30 weeks of training begins

So my quest for Disney's Goofy marathon and a Half began this week with Mondays 4 mile run. My Xtraining will be pool running and elliptical for now.

As I begin to get more serious about my training, I'm also trying to get more serious about the fuel I eat and cut out whatever is not good for me - artificial sweetners and too much dairy. I've noticed that dairy and artificial sweetners tend to bloat me so bad my stomach is huge. Today I will eliminate these in hopes of fixing the problem and perhaps losing a few needed pounds.

Tonight - 4 miles in the pool - weather permitting.

Why I run...

My name is Robin, andI have suffered from MdDs since July 2004. I was 44 at the onset, and very active and healthy. Mine was a spontaneous onset, however, for a month before it came on I had traveled by plane to FL to help my sister thru a difficult surgery and was her private duty for 3 days without much sleep. After landing home, exhausted, I felt the rocking motion for about 48 hours and then it went away.

A month later, we drove to the beach 8 hours away. They have a shopping area with a floating bridge going over a waterway - I felt the sensation hit while walking on it and it hasn’t gone away.

I had a year of going to different doctors, trying several medications without help. Nasonex is the only medication that seems to help the symptoms a little.

I felt sorry for myself that year and became a couch potato. I did continue to work, but found myself growing more tired earlier in the day and by the end of the work day, I just plopped on the couch and prayed for things to stop moving.

After a long time of feeling sorry for myself, I decided it wasn’t going away with being a couch potato, so I got out and walked several miles a day. After a few days, I noticed the symptoms improved some. I kept going, and soon started running. The symptoms were a little better each day - tolerable levels.

Now I've run 6 half marathons with a respectable finish and will be training soon for my first Marathon in January 2010.

My life has changed in many positive ways, but I have to be careful what I do -as things still trigger the symptoms. Malls and other stores increase my symptoms as do jobs that require my eyes to move up and down frequently, shuffling cards sets it off, washing dishes, potatoes or such, and like many people - short car rides make it go away temporarily. I have also noticed that small amounts of wine will reset the symptoms when it gets bad! (after long car rides or airplane rides)

The positive side of this horrible affliction is that I'm now in better shape than I was at 25...and a much happier person. I have a great support system with my husband of 27 years and my 2 children who are amazing young adults now. Yes, this is something I think about daily, but I'm finding ways to cope. If this story helps one other person become more proactive and feel better, then I feel I've done a good thing :)

Rock on!

Robin (to learn more about this go to www.mddsfoundation.org)

My Goofy Plan

10 months and counting

I know the Goofy Challenge is MONTHS away, but I'm mentally preparing as I search for training tips and ideas. Ahhhhhh! What did I do?

The Quest for the Goofy Challenge

In a few months, I will begin training for the ultimate event - GOOFY. This is a Disney world event that includes a Half marathon on Saturday and Full marathon on Sunday. My plan now is to walk/run or run/walk both events...but thing change.

Am I crazy or just GOOFY!!?? Bring it on!!!

Actively injured

So after a wonderful summer of running, I am on the "active injured list" with another stress fracture of the tibia (lower leg near inside of ankle) . The good news is no boot OR crutches this time. The bad news it happened again and we aren't really sure WHY. I am using orthotics, I have the correct shoes (we think) and I thought I was eating enough calcium. My Dexa scan a year ago showed I had the bones of a 20 year old :) The doc wants me to eat 1600 mg of calcium daily so this will take some major juggling unless I can get some thru supplements.

I am supposed to keep up with my regular running schedule except do it in the pool or bike. So, luckily I am pool running. I feel it is a harder workout than on land but a whole lot more boring. I'll have to bring out some tunes or something soon!

Gotta love the running!

Wish I knew about running and the way it makes me feel 20 years ago.

Been training for the 1/2 Marathon, next one in November. Saturdays we do the long runs with the group. Still struggling with odd aches/pains and doing PT. There was a controversy over orthotics in Neutral or Stability shoes. I've been doing neutral and finally gave in to a new pair of Stability shoes. Saucony Guide which offers light stability. Ran 4 miles lastnight with them and the aches/pains are gone! Interesting. Saturday we do 9 miles with the group!

Half Marathon training begins!

This am, our first long run training session started. Gorgeous location in Charlottesville, and very shady. The cows, sheep and birds were doing their thing :)

We did a 2 mile warm up followed by a 5K time trial run. My mission was to do 29:05 and I did 29:18. Not bad, as I felt the hills were pretty challenging to say the least. We couldnt have asked for better weather - 60's and overcast. Perfect. Oh, and my orthotics were not as much of a issue as in previous runs! wooooo. Total with cooldown, 6 miles!

Let the season begin!!

Orthotics suck!

Finally got my custom made orthotics and they are very hard to get used to. I have run only 3 times with them and 3 miles is the most I can handle yet. I know there is a break in period....but at what point do you forget they are in your shoes?

Saturday morning I start with the Marathon group runs! woooo!

Check back then.

Still Running!

i know, I'm not a good blogger. I'm still doing PT weekly for IT band and foot issues, but also signed up for the 1/2 Marathon group runs starting in 2 weeks. I'm excited. ONLY downside is that they start at 6:15 am about 30-40 min away. (I am not a morning person)

Did Core for 2 weeks and gained 3 lbs. I think it was the fruit and increased legumes. Switched to South Beach once more and I feel at ease again. Down 4 lbs in less than a week. I have to learn to listen to what my body likes.

So, until 6/21 I'm running 3 days/week and swimming as much as I can...and lifting 2 nights.

I'll try to do better. :)

DC trip

MY PT has been going really well. I was able to do 5 miles on Sunday!

Monday and Tuesday we went with my sister and her husband to DC. Saw all the war memorials, and museums, statues, and the weather was incredible. We stayed at a hotel that was part of a University for the deaf. Very cool place.

Going to PT and try running again tomorrow.

JMU Graduation day!

Our beautiful daughter graduated today and it was a wonderful day. Sunny, warm and fun for all. Very proud of our first graduate! :) She worked hard.

foot/leg update

Okay, I havent posted in awhile cuz I havent done much running. I've been in PT now for 3 weeks. (oh and went to St. Thomas for 1 week)

PT is going well, but painful. Check out the bruises in the pix. The foot pain was being brought on because of a bigger problem. The ITB, hamstring, and calf muscle all attached at the Femoral bone which with me was in a locked down position causing pain whenever I tried to run more than 1 mile. PT has been wonderful to work on this - ultrasound, deep tissue massage (or what I like to call torture!) and E-stim.

I was able to do 3.5 miles lastnight which is huge after all this time. Hubby asked me if I'd signed up for another 1/2 Mary since I made THAT milestone! :) ha ha. (not yet, but I thought about it)

I've included a pix of St. Thomas too. Gorgeous location our hotel was in...lots or relaxing.

continuing saga of Robin's Foot

So, I have tendonitis in the foot. Big woop. Feels like more than that? I start PT tomorrow. I just know my therapist will yell at me for not having worn my custom orthotics I had made last December. BUT, I have a good excuse! I do! I was about to run Disney, then I was already geared up for the Shamrock 1/2...so I wasnt able to break them in right. So...I pay the price obviously.

Got new sneakers that are pretty and pink! Not something I thought I'd like, but I do! Saucony ProGrid Trigon 5...nice toe box and big enough to fit my orthotics :) Good deal.

Well, the preliminary reading shows NO stress fracture. Waiting to see what my doc says. (talked to his nurse) I'm shocked! It feels exactly the same... Good news, but weird! Perhaps it is tendonitis? dunno yet....Doc will call me tomorrow after the final reading....and see what else if anything they found. I'm floored really...and a little embarrassed that I was so insistant that it was the same thing. I had the swelling the same, ache the same! Everything! Weird.

Saw doc today

Okay, so here is the deal. My leg issue is definately ITB...I can deal with that.

Foot is more than likely stress fracture. He did Xrays and there were 2 questionable areas....one a separation that's not right and a line that is questionable. Obvious I need an MRI for conclusive. He's hoping it's all "normal for me" which he wont know til he compares to the last Xray...and I just have Tendonitis...but thinks we are probably dealing with the stress fracture. It was 5pm, and the MRI people werent there to schedule, so he said his nurse will call me first thing tomorrow!

I told him I'm going to St. Thomas in a week and 1/2 and he said "gee, I think you will need close physician supervision!" ha ha. Funny guy.

If it IS stress fracture, then we need to see WHY I keep getting them and do some biomechanical testing of my gait and foot.

Rut row

I have the tell-tale signs of another Navicular Stress fracture...same darn foot! Going to docs on Tuesday, but I am not happy about it. IF it is, back in the boot for 8 weeks and no weight bearing again! I'm trying not to stress about it (pun intended) til I know for sure - but it was THIS time last year too! I have one more race, Charlottesville 10 Miler next weekend.....we will see.

Shamrock Half Marathon 2008

Shamrock 2008

This year we stayed at a hotel just five minutes from the start…so on such a windy and drizzly morning, it was nice to leave last minute to get to our corral. We met up with some of our friends that I run with weekly and were able to hang out for the 5-10 minutes before the race. Adelle was doing her first ½ and I was excited for her! Woooo.

My goal this year was just to beat my 2:12 of last years Shamrock, and not repeat the awful race we had in Disney! Thankfully, it was much cooler.

The rain stopped almost exactly as the race began at 7am sharp. We were in the last corral, but it moved quickly. Hubby and I had a plan to go out slow for the first 2 miles and then try to keep it under 10 minute miles after this. The people around us were so dressed up – it was really fun to see what people wear. Green wigs, shamrock tights, funny things on their heads – like big hats! One lady had a plastic bear bottle strapped to her back that was huge and had to be driving her crazy! Somewhere around mile 3 a man had a booth which served beer! Gotta love it, only at Shamrock. No, I didn’t have any.

Mile 4.5 I had my GU (chocolate outrage) in preparation for the water stop. Worked out well. Then we turned into the Army barracks. I noticed that not at many of the men and women were out this year cheering us on OR in the crowds on the street compared to last year. Perhaps the weather scared them off. The ocean on our left was really choppy and pretty to see!

Mile 6, the side of my right knee started to really hurt. By mile 7, I was really in pain and could think of nothing else….BUT we just ran up to the 2:15 pacers and I had to get ahead of them to make my goal. Hubby asked if I wanted to stop or walk…the answer is NO! Mile 8 I was truly hurting and slowed down a bit but still ahead of the pacers. . I was afraid to look back and see how close they were! Had another GU. Chocolate was yummy!

Back on the streets again, we had more of a crowd cheering. I think I zoned out for a bit, tried to listen to my iPod, but felt guilty for wearing it and found it more distracting today than good. Hubby asked at mile 10 or so what my intentions were – meaning keep this pace or kick it up a notch. I had no other notch, unfortunately…but I wanted to keep this pace (around 9:30’s) and try to kick it for the last ½ mile. Passed by the beer person again, contemplated a glass to maybe help my pain level in my leg…but was afraid it may make me nauseated. Energy wise, I was doing good (thanks to the GU I believe) but the darn leg was not happy!

We turned onto the boardwalk, and we picked up the pace The crowds were cheering and I even heard “look how fast they are still going!” from one person. Found that funny…and looked up to see NEPTUNE calling us in. Sooo happy to finish and stop running! Finish time was 2:09, 3 minutes and 19 seconds faster than last year! Woooo.

Today, I’m walking like a penguin and the side of my knee is a bit poofed out. Icing and going into the hottub is helping!

I know I’m not cut out to do full Marathons, and that’s okay. ½ Marathons make me happy and I feel a great sense of accomplishment. I don’t need more than this!

One year of Half Marathons!

17 days til my 4th Half Marathon. I will have come a full circle...Shamrock was my first and will be my 4th in one year! I've come so far this year and cannot wait to see what this next year brings! :) Of all the ones I've done this year, Shamrock stands out as my favorite to date. Not sure if it because it was my first, or my best, or the flattest....Let's see what 2008 brings. My goal is to beat 2:12.

www.shamrockmarathon.com

Gotta find something decorative and green to wear for the run. Hoping hubby gets to do it with me. :)

Valentine's 5K

I had my best 5K today for Valentines Couples Race for Amnesty International.

My times:

I usually do 10 min miles or more...so this was fast for me!

Mile 1 = 8.26
Mile 2 = 8.22
Mile 3 = 8.57 (big hill!)

Hubby was faster. Dont know what our official time is yet...waiting for it to be posted.

Felt great!