First Marathon Complete!!!!

Northeast Ohio TNT Group

Cleveland Marathon - done and done. 4 Hours 27 Minutes 33 Seconds

An estimate 19,000 runner at the starting line
 for the Cleveland Full, Half and 10K Marathon

This was my first marathon and I couldn’t be happier! I ran the whole way with my sister and we saw some amazing sights. (I’m not talking about the Cleveland scenery, though we did get a feel for ALL the flavors of Cleveland.) We saw people dressed in some crazy costumes - hot dogs, bananas, wearing tutus. Someone dressed in a gorilla costume with a TNT bib suddenly said to my sister “I know you,” and he knew where she works. Freaked us out a littler. I met the guy later and he couldn’t have been nicer, but I’ll probably have nightmares about monkeys tonight. We also saw people throwing up over the edge of bridges and peeing on the side of the road.



Me and my sister at the halfway point

 We saw A LOT of fabulous people out in the cold and rain cheering on the runners. Those people ROCKED! It’s surprising how much energy you can draw from a little kid you don’t even know yelling “Good job,” and giving you a high five. And you get ten times the energy from those people that you do know. Knowing they are there to see you gives you wings to cross that finish line!



Us with the finishline in sight

 Thank you to everyone who supported me and my sister!!!! I'm going to leave it at this for now. I'm both physically and mentally tired. I'll write up a play-by-play later. My running journey definitely has not ended.

Me and my sister crossing the finishline at Cleveland Marathon

Finding Inspiration

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

These past weeks have been increasingly difficult. Yes, the mileage is a lot longer, but that is only a portion of the challenge. The last few miles of my long runs have taken every last ounce of energy and every portion of will power that I can manage.

The mental challenge of running long distances was something that I was not prepared for. A few weeks ago I almost gave up. It was icy and there was two inches of snow on the trail. As if that was not difficult enough, on the return portion of the run, the sun came out and started melting the snow turning it into two inches of slush. My feet were soaked, I had blisters on the entire arch of my foot, and my jacket was chaffing around my neck. With two miles to go I just could not go any further.

At that point I received a text message from my sister. I welcomed the distraction and the excuse to stop and walk. She inquired how my run went and I confessed that I was struggling to finish. She replied “Then get off the phone and finish. You can go this!”

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

I put my phone away and said, “I can do this.” I got back to running. It was just as difficult as ever, but I was determined to finish. I started thinking about why I was doing it. I thought of my sister running with me. I thought of all the people that have supported me through donations and encouragement. I thought of everything my husband has given up so I could train. And most of all, I thought of Mikey. He is my honoree for this marathon. I thought of everything that Mikey went through while receiving treatment for leukemia. I thought of how much he endured through spinal taps and chemo at the age of four. I told myself that if a four-year-old could fight through years of battling leukemia, then I could fight through another two miles. I dug down and I finished the last two miles sweating and panting the whole way, but I finished!

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT

The following week, my sister also had a rough run and considered quitting. We decided to run together for the next long run and that run was very enjoyable. We chatted the whole way and barely noticed as the miles passed. We were still tired from the run, but having each other helped us keep our minds off of the effort.

My 18 mile run was with Team in Training. The first seven miles were no problem. For the next several miles I ran with one of the coaches. Again, talking helped the miles to fly by. We discussed what he called “Mind Over Marathon.”  I explained how unexpected the mental challenge was. He said that in his opinion the physical preparation only accounted for 10% of the marathon. The other 90% was mental. One piece of advice he gave me was break the run into mini-goals. Instead of focusing on completing a marathon, he suggested to look at each individual run and break it down even further.

I ran the last 6 miles on my own. Once again when I got to the last 2 miles I struggled. I started doing what the coach suggested and breaking my run into smaller goals. I told myself that if I ran to the bench up ahead, I’d walk for twenty steps. If I made it to the tree, I’d walk for ten seconds. The mini-goals worked.
There was another runner that looked to be doing the same thing (mini-goal setting). We passed each other back and forth the entire two miles.

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



When I made it back to the parking lot, I stretched and chatted with the coach hanging out for the return runners. The other mini-goal runner also finished her run at the same parking lot and walked over. I expected her to say something about us passing each other, but was very surprised and very touched by what she said.

The woman was a two time Hodgkin’s survivor. She expressed her sincere gratitude for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and especially for all the people volunteering to run and raise money through Team in Training. We talked about what she had gone through and how the support of LLS and TNT helped her through her ordeals.

The conversation that I had in that parking lot was like being smacked by the two-by-four of reality.

I am running this marathon and going through these struggles so that people like Mikey and that woman have the medicine and support they need to see another day.

 

Pictures from Hunt Farm
Tow Path Run with TNT



I am doing this so that I can have conversations tomorrow with someone who is fighting cancer today.

Ten years ago I would not have had the privilege to talk to that woman in the parking lot, and it is because of LLS and TNT that I received that special gift of inspiration!

Yes, I am working hard training and raising funds, but it is just a small effort in the bigger scheme of things. My inspiration is everyone that is fighting, has survived, or has been touched by blood cancer.

The Mental Game

I’ve discovered that running is much more than a physical and endurance sport. There is an entire mental aspect to it I underestimated. I heard people say that they have trouble finding motivation and having to play mind games to continue running, but I did not see it as much of an obstacle. I was determined to succeed. I was determined to run in and finish the Cleveland Marathon.

Lately however, I’ve realized that the mental challenges are very real. Since I started running last August I’ve been battling injury and illness constantly. Every week it’s been something new from broken bones, strained muscles, bronchitis, and shin splints. All I want to do is go out and enjoy running.  I’ve worked very hard to overcome all of these issues. I’ve talked with specialists, I’ve exercised, I’ve rested; everything that I’m supposed to do, but the issues continued to occur.

Another factor has been the winter weather in Northeast Ohio. I do not recall seeing so much snow in one season. There has been so much snow that a lot of the training has required indoor running on the dreadmill (that is an intentional misspelling). It’s been cold, grey, and wet to further bring down the spirits.
Here are a few posts I wrote after some bad runs. I think that they accurately conves my state of mind.

3 mi 00:32 10:48 pace
Treadmill yet again. I could only force myself to run 3 miles, and even that was a major effort! My mental game just wasn't in it. Between rain, sleet, cold, and spiking migraines I guess I should see my 3 as an achievement, but I just see utter failure right now. Blah!

1.67 mi 00:20 11:58 pace
Was supposed to do 5, but my shins started hurting again and I just didn't have it in me. The whole mental thing is really dragging me down.

I started questioning why I was doing this. I would respond – yes, I know this sounds schizophrenic – I’m doing this for me and I’m doing this for Mikey. I need to finish this or else I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, and I need to finish this because so many people have supported me by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Then I would rebut with questioning if this race is really worth the physical strain I am putting my body through. Who knows if anything that I’m doing will have long term adverse effects. And I rebut the rebuttal by reminding myself that if one little boy could go through the necessary, and often painful treatments for leukemia then I could finish the rest of my 60 days of training and run the marathon because what he went through is nothing compared to training for a marathon. I have the choice to stop. People with blood cancers do not have the option of stopping.

This is how I’ve gotten through the last several weeks of training, but I think that I’ve rounded the bend in the mental challenge. I’ve pushed myself and have run further than I’ve ever run before. The sun has finally come out and the temperatures have warmed. It is nice to be out there again and I can smile while I run. I’m still battling tightness and tenderness in my shins, but I don’t care.

I just run!

Lessons Learned

I've learned a few lessons this week, and I've learned the value (and necessity) of recovery days.

Blisters are a reoccurring issue for me after running more than three miles. I've received some great advice from other runners and I think that I've found the combination that is going to work ... fingers crossed. If you get blisters, you can't stop training while they heal. You have to keep going. Unfortunately, if you continue, you break the blisters open and they get worse, not better. Here's what seems to work for me. 1) Non-cotton socks. Turns out that cotton holds in moisture, and when you run, you have moisture whether from snow, water puddles, or sweat. I've been wearing my Team In Training wick dry socks. 2) Two pairs of socks. Blisters are caused by friction of something rubbing against the skin. When there are two socks, the majority of the friction is between the two socks and not the sock and foot. 3) New-Skin liquid bandage. I brushed on a double coat of the liquid bandage over my current blisters and other areas prone to blistering. 4) Looser laces. I was pulling my shoelaces as tight as possible but it was getting uncomfortable and there wasn't a benefit that I could tell.

I hope that, continuing with these four things will keep the blisters away, or if not away will keep them from bothering me during my runs.

This photo is from Flickr user lobstar28.

I am currently typing this post, sitting on the couch with a heating pad under my calves, and there are two reasons.

The first reason is my own stupid fault. After my run on Friday, I felt great! I walked in the house, got my water and a snack, and chatted with my family. Everyone was in a good mood and talkative (possible a result of the beautiful weather). Time got away from and I needed to get dinner going and then take a shower. When i finally sat down two hours later, I realized that I did not stretch after my run and I was starting to feel the effects. My calf muscles were tight and knotted. The next day, they were still very tight so I took extra time to stretch well. I didn't have trouble during the run, so all seemed well.

The second reason I'm sitting with my legs propped up on the couch like a prima donna is because after my long run yesterday, I decided to wear my cute boots with a two inch heel. Bad Idea! Walking around in heels stretched my calves in the wrong way and I didn't realize it until I took my boots off five hours later and my calves SCREAMED!

So, the lessons learned: Always, always, always stretch before and after a run, and refrain from heels for at least a few hours.

Back Outside!

Tracks just from me and the deer.

Mid-40's after weeks of below freezing weather (many of which were below zero). 

Wow, it was nice to run outside again! I know I've complained in the past about running in the slushy, messy snow and stepping on hidden uneven ice patches, but today I loved every second of it. There was still about four inches of snow on the bike path so I had to lift my knees high, which completely exhausted me. I still enjoyed it and splashed in every icy puddle I saw! 

After the first 1 1/2 miles I didn't know if I could continue back through the snow, so I decided to run on the roads. It was slow going, and I really had to push that last mile. But I am completely happy with my run and I feel great. Can't wait for the even nicer weather tomorrow. 

Running Etiquette

As with any sport, there is a code of etiquette when running. There are basic things you can do to keep running enjoyable for everyone, because unless you own a private track or road, you have to share the space with others.

1. Just like when you are driving, stay to the right so there is room for others running in the opposite direction or for those wanting to pass.
2. If you run with other people, keep to two people across, again, so there is room for others running in the opposite direction or for others to pass.
3. If you want to pass someone, announce yourself. There is nothing worse than being started by someone passing you. A polite “On your left,” or “Passing on the left” is sufficient. Make sure to mention which side you are passing on (just like when driving) so that the person you are passing can move over if necessary.
4. If you like to listen to music, make sure you can still hear what is going on around you. You want to be able to hear someone passing you or traffic on the road.

5. If you like to run with your dog, the dog should also stay to the right, and keep your dog leashed! Even if your dog is the sweetest thing in the world, other people’s dogs may not be friendly. A loose dog that suddenly lunges at another runner could either scare the runner (not everyone likes dogs), or cause them to miss a step and trip. Leashing your pet keeps everyone safe.
6. Also, pick up after your furry friends. There is nothing worse than having to dodge landmines.
7. Finally, acknowledge other runners. A small smile, nod of the head, or a simple “Hi” goes a long way. It is just polite, and it really makes you feel good, like you are part of an exclusive club.
8. Follow all posted rules for parks, trails, and roads. Run against traffic and stay to the side of the road. Remain on trails. Running off trails could damage delicate flora. Wear reflective clothing when it is dark. Etc. 

Use your common sense and treat others as you would like to be treated. Running should be enjoyable for you and everyone else out there.

Gait Analysis

The free video editing software I have only has the very basic features, so I’m not able to point things out like I wanted. (I guess that is why the software is free.) I was able to slow down the recording. Hopefully, you will be able to better see what I explain.

In a normal running gait, your heel hits on the outer side first and then rolls toward the inside. As the heel starts to lift, the foot rolls back out so that the ball of the foot is flat on the ground providing the spring necessary to propel forward.

When I wore my clearance, “running” shoes, I did not have the adequate support, so my foot remained rolled in too long. I was already starting to spring forward before it rolled back out. This put extra stress on the fibula contributing to my break. The sports medicine doctor already figured this out before the gait analysis.

There was one new thing discovered that also probably contributed to the break. There is a weakness in my hips. The weakness is shown by the way my hips dip when I run. Normally, the hips stay in a horizontal line – parallel to the ground. On this video, you can see that my hips dip down into a 45-degree angle when I run. This also places stress on the fibula. I had the perfect triangle for a break – lack of experience, wrong shoes with an overpronation, and weak hips.

What does all of this mean? First, I restarted running gradually. I used the elliptical a lot and completed just a few short runs every other day. I slowly built up to a mile. The movement of my ankle was corrected by purchasing the proper running shoes, and the physical therapist prescribed strengthening exercises for my hips. Nothing that can’t be corrected.

I am now up to fifteen miles a week, but I still keep the running to every other day. On the off days, I cross train with P90, elliptical, and water running. The cross training helps me continue to work on the cardio and work my muscles without the added stress of continuous impact.

December 18th - 4 Mile Run at Bonnie Park

Here is a set of photes from the Team in Training run at Bonnie Park on December 18th. This was a special run, because our team honoree, Olivia, was there. Olivia was diagnosed with Leukemia in the spring of 2010 and was only just released from a long hospital stay in November.

Thanks for coming out Olivia!

The Team in Training with honoree Olivia (she's the one in the yellow coat) and her family

Coach Jim



That's me! I'm still smiling because it is only a half mile into the run =)

Having the Right Doctor - Part 2 of 2

Photo by Jordan Fischer

The next part to my recovery was going to a physical therapist. In the initial consultation him to gauged the strength in my entire left leg and study how I walk. The physical therapist I went to is also a marathon runner, so he took the time to study that shoes I wore when I broke my ankle and the shoes I purchased to continue my training. He showed me how the clearance-rack, Reebok “running” shoes did not have the support I needed for my overpronation by folding them in half. He then tried to do that with my Mizuno Wave Alchemy 10 shoes. He couldn’t even make a crescent shape out of them. He explained that because of how I walk, I put stress on the outside of my ankle, and without the extra support in my shoes, running creates excessive trauma.

He then had me do several exercises to test the strength in both of my legs and core. He discovered that my right side was slightly weakened too and that I needed to strengthen my core at the sides. All of these muscles are related and each affects other. If the muscles are not strong then extra stress is placed on the bones. So running requires not only cardio training, it also requires strength training. He gave me several exercises to complete each night.

The key to making physical therapy work is to complete the exercises as often as prescribed. The exercises are not difficult nor do they require much time. The problem is that it is so easy to talk yourself into skipping one evening, but then that one evening turns into a second, and so on.

As my strength returned, the physical therapist gradually increased the frequency and distance of my runs and suggested several cross training possibilities for my non-running days (I’ve sign up for a water program for runners). He also completed a gait analysis to make sure that nothing else in my running style would contribute to further injury.

What a concept. Treat the current problem, but also look for the cause of it and take preventative measures to avoid future injuries! Who would have thunk it?

The final prognosis is I am healed and able to start my regular marathon training schedule.

The physical therapist was kind enough to provide me with a copy of my gait analysis and walk me through it. I’ll post that video and explain what he told me in a separate post. First, I have to figure out the video editing software.

Having the Right Doctor - Part 1 of 2

By lululemon athletica

I have learned an important lesson about choosing the right doctor. Though a doctor is highly professional and recommended, if he is not a runner he may not fully understand the special concerns related to training for a marathon.

The orthopedic surgeon I went to was good, but he was old school and not a runner. When he said I could start running again, I asked if I should first go to physical therapy. He said the best way for me to rebuild the strength in my leg was to get back to my normal routine as soon as possible. I took the doctor at his word and started back to my running routine. I started slow, running just over a mile at a slow pace. I restarted walking my dogs nightly. It was difficult for me to restrain myself. I wanted nothing more then the start running at a fast pace for as long as I could, but I could feel my leg was weak, so I adhered to my grandfather’s advise and I took it “easy greasy.” 

During my first Team in Training run, I kept up with everyone else. The pace felt good. I was able to talk the whole time without feeling winded. It was not until the run was over that I realized I was running at a much faster pace. Once I cooled down I started feeling some pain in my knee and the top of my foot – on the side that had the broken ankle. I rested a day and everything felt better. I tried running again, but halfway through, my knee started to feel sore again. I did not push anything. I rested, iced, wrapped, and elevated my knee. When my knee felt better, I stuck to the elliptical to minimize impact. However, my knee still hurt. It was not only affecting my run, but I was also having pain while doing everyday activities.

On the advice of a co-worker, I called a sports medicine doctor. He is also a marathon runner. First thing he said was that my left leg was noticeably weaker. He eased my mind by telling me that I would be back to normal in no time with physical therapy. I’m by no means a doctor, but this is how I understood it. Since my muscles were weakened, excessive stress was placed on my knee while I ran, which inflamed the “water balloon” that cushions the joint. It‘s called bursitis. The doctor said that runners are a special breed; they are all slightly crazy. He told me not to run and to start physical therapy. He also advised me that in the future to not run if I feel pain above a two out of ten (he gives most people a four out of ten but because I have a freakishly high tolerance for pain, he felt the need to be more strict) and if the pain affects daily life. Limping out of the doctor’s office I obeyed and immediately scheduled an appointment with a physical therapist who is also a marathon runner.

What made me feel good about this doctor’s advice was that he took that time to talk to me about my training, he looked at my shoes, he studied how I walked, and he tested my muscle strength. He explained how one weakened area affects other areas. He also said that he wanted to pursue the reason that I broke my ankle in the first place, to ensure that I don’t do it again. Because I didn’t fall or twist my ankle, he wanted to find out if how I run contributed to the break.

To be continued …

It's Okay to Walk



Photo by  Wally Gobetz and taken on
April 10, 2004 in Back Bay, Boston, MA, US.

 I am a reader. I like to read anything I can get my hands on from Fantasy to Physics and book to blogs. Since I decided to run a marathon, I have been reading a lot of material about running. A book I am currently reading is The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. I really like this book because it provides the thoughts and emotions of other people that were new to running and how they overcame the biggest obstacle - not meeting their own expectations.

When I got off my crutches, I expected to need additional training to get back to where I was prior to the broken ankle. What I did not expect was to be worse off than when I first started running. I have been pushing and pushing myself to get my pace up, but have realized my leg is not yet strong enough for that. It is very frustrating wanting to run and not be able to meet my own expectations. In the book I am reading, they warn of going into training with unreasonable expectations and personal agendas. As a first time marathon runner, my main goal is to finish the race. That in itself is a major accomplishment. Once I pass that milestone, then I can start tacking on additional goals, like achieving a certain time. Why add more pressure to myself? Why make this a chore instead of something I enjoy?

I decided to stop listening to my head and start listening to my body and the advice of experts on how to achieve my one and (now) only goal - to finish a marathon. A blog I read is Predawn Runner. The author has successfully complete many marathons and has a personable tone in his posts. I enjoy reading about his trials with training and races and knowing that it is not just me as a newbie.

This week he interviewed another first time marathon runner and what he said further strengthened my resolve to eliminate additional expectations. This runner not only wanted to complete a marathon, he also wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon. After finishing the race, he was disappointed he did not have a qualifying time for Boston. Can you imagine, going through all that training only to be disappointed? That is the last thing I want to feel at the finish line. So out with the head trash.

There was also another point that I got from that interview. Hydrate! While running a marathon, there are water stations where volunteers hand you cups of water. Have you ever tried running and drinking a cup of water? Not easy. If you manage to get any in your mouth, you then have to worry about swallowing it without choking. How are you supposed to drink adequate amounts of water in those conditions? Well, I got my answer on another website that I like to frequent, Hal Higdon's Marathon Training Guide. Hal advises to take scheduled walking breaks.

Wait. What? I should actually plan on walking?

This is a completely foreign concept to me and it made me realize that I had yet another goal running through my head that I needed to get rid of. One of my motivating tricks I use while running is to tell myself that I can walk when I make it to the next light post, I can rest when I get to the top of the hill, I can slow down when I make it to the next intersection. I was making it a goal to run without stopping or walking, and here is an expert saying that "Walking is a perfectly acceptable strategy in trying to finish a marathon."

After I stopped to think about it, Mr. Higdon’s advice makes a lot of sense. He suggests not waiting until your body is so tired that you have to walk. The recovery time takes longer. If you plan when you are going to walk, you recover much faster and can continue longer. Another advantage is that you can plan your walks through water stations. This way you make sure you stay hydrated, and you give your body the recovery time. You can actually drink the water instead of wearing it or choking on it.

As logical as this sounds, I was not convinced of the benefit of scheduled walks until Mr. Higdon provided his personal experience. He once ran a 2:29 marathon while walking through every water station. This just proves my inexperience, and convinced me that it is okay to walk in a marathon.

So from now on, my only goal is to finish and to be proud of it!

Meet My Running Partner

Such a tired puppy.

I went for a run with my running buddy today. Meet Tank. He loves running. Unfortunately, while I was on crutches, he did not get out, and he forgot all of his training. It took a good mile before he was tired enough to follow properly. He pulled and ran every-which-way. He also forgot that you can't run if you are peeing every five steps and have your nose plastered to the ground. After the first mile, Tank fell into line and trotted along with me, only occassionally stopping to sniff at a tree.

We had a good run, though my time was terrible. Granted, it was a different terraine - hilly with slippery rocks - but, really? 14 minutes per mile? However, you could not beat the 60 degrees for the end of November! It was fantastic just to be out there.

I'm glad that Mother Nature save a few nice days for me to run in.

First Team in Training Run

Yesterday was the first Team in Training run. We ran at the Brecksville Station Depot, and I must say, what a great group of people! The energy was motivating, and the conversations were engaging.

Normally I run by myself or with my dogs. I was not sure what to expect while running with a group of people. I thought that I would be left behind, since I am still recovering from my broken ankle. I thought that it would be impossible to talk because I'd be winded. I thought that I would feel out of place because I'd be running with people who have completed marathons before. I thought wrong.

Everyone was very encouraging and friendly. They had stories to tell, and they were willing to share their experiences of their first runs. Any questions I had, people were willing to answer.

I admit, I'm nervous about the marathon - yes, I'm already nervous even though I have six months. I learned yesterday that my nerves are normal. My fellow runners also prepared me for other feelings to expect. For example, they warned me that I would be tempted to run more than is recommended, but I should not give in to that temptation. Doing so will increase the chance of injury.

I was very surprised that I was running right beside everyone else and that I was keeping up my end of the conversations. When they said 15 minutes were up and it was time to turn around, I was amazed that much time had gone by. When I crossed the bridge and the run was over, I could not believe that I completed three miles. After the run, I felt great! I'm looking forward to our next group run.

New Shoes

I bought my new running shoes yesterday. This was my first experience getting professionally fitted. I went to Vertical Runner in Hudson. They measured my foot, checked how I stood and walked. Turns out that I need a size and a half larger than I normally buy, I have freakishly narrow feet, and I severely overpronate.

I tried on several pairs of shoes and really liked how the Mizuno Wave Alchemy's felt. I can't wait to try them out today during my first group run with TNT.

Here's my new shoes.

They certainly are an improvement from this: