Pain

Saturday's long run was 4 miles. I was actually excited about getting out there and running. Ha!

We did the same loop the 3 mile runs have been on, but going in the other direction (for variety), then we turned around and did 1/2 mile back up the trail, then turned around and finished again.

In typical Houston fashion, the humidity coated everyone in sweat within minutes of being outside (even at 7am). I think I am finally getting used to just being completely soaked at the end of a run, but I can't wait for fall to get here.

The run itself was pretty painful. We definitely walked parts of it, but I tried to keep running as much as possible, even if it was a really, really slow run. We stopped for water once, and once for Gatorade. I think those stops actually made me feel worse, so I really need to work on training my body to accept that I will need to hydrate during longer runs. I just felt a bit sick for a good part of the run. It's a good thing that I am stubborn.

I felt pretty crummy when I finished (though I was proud to have made it through the 4 miles). I didn't feel good again until later in the afternoon. My body appears to still be working on adjusting to the idea that I am actually intent on doing this whole running thing. It currently appears to be trying to talk me out of it, but I am sure it will eventually come around.

Coming up: the first week I will actually be able to follow the entire training schedule. Fun times!

Wow, I am really out of shape.

Last night was supposed to be a 20 minute run. James was kind enough to head out to the park with me after the sun started to go down. His company was definitely a plus, though I think I ended up starting out at a faster pace than I should have. I am definitely running a lot slower than he is used to =)

I made it a bit over 9 minutes before having to walk for a little while. James insisted that I do the last 9 minutes without walking, and I somehow made it. I felt pretty awful afterwards, but I feel like I at least accomplished something.

I don't know how 4 miles is going to go on Saturday, but I am sure I will get through it.

Run!

I hurt a little bit today. In lots of different places.

But I got to run!

When I left my apartment, the sky looked pretty stormy. It was really dark in one direction, and the wind was starting to pick up. I briefly considered not going to track practice, but I really wanted to be able to run since my doctor finally gave me the go-ahead, and I know that the team practices rain or shine. So, I headed out to Memorial. Some of the streets were a little flooded on the way out there, and that’s never really a good sign.

A smaller group than usual gathered around the picnic table, but there was still a decent-sized group there. It turns out that while they have no problem with us running in the rain, lightning is a different story, and the thunder in the distance wasn’t on our side. So, they had us all pile back into our cars and drive over to a nearby parking garage. I didn’t like the sound of that.

We ended up running up and down the 6 floors of the parking garage. It was really tough. Each “loop” was roughly ¼ mile, and we did 4. Kelli and I managed to make the first 3 with minimal walking, but we had to walk up and run down the 4^th one. It was definitely rough going, and it got pretty stuffy in the garage.

Of course, it didn’t manage to rain at all while we were there. When we got to the roof of the garage each time, it was nice, fresh, windy air. It would have actually been pleasant to run outside yesterday. I guess things work out like that sometimes =)

We ended the practice by doing lunges down the last ramp of the parking garage. I did a couple before I felt some pain in my mouth, and that’s when I stopped. I was really happy that I managed to get through the running without having to give up, though. It was a good start to getting back into things.

Good News

The weekend was pretty boring for me, and I couldn't make it out to the Saturday practice because I was still such a mess from the surgery. So I wasn't a good teammate on Saturday, but I was a very good invalid.

I saw the surgeon again today. He said "wow, you look a lot better", took the tube out of my sinuses, said to keep taking the antibiotics and applying heat and pressure, and asked me to come back Friday just to make sure everything has healed up properly. We also talked a little bit about what happened, and he said we can leave the next stage of the process until after the marathon.

And I feel so much better. My face is still a bit swollen and stiff (when I try to smile it just looks off), but the pain is mostly gone and I just feel so much less down. I feel almost like a real person for the first time in a while.

Best of all, he says that he thinks I can start running again on Wednesday. He says that I need to wait and see how I feel then, and that I need to be really conscious of how I am reacting to running for a while. But I can run! I need to be really, really careful about it, and I probably will take it easy at first, but at least I will be doing something.

So, yay for that!

Update

I went to track practice Wednesday even though I couldn't run. I wanted to check it out and be there to support the team and whatnot.

The practice was far less intimidating than I expected - the track is a simple, shaded loop without any stands or anything. I guess I was expecting more of an athletic track where people could watch us run.

The group ran 400s. They went one loop at speed, then walked the amount of time it took them to run the loop as a cool-down, then ran the loop again. They kept it up for 20 minutes. The point was to keep their pace even - to run the last loop the same speed as the first.

I couldn't run, which was frustrating, but I did get to talk to the coach about my fears of getting behind. She assured me that I should have no problem catching up, and that I would much rather be missing runs now than later in the season. She really made me feel better about everything. I want to get back to running, though.

Even though I couldn't run, I didn't see any harm in walking the cool-down laps with Kelli. At least I could do SOMETHING.

The trouble started after I got home from the practice. My face started to hurt a bit, so I decided to go ahead and take my pain medicine before bed. The medicine helped a lot, and I managed to get to sleep. But I woke up at something like 3am in a lot of pain, with a face that was much, much bigger than before.

So I went back to the surgeon yesterday. I assumed that he would have a look, tell me I needed another surgery, and have me come back the next day (this has happened to me before). Instead, he decided to do the surgery right then, without putting me to sleep (he definitely put me to sleep before).

He gave me shots to numb the area, as well as a couple of drugs for pain and swelling through an IV (nothing that would make me drowsy, though), then he went in to drain out the infection and clean out my sinuses (the infection was severe sinusitis). Let me tell you, this procedure is definitely not one that you want to be awake for. I am not sure I can think of anything less pleasant. It was an awful, awful experience.

Afterwards, he ended up having to give me a shot to calm the nausea so I could drive myself home.

So, I spent the rest of yesterday and all of today curled up on the couch. I spent a good bit of today dealing with intense nausea, but I think that has finally passed. I am pretty lucky to have a sweet guy who comes by to take good care of me, or I am not sure what I would do.

This will be a blog all about my running again soon.

Frustration

So, I had my post-surgery check-up today. The surgeon says that my face isn't healing as well as he would like. He put me back on antibiotics, told me to put heat and pressure on the area, and almost laughed when I asked if I could start running again. Sigh.

I guess it makes sense - there's still a fair bit of pain, and the swelling isn't gone, so I can't see running being a healthy thing. But still, it's annoying.

I see him again on Monday. I really hope I get the all clear by then. 2 weeks off is way too much.

I worry a bit about getting behind. I don't worry about whether or not I'll be able to finish in January - I can be pretty stubborn when I set my mind to something, and I'm really set when it comes to this challenge. I am more worried that I am getting behind the people I am running with and will have a really rough couple of weeks catching up.

We train on a schedule for a reason. And I am definitely a person who loves schedules. Getting off of the schedule makes me nervous. It will all work out in the end, though. I have to get better eventually, right?

Tonight is the first track practice. I can't run, but I intend to go out there and see what it's all about while supporting the team. They are doing 400's today. This practice is more about speed, and they say that the little bit of speed is really good for you. I'm sure I'll have a rough go of it at first (once I am actually allowed to start), but I'm sure I will eventually pick it up.

Think healthy, normal-sized faces for me.

Hydration

Something that I have learned about hydrating yourself properly: it makes you need to pee in the middle of a meeting even if you went before the meeting. Even if you went several times before the meeting. Bodies are fun.

I see the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully he will take off the "no working out" restriction. *fingers crossed*

Still not running

The pain is subsiding a bit. It still hurts if I move around too much, and it starts throbbing after I talk a lot or eat, but it is way better than it was. And the nausea is calming down,too.

Even though I'm not allowed to run, I got up this morning and headed out to Memorial for practice. I can't run, but I can at least support the rest of the team. I talked to several people, went through the stretching exercises, then headed home when everyone else started out on the run.

I really wanted to run. That's not a familiar feeling for me. I think these team runs are going to be key for me - it is so much easier to keep going when you are distracted by talking to someone else. Music will only take your mind off of so much. The more runs I can do with other people, the better.

I am pretty impressed by how icky it manages to be outside at 7 in the morning. It was already 80 degrees (which really isn't so bad) when I got out to the park, and it didn't take more than a minute outside to find myself drenched in sweat. It really is the humidity that kills you. I think that 80 degrees without the sun bearing down on you wouldn't be so bad if the air wasn't so wet and heavy.

I am also impressed by how many people in Houston get up really early on Saturday morning to run. The park and the area surrounding it (basically my entire drive out there) are pretty crowded at 6:30 in the morning, and I am assuming the crowd starts much earlier. I find it hard to believe that I am choosing to become one of those crazy people.

I should be allowed to work out again by Wednesday's first track practice. I am actually looking forward to it.

Two months ago I definitely wouldn't have expected to find myself sitting here today being frustrated because I am not allowed to run. Seriously, me wanting to run? No. But here I am, annoyed that I can't continue making progress. At least it's just a week.

The surgery went fine, I guess. I am recovering. My face is swollen, and my body is hating the medication, but I am slowly feeling less crappy.

I did manage to get to the fundraising clinic tonight. Raising so much money is a daunting task, but I am lucky to know so many awesome people, so I am sure that reaching my goal will be no problem. I am definitely committed to making sure that it happens. The Rice contingent (woo!) has some great ideas for events, so it should be an exciting year.

Back to running soon.

Argh!

This afternoon I found out that I have to have yet another oral surgery (this will bring the total for the year to 4) - and that it has to happen tomorrow. The implant he put in about a month ago to replace the tooth he had to take out in February (there's a long story involving a bad root canal that pierced into my sinus cavity, ask if you want to cringe) has come loose. It is basically about to fall out, and there's an infection below it. So, tomorrow morning, he is going to go in and take it out, clean up the infection, and do another bone graft to replace the bone that the infection has destroyed. There will be another surgery in like 3 or 4 months to put the implant back in. Joy.

So, I am not in Los Angeles right now like I am supposed to be for work. I had to cancel my trip last minute. I also won't be allowed to run for a week after the surgery. It's lucky that we're not too far into training yet, or a week off could be bad. As things are, I will rest for a week and get right back into it.

Instead of moping when I got home (though I do intend to do a bit of that), I decided to at least go ahead and get today's run done. We were assigned 20 minutes, light. I set out with a goal - I wanted to get through the whole 20 minutes without having to walk. And it seems as though disappointment agrees with me - I made it! I would call what I did a slow jog as opposed to a run - but I made it 20 minutes without stopping! Wow, is it ever hot outside, though.

In other news, I dropped the dog's heavy crate on my big toe. Ouch!

First "Official" Run

Today was the first Saturday morning run for Team Memorial. I got back home sometime after 1am last night, went to sleep, and promptly woke up at 6am to go run. We met at the park, went through information and announcements, warmed up, stretched, then started out on our 3 mile run.

The point of this run was basically to determine each person's current pace. They asked us to only run (or walk) at a pace where we could also converse with another person. Everyone got a color-coded shoe tag at the end of the run to note their pace group.

A couple of people I know from Rice are also running with Team in Training, and it was really exciting to see them. One of them (my freshman Emily) ran a faster pace than I could have managed, but Kelli and I are both new to this whole running thing, so we ran together. Kelli is currently in remission from stage IV Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her story is a big part of what finally convinced me to take on this challenge. It was really nice to catch up with her as we ran (it definitely helped keep my mind off of the running).

We walked a bit here and there, but we definitely ran far more of the distance than we walked. We finished our 3 miles in about 43 minutes - a little less than 15 minutes a mile. That puts us right at the top of the slowest training group. I think that's a good place for me.

After the run, we went to a shoe and apparel clinic, and I bought shoes and socks and other useful things. Now my feet are protected from the running, and I have made a significant financial contribution to this madness. Too late to quit now...

In other news, I let my brother-in-law (who is a physical therapist) work on my IT Bands while I was in Florida. I've had trouble with them before, and the trouble manifests in my knees. Since I don't want my knees quitting on me during this process, I thought it wouldn't hurt to let him try to clean them up a bit. He was pretty impressed by how tight and knotted they are, and he managed to cause me quite a bit of pain. They feel a lot better now. I will be spending a lot of time with the evil muscle rolling device (I can't explain it better, but people who have used them know exactly what I am talking about).

The important thing, though, is that I made it through 3 miles today. And I didn't feel completely awful after (hot, sweaty, and gross, but not awful). I might actually be able to do this thing.

I ran again this morning - we were assigned another 20 minutes today. How many people do you know who get up at 6:30am on their vacation and run? (I guess if you know some of my friends, the answer is "too many".)

I am definitely sore from yesterday, and my legs screamed their way through the run - I don't expect to be able to move too much tomorrow. It was nice to be out before the sun was really up enough to bear down on me. It was still hot enough, though.

I didn't make it as long without walking today - I did 5 solid minutes, then I had to switch over to intervals. I did longer intervals this time, though - 2 minutes running to 1 minute walking. I think that I covered almost the same distance, too.

I have been told that the best part of running is the high you feel when you finish. Right now all I feel when I finish is nausea and intense heat all trying to leave my body through my face. I am looking forward to the high, though.

My next run will be in Houston on Saturday with the team. Yay for off days!

When I told my family last night that I intended to go for a run first thing in the morning, my little sister offered to come with me. She's been a soccer player her whole life, so she can actually run a little without feeling like she might die, and I figured that I could probably use the company, so I agreed.

It was probably a little after 8 when we started, and it was already pretty hot and sunny. We planned to just run up the street for 10 minutes, and then we would turn around and come back to get to my suggested 20 minutes.

My sister was intent on getting me to make it to 10 minutes without stopping to walk, and she pushed me pretty hard. I don't think I would have made it to 10 minutes without her "encouragement", but I made it (feeling a bit like I might die in the process).

After the first 10 minutes, we started doing 60 second walk/run intervals. At that point, I was struggling to breathe and pretty sure I would throw up at any minute, but I managed to make it to the full 20 minutes.

We made it back to the condo, and I collapsed on the tile floor (yay for cold tile!) and attempted to convince my body to stop trying to turn inside out. My sweet mother, of course, took pictures.
Estimated distance: 1.8 miles (we measured with the car on the way home from dinner)

I am assured my body will adjust to the torture. I hope this adjustment happens soon.

So it begins...

I ran today. Maybe "ran" is a better way to put it. I am on vacation at Fort Walton Beach, FL, with my family. I had intended for this week to be my last week of intense laziness before the running insanity, but the schedule we got had "20 minutes light" down for Monday-Thursday of this week. Since I didn't want to go into our first practice on Saturday completely out of shape, I decided I should start doing the recommended runs.

I came back up to the room from a lazy day of sitting on the beach, and I really didn't want to change and go out running, so I ran around the condo for 10 minutes (I thought the schedule said "10 minutes light", so I messed up there, but at least I ran). I seriously ran around the condo - laps from the front door, through the master bedroom, around the table in the living room, and back to the front door. I looked like an idiot, and it was more like jogging, but I moved non-stop for 10 minutes and didn't die. This is a good start.

Tomorrow morning I will wake up and do 20 minutes in the neighborhood here. I guess how that goes will be a better tell of where I stand. I don't have good shoes for running yet, but I will take care of that soon - we have a shoe clinic Saturday after practice.

The important thing is that I have started. Starting is good.

On another note - I can't begin to express how much it inspires me that so many awesome people have already donated. You guys rock!