Creature of habit

Pre-run photo. Please forgive the funny face. The sun was brutal!

I am a creature of habit. I think most runners are. We eat the same things before long runs/races. We do the same things on race morning to prepare. We have the same routine to prepare for a run. Once we find something that works, we keep it up.

Today, I was scheduled for 8 miles as my last run before Zooma Annapolis next Sat. (June 1). I had it played out in my head - where I would run, which direction I would go in. how far out before turning back. As I came to the cross street where my parking lot is, I was stopped. There was a 5k going on and I was being redirected. I couldn't park in my lot. I couldn't start my run at it's normal spot.

I was re-directed away from the race, so I parked my car in the next town over where I was planning on going. But, I had no idea what to do with myself. I had never done this before. I always run to Mt. Wolf, not start there.

And here is why I say I'm a creature of habit. I had to figure out an 8 mile run on the fly. Yea...it didn't work. I managed to find 2 miles, then turned around for 2 more bringing me up to 4. Yea! Just 4 more to go. But, now I had no idea how to get those 4 more miles. I tried. I managed one more mile before becoming so frustrated with the run, my time, and my hamstring that I stopped. I went back to the car. I came home.

Oh that hamstring comment? Yea. My right hamstring, right behind my knee hurt randomly throughout my run. It's the same hamstring I pulled back in 2010 after I ran the Baltimore Marathon Relay. It's the leg that my herniated disc effects. I have one week until Zooma Annapolis (have I mentioned this?) and I will not mess around.

So, today's run was not what I wanted. It was slower than I hoped. It was a bit more painful than I anticipated. It was frustrating. What I'm hoping is that it gets the bad run out of the way. This got the kinks out and come next Saturday while I'm running around Annapolis, I will have a great run! It will show today what a good run is.

But it sure does suck on the day of the crappy run....
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Last long run before AC

The last long run before the race. It was today. I got up and got ready. The temps were gorgeous! By the time I got to the parking lot it was 43 degrees. I had a light long sleeve jacket on, but by mile 2 it was off. Beautiful weather!

I headed from Manchester into Mount Wolf because it is the only route I know besides the Rail Trail that will give the mileage I was looking for - 8-9 miles. I wasn't sure which it would be, so I gave myself the range.

I had a nice run if not slower than my training runs for Shamrock in March. I ran the hills and wandered around Mount Wolf. I like running there because there are always people out doing stuff - walking the dog, mowing the grass, decorating for the holidays, doing repairs. Always lots of things to watch as you run by.

Had a nice visit with two adorable chocolate labs while out and about. They were sweet. Headed back towards Manchester shortly after saying hello and felt ok. I'll be honest, I walked about half of Maple Street. It's just so darn hilly! I know I can run it, I've done it before, but I just didn't feel like it today.

Got 8 miles in total and felt fine afterwards. Had I been better at mileage I could have gone 9, but I just didn't have the heart to run past my car. It was calling to me. LOL!

So, that's it. Last long run before next Sunday's 13.1 miles. Going to aim for two 30 minute runs this week and hit the gym twice. Should be good. I won't PR AC, but I'll cross that finish line!

Last "long" run

Last "long" run  before the Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon next Sunday.  It was scheduled to be 5 miles.  Sadly, it was shortened. 

The first issue I encountered and was going to ignore was my head.  Hmmm...that sounds odd... I woke up with a headache, which isn't unusual for me.  I had a slice of bread with peanut butter and assumed it would take care of it.  By the time I left the house the head didn't hurt as much.  I assumed it was cured.

Wrong.  I started running and as my feet hit the ground my head pounded.  Not horribly.  But enough for it to be a bother.  I was not a happy camper.  But I kept going, especially when I head Garmin go off at the first half mile time and saw I ran under 6 minutes.  That rarely happens. 

The second reason (and more important reason) that I bailed early on this run didn't happen until a mile into it.  Let's back up.  Yesterday at work I was placing a 40 pound box on a shelf that is over my head.  In order to do this, I have to stand on my tip toes to get it high enough to slide in.  Well, I did what I always do and got up on my tip toes to shove the box onto the shelf when my right ankle twisted sideways on me.  It hurt.  I will say I am proud of the fact that I didn't drop the box on my other foot.  I got my balance back and got the box on the shelf.  After a few minutes the pain in my right ankle went away and I didn't think anything of it.

Well, it came back this morning.  But not until I started downhill.  Odd... I made it up one of the killer hills on my route, handled the straightaway fine.  But, when I came back around to go back down the hill the ankle hurt.  And every downhill after that it hurt.  Ugh. 

I had decided before the run that anywhere between 3 and 5 miles would be ok today.  I relaxed the mileage because we're running one of my favorite races of the year tomorrow - Kelly St. Patrick's Day 5k.  :-)  Well, since my ankle and head hurt, I gave in and at 3 miles, stopped.  I must say, it was a good run though.  Three miles in 38:27.  That's speed demon for me.  Crazy how I can run faster when I'm in pain than when I'm not....