The Past Week

Since this is a supposed blog about running (when lately it seems more like a weenie and corgi blog) I'll share with you my running news first before I post doggie pictures.

I started physical therapy this week, along with doing the other knee/hip exercises the sports doctor recommended.

I ran a mile and a half Thursday and 3 miles yesterday with no knee pain!

I am pretty excited because I think my strengthening exercises have been paying off!

I also feel that I have been keeping myself in good shape - biking at least an hour every day and lifting three times a week, so I am hoping to still run the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 30th!!!

The past week has been a busy one with the new puppy.  He is whining for a cuddle so I will post some pictures to fill you in on the last week!

Love to Run t-shirt, size XXS

He is now my son

Jordan and Maura's B-day celebration Saturday at BRGR

The Happy Couple

It took way too many times to take a normal picture.  Haha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Penny and I getting ready for our Girl's Day Out while the men worked on our bathroom.

Indulging in free doggie ice cream, from Dog Days 2011 at Hartwood Acres

So tired.

I ordered an egg sandwich at sheetz with hotsauce.... instead of putting it on they gave me the mini-est little bottle ever!  A highlight of my week for sure.

Why I love my life!

Productive Tuesday and Knee Pain

In case you were wondering, I am still loving my summer job.  First of all, I have off on Tuesdays.  Yesterday, I accomplished an insane amount.  Let me amaze you with my list of tasks I accomplished.

Starting at 5:30 am (am I the only person who can't sleep in?)
Did a load of laundry, folded and put away
Put away laundry from the day before
Made coffee and bed
Lifted at the gym
Had a coffee at Panera
Went Shopping at a secret store for Jordan's anniversary surprise
Went to another secret store
Grocery shopped at Giant Eagle, and printed pictures
Bought lotion at the mall, scouted out some dresses for our anniversary June 26th
Came home
Took Penny for a 1.5 mile walk
Made a delicious lunch
Cooked a huge pot of homemade wedding soup
Dusted and vacuumed the entire house
Worked on an anniversary surprise for 1.5 hours
Went to a hair appointment
Bought a father's day gift
Took a 20 minute nap
Stalked blogs
Picked up a new girl for running club practice, ran 3x 1,000 meters around 3:51, 1 minute rest, 400 around 1:27
All to come home at 8:30 and have my husband make the salad and enjoy homemade wedding soup and wine :)

I am loving this day off because I can get all of this out of the way to enjoy the weekend with my boo!  And at work today, I got to play on this awesome wooden castle park:

I love this playground! 

and swim at the pool!!!

Onto running news......

Last night, I did the workout I mentioned above to total 7 miles.  My knee felt pretty good.  However, I woke up this AM and tried to run 5 miles before work and I had to stop after a half mile.....I was pretty upset.  Through the day I read more about injuries and I think I have a case of Runner's Knee.  My friend recommended that I get a knee strap, so I rushed to get one right after work.  I also got a cold compress you can freeze, too.

NOT my leg

I went running with it when I got home....it helped so much!  I was able to run 5 miles and barely felt anything different.  It has been about 2 hours since I stopped my run and I have absolutely no pain right now.  I really hope this is the answer!  I would hate to take more time off, because marathon training starts in 1.5 weeks!

Let me know if you have any knee pain advice!

Tapering continues, Bridal Shower, Corey is 19, and Mother's Day Party

Friday was an easy 5 miles in the morning at 8:44 pace.  Thursday's workout went really well, but I felt stiff in my left hip on this run.  It wasn't anything that hurt that bad but it was irritating to me.  I really want this completely gone before the race Sunday......

Saturday I did an easy 3 miles.  I actually awoke on my own at 5:57 that morning.  So weird, I  know.  However, I had a very busy day ahead so I was fine with waking up so early.  I had a bridal shower to help host, and that night a bachlorette party to attend.  I had so much fun at both, and it turned out to be a very busy day!  I actually stayed up close to 1am.   World record.

Today I was expecting to be tired but again woke up before my alarm, this time at 7 -a little bit more normal.  I ran with my Dad at the track to do a marathon pace workout.  I ran 7 miles total, and the goal was to run two miles at marathon pace in the shoes I would be wearing to race.  Well, I actually ran a little faster than marathon pace - 6:57 pace to be exact.  I hope I can use this to boost my confidence one week from now.

Besides checking the 10 day weather forecast every half an hour (Currently, the weather for race day is predicted as a low of 54 and high of 64, with 40% chance of rain) I cooked spaghetti, meatballs, hot sausage, and a carrot cake for Mother's Day/Corey's Birthday.  We also had two types of salad, bread, and lots of red wine....it was a lot of fun and we actually set up outside and tied Penny to a post in our yard.  She loved it- except when I left her sight.

Mom and I

Grandpa and Penny

Birthday Boy and Corg

Jordan's Mommy

This man did all the dishes!

Family Portrait

soccer

digging

Dinner Guests: Dan, Sue, Maura, Alex, Mom, Dad, Corey

Carrot Cake - words written in carrots

Happy Birthday!

Tapering

How I have been rehabing my bum hamstring:

1) Hamstring massages from Jordan.
2) Two days of no running (Sunday and Monday).
3) Icing with frozen peas.
4) Cuddling with my favorite Corgi

5) Doing abs and Yoga.

Down Dog with Two Corgis - while Jordan ate Fritos....

 The hamstring pain is not too bad.  Really, it just felt very tight the first quarter mile of the runs I did.  I lifted and did 5 miles Tuesday (7:56 pace) and 5 miles Wednesday (Pace unknown, forgot watch).  Both times, it felt BETTER after running.  I felt it more when I lifted my knee up to extend my leg.

Today, I did a workout I always do before I run a marathon - there is really no reason why I do this workout, but I did it before my first race and I thought I would do it before the second marathon...now it is a tradition.  It is 6x800 meters, but not on the track, at North Park where there are rolling hills.  I do 2:20 for rest - again, for no reason.  Anyways, I felt very good and averaged 3:09 pace for these.  3:08, 3:09, 3:16, 3:10, 3:07, 3:04.  Before my 3:13 marathon, I averaged 3:22 pace.  I am trying to tell myself that is 800s workout means I will crush my old PR...haha.  After I finished my workout, my hamstring was pain free and still is two hours later.  Maybe I ran it out of me!!!

I am getting so pumped for the Pittsburgh Marathon in 10 days!  I have been stalking the weather religiously as always.  Right now, the forecast is a low of 46, high of 58, and "Plenty of Sun".  I would be happy with this, I just hope it doesn't get any warmer, or monsoon like last year.

This is what tapering looks like:

I am a believer in carbo loading.

Good running quote from an advertisement in a magazine...

IF YOU RAN WITHOUT SACRIFICE, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU JUST JOGGED. Running hurts. It always has. Woolly mammoths didn’t just roll over onto a plate and serve themselves up to prehistoric man with fries and a shake. They had to be caught - and running down woolly mammoths was a bitch. Guess what? Running is still a bitch. But one with a purpose. It teaches us that good things do not come easy. It teaches us that hard work will be rewarded and laziness will be punished. Don’t expect to learn those life lessons from running’s shiftless stepchild; jogging. Next time you suffer on the roads or trails, suffer proudly. It means you run like an animal.

Send me some good running quotes!!!