Wednesday, October 31, 2012

2012 Monster Dash Half Marathon

Saturday was the last Team Ortho event for the 2012 season.  It was the end of the Team Ortho Monster Series that Jason and I signed up to do together last November.  It was the Monster Dash Half Marathon…my third half marathon…

Lee and I woke up early and I was very happy that I had gotten things ready the night before.  I had one last check of all of my gear and we were out the door into the icy cold morning.  We stopped at Panera to get me a bagel (we didn’t have much I could eat in the house) and then we were headed out to Downtown St. Paul.  I was really excited that Lee was coming to “watch” me, even if I repeatedly told him he didn’t have to be there.  Going into the race with a couple week ongoing knee injury and being at the worst point of being sick, I knew it was going to be a rough race and knowing he was there was going to help me.  We got there, got things ready, and headed up to the Cathedral near the start of the race.  We hit up the potties a few times (yes…a few times) and then Jason and I said goodbye to Lee and headed to the start to wait with the thousands of other runners.

Freezing Our Asses Off With Our Sweats Still On!

Eventually, the gun went off and 9:28 later we were starting our race.  We kept to roughly a 10 minute per mile pace for the first 5k and then Jason broke off to use the potty again.  My knee was starting to go numb by then, so I kept running.  He said he’d catch up to me.  By mile 5, he hadn’t caught up to me and I had to pee, so I pit stopped.  The line was relatively short, so I figured it would be quick…

I was wrong.  The events of mile 9 of the Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon came back to haunt me…but even earlier and even worse!  10 to 15 minutes later, it was finally my turn to go (after I had watched just about every pace group pass by).  30 seconds later I was out of there and on my way.  Just like LMHM, I couldn’t pick it back up.  I was able to run for a while, but then I'd have to walk.  I was having some issues (which I will explain later), so that, along with being sick, kept me from having a good race.  I kept ahead of the 2 hour 45 minute goal pacer for quite a while, but eventually, I couldn't force myself to keep jogging.


As I previously mentioned some "issues"...  I will say that I experienced one of the scariest moments during this race that I ever have...scary to the point where I almost visited the medical tent and pulled myself from the race...  Around mile 6, my nose started to run (just like I was…haha!) and so, being the well-prepared gal I am, I reached into my running belt to get a tissue.  Problem!  I could barely pinch the zipper to open my belt and then it was awful trying to actually dig in there to get a tissue.  I realized then that I was having some trouble getting my fingers to work.  They wouldn’t pinch/grab.  I had to concentrate quite hard and tell them to work…literally, out loud, saying, “Fingers pinch hard.  Open fingers.”  It was really scary.  Truth is, being sick, I hadn’t been eating much leading up to the race.  Friday, I had very little to eat all day and I thought that it was that coming back to haunt me (I did know better than that…hungry or not).  I didn’t know for sure if it was the cold weather or a lack of salt/minerals/something in my body.  I do know that when I got to the 8.5 mile and the kind gentleman handed me a HammerGel and I almost dropped it because I couldn’t grasp, I was really worried.  I tried working my fingers, ignoring them, anything to get me to the end of the race.

I knew that Lee was at the end waiting for me, so I had to get there.  Eventually, despite some of the worst calf cramping that I have EVER had near the end (in addition to everything else), I saw the finish line and ran for it.  I crossed it, got my medal, food bag and water, and hobbled in search of Lee.  As soon as we saw each other, I hobbled to the curb and sat down.  I told him (in a mighty shortened version) about what had happened and soon after got up and headed for the car (might I add, pure torture since it was partially uphill...glad we didn't park by the Cathedral...even more uphill!).

Anyway, my official time:


It is what it is.  The Minneapolis Half was even worse, so at least I still was under 3 hours...*sigh*

Our Last Point-At-Medal Team Ortho 2012 End-Of-Race Picture

Regardless, Jason and I finished our series.  It was a good year.  Would I ever do the series again?  I don't know.  While I enjoyed it, three of the Team Ortho races run a bit of the same courses.  While they are generally well done and the swag and medals are great, things get to be a bit repetetive.

Will I run another half?  I am supposed to run one next May with Jason, but we will see what the doctor says when I head in tomorrow.  Yes, I am finally going to see the doctor about my knee...

Will keep you posted!

XOXO

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sick? Really?

I’ve got a bum knee (which I WILL test tonight!) and now I’m coming down with some sort of cold (or some type of illness…headache-y, earache-y, snotty, sore throat-y…).  Can I catch a break?  Geez…

Anyway, in preparing for the Monster Dash Half on Saturday, I realized that I most definitely need some new jams for my running playlist.  I put a call out to my Facebook friends and, so far, here is what I’ve gotten:
  • Rack City – Tyga
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • It Was A Good Day – Ice Cube
  • Ho Hey – The Lumineers
  • All I Do Is Win – T-Pain
  • Starship – Nikki Minaj
  • Pound The Alarm – Nikki Minaj
  • Anything Could Happen – Ellie Goulding
  • This Girl Is On Fire – Alicia Keys
  • Real – Alter Bridge
  • Right Now – Van Halen
  • Dreams – Van Halen
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Impend – Marty O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori
  • Swing – Savage and Soulja Boy
  • Outta Your Mind – Lil’ John and LMFAO
  • I Need A Doctor – Eminem
  • One More Night – Maroon 5
  • Step By Step – New Kids on the Block
  • Me So Horny – 2 Live Crew
  • Survivor – Destiny’s Child
  • Train – 50 Ways To Say Goodbye
  • Passion Pit
  • XX
  • P.O.S.
  • Foo Fighters new album

Anybody out there have some more recommendations?  Help a gal out!!!

Cross your fingers that I get better rather than worse.  See you out there runnin'!

XOXO

Monday, October 22, 2012

Update Shmupdate

In five days I will be running the Monster Dash Half Marathon.  It will be the fifth and final race in me and Jason's 2012 Monster Race Series and my third half marathon.  I was totally pumped for months...knowing that I would definitely PR for this one...get in under 2:30 even!  Now, I'm getting more and more worried.

My knee has been bad.  And I don't mean my normal nagging pain...I mean pretty bad.  I've had some trouble lately with it buckeling and just general pain.  Saturday evening, after our housewarming party and being on my feet all day, I could barely hobble to the couch to put it up.  I was supposed to do a 5-8 mile run with Jason on Sunday morning, but I was just too scared and my knee was still bugging me.  Lee thinks I tore something and should see a doctor.  Coming from the guy who has had two knee surgeries (ACL and meniscus)...do I listen?  I'm thinking that I wait until Monday to make an appointment.  There is NO WAY that I'm chancing being told I cannot run on Saturday.

Here is my attack plan for this week:
  • Run a few 3-5 milers
  • Chill out with my knee up
  • Do a little heat and ice
  • Eat well to help combat the lack of running
I'm still super hopeful that I will do decent in this race, but we will see.  I'll make sure I am prepped great the night before and super ready to just go in the morning, so I can be in downtown St. Paul well before the 8:30 start.  I am confident that I can force myself to at least do better than when I was injured and on my deathbed for the Minneapolis Half Marathon, eh?

Wish me luck and all that jazz.  We are looking at 45° F for a high on Saturday...so I'm sure the early morning will be nice and frosty.  I need to go purchase a new pair of running capris since my old ones are far too big.  Hmm...here we go.  Countdown begins!

XOXO

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Knee Problems

I'm having them...and I don't know what to do...

Keep on trying to truck with my training schedule for the Monster Dash Half in two weeks?

~OR~

Take it easy with my run schedule, so I can actually run the Monster Dash Half in two weeks?

Why can't I just not have crappy joints...???

XOXO

Monday, October 1, 2012

Monthly Recap: September


  1. Run 500 Miles in 2012
    • September was a little better than the past few months, in regards to milage.  I ran a total of about 40 miles (I underestimate), therefore bringing my 2012 mileage total to 336.5/500.  Only 163.5 miles to go!  With only three months to go, I need to pump it up and run about 55 miles a month.
  2. Run a 10k
  3. Run a Half Marathon
  4. Complete a Duathlon
  5. Complete (at least) 12 Races
    • I did 1 race this month (Women Run the Cities)...so my 2012 race total moves to 10/12!
  6. Hit my Goal Weight of 130
    • Not happening
  7. Be a Better Mom
    • Patience is being tried this last month...whew...two year old.
  8. Be a Better Wife
    • Getting there :)
  9. Be a Better Friend
    • September was a really, really busy month...so I need to work on this a bit more.
  10. Be a Great Bridesmaid
  11. Get Into Nursing School (Failed...)
  12.  Get a House
    • DONE AND DONE!!!
  13. Pay Off a Student Loan
    • Doesn't look like this will be happneing...but we are still making gains!
  14. Dress Better to Feel Better
    • Still doing it...
  15. Floss More
    • Almost 100% in September...only had enough yesterday to do my top teeth...literally...a two inch piece...
XOXO