Phillies 5k: First race of the season. And a broken foot.

This is a long blog.  

I have taken way too much time off from blogging, and well, I miss it.  I didn't even blog after my second marathon.  Which by the way, I did finish in 40 minutes less then my first marathon!!  I'm a slow marathoner, so this was very possible.  

Anyway, post-marathon I experienced a lot of burnout and it snowed a lot.  I just wasn't enjoying my runs, long or short, fast or slow.  I had signed up for spring races and knew I'd start to enjoy running again, and I always like a PR.  I had signed up for the Phillies 5k (free game tix!), Caesar Rodney half (a hilly hot mess), Broad Street (10 miles and going on year 6), Delaware Marathon Relay (6 miles with friends), and a Savage Race (crazy obstacles, and MUD)!  

March and May were planned to be crazy and awesome.  I say planned lightly.  Being the oldest of four I've been cursed with the mom syndrome.  Ever since I was little, I've had anything and everything in my purse.  In college I was deemed "mom". Because of this, I am a planner x 1000.  So Mike and I (see adorbs photo further down) signed up and were registered for the Phillies 5k, receiving two of the elusive 5000 spots.  And yes, I just said "adorbs" #almost30goingon13.

We were awake and eating breakfast by 7ish.  Probably the best breakfast ever.  I don't normally buy cereal (because I'll eat it all in one sitting), but I bought Blueberry Morning.  Crunchy flakes, nut clusters, and dried blueberries.  Best. Cereal. Ever.

After eating and getting ready, we were on the road.  We were in Philly by 8 a.m.  Great!  We'd have time to park, stretch, stand in the porta-potty line, and get in the zone.  Unfortunately, as fabulous as the Phillies 5k perks are, the parking situation is un-excusable.  Parking for the Phillies 5k with 5,000 runners is worse than parking for the Broad Street Run, ahem with 40,000 runners.  Not sure how that happens.  

Around 8:50 the car was finally parked.  Allowing just enough time for the potty and running into the mass of people.  Where we conveniently found Bethany and Ped!  Turned music on, wished us each luck (I needed more than luck), and the race began.

Now, I love races, however, the Phillies 5k brings out a different crowd.  Maybe because I am a slightly more experienced runner.  Last year alone I ran a handful of 5k's, two ten milers, 4 half marathons, a full marathon, and a duathlon.  Because I've run a lot, there is certain etiquette to follow.  If you are in a group of fast people, you move to the left or right, if you are faster than the slow people, you again, move to the left or the right.  The Phillies 5k brings out a lot of new runners and walkers.  While this is amazing, and new runners or anyone exercising is great, most don't get how a race works.  

The first mile I was running on the outskirts of the 5000 people.  My first mile was complete in 7:53 (phew, I was killing it)!  I slowed slightly after getting a side-stitch to about an 8:30 pace for the first part about mile 1.2.  We continued on passing Citizens Bank on the right and kept moving.  Since I took off in the beginning I had no clue where my friends were, but this was fine.  We were all chasing our own PR's.  We ran across Broad Street and it appeared there was an out and back down Pattison.  There were slower people around so I was trying to weave around and finally settled in.  I was holding steady around an 8:35-8:40 pace.  I was definitely on track to PR!!

And then it happened.  Running.  Running.  Running.  On the ground.  Bloody hand. Skinned knee. And, twisted foot.  Legit runner above me blocking me from others, and asking if I was ok.  To whoever you are, thank you so much.  I could've ended up trampled, but you shielded me from the masses.  This is one reason I love runners, they are truly nice people.  You will never meet an angry runner.  I said I was ok, my foot wasn't dangling, and that is my definition of "ok".  

I hobbled to the left side and started to walk.  I thought maybe I could run again, I've fallen while running before and I get back up.  I continued my hobble, i'm sure I was a sight.  At this point I text my friend who had planned to walk the 5k and told her to look for me.  

I walked some more, and then my pride started to take a beating.  I was walking.  Why was I walking, I'm a runner.  I can't walk next to these runners.  And then, the medical cart drove by.  "Are you ok?" they asked.  "I think so, I think I twisted my foot", I responded.  They told me to sit on the edge of the cart next to the stretcher (I guess it could be worse).  They looked at my ankles to look for swelling.  Since I broke my sesamoids a few years ago my left ankle is normally swollen anyway, so they decided to take me to see the EMT's.  

And this happened... And, I may have slightly cried.

Yep, that is a photo while driving past all the runners I should have been running with.  Greatttt.  

I was taken to the ambulance right in front of Citizen's Bank.  They told me I probably twisted my ankle and that it was just sore.  Having messed up my foot before, I knew it was more than that.  They did give me the option of going to the hospital.  The hospital in Philly?!  Thanks, but NO.

I let Mike know that I fell and to find me after he finished the race.  Conveniently, he had just finished the race when I text him.  He grabbed me a medal too.  It may say finisher, but I finished that race! Or it finished me..

Then started the official hobble back to the car.  I think I could've run a 5k faster than it took me to get to my car.  It was an interesting walk, filled with lots of chatter, "oh that can't be good", or "yikes".  Thanks people, I know it's messed up.  

But we did take a break for some photos and found Bethany and Ped!  

(this is the "adorbs" photo I mentioned before)

After our break we continued on.  A group tailgating saw us and offered us beer.  "We saw you fall, are you ok? Have a beer", is what we were greeted with.  Well, ok!  I never turn down a free beer, especially when my foot hurts.  The entire group saw me fall and said they thought I was tripped. Then two others nearby saw us and realized I was the one who fell.  "Omg that was you, are you ok?". Apparently this fall was some crazy sight.

Then we drove back to Delaware.  I iced the foot and elevated it.  And then I took a nap.  Post-nap around 5 I decided something was wrong.  I drove to the Medical Aid Unit and thankfully was the only person there.  They took x-rays and then wheeled me in to see them.  "You won't be running for awhile, you have a fifth metatarsal fracture".  Wait, what?! "It's a clean break with some hairline fractures".  And then it set in, and I may have cried again.  All five races I had remaining for the season were done. 

I followed up with my doctor yesterday.  No exercise for 6 weeks, aside from modified yoga and weights.  Then I asked about driving.  "Well you legally can't drive with a boot on your foot, ahh it's always the right foot.  But the good news is, you don't need surgery".  I hadn't even considered surgery, or a lack of driving.  

I truly believe God has a purpose for this and that everything happens for a reason.  I don't get it right now, but I'm sure one day I will.  

Run on runner friends.  Kill your races this spring!!

Week 12 of 13: 12 miles in 2:00

Yay, this was my first taper run.  I only had to run 12 miles and was happy to gain a few hours back in my life.  I went down to a friends in a flat area, no hills!!

We started around 6:30 and looped back a few times to grab different runners every 3 miles or so.  My piriformis was still acting a little crazy, and my hips were tight.  

I just kept thinking about food AND the fact that this was the last double digit run.  I was maintaining a 10:15 pace which is great because that was the goal marathon pace.  

I managed to run 12 miles in 2 hours, which is average, but given my pain I was happy.

I then ate probably the best bagel of my life.  I'm so mad I didn't take a picture.  It was a french toast flavored bagel (that is made with maple syrup), with vanilla walnut cream cheese. 

Week 11 of 13: 17 miles in 3:03

All week I had been debating where to run my final and second 20 miler.  Last week I ran 20 super hilly miles in 3:33 and was definitely feeling the after effects.  My piriformis was on fire and any wrong movements sent me into intense pain, identical to that of a herniated disc.

I was back and forth between finding a flat stretch of earth, or just sucking it up on the hills.  I finally decided to suck up the hills.

Now, the area where I live is very hilly considering Delaware is a flat or below sea level area.  I actually bought in the area because it reminded me of where I grew up, and that it was super runner and biker friendly.  :)

I like to think I run with finesse, but I know my mind and actual running gait vary, A LOT!

This is how I think I look:

Last week, not so much.  I ended up walking most of the hills to avoid the revenge of my piriformis.

In case you have no idea what i'm talking about, it's a literal pain in the..

And this pain seemed to become more aggravated with running up and down hills.  

One of my friends running the marathon (there's actually a good number of us running), met me and we started our 20 miles of fun.

The weather has been bipolar here ranging between 30-75 degrees during the month of October.  The morning of this 20 it was 32 degrees.  I had to dig out a hat, gloves, long sleeve, and bought new running tights.  I bought some new socks.  My biggest concern was wind on skin.  Particularly the area between my pants and socks.  Yikes!

We left and started the 20 mile run.  I was still hurting from the week priors 20 miler.  Most people take a fall back week in between their 20 mile runs, I didn't have the option because I took a rest week earlier on.

My long run pace is between 10-11 minute miles.  I was holding strong for the first 10ish, but was mentally falling apart.  My poor running buddy, she probably thinks I'm crazy!  Talking to myself and trying to figure out what was wrong with me I'm sure was an interesting sight!

I then came to the conclusion women with hips and butts shouldn't run, ever!  Now this is totally ridiculous, but I don't think I'm meant to run for hours and hours.  I've got a lot more to drag around than those super skinny marathoners.

Maybe I'm wrong.  If anyone knows of any Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce esq woman that runs fast, please let me know!

At this point I decided that maybe I should get more into my strength and yoga workouts.  And start to train for triathlons over the winter.  I like to run, but this run had changed my "love" for of it 100%.  Mind you, this was all going through my head as I ran.  

My running buddy kept coming back to check on me, and I was running, just a bit slower.  I maintained a 10:20 pace during this run.

What kept me going was fuel.  Why? Because I'm a super fat kid at heart.  I love these gu chomps in orange, I think i'll use them for the marathon since they use less energy to chew.

We were about 6 miles in when we passed a Redner's 18-wheeler pulled over.  I figured the driver was either lost or looking for food or a bathroom.  Until we realized he wasn't.  As we approached said truck, the truck driver was outside of the truck.  It was around 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning and this driver was on the ground it appeared was doing something on the ground.  

And then we saw it.  A dead deer was on the side of the road.  My immediate reaction was that the truck hit the deer and the driver was helping the deer.  Then my brain clicked and I remembered this was a deer, not a human.  As we passed, I realized the driver was taking all of the deers internal organs out, to what we later figured out, he probably planned to eat.  Now I know that people hunt, and kill animals.  However, the road this was happening on was not wild forest, it was leading into a classy area where this type of thing doesn't happen.  I still need to get in touch with Redner's.  The fact that their driver was cutting a deer up, then it appeared taking it in his truck (which i'm sure transports food) i'm sure is against numerous health regulations.  Yuck!

We continued on and found a bathroom, then ran to a park to get some more mileage in.  From this point we looped back and ran most of the prior mileage.  

At mile 12 I told my buddy that I'd let myself stop at 16.  I was hurtingg.  I initially stopped at 16.4 and was freezing, remember how it was 32!  I decided to run a bit more because the stretch was going downhill.  I ended up running 17 miles in total in about 3 hours.  If i hadn't stopped my watch this 20 would've taken 4 hours, including an hour to walk the remaining 3.

This was the longest run of training, then straight into TAPER!!

Week 10 of 13: 20 miles in 3:33

The peak of training arrived, a week later than it should've!

I initially planned to run 20 in a flat area, but couldn't seem to find a decent route or stretch of road with shoulders.  Since I was running alone, I needed to be safe.  Running on roads without shoulders is just a bad idea.  There are a lot of local parks where I can run, but they are typically 1-3 miles in total.  Doing almost 7 loops of the same route becomes painful while running.

I decided to stick with my 20 mile route from last year.  I would run 10 miles to the football stadium of the local university, and run back.  An out and back loop doesn't sound too bad, right?  Until you factor in that one loop is the equivalent of the Broad Street Run.  Which I PR'd in this year in 1:30.  All I knew was that this run wouldn't be done in 3 hours, it was also a slower paced long run.

I packed my shot bloks, camelbak, covered myself in body glide and was out the door.  I also had to go to kmart before my run to buy new earbuds, since my other pair broke.  There was no way I could run 20 miles without music.  I started out too fast (for this run).  I was at an 8:45-9 pace for the first few miles and knew I needed to slow down.  So I slowed closer to a 10 minute pace.

Throughout the run I felt like I was running at a 15 minute pace, but every time I'd look down my watch was between 10-10:15.  This was a good feeling, even though I was hurting.

I stopped 4 or 5 times during the run to stretch out my glutes, hips, and low back.  It felt like everything was knotted together.  I've had IT band issues and a herniated disc, so I was a little concerned.

I finally made it back 3:33 and tons of hills later in one piece.  I showered, took advil, and then went and got this amazing burrito.  I try to avoid this place if I'm not training, but after 20 miles this was amazingggg!

Today, I woke up and felt ok.  Until I got to work, I knew something was wrong with my back.  I called my chiropractor and made an appointment to see her after work.  They use these little buzzy pads to stimulate muscle contractions on your back.  I was ok before I got this part.  When I got up to walk to her office I could barely move (very reminiscent of when I herniated my disc).  

So I am back in rest mode icing and eating advil all day.  I just hope I can make it to this marathon in one piece.  Fingers crossed and saying prayers.

Only 3 weeks to Philly Marathon! eek

Week 9 of 13: Rest

This week I should've run 20 miles, but opted not to because of my foot pain.  I'm 100% stubborn when it comes to sports related injuries and pain.  But I also know the last few times this has happened, my lack of rest has made me so much worse.  I can't stay away from exercise for another 2-4 months again.  I become a crazy woman without it!

I steered clear of running most of the week and just did my yoga and strength workouts for the week.  By Wednesday I was starting to feel ok and went for an interval run, which I completed sans pain! Yay :)!  I then ran again on Friday and Saturday.  My total mileage for this week was around 20 miles, throughout the week instead of one 20 mile run.

I was hoping my increase in rest, (again) would lend itself to a decent week of running.

I then started looking ahead to my 20 miler the next week.

Week 8 of 13: 17.5 miles and a Duathlon

So after a week where I think I rested, I decided to go crazy and do a long run and a duathlon.

Yes, this makes sense.  I pushed off the 18 mile run from Sunday to Friday, then didn't want to miss the duathlon.

I was supposed to run 18 miles, but managed to get 17.5 in.  I think I ran it in 3:15ish (I should probably check out my garmin).  After the weekends of bike events and being sick I was happy just to complete 17.5 having not run in 3 weeks since the half marathon, where I was in fact really sick.

My issue with this run was my feet.  I broke my sesamoids years ago and also had turf toe aka everything hurt and I couldn't walk.  I was eating Advil like candy.  Anyway, anytime I get foot pain I immediately send myself to the broken sesamoids and taking 2 months off of running.  I don't want to go back to that!

That day I came back and rested, ate, and headed back to my friends in Dover.  Why, you ask?  Because I was doing my FIRST duathlon the next day.  And while this may sound crazy, it was only $15.  $15 for a race of any kind is a steal, so if it took me 5 hours it was still worth it.

The duathlon consisted of a 5k, 10 mile bike, and a 5k.  Now, typically for duathlons and triathlons you train and do brick workouts, which are two sports back to back.  Once or two within the past 4 months I've run then biked, or biked then run.  But, that was only twice.  Given that I ran 17.5 less than 24 hours before I didn't know how I'd feel.  I initially thought 1:30 would be feasible, then adjusted as time went on to 1:45.  I ran the first 5k in 29 mins (more than normal, but ok with my long run before), I have no idea what I did the 10 mile bike in or the last 5k.  I did finish in 1:43 though, which I thought was decent considering everything else.

And I got this fun shirt!

After I got home from the duathlon I immediately started googling my issue, that had gotten worse.  I mean, doesn't everybody?  Apparently not, my friends and family always joke I trust google a bit too much.  I have to say google has been good to me.  As a single woman it's helped me fix, repair, and purchase with greater finesse than any opinion I could've asked for!

What I discovered was that I had plantar fasciitis that had started or was flaring up.  This was confirmed by my chiropractor the next day.  All week I took it easy and rolled my foot across frozen water bottles.  Blehh..

Week 7 of 13: Rest?

This is really bad, I have no clue what I did this week.

I worked Friday night into Saturday evening and think I planned to run on Sunday, but don't know or remember if I did in fact run.

After all of these cycling events I was getting worn down, so I think I did take the weekend off to make sure I didn't get sick again.

Mental note: blog weekly to avoid this going forward.