minimalist running: why ill try it

this video kindof sums it up.
basically, forefront running is more efficient, and will cause less injuries long-term. Makes you a whole lot faster apparently too....

So no, I don't own newtons, I just thought their video explained forefront running well. I've been running in asics since the dawn of time....but I recently bought a pair of 'minimalist' new balance shoes. Going to try to transition....

I am a little weary of the transition. Yes, many of the 'expert' runners I know are switching (not to mention all the associates at Texas Running Company)..but I have yet to meet someone who transitioned WIHTOUT injury...ironic isn't it......??

Seems it is really easy to want to switch quickly. And that's how the worst injuries occur.

Is it worth it?

Seems most experts think so.

My physical therapist transitioned over 9months, with one gastroc injury. (This is a guy who has run three ironman triathlons, and multiple marathons, and swam competitively in college). So I trust him!  If he tells me it should take nine months....guess I better start now!

My First Injury

Well, it happened. I got my first sports injury. Not excited. It happened after the tri, or at the tri, or a product of undertraining perhaps mixed with a bad chiropractor visit mixed with transition to minimalist running...pick one. It's an aggrivated tendon, and it doesn't hurt (it causes a tingling sensation, or it used to, after a run), PT and ortho say it's not structural, muscular. But it's still enough to scare me.

I guess I thought I was invincible.

got carried away.

Something like that.

But it means for me, no races for the rest of this season. Which is really hard. Too hard. The thought of not being able to run...the thing I love so much....really has been hard to process.

I know it's not true, but I feel like a ball of laziness, not having any athletic outlet (I can't run, cycle, zumba, walk, only swim on occasion). Thus, I have lost my "daily" (every-other-daily) runs. Up hills with the running stroller in the middle of the day, feeling the ugly tan lines perpetuate on my legs--I love that feeling:). I've lost my night runs while J has his guys night at the house, I've lost my early morning 2 hour runs on Saturdays...

I feel really sad.

At church, we sang a song with lyrics that sang:

"I am free to dance....I am free to run...I am free to live for You...I am free". I got choked up.

I can't run.

There are times when even productive things become bad things. You know. When they become more important than the Most Important Thing. I think busyness, sleeplessness, fatigue, etc.--all the things that accompany motherhood--can be huge distractors from our walk with God. At least, for me, this has been true. I have climbed the 'slippery slope' to where now it is hard for me to have a dedicated, consistent time in the Word. We decided earlier this year that this is not the right time for us to be in a bible study as a family. However, I still need the accountability and calling-out.

So grateful for church Sunday. Even though it is painful, I am slowing being able to find joy in the fact that I can't run. Because I can. I can run toward the Lord still, and my legs can't keep me from Him.

Fitness is important...but it isn't Everything.

How to Run a Half-Marathoooooon

Okay disclaimer...I am not an expert. Far far from. However, I have had multiple friends asking me how I trained for my last half-marathon (okay, it was my FIRST half marathon, first RACE since....pubesence.)  I decided to run a half-marathon a couple months after the birth of Elijah, because I wanted to lose the baby weight because I was starting to feel like this

And, at a week post-baby, I had a Target clerk ask me when I was due.

That'll do it.

Instant motivation.

Running the marathon was seriously one of the best feelings. Super empowering. I think 2010 was a very empowering year for me, and after having a baby (the biggest accomplishment a woman can have) I felt incredibly strong, incredibly empowered...if I can carry this massive baby and have him, and provide food for him and care for him, ...I mean a marathon starts to sound schmeasy-peasy. 

And in comparison to childbirth....it was

                         My only disclaimer--besides the fact that I'm not an expert just writing from my own experience--is that running may not be the quickest, most efficient or effective way to lose weight. I have a friend who did lose a ton of weight and managed a six-pack post baby (and no she wasn't Heidi Klum, she was a normal human being with hips)...and her work out schedule was totally different from mine. (Hers was intensive in fat-burning exercises alternating with muscle-building)I will add hers to the end of this post in case you're interested.

How I Ran a Half Marathon Post-Baby

BabyStepNumber1) Taking baby steps. About three weeks post-baby, I decided to go for a run. I do have a history of running (which helps) but it had been awhile. So, I figured, 'Oh, I'll just go for a mile'....pause...remembering Target clerk... 'maybe a two-mile jog'. Wrong. I ran three steps and was heaved over feeling like I was dying. What the heck. I came home (I made it to the end of my cul-de-sac) ready to turn in my Asics. Nope, running's not my thing.

Which leads to

BabyStepNumber2) Motivation. I know it's sad, don't feel sorry for me--but I continued to remember that Target clerk's comment. Cue slow motion voice and close up of Target clerk's mouth: 'wheeeen arrrre youuuu duuuuuuueeee'.  A couple days after my trek to the third house on my block, I decided to try again. And again. This continued to be my motivation. Now that I've lost about 50lbs, my motivation is to be a role model for Elijah. (in general my goal is to set standards HIGH for Elijah's future wife. Unattainably high.)

BSN3) A Race. So, I knew I probably wasn't going to stay committed to a work-out "plan". I always fall short of those things. So, I knew if I wanted to be committed to running a long distance, I had to sign up for a race (which are usually non-refundable) and just go for it. So, I ran on my own, in the mornings before Justin went to work, for about three months after baby. I didn't run everyday, I didn't even run every other day, but I tried to run every week. (Again--like I said--this isn't the most effective way to lose weight (at least the way I did it). It did however up my metabolism by the end of the ordeal.) So at three months post-baby, I signed me and my husband up for month 5 post-baby and it was done and done.

BSN4) A Route. We happen to live near one of the best running trails in Austin (Brushy Creek Trail, it's 13 mi long) so route was pretty convenient. I am not one of those people who will ever just pick up and DRIVE somewhere to go work out, I am just not that committed. So marking out a five-mile course in your neighborhood, regardless of trail or not is key. After that--I literally would run as far as I could in one direction, then be forced to run back home the same amount. 

BSN5) A Reward. After I signed up for the race, I knew I had to start running a lot more. I started trying to run every day (knowing I wouldn't make every day) and I made it a routine to go run at night when Justin got home, leave him with the baby, then when I got home Justin would let me have a solid hour of 'me' time during which I would watch the Bachelor (the season with Ally). Every time I would dread going to run, I would remember I don't get to see which faker she ditches this week if I don't go running.

BSN6) The 'Plan'. So two-months before my race, I knew it was crunch time and I had to make it to 13.1 miles. My only goal with this race was to run the entire time. I didn't care about my time, I just wanted to run the whole thing without walking. So I knew I had 8 weeks to learn how to run 13 miles. I called my sister-in-law (who has run a full marathon) and she told me if I can run 7 miles without stopping, I can run the 13.1. I was skeptical, but committed to that plan. So:

Week 1: I ran three miles twice

Week 2: I ran three miles twice

Week 3: I ran four miles once or twice

Week 4: I ran four miles once or twice

Week 5: I ran six miles once and two miles once

Week 6: I ran five miles once and eight miles once 

Week 7: I ran nine miles once and two miles once

Week 8: I ran three miles once.

Race Day.

I showed up Race Day (in Houston, October)and ate two pancakes, streteched for 45 minutes, and ran the entire thing without a glitch! I'm serious, it was God's grace to me. I felt no humps, no hard parts, and no temptations to walk. I give credit (of course to God) but also the the fact that I started slow, and worked up to it. ANd I never even had to run 13 miles before race day. My time was 2hrs 14 min, but I wonder if I could have been faster had I run harder.

My Must-Haves for Running:

1) It's all about thought-content. I don't run with music, and I don't time myself ever, so when I run I just think about life and situations I'd like to be in in the future. One example:  I have at least four Oscar and Golden Globe Acceptance Speeches I have written during my running (which we all need in my opinion). Try it. If you're ever at a hump working out, just imagine yourself on the stage accepting an award and I promise you will feel no pain.

2) Oxygen is energy. Just remember, if you're breathing you're providing oxygen to your cells and giving them what they need to accomplish the task at hand. I often even repeat to myself if I'm having a hard run, : "Oxygen is energy".

*****

So now I'm 'training' for the Austin half in February. I am not training as much, or as consistently. Plus, I have the running stroller I have to train with now (which is...like pain-central the first few times). I will let you know how it goes!

(this is how I feel running with a baby)

Footnote:

Friend's Get Buff Post-Baby Routine: Losing Major Poundage

** Per my friend, she worked out 5 days a week starting at 3 months. No excuses, never missing a day. 

** Her routine was lifting for 25 min straight, then cardio for the last 25 min (running, or stair-stepper set on 15). This is basically every day mind you. 

**Strict diet: Lots of protein for breakfast (big breakfast), vegetables and meat for lunch and dinner, and No carbs past 5pm. (This is the reason why this workout would never work for me.((But again, she has a six-pack and looks like a super-model))

**She did this for a year, and continues to do this to stay in shape.  

 

Ugh.

My first marathon

Can it be possible? Not only are my joints not popping, not hurting, not sore--but I didn't have a heart attack, either!!

Take that, incredibly unreliable and insignificant statistics.

At mile 1, I was REALLY scared. As everyone had to wait in line to turn corners (the half&full started together for 4 miles so it was crowded), I thought, "This is going to be a long, long day". The humidity, (it was supposed to rain), the heat (at the end it was almost 90 deg), and my hamstring strain from the day before made me really anxious beforehand.  But, as it turned out, as I ran I got used to that tight feeling in my hamstrings and I got used to running with "pain". (Not a shooting pain, more like a 'sore' pain). I focused on how hydrated I was from the day before (mentally), and, let each gust of wind mimic the wave of the ocean over my body.

Poetic, right. Ha.

I did forget to thank a couple people who helped me along the way--Jason C.&Kelcey who gave me training tips (because I wasn't able to train with a club). Also, John whom I met at the race around mile 19...he has run 60 marathons and he gave me encouragement the last 6 miles! (He had run a marathon the day before!)

 (Yes, we made shirts. I figured, if it ends up being my only one, I'm going all out)

Overall Cons:

--I loathed this particular race. Not the course, although a friend told me it was harder than the Austin course because of hill amount& placement? Well, thank you God for Brushy Creek Trails for training! My problems: the dis-organization, the LACK of water stations (people were fainting, puking which always happens but really?), lack of adequate medical stations, and Oh Yeah, Let's start a race in late Spring at 8AM! Even winter races start at 7!

--It was hard? I use a question mark because this is both a "Con"& a "Pro". It was challenging, and I had to push through at parts. But, I was never 'breaking'.

--Training was hard on me physically and was time consuming, though I chose to train for 4 weeks. (Training is the hardest, hardest part. It is the only deterrent in keeping me from going at it again)

Pros:

--I 'beat' my goal time of 5 hours by more than I thought

--I never hit the "wall". I perhaps could have gone longer? Which I know is CRAZY to say. That last stretch was not my favorite.

--I was able to thank God during my run for where He's brought me over the year--which is why I ran it.

Which brings me to making a long post even longer. The reason I *really* ran this race was a thanksgiving to God for my body.

I've had a rough year in terms of dealing with my body--in terms of body image, hormones, extreme wear. I went from being a stick figure (pre-pregnancy mind you!) to gaining almost 45 pounds in my pregnancy, to nursing the baby and the extreme stress that was on my body, to losing some weight, and back to a healthy place again--all within a year. It all sounds normal, but for me--having never gained a pound since I was 12 (my body was stuck in adolescence until I was 27 which I now see how gross that was!), gaining 10 lbs alone was weird and my hormones didn't help. My hormones were hard on me, I had extreme nausea and fatigue--to the point I couldn't go to work during my 3rd trimester. Torture for someone who loves staying active.  I had days I would cry out to God in such anger, frustration, helplessness over my body--"Am I stuck in this huge fat-suit glued to my bed forever??" I seriously thought that was it for me. Even post-pregnancy, I thought, this is it for me. I'm stuck here.

I couldn't even finish decorating the nursery, and decorating's my FAVORITE.

Thought I would never be able to be my 'old self' again. So, when I started running for the first time, it was a huge celebration in my heart to God. I knew He had given me back something I didn't deserve in the first place.

So, that is why running a marathon was such a big deal to me. If you would have seen how sickly I was a year ago (while pregnant), you would not have believed I could move again, much less run a marathon at 10months post-parptum. (Yes, I used the word "sickly" past 1892).

P.S. Oh and Labor is Harder.

Marathon training

Okay before I gripe, I will list the things I love about running.

A) It's efficient. Short amount of time, and I'm giving my heart a great exercise.

B) It's cheap. No gym membership, no driving somewhere, time efficient, wallet-efficient.

C) It feels awesome.

D) It is worship. For me, starting at 2-3 weeks postpartum, it is a way I physically thank God for my health. Hard to explain.

E) It's can be *good for your joints, and good for your heart. (See articles I linked to previous post)

But, I will say, I'm not burning calories anymore, and not gaining muscle. After running a certain mileage (which really isn't very high), your body gets so used to it, it stops being a way to lose weight/build cardio. (Look in any running journal to find the scientific mumbojumbo, I don't have the energy to link right now). So, it's probably not something you do to lose weight or get in great shape.

But, it's something I do because I *love.

Up until my 16mi run, it gave me energy, endurance for my day, and a time to focus on God.

But, this week, I've realized training for this marathon is affecting me in ways I didn't think it would, and not affecting me in the ways I thought it would.

My muscles and joints feel awesome. Doing taxes on the computer hurt my joints worse than 20miles. A little tight 3rd day, but no pain.

But, I. Am. Exhausted.

I don't have the energy to clean, to cook, to organize...I started spring cleaning and can't continue...I basically use every ounce of energy in my day to spend time with my baby and teach him things.

Everything else: Gone To Pot.

What's funny, is I am just running ONE time a week, but I am drained all week from my one long run. Even though I have only been really training for 3 weeks, in this short time I have realized that it has affected my ability to give 100% as a housekeeper, financial steward, and WIFE. And even some as a mother (even I focus on that one thing during my days).

I'm not saying I am training *well. I'm not training the way a runner should be training for a marathon. I'm eating fast-food and PBJ's and pizza. I'm running one time per week instead of three, and I'm doing no muscle-building. But, I am training the *best I can while being a mom (minus the poor diet, that's just bad habit), while putting my baby first and my husband first. (Which is why, they say being a stay-at-home mom is a full time job..if it's really your priority, it IS a full time job!) Which is why I am saying...it isn't wise for *me* to run marathons in a 'mom' season of life.

What I wasn't expecting was that being a mom is incredibly and unexpectedly draining physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Am I quiting now?

Heck, no! I already did all the work! My training is basically over at this point (my race is in a week 1/2) and all that's left is race day. The distance isn't the problem. It's the training.

And, I'm glad I'm not training for the whole 4-6month period that most runners train, because that would be a long amount of time to live in dumpster-central.

So, what has training looked like for me?

Three weeks ago, I ran 16;  Lots of hills, but nothing to report except hamstring soreness that lasted 4 days.

The week after, I ran 18.9.  The hardest run by far. It was 82 that day, I ate three Goo in the first half hour (stupid, stupid mistake) and my legs felt like ten million pounds. Awful day.

This week, I ran 20.8. I felt really good afterwards, definitely had another 2 miles in me, no complaints. Okay I'll find one. It's hard to 'stay off your legs' when you have a 10month old. I think that's why I can't recover quick enough energy-wise to run during the week.

This week: Exhausted. I am literally having to push myself to get laundry done, to take Elijah out, to go to Target and I LOVE Target.

So......do I still love running?

Yes, please!

Will I ever run another 26.2 mile-marathon?

Not while there is a baby in the house!

My Second Half-Marathon

#1) :

Hills of San Marcos. 13.1. "Rolling" hills my HINEY. Friggin EKG. We were literally running next to cows, chickens, and barns. I laughed out loud a few times in spite of Texas.


#2) Yes, I know it's crazy. After my San Marcos run, I started thinking...I *never* thought I'd be able to run a half so soon. And yet, God gave me the strength and it is such a cool feeling to say YES to myself instead of a BUT, I CAN'T. So, I thought, why not a full 26.2? So I'm doing it


a) Because my baby will never be this low maintenance again. I'll never just have *one* baby again, and as they get older, it gets harder to slip away


b) I'm so close in training (at the point in which I write, I ran one 18.9mi run last week and ran a 20.8 mile run Sunday...I won't go through this again)


c) Marathons DON'T necessarily kill the knees or produce heart attacks. (Here's why ) (And here's why)


c) I've had a couple of people tell me I can't


d) Because I CAN (if it's God's will)