Saturday, June 26, 2010

10 Miles

Ran 10. When I write "ran" -- perhaps I should say, slugged through the dang thing. Humid, humid, humid here in Austin! Oh the misery. Oh the bummer when August hits and I am running 20. Ugh! But, good news -- I'll be in Colorado this time next week. I will attempt to do 8.5 miles without first getting accustomed to the altitude. And, with my gazelle of a sister, Sally, no less. This is going to be embarrassing, to say the least! But, I'm hoping the training for six weeks above a mile high will do me good! Yahoo!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Lost

Someone stole my iPhone. Right out from under me.

They just reached in my sling bag and grabbed it out of the front pocket. I know, I know...you’re thinking... ”Sure Molly. I know you. And I doubt it was stolen. More like you forgot it. Or you were too drunk and left it in the bathroom.” (I resent that last thought)

OK. I’ll admit it. I thought the same thing myself the moment of realization. “YOU ARE SUCH a mother f@*$!^# moron Molly! Another one gone!!!” I said to myself out loud as I ripped open the bag, ruining a newly bought sling. Nope. No phone.

I knew it was in there; I remembered putting it back in the front pocket when I had checked my text messages – none - if you must know.

So there I am. Sitting, in my driveway @ 2:30am, no phone, no way to get back to the bar, I have a 6:00am flight home to Texas to catch for my best friend’s wedding that I’m Maid of Honor in and I have no phone/iPod/alarm/life. It’s all gone. I glanced back as if by some miracle I managed to toss it in the back seat ... like I actually do that a lot?...and BAM! There it was! Sitting there on the...back...seat...wait a second.

NOOOOOO! Turns out, it’s my roommate's phone. I picked it up frantically and called my number. Please let someone answer. PLEASE! I had charged it all day so I know it still had juice.

Queue the immediate VOICEMAIL.

And there, with my happy 'I'm not here...' message, went the flood gates. In mass hysterics I scream and kick and cry and curse to anyone and everyone I had come across that day. The person who thought to ask me to the bar, the bartender for serving me a drink, the person I expected a text from, my own perma-stupidity and of course THE UNIVERSE. He is such a bitch to me at times!

I’ve now been iPhone free for 20 days. When I say I’ve been iPhone free, I also mean Nike + free. I don’t know how far I’m running, how fast (other than a glow-in-the-dark, giveaway digital watch someone gave me at a concert where I can gauge how long I’ve run). I can’t input my runs into the Nike+Running website to get my daily affirmations. I cannot post my runs to my Facebook to gloat to my siblings/friends about how awesome I’m doing at keeping up the training. And to think I was only 35 miles away from being in Nike's "serious runner" category (150+ miles completed).

This must be said. Running isn’t very fun when you aren’t making people jealous. It's fairly boring actually and quite uneventful when no one knows. It's like a tree falling in the forest.... did it ever really happen?

SO now I wait for June 24th. What a GREAT day that will be! Not only will be a non-smoker for 6 straight months, but I get my life back...version 4G.

Thank you USAA...thank you jerkface universe for hating me...thank you dude who has no conscious. I'll appreciate you that day.

Oh, and Universe? You are welcome. I have now given you two iPhones...I expect my dues shortly, got it?

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

No Fracture!!!

Alright...!!! Just got word that I have no fracture on my left lower leg. Wait, let me back up.

Had a kick ass Half on May 16th... Plan was to take 2 weeks off and join my Nike+ training schedule for 10/10/10 Chicago Marathon. World is great and as Molly would put it..."My Bitch."

During my 2 weeks off.. I hit the gym and rotate in some long neglected weight training.

May 25th (Tuesday).. felt a twitched in my left lower leg. Inside, near where the Soleous meets the bone... Nothing really new.. felt that before after some long runs. Paid no attention. Suck it up.

May 26th (Wednesday).. had a small 3K event at work that I organized for a charity (ironically for a co-worker based in Chicago, http://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR?fr_id=3140&pg=entry) .. ran great. 1.86 miles in 13 minutes... not too shabby... but real sore on my left lower leg.. feels like a bruise.

Memorial Day weekend. Wore nothing but flip flops and my left lower leg ("TP" = The Problem) continues to be very sore. WTF.. nothing has lingered like this. TP is F'N with my confidence. Postpone a 10.2 mile run from Sunday to Monday (Memorial Day). I was vacationing in a new place, mid-size state park, and running on trails.. Made it 5+ miles before I quit due to..#1 Africa hot, #2 TP.. I can now feel it when running.

I declare an additional 1 week rest.. But come June 7th, still TP is here and feeling like an achy bone.. I bitch and moan until Jennifer lays the same speech I laid on her a month back. I see a Doctor... God forbid.

X-ray later.. no fracture and another 2 weeks rest. 600 mg of Ibuprofen and ice are now my great friends. Nike+ program is scrapped and I need to find another. Sibs have offered up theirs. I have tons of material to look through and sure I'll find one. My next window to start running is the week of June 28th.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Knees, Knees and More Knees

Guys -- Had a good run this morning. Did 4 miles without pain with a mid, 9 minute mile pace. The kicker -- during the run -- I found 5 pennies -- all in a row. Took that as good omen No. 1 -- we will all be in Chicago and finish Chicago. As I finished the last 200 yards -- U2's I Will Follow started playing in my ears -- I took this is as good omen No.2. This is the song that was playing as I finished the last 200 yards of Chicago -- when you come through those grandstand of crowds with thousands of folks yelling at you and music blasting. It is all you can do but cry. Chicago -- here we come!!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Rest

Howdy,
I'm on an additional week break. Last week ran a very short 2 miler for a work run event (charity) and took that opportunity to run as fast as I could. Only hitch was, I did "something" to my left shin... At first thought maybe a stress-fracture.. but no pain stomping on my foot or twisting. I think I may have stressed some muscle/tendon.. feels like a very deep bruise about mid way on my shin, just on the inside. Ran a little over 5 miles this past Monday and it just seemed to aggravate it.. so, I'm taking another week of rest and will re-join my program next Tuesday.

a week away brings the worries my way

Today is Wednesday. I haven't ran in 7 days. Well I ran on Saturday in Texas, but only a short 2.5 miler to the movies...lame.

I'm back to training tonight and I am WORRIED about my standard 6 mile run! Really, Molly? Really? Weak.

I have to say, running stresses me out more than it de-stresses me. Maybe it's just the training regimen, maybe it's my own expectations...regardless I'm worried (did I say that already?)

It's not that I won't finish it or that I won't make my standard sub 8' mile pace...what worries me is that I won't enjoy the run. I'm afraid I will huff and pant and mentally bitch to myself the whole time about how boring running is, how much I'd rather be watching TV or reading the seventh and final book in the HARRY POTTER series I started last night; a series I've waited NINE YEARS to finish.

It's ironic to think that in the week of not running I wasn't stressed out ABOUT my runs (which was a welcomed relief and departure from usual reality), I was stressed about MISSING the runs. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

It scares me to think in one week I will have lost everything I've accomplished in the past 3 months. That terrifies me, because once the motivation has lapsed, it's nearly impossible to revamp it...especially at the rate I WAS going. I equate it to stopping at mile 10, and finishing with 16.2 to go...ya, not gonna happen.

But then again, there is always St. Anthony. He finds everything and I'm thinking motivation can't be a stretch for him.

Then again, I may not need him...just yet.

Bolder Boulder Complete - Goal Nearly Achieved

All,

Took a break from my marathon training schedule to run the 32nd Bolder Boulder. My goal was to run the hilly 6.2 course in under 50 minutes.... Didn't make that but ran it in 50:59:74.... There is always next year. I am sucheduled to run a 14 miler this Sunday, we shall see!

Sally

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