Saved by a race...

It's been a really rough few days and running the Seattle Half Marathon today was probably the easiest thing accomplished since about Tuesday (and that includes eating and sleeping). Fortunately, however, the fact that there WAS a race today saved my relationship bacon. Both Seujan and me trying to go out there alone to run the race made it apparent that a breakup wasn't the best idea afterall...whether we do races together or alternate being support staff, we're simply supposed to be a team. Long story short is that those race fees turned out to be some of the best money ever spent and an investment in mental and emotional health...and all they advertised we'd get for $70 was a T-shirt and a medal.

Anyway, I don't recommend 4 days of crying, not sleeping, and extreme stress as a training strategy for a half marathon PR, but it was effective for a little weight loss and somehow we both finished the race decently. As usual, Seujan was quite a bit faster than I was, but I did OK, it was a really nice day (WAY better than last year's weather), and I actually felt the best in the last 3-4 miles. One highlight: In the I-90 tunnel, I passed a very cute "senior" lady with a sign on her back that said, "This is my 40th Marathon. How many have YOU done?" People were cheering her on and it was really cool...inspirational for sure. My hip hurt throughout the run, but not as much as I'd anticipated. My new PT put some lift thingees in my shoes and perhaps that helped. I'm feeling it tonight, though, and can already tell I'll be a bit sore all over tomorrow...small price to pay for this one, though, and time for some rest.

Half Marathon stats (splits on GPS didn't exactly match the mile signs, but close):

First 2 miles: 18:54
1.04 mile: 10:24
.73: 9:50
1.35: 10:27
1.01: 9:39
1.01: 10:04
1.02: 10:18
1.01: 9:35
1.00: 9:12
1.01: 9:17
1.04: 8:55
1.01: 8:54
.12: :56

Total time: 2:06:30

Heartrate to heartbreak

Well, the hip pain is barely a blip on the radar in comparison to the last couple of days...not that it's healed up by any means, it's just getting overshadowed by break up hell. I'm not sure if crying is aerobic or anaerobic--seems it has been both--but regardless, a break up is a much harder exercise than a freaking Ironman, that's for sure...I think I'd rather run a triple marathon in 100 degree heat on an injury (wait--is that option available? What's the entry fee and where do I register?) than be doing this. I'm not feeling particularly thankful for a Thanksgiving morning, and am hanging out with Dave Mathews repeating "Grace is gone" on the ipod a zillion times (ironic that the ipod was a Valentine's Day present...augh...).

It's going to be sunny later today and I'm hoping to get out for a bike ride... then will be landing at somebody's Thanksgiving table quoting Dave Mathews...

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dave+matthews+band/grace+is+gone_20036641.html

Slop 'n stomp

Seujan and I puddle-stomped our way through today's long run in the pouring rain...she slummed it and ran slow today, so we actually ran together most of the 10.1 miles. We went from Greenlake, through Ravenna Park, past Husky stadium, and to through the Arboretum...then back the same way. Lots of trails and puddles and kind of fun. We were smart enough not to drive near Husky stadium within a couple hours of the 12:30 kickoff of today's football game and running through the neighborhood gave us an up close view (and smell) of the throngs of purple-clad tailgaters and their culinary creations. Nothing like barbeque grills humming along at 10:30 a.m. Now I am the first to admit that the triathlon world is a bit of a (kind of odd perhaps to some people) subculture...but tailgating football fans, now there's a subculture worthy of wonder. I mean, we had to go out in the pouring rain and slop through the mud to do our long run, but those wackos were out in the wet and cold cooking chili on propane burners and getting drunk before noon...and paying a lot of money for tickets and parking to do it...when they all appeared to be the kind of people with heated homes, fully functioning kitchens, and televisions with instant replay that could enable one to actually enjoy a football game. I will vouch for just how enjoyable that experience is because after a shower and lunch, I turned on the Husky game and promptly fell asleep on the warm dry floor in front of the TV while Seujan finished her book in the bathtub.

I had not run in a week and prior to today's run, my hip was down to just a small ache and close to normal...that was shot within the first mile of the run as it hurt right away and hasn't stopped. We went on a home improvement shopping trip this afternoon (anyone interested in booking a tour of our spare bathroom to admire the new shelving, please contact Seujan for an appointment)...and I limped around Home Depot and Target looking for escalators and elevators like a garden variety American.

It's likely that I will hamster through the week and won't run much or at all before the Seattle Half next Sunday.

Long run:
10.1 miles
1:40:12
Avg HR = 140

My life as a hamster

My hip has been a pain in the...oh, I guess a hip can't be a pain anywhere else. So yeah, the hip. Not cooperating. Verbal when I walk, especially up stairs, and hurts pretty much all the time when I run...and pipes up with sarcastic comments about my age after it sits for a while and gets stiff. I went to a new PT last week who agreed with the coach that the source of my woes is mechanical/form related. So the old dog/new tricks thing is continuing...and I'm still trying to learn how to run efficiently after doing it incorrectly for approximately 35 years. The new PT has recommended working on my glutes and abductors where Cheryl had recommended working the adductors (you say abduct, she says adduct...and I've not done much of either, I must admit).

Anyway, we were in St. Louis for my aunt's memorial service over the weekend and I got in a good long (11.25 miles) run in a nice change of scenery, but it hurt a LOT and I haven't run since. In lieu of running, I've been doing doing the elliptical machine which, Seujan reminded me yesterday, is dangerously similar to a hamster wheel. The good news: it hardly hurts my hip to do it, I can get my HR up, and I've been able to "hamster" out my intervals last week and this morning. The bad news is, of course, that I'm gym-dependent and starved for fresh air, especially since the minimal cycling lately is also indoors. I guess it could be worse. If it were summer, I'd be even more cranky going into the gym... it's not as tough of a sell when it's cold and crappy outside. God bless the ipod. So...the goal remains to make it to/through the Seattle Half a week from Sunday and then back off the running a bit more.

Today's rodent report/workout summary:
20 min warm up
2 x 4 minutes hard, 1:30 rest (up to 160 bpm on intervals)
4 x 2 minutes hard, 1:00 rest (up to 163 bpm on intervals)
5 minutes cool down
Total:
48 min
6ish "miles"

Hip hell

Today was long run day...perfect temperature (55ish) and not raining, plus some fall color still on the trees. Seujan and I both ran down on Lake Washington...she went 14+ and I did 11.25. I had her tape my hip, but it didn't really matter...damn thing hurt the whole time again. I'm going to PT on Wednesday and have ice on it right now...and will take Aleve tonight and a rest day tomorrow. I'm thinking that if I can hold on and make it through the Seattle Half in 3 weeks, I may take a couple weeks off running altogether and see if it will calm down. Maybe.

What really sucks about the whole thing is that I'm running pretty well speedwise and am trying to work on the new form thing. Today I did the 9 minute run/1 minute walk routine (another failed attempt to help with the hip pain) and even with the walk breaks, I averaged a 9:34 mile.

Long run:

11.25 miles
1:47:40
Avg HR = 142