in our lovely city.
  • Total Mileage: 27.19 miles

Here are the maps (brought to you by Evan) from this past week’s outdoor runs: 

• Foundation Run – Tuesday, May 2, 2006
  
• Foundation Run – Saturday, May 6, 2006
  
• Long Run – Sunday, May 7, 2006 
  

 Here’s what’s up for Week 4:

• Monday – Core Strength Training and Stretching
• Tuesday – Foundation Run 45 minutes + 4×30 second strides
• Wednesday – Off (travelling to Buffalo, NY)
• Thursday – Foundation Run 45 minutes + 4×30 second strides
• Friday – Alternative Cardio (Elliptical Trainer) – 30 minutes 
• Saturday – Foundation Run – 30 minutes
• Sunday – Foundation Run – 50 minutes

The schedule is designed such that every four weeks the mileage is scaled back a bit for a relative state of “rest.” Since this is week 4 I guess this is break week. I do look forward to a run that was outlined in Runner’s World around the SUNY – Buffalo campus on Thursday morning. As always, happy running!

What a terrific week! I was telling Evan today that this is the best I have felt in – well, as long as I can remember. Evan and I are happily together in a great city, I’m happy at work, and I really do believe I’m in the best physical shape of my life. Without making much of an effort, we have been eating very healthily too – lots of vegetables, fruits, seafood, drinking plenty of fluids…anyway, life is good. J

In other news – Saturday’s 35-minute Foundation Run turned into the chance to see how I could do at a formal 5k race! Even better – Evan was willing to run this one too. It was an awesome experience for multiple reasons. First of all, I was incredibly proud of Evan, who usually reminds me consistently that running is not his thing, but he ran the entire 5k without stopping to walk! I just cannot explain my pride in his run. Way to go, Evan. J Second, I was thrilled because I ran my best 5k since high school at 23:23. I have not broken 24 minutes since I was 16 years old, and figured that time had passed – until I ran 3.1 miles recently in just over 24 minutes. My PR is 22:50, and I want to break it soon. Finally, door prizes were given away following the race, the grand prize being the “Wine Lover’s Package,” which included a one-night stay in a king-size room at the Redmond Inn, special reserve tastings at both Columbia Winery and Chateau Saint Michele, a bottle of Chateau Saint Michele wine, and a gift certificate to a local steak restaurant in Redmond. And of course, Evan won the grand prize! A grand day indeed.

I’ll start with what took place during Week 2 of 24 of my training for the Portland Marathon:

• Monday – Off (post-call day)
• Tuesday – 0:39:39, 4.61 miles (8:36/mile pace), including 6×30 second strides. Splits: 8:02, 9:15, 7:45, 8:53, 5:43. This was run on a very hilly course near my home.
• Wednesday – Core Strength Training and Stretching
• Thursday – Alternative Cardio (Elliptical Trainer) – 0:30:30, 4.24 miles (7:12/mile pace). Splits: 7:35, 7:00, 6:53, 6:57, 1:38. Again, if only I could run this fast. Someday my running pace will equal that of my elliptical pace.
• Friday – 0:40:00, 4.79 miles (8:29/mile pace), including 6×30 second strides. Splits: 9:03, 8:38, 7:43, 8:13, 6:24. Ran this one on a treadmill, but seeing how gorgeous it was outside through the window in the fitness center convinced me that this may be one of my last treadmill runs until winter.
• Saturday – Redmond Elementary Hawk Run 5k Race – 0:23:23 (Forerunner measured 3.15 miles) (7:25/mile pace). Splits: 7:06, 7:30, 7:43, 1:02. This was the terrific race experienced described above. J
• Sunday – Long Run – 1:07:48, 7.19 miles (9:26/mile pace). Splits: 9:42, 10:31, 9:30, 8:52, 9:35, 9:07, 8:48, 1:39. Evan and I camped in Manchester State Park on the western shore of Puget Sound on Saturday night. With Evan’s encouragement, I left the warmth of my sleeping bag this morning to go on what was supposed to be a one hour, five minute long run. Still feeling a little sore from my hard 5k run the previous day, I ran this week’s long run at an easier pace than last week’s. Still felt great, though.
• Total Mileage: 23.98 miles

Evan has figured out how to use my Garmin Forerunner data to create more detailed Google Earth maps of my training. Here are a few from this past week:
 

• Foundation Run – Tuesday, April 25, 2006
  
• Foundation Run (Hawk Run 5k Race) – Saturday, April 29, 2006
  
• Long Run – Sunday, April 30, 2006
   

 Here’s what’s up for Week 3:

• Monday – Off
• Tuesday – Foundation Run 45 minutes + 6×30 second strides
• Wednesday – Core Strength Training
• Thursday – Foundation Run 45 minutes + 6×30 second strides
• Friday – Alternative Cardio (Elliptical Trainer) – 30 minutes
• Saturday – Core Strength Training
• Sunday – Long Run – 1 hour 10 minutes