Countdown: Two Weeks to Race One

It's May folks. How did that happen so quickly?

My first race is practically just around the corner. I seemed to have found myself with a bit of a problem. Not too big of one I hope. In addition to my other workouts I've gone for a long run every Saturday for the last few weeks. I'm not fast by any means, but I manage to churn out nearly six miles each run.

However, two weeks ago after the run my calves were killing me! I thought I just needed to loosen things up. Sunday I did some light jogging, but followed by engaging in a short sprint with my son. That was a very bad idea. Squatting down on my haunches to lace up my daughter's shoes was excruciating. "Ice & stretch" was the sage advice I received, and so I did. I also took the rest of the week off from doing anything else. No running, no weights. Downward dog became a favorite stretch and towards the end of the week things felt better.

Thinking myself ready, I headed out on my run this weekend, only to find a few short yards in that no, my calves did not feel better. I toughed it out and plodded my way to my friends house. After meeting up, we ran another couple miles.

I'm not running this weekend and the following weekend is the Race. I'll definitely be doing shorter runs and sprints during this week and next.

I'm thinking better pre-workout stretches may be the key.  Anyone have some helpful suggestions or links to what has worked for them? I'd appreciate it, as hobbling is not my style!

Much Like Suffocating

I have an issue when I run.

I get out of breath too quickly. My body doesn't hurt. I feel like I could keep going. Except I can't breathe.

I've read some articles on exercised induced asthma, but I don't think that's what it is. I just feel like I'm not breathing effectively.

I also tend to get side aches.

I've read they may be caused by dehydration. So, I try to drink water all day on my run days. That hasn't seemed to help much.  Maybe I'm not drinking enough water?

Or, maybe the internet is rife with mediocre advice, because I also found this article. I found it to be more believable and have followed some of its advice in an attempt to breath more deeply.  However, then I really feel like I'm drowning or suffocating.  I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.  After a few moments however, my nose burns like I jumped into the deep end of the pool and got chlorine up my nose.

Also, it takes every bit of my focus to breathe. Forcing myself to breathe in through my nose feels like trying to stay underwater for a couple more seconds when your lungs are screaming for air. It's unnatural to me.

"Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out," is my running mantra...along with "you can make it to the next mailbox" or "keep going until that curve" thrown in.

I started running because I wanted to get healthier and drop a few pounds. Now, I've got these challenges coming up.  I never figured I'd say this, but I enjoy running. I just can't seem to get over this hurdle to make it enjoy-able. Any advice for this aspiring athlete?

Run, KK, Run

I've taken on some challenges this year. 

Mostly they're all leading up to a single challenge.

I want to complete a GRC.

What is it?  Honestly, that's a really good question.  It's a team event, not a race.Eight to ten hours, fifteen to twenty miles, and offers to under promise, over deliver. You can learn more about it here.  Watch one of the videos. I'll wait.

Intense, right?

I want to be one of those smiling people at the end. Exhausted, but rewarded. There's something that drives me that is difficult to express. It demands I be one of those people.

So, how do you get ready for this event that offers sketchy details at best?

For me, I'm weight lifting three times per week, doing my darnedest to increase my stamina, and taking on some other challenges along the way.

May - Capital City Marathon: Nothing too big here...a little 5 mile race. I'll be happy to just finish.

June - Goldsborough Creek Run: 7 miles. Just hope to have a faster time than the CCM.

June - Spartan Sprint:  If you've never heard of a Spartan Race, check this out!  For this one, I just hope to come out alive.

September - Tough Mudder: Assuming the Spartan Sprint doesn't break me, bring on the mud! Tough Mudder is almost four times as long as the SS with many more obstacles. Wanna peek? Click here.

And finally...

December - GoRuck Challenge: The pinnacle event of the year!

You may have noticed some time gaps there. I'm hoping to fill July, August, October and November with a race or challenge of some kind. 

I'll keep y'all posted!

How Comely are the Feet...

Occasionally I get a bug and decide I want to be a runner. Generally this happens when 1) I reach a frustrating plateau in my weight loss or 2) when I’m stressed out. Sometimes hurting physically is preferable to hurting emotionally.  So I go out and pound the pavement and beat up my body for a while hoping to shut off my brain, if only for a few minutes.

I've made changes in the last twelve months. First, I’ve never really cared for distance running at all, but now it has grown on me. Second, when I started losing weight I began running on the treadmill. I preferred that to running outdoors. Now, however, I do enjoy running outside.  One thing that’s awesome about it is the fact that it forces me to push myself. Why? I can’t exactly stop when I’m three miles from my house.  I’m pretty much required to continue. (Please note I use “running” loosely. My preferred term is RJW for Run Jog Walk. This means I start running, I slow to jogging and end up walking. After I brief rest, I resume running and the cycle repeats. Some days I manage to stay in the running stage longer than others.) 

My problem is I can’t seem to find the right pair of running shoes. I’ve tried Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and most recently an expensive pair of Saucony’s. I like my shoes tight. I want to feel like my shoe is part of my foot. I’ve tried runners and cross trainers. When they’re long enough in the toe box, they’re too loose in heel. I normally wear a seven and a half; going up to an eight just makes them too big all over. When they're too big all over my heel slides out, my foot bounces around inside the shoe, and I might as well sign up for the new barefoot running trend. 

Twice now I’ve gotten shoes that feel great in the store, but after a few miles make my toes go to sleep.  A weird sensation while you’re running, believe me. Loosening my laces in an attempt to relieve the numbness makes my index toe (do toes have names like fingers?) hit the front of my shoe on every forward stride. This causes bruising of the nail bed and inevitably my toe nail falls off. Gross!

I even went to REI and consulted with an “expert” to find the right pair of shoes. I tried some of those crazy toe-finger shoes. They were hideous and uncomfortable. I tried a few other pairs before settling on the Saucony’s. Maybe I need to invest in some custom made inserts?

Are you a runner? Do you have shoes you love and recommend? I’d love to hear about it. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’m going to have to resign myself to constantly having a goofy looking pedicure.