The last effort before the next big test!

Today was my last run before my first 10k.  I followed what was on the 10k plan so just 2 miles.  Tomorrow is rest day and Sunday my first 10k!  Back is feeling a little better so I am happy about that.  It is not 100% but better then 2 days ago for sure!...Now got some nasty sore throat that came to this party uninvited but it will take more then that to take me down at this point!!! Tomorrow going to the fitness expo after my son's soccer game to pick my race packet and take a drive on the course.  I just saw online that it is one big loop and that is great, they have a 5k at that race and I was afraid I would run the 5k loop twice but no so I am happy! Also looks like they will have 5-6 water station so plenty for me.  Now all I need is a better back, not to get a cold that is worst then the one I have now and COOL WEATHER!!!! Heat stay away you are not invited to this party either!!!!

http://www.missioninnmuseum.com/MIR/index.htm

GIVEAWAY!!!

Here is another awesome giveaway!
visit this blog for a chance to win a shiny new pair of White Mettalic Ryders Eyewear VTX Sunglasses:

http://evolvingthroughrunning.blogspot.com/2010/11/big-old-giveaway-ryders-eyewear-and-gu.html?showComment=1289579305044_AIe9_BGonxg-Qmalh9jtCOnNQR_oeL_FoI_1ylEXlk0AzXRyHe1xW03h6882mGqtj-N2suNGvM056ZEvdSjI2NES7Y_C0xG9umaM7LIWOiwRmnsdU2q6MdquYwh-awLYLdlLVYRmiHcWG58fe71G3NCqq0POBovH_JNpFKYrdbCB4pI9pF_6i4qoJt9QvKCfZpEBKj8Qo3PfHatlANDqVsC6U4bzIdQE4LBypWjLVKfpRTnAz0u6HZPRDD_YinkGNvH9VX9ciKArIq-RetgXYX4SvBxQqnunGZJg92VCoAw45bZ-iaFCZGc1A2Uth2tvSeObf8DsgQAgi-rJocBlM9lYN-LcwpEt4jyULuKbasrFqV7sromu9WNsiOg2GQ7uzc3oUFcVb2l-hsMryWNDNiKNKYHnK3lsq6P8x0Go87E4BwqsGZS7U-GKzwgGbiGcgyU7p99lApFGKHy7Pd6ov5WkAYj8OMiITsZ5VgNqR3qggbh1bVXoXwWhAV1Y9COlySV-5ozC0_Af-ihgWoLMryuhbJjXz-hKBSJ5JWWTww6Ldt8J1RRTdAKhQJ4WGozS21hkrV8Y2PYS-n5PJGNn-lNVoFEoh6agV59MXLlYgl7y6tOxl5KwGxkA7ufeopNfaf0qaCPl2X29cveDFGLncS41ZJ19Hf82RXTurQB7sTU4dzIausOFontZ8fSRsmywHXdTapnbaiSU#c4034126101268682492

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Countdown to the first 10k

So today on the 10k plan was 2 miles and on the half marathon was 3 miles so I ran 2 miles and super slow ran 1 miles. Back is still very soar but somehow doest not hurt more while running...so there is hope!
Big 10k coming up, I wish I was 100% for it, does not look like I will be, I accept it, I just want to finish and run an intelligent race! It is my first 10k and I am using it as a test for using the walk breaks during a race.  I know I will have to do it for the half and so I will test it on Sunday.  I need to find a good combo run/walk for me...and not be ashamed of actually walking during the race...forget about everybody looking and just do MY race!
My plan is to follow J. Galloway's advices and take breaks BEFORE I get tired.  Based on his method for 9 min pace I should run 4 min/walk 1 min.  I have trained with 5 min/ 1 min so we will see how that feels with the bad back!
One more easy workout tomorrow and rest Saturday and then 10k race! Hoping for cool temperatures!!

When things get in the way of training....

I am not a professional athlete, I am a professional mother and so sometimes, my profession gets in the way of my running.  Sometimes it is for reasons that are not welcomed like illness or tamper tantrums or the car refusing to start or a leak in the house...Sometimes it is for reasons that bring me great joy and pride like today.  It is the end of the first trimester and my son who is in the 1st grade received an award for Accelerated Reading achievement.  He was the only 1st grader to receive that award and no training plan was going to make me miss this, sorry mister Higdon!  So I ditch the gym and left my running shoes at home and went to the award ceremony.  This was also probably better for my poor back who is not happy these days, maybe it will pay off on Sunday to have taken a rest today.  After the ceremony I had to go see the good Dr thinking I would get all my results....but no.  I had to do a rather painful nerve test where I received a bunch of electric chocs, no fun at all.  Then she told me to come back Monday to discuss all the results.  WHAT? More waiting? 4 more days of not knowing.  She still could not say what I want her to say to me: "you DON'T have MS for sure 100%".  I will try to put this in a little box until Monday but I am not going to lie I am disappointed, I was prepared for results not more waiting!  At least today I got to be a proud mom and that makes today a good day.

My superstar!

Today's workout

I ran 3.25 miles this morning, on the treadmill.  That was on the plan for the 10k and the half so perfect.  I had horrible back pain and I am getting worried for Sunday. I tried to stretch as much as I can...I was ok running but after not so good.
I cannot take any Ibuprofen to help with this because then I would end up with heartburn and I don't need that right now! I was fine before yesterday's MRI so I am pretty sure laying still for so long on that hard surface caused this back pain. I tought running would loosen me up but it did not :(

Playlist

As I was watching the NYC marathon on TV this weekend I kept wondering how this top elite runners can run without music? What do they think about all this time? They don't talk to each other obviously...that would be weird to say "hey you are you doing?" at mile 12.  They have the crowd to cheer them on but that is not consistent.  What is in their head I wonder? That is what I would ask them. I cannot run without my Itouch, well clearly I can but I don't want to.   It helps to have music in my ears and also to hear Lance Armstrong's voice from my Nike+ app telling me how far I have gone and how fast.  It is crazy but I feel less alone and also supported!  The mental aspect of running is often the hardest part for me...I don't want to think of how many more miles I have to go for the whole run or about how much this part of my body hurts right now.  I'd rather listen to Pink telling me to run as fast as I can to the middle of nowhere!
Even though I run with music even on race day...I sometimes don't even remember hearing the tunes that played during my runs...I know that is crazy.  Anyway here is some of my favorites that are on my running playlist, I must add to it to cover  the half marathon !


PLAYLIST:
- Bad Angel (D. Bentley)
- This Afternoon (Nickelback)
- Put you in a son (Keith Urban)
- Raise your glass (Pink)
- I gotta feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
- Just like a pill (Pink)
-The Way you make me feel (M. Jackson)
- So What ( Pink)
- Born to Run (B. Springsteen)
- Hit the Ground Running (Keith Urban)
- Bonyeu (Les Colocs)
- The Rising  (B. Springsteen)
- Express yourself (Madonna)
- One Week (Barenaked Ladies)
- The Emperor's New Clothes (Sinead O"Connor)
- Bille Jean (M. Jackson)

Back pain

Back pain today...pretty bad.  I had another MRI, the third and last in 4 days.  Laying still on that darn machine is not helping lower back pain...They were behind at the hospital and I ended up waiting 1:30 before it was my turn.  I was looking at the clock thinking my time at the gym was going down the toilet and sure enough by the time I got out of the hospital it was time to go pick up my son at preschool.  Today was supposed to be a cross training day including weights and stretching...I hate missing workouts...this is week 2 of my training plan for the half but it is also supposed to be taper for my 10k....so with back pain maybe better to use today as rest day instead of Friday...
I have another day of waiting before getting the results of my MRIs...brain, c-spine and l-spine.  Wednesday finally I will have some answers...well I hope!  I want the good Dr to say: "You do NOT have MS"..yep that is the reason for the brain MRI...a little scary to see these letters in the Dx section of the order.  Also whatever the reason for my health issues..numbness being the one that sent me to the neurologist I hope it will not affect my running...

The long run

Today is the long run day on my plan.  On the agenda: 5 miles.  For me it is still in the long run category.  This morning as I was eating breakfast I looked up twitter to follow the NYC marathon.  I was in complete admiration of these people running that race, all 43 000 of them.  But the leaders are Gods to me! Their pace is so fast, I could not run 1 single mile at the pace they run a full marathon! I waited to see the time of the winners in the men and women races! Their time for the Full marathon is faster then what I think will be my time for the half marathon!  I head out for my run thinking about these super humans....
I felt really good, no pain, no huffing, the wind in the face for the second half did not bother me too much and I barely felt the mini hills along the way.  I used the Galloway method: run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute.  It works!  I was less tired after those 5.25 miles then I was last week after my 5k race! I know I still had plenty in the tank, I feel good about next week's 10k.
Running outside is so much easier then running on the treadmill!  Lance Armstrong's voice came faster in my ears then it does when I run at the gym..everything was better.  Today's run gave me hope for the future long runs that are ahead of me and they will only get longer and longer and longer as the weeks leading to the half marathon pass.  Today I think I can do this! For real! Not that I have a choice...I paid, I signed up, I am doing this, no turning back!


In one week from today at this hour, I will have ran my first 10k race. 

Training plan for my Susan G Komen team!

All right LADIES!
I wanted to offer this running plan for you to help you prepare for our race.  You have PLENTY of time to get ready for this trust me:  If I can do it,  you all can!!!


I want to thank you for joining our team and please if you have friends who want to be a part of this great event tell them to join!  This race started it all for me, I ran it thinking that will be it and well I never stopped.  9 5ks races later,  I am getting ready for the next step and will run my first 10k next week and a half marathon in January.  Who knows what this will do for you!!!!


One thing for sure, you will be inspired by all these survivors and I dare you not to cry that day!  You will see lots of pink, lots of shirt with messages honoring loved ones who fought the battle and sadly lost it and for the ones who are still fighting and for the survivors who represent hope for all!


You will not forget this event and I bet you will want to come back with me every year!


Ok so here is the link to the running plan called:
The Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml