Today is day one. You're probably wondering, "well, day one of what exactly?" but we'll get into that in just a bit. If you aren't familiar with who I am, I suggest you check out "The Girl Behind the Glass" for a short biography. It's interesting, promise! This post will be pretty long to get things started but you'll get a little history of what the past year has brought and what's to come for 2019. You might want to open some wine before you start. May I suggest a Rosé to make it feel like summer?
Running has become one of my passions. It's taken me quite some time to deem myself a 'runner'. I always thought I'd have to show some sort of accomplishment or win all of the competitions. Hell, I didn't even like running until around 2013. It's brought out the best in me and the worst. I don't think I've ever hit such highs and lows from an activity that just requires you to put one foot in front of the other. But to hit highs, we have to start with the lows. I had been blessed for quite some time with not having to deal with injuries. I've always had a pronation issue since I was a kid but the good folks over at Hanson's fitted me with Saucony Guide's and I never looked at another shoe ever again (thanks, guys!). The 'no injury' train would quickly come to a stop February-March of 2018. After developing some pain in my right hip, stubborn-me decided to seek help. Some X-rays and an MRI later, it was discovered I had partially torn my hip-flexor tendon. "No running for at least 4 weeks and then we'll start you on physical therapy". I'm sorry Doc, what? You said no running? Christ on a cracker; how am I suppose to live with that diagnosis. But, guess what? I did what I needed to do. I started physical therapy and thanks to my trainer, I came back strong. Toward the start of my running again, I received news that I was chosen from the waitlist to run Bayshore in Traverse City that upcoming Memorial Weekend. Despite being probably the hottest weather I have ever raced in, I ended up with a 6-minute PR half marathon. Might I add that it was amazing to run a race with so many of my fellow Michigan Volée sister birds? Heads up, wings out!
Fast forward about two weeks after that, I was gearing up to start training for my first marathon. Even before I ran Bayshore, I had only had one-half marathon under my belt before I decided to tackle the full 26.2-mile distance. Crazy? Probably. Unachievable? Not even close. I was going to finish that race whether it took me 6 hours or if I had to walk across the line. I followed Hanson's Beginner Marathon training plan to start. When my first track workout came, it was literally the worst run I had ever had. Speedwork has never been my strong suit. I threw in the towel that evening and decided to just focus on finishing. Luckily, they make a plan for that too. It took 18 weeks, 5-6 days/week of running. Shout out to my husband who is the best support biker ever. Only husbands of marathon trainers can probably take the harsh words we tell them during training just to tell them how much we love them after.
Fast forward about two weeks after that, I was gearing up to start training for my first marathon. Even before I ran Bayshore, I had only had
I became a marathoner on 10/21/2018. I crossed the finish at 4:38. I cried and then ate half a pizza and drank two beers. Who knows how many times I said, "I can't believe I just did that" but it was the best high I had ever had. But the injury train came back into town. This time, it didn't wait long. It must have tried to pick me up and take me away around mile 20 when I came to a halt due to the sharpest pain I had ever felt in my right exterior foot. I could barely walk Sunday night and Monday, well, I was better off lying on the floor. Being thankful again to know such good people, I paid the University of Michigan another visit and left with a diagnosis of a stress fracture. This time? No running for two months. Naturally, I was upset. But I finished the race! I probably ran 6 miles of it with the fracture but I got my medal and I was part of the 1% (or is it 4%, I can't remember). I was put in a boot for a month. I was cleared to run Christmas day. Inbetween that time, we moved to Arizona and left the cold winters behind. Oh, and you bet your ass I ran on Christmas. It may have only been one mile but that mile was the most exciting mile ever.
So, you made it to the important part: what are you doing this year? Thanks for being so patient. This year, we start from the bottom. We treat this as if we've never done this before. We approach it the right way: healthy and strong. Today, I began training for a 5K (Mountain 2 Fountain). I honestly laugh even typing "training for a 5K" because I've never actually have had to train for one. I just ran a marathon 3-ish months ago; why do I need to train for a 5K? I didn't run for two months straight. I'm not about to dive head first into a pit of more injuries. I do have plans for other things this year but we'll get to that later on as time progresses.
Sometimes you have to start from the beginning to build a solid foundation; to reshape yourself; to become strong as fuck; to set personal records; to learn why you love this. I have partnered with Kristen Griffin (Find Your Stride Coaching) to aid in this journey because lord knows, I'm lost without a plan. She's honestly amazing and when we talked, it really got me amped up about what's to come. Will we PR this race? I don't know. Will we finish? Damn right we will. The next five weeks will be about how this training goes, what the end result will be, and everything in between. Oh, and we'll talk about wine too; because it's delicious. I might sneak some beer in there as well.
Christ on a crackerr!! Get it girl! I can’t wait to hear and see all about what you’re doing in AZ!
ReplyDeleteI’m cheers-ing you with my wine tonight.
Miss you!
Thanks, lady! Cheers!
ReplyDelete