I did it!

Thursday I decided to give my knee a try and attempt to run our marathon pace run. I ended up completing a 1-7-1 which is 1 mile warm up, 7 miles at race pace, and 1 mile cool down (The actual planned run was a 1-8-1, just one mile short) at an 8:15 pace! I was really excited but the next day I was sore like the first week of training! Then the next day I completed the 6 mile easy run. This morning I woke up really sore but I decided to give the scheduled 20 mile run a try and I DID IT! My pace was 8:18 which is 5 seconds faster than my marathon pace. And, on top of that, I felt great! Of course it hurt and I was sore before I even started but it was the first 20 mile run that I have ever run when I didn't have an injury bothering me (I consider my knee good as new since I didn't really have to "rehab an injury" I just had to let the swelling go down enough so I could bend it back). Now I know what it feels like to go on those long runs and just really enjoy it. I think God may have had a hand in slowing me down. I require more rest and recovery time than Dustin and this was break for me, both mentally and physically, for running. Now I am excited again and feel rejuvenated. One day when I write my book about marathon training (lol, I can dream) I am going to develop a system where you take a week off right in the middle of Monster Month and just cross train. Runners will have a difficult time doing this, but I really see the benefits of the running break, as long as you keep up your cardio. Experts will ponder the reasoning and do extensive research on the benefits....okay, I'm back to earth now.

Anyways, I think I deserve Andy's! They announced the new Boomer the Bear concrete and they are giving it away for free from 4-5 today. Too bad I'm leaving town at 3:00 :( It is vanilla custard, strawberries, almonds, and Heath pieces. mmmmm...you know you want some too.... so "Getja some!"

Eat Road!

Saturday the 12th Dustin and I were on an 18 mile run that took us downtown on commercial, around phelps grove park, and through the neighborhoods off of west Primrose street. Just past our commercial street venture we were picking up speed going downhill on National. The side of the road was filled with rocks and wires and junk but was better than going up and down on the sidewalks in this area. Within one stride my foot caught the edge of a small circular wire, which flipped up and tangled my other foot, hurling my body to the ground with all my weight on my left knee. I rolled and took a chunk out of my elbow (strangely the same exact spot on my elbow where I have a scar from tripping on the same type of wire on the south side of town 4 years ago...I just replaced the scar...weird) and was thankful that I didn't roll one more turn because there were cars speeding down the street. I tried to get up and my knee wasn't having it. We hobbled to a nearby Kum n Go. I was a sight-Dustin assisting me as blood ran down my arm and down my leg, soaking the top of my sock and shoes while trying to wipe the snot away from crying like a baby. None of the cars stopped to help, the customer inside the gas station just stared at me and the attendant looked over and said, "good morning!". Here's the best part- we were the farthest point away from our house on our run, go figure! So I hobbled and ran all the way home. I had a gash in my knee big enough for stiches but we had a cardinals game to get to in STL so I decided to suck it up.
I figured my knee would be sore for a few days- no biggy. I just hit it, right??? I won't have to miss any running, right??? Wrong. Apparently its worse than I thought. I have swelling and inflamation. Friday I was finally able to walk without limping. A week and a half later I still wasn't able to run on it. I've been doing the natural runner at the fitness center, but it's not the same. With only 5 weeks out from the marathon, I wonder if it will be worth my time since I have lost so much training.
Yesterday I tried to run and I was able to do a few laps around the indoor track. I was stoked!!! It wasn't the prettiest thing, and my knee locks up from time to time causing me to resemble forest gump, but I was able to run!!! Today was a rest day but I think I will try to run a few miles tomorrow. If I can get better by this weekend and get a long run in on Saturday (suppose to do 20 miles but I have only completed 17 since I went down on the 18 miler) I am going to stick with the Bass Pro Marathon. If not, I am just going to run the half marathon at Bass Pro as a tune up and run the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December. Even though the Dallas WR was my original choice for this fall marathon, I'm really not looking forward to an extra 6 weeks of training! Maybe it will be good for me. All I know is that I have been working really hard and my times have been really good but I don't want to waste my legs on Bass Pro if I'm not ready.
Hopefully I will be ready for the Washam 5k!
I'll let you know how it goes :)

Washam 5K Registration closed!

Last year we had 20 participants actually run the Washam 5K. We were hoping to increase in size by about 5 runners a year. This year we had 36 participants signed up!!! WOW! I can't wait...its gonna be fun! I think we are going to try and get a poker game going at the post party so if you are interested in playing, bring your poker face. The shirts are REALLY cool...we can't wait to show them to everyone on race day!
I am really excited about the post-party but I really hope that the Washam 5K keeps its original intent: to get friends together interested in running a 5K. I hope that the easy-going, fun spirit of the race will encourage people to run a 5K, whether it be their 1st or 31st. Of course, it's cool to walk it-we are just glad you are there! We simply enjoy sharing our love of running with others :)
See you on October 3rd! Be there by 5:15 and don't forget a lawn chair. Oh, and be ready to work up a thirst during the 5K ;)

Washam 5K Registration

Registration forms are now available for the Washam 5k Run and Post Party on October 3rd! Let us know if you have not received one yet. The deadline is September 18th and we must have the registration form and money in hand by then so we can order the t-shirts (and keg). No exceptions!
We hope you plan to join us!

Mizuno and me

I have a new brand of shoe. For the longest time I only ran in Saucony's. They were great, but Dustin turned me on to Mizuno's. I started with 2 consecutive pairs of Mizuno Wave Inspire 4 to help me get through 2 marathons. Then Dustin bought himself a pair of Asics Gel-Kayano and loved them. A few of the guys we run with on Sunday mornings also wear them and love them. They have good ratings and are expensive (so they must be good, right?) so I figured I would give them a try.
Whether it was the Kayanos or not, the first time I ran with them was the first time that I had pain and soreness in my upper calves. I figured it would all go away once I broke in the shoes, but it eventually turned into the (what I now know) cause of my knee pain. I wore them for about 3 months of easy running and decided I was going to eat the money and just get a new pair of the Mizunos that I know and love. I bought the Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 and immediately they felt like home. No waiting period and no need to break them in. I'm a happy girl again. Why didn't I just settle for what I knew worked for me? (because I'm a woman)

Don't get me wrong, I saw 2 women today wearing the same Kayano shoes that I have. And, they are popular. They just weren't right for me. Each runner had their own gate and way that they smack their foot to the pavement a million times, so they should also have a matching shoe. For now, mine is the Mizuno! And I don't plan to make any switches any time soon :)

By the way...if you are interested in running but need a pair of shoes I have a pair of gently used Kayanos that I will give you size 10.5 in women's. They would be great to help you train for the Washam 5K! We could barter like the old times...I could really use a bearskin rug, pelt thermos, or homemade canned salsa.

Happy Running.

~Aimee

Running with the Kiddos

This morning I went with Dustin to his JH cross country practice. Today they were doing a long run with a choice between a 2 or 3 mile course. Since a middle school XC race is only 1.5 miles long, I was really impressed to see so many kids decide, with their own free will, to do the 3 mile. It was a lot of fun! Some of the students had ran 5k races before but to most of them 3 miles is such an accomplishment at that age and I was so proud of them.
I remember when Dustin called me when I was in Quebec to tell me, "You will never believe this! Today in bootcamp we ran 5 miles! Without stopping!!". He was so proud and so was I! We talked about that story on the way home and how he was around 22 years old. These kids are in JH and I hope they brag like crazy to the other kids in school that were probably sitting at home watching TV or sleeping in while they ran 3 MILES! What a fun, healthy sport for those students. It makes me smile.
~Aimee

Diet Starts Monday

"Diet Starts Monday," have you ever heard or said that? I've never been much of a "diet" person. I will just decide to "eat healthier" or "cut back on sweets". But I am going to have to do something! I can't stop eating. I don't even know if I am hungry anymore or if I am just eating because I am so used to it. I will start off with a good, healthy meal. Then I will crave sugar like crazy. For example, tonight I had a big, hearty salad for dinner with all the fixins. That normally does me in for the evening. But then I had some cookies, then some cereal, then an ice cream sandwich...later a peanut butter sandwich. This was after a day of eggs with toast, donut holes, frosted animal crackers, chips, pizza, dessert pizza, and a granola bar (you would have thought I was done by noon). We finally finished off Dustin's birthday treats which makes it easier not to feel the obligation to "get rid" of what is left. I bought him cheesecake the morning of his birthday since I didn't have time to make anything "homemade", later made him a rainbow chip cake, and had mom's chocolate chip cookies. It's just so tempting sitting around!
I'm not quite sure what to do. All I know is that it will be much easier to race if I don't pack on extra pounds a few weeks before the race. I never thought I would say this but, "Slow Down Metabolism!"