Today was our last long training run! Almost 19 miles again. But so much more satisfactory than the earlier 19 miler. I ran the entire way with just one walking break between mile 15 and 16. That too, Amol did not let the walking break extend for more than a minute. He again biked with me the entire way.
It was a cool, crisp morning to run. The weather stayed beautiful right till the end. I was worried in the morning about my run because of my non-existent weekday runs. Early mornings are too cold for me and labwork keeps me in the lab till late. I just cannot find the time to run and neither the energy. I am mentally and physically stressed at work. Learning a lot of new things, playing with real exciting data, but falling way behind on my science literature. The anxiety of the marathon and the excitement of getting data and trying to make sense of it, is all too overwhelming right now!
But for the last three Saturdays, I have been enjoying my long runs. Its like I have a new attitude about these runs. All that it needs to make them enjoyable is to just let go of everything and have fun while running. And that is exactly what I did today too. I was just having a good time out there. Now lets just hope that everything goes smoothly from now till the end of this month! I really really need this positive frame of mind.
We are now at the tail end of the training. Just three weeks to go for the D-day. I am so excited about it.
I promise that I will try and be more regular in my postings. I know that now you all are a part of this journey with me and you come by looking for new updates. I have been really lousy in posting for the past two weeks, but hopefully I will be better now! Stay tuned for more!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Getting there......
We are at the tail end of our training. Just 4 weeks to go. Two weeks of long runs (15 plus miles) and then two weeks of moderate runs (less than 10 miles) and then the longest run ever on Oct 31st.
The long distances are tiring me out now. I just managed 15 miles yesterday when the goal was 20. I had decided my run yesterday would be with a smile on my face. The weather was so uncooperative. Just when you thought Fall had descended on New England, the as always predicatably unpredictable New England weather creeps up and bestows us with a hot and humid day.
Amol was not biking along yesterday. The first two miles were very hard as I tried to get adjusted to the weather. I had an upbeat playlist and the smile on my face as company. Gave myself an imaginary pat on the back as I conquered every mile. Till mile 12, I was feeling great. At around mile 14, I stopped to stretch. I felt my upper body was too stiff, so I wanted to just do a couple of quick back and shoulder stretches. And while doing that, I pulled a muscle in my back. The pain seared through my back and I could feel the tightness. So I partly jogged, partly walked and partly hobbled to mile 15 and stopped. When I came to the 15 mile water stop, I found a few other fellow runners who had stopped. They just did not feel up to it to finish the next 5 miles. You could clearly tell that the long runs were getting to us.
I was a little disappointing that I did not finish 20 miles, but was also satisfied with my 14 miles. I had a smile till the end and was feeling good but for the muscle pull. I knew that I could not have run with the muscle pull. I iced it as soon as I got home. Amol massaged it out a bit and after a nights rest, it is good to go today. 20 miles....I will get to you next week!
Did you all notice the school bus! It now has two kids in it. We are getting close to our target and just a little more and we will have the third kid also in the bus!
Thank You everyone!
The long distances are tiring me out now. I just managed 15 miles yesterday when the goal was 20. I had decided my run yesterday would be with a smile on my face. The weather was so uncooperative. Just when you thought Fall had descended on New England, the as always predicatably unpredictable New England weather creeps up and bestows us with a hot and humid day.
Amol was not biking along yesterday. The first two miles were very hard as I tried to get adjusted to the weather. I had an upbeat playlist and the smile on my face as company. Gave myself an imaginary pat on the back as I conquered every mile. Till mile 12, I was feeling great. At around mile 14, I stopped to stretch. I felt my upper body was too stiff, so I wanted to just do a couple of quick back and shoulder stretches. And while doing that, I pulled a muscle in my back. The pain seared through my back and I could feel the tightness. So I partly jogged, partly walked and partly hobbled to mile 15 and stopped. When I came to the 15 mile water stop, I found a few other fellow runners who had stopped. They just did not feel up to it to finish the next 5 miles. You could clearly tell that the long runs were getting to us.
I was a little disappointing that I did not finish 20 miles, but was also satisfied with my 14 miles. I had a smile till the end and was feeling good but for the muscle pull. I knew that I could not have run with the muscle pull. I iced it as soon as I got home. Amol massaged it out a bit and after a nights rest, it is good to go today. 20 miles....I will get to you next week!
Did you all notice the school bus! It now has two kids in it. We are getting close to our target and just a little more and we will have the third kid also in the bus!
Thank You everyone!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
I have miles to go before I sleep and you have promises to keep!
As I cross off each milestone, I stare in disbelief at my mileage. In April, I could not even finish 1 mile without a huge struggle and yesterday, almost 5 months since that rainy day in April, I ran 19 miles!
Again luck was on our side and it was a beautiful day to run yesterday. A cool, crisp morning with clear blue skies! The route was going to take us from Arlington center, onto the Minuteman bikeway to Alewife, then one loop of Fresh pond, onto Fresh pond parkway to the river, cross the river at Arsenal street, run on the other side of the river and cross back on JFK bridge, back to Fresh pond, Alewife, Arlington Center and then one loop of the Mystic lake and back to Arlington Center. After sorting out all the confusion over the route and the water stops, we still lingered at the start point. The coach had to literally push us into starting! Ketki was going to run with me till around mile 12-13. I was so thankful for having her run by my side. Also Amol was biking along. He was going to serve as mobile water support for us! I felt like I had my own running entourage!
With the help of Ketki and the unwavering support of Amol, I managed to finish the entire 19 miles. After mile 13, Ketki picked up her pace and went ahead. I tried my best to pick up a little pace, but did not succeed much. The last two miles were a combination of walking and running and they felt endless! But I finished the assigned distance of 19 miles. When I got back to Arlington center at the end, the whole team was waiting for me and greeted me with cheers. They are such a special group!
After the 19 miles I felt like I had no energy left. I cannot believe that I still have to run another 7.2 miles on the day of the marathon. So I still have miles to go before I sleep!
But all of you also have promises to keep! All those who are still considering about donating to the cause, please do so! Team AIDAsha is relying on your support to ensure a successful fund raising campaign for this year.To donate you can click here.
To all those who have already contributed, I cannot express how thankful I am! All the support means a lot to me and helps me run those last few miles that are so difficult. THANK YOU!
Again luck was on our side and it was a beautiful day to run yesterday. A cool, crisp morning with clear blue skies! The route was going to take us from Arlington center, onto the Minuteman bikeway to Alewife, then one loop of Fresh pond, onto Fresh pond parkway to the river, cross the river at Arsenal street, run on the other side of the river and cross back on JFK bridge, back to Fresh pond, Alewife, Arlington Center and then one loop of the Mystic lake and back to Arlington Center. After sorting out all the confusion over the route and the water stops, we still lingered at the start point. The coach had to literally push us into starting! Ketki was going to run with me till around mile 12-13. I was so thankful for having her run by my side. Also Amol was biking along. He was going to serve as mobile water support for us! I felt like I had my own running entourage!
With the help of Ketki and the unwavering support of Amol, I managed to finish the entire 19 miles. After mile 13, Ketki picked up her pace and went ahead. I tried my best to pick up a little pace, but did not succeed much. The last two miles were a combination of walking and running and they felt endless! But I finished the assigned distance of 19 miles. When I got back to Arlington center at the end, the whole team was waiting for me and greeted me with cheers. They are such a special group!
After the 19 miles I felt like I had no energy left. I cannot believe that I still have to run another 7.2 miles on the day of the marathon. So I still have miles to go before I sleep!
But all of you also have promises to keep! All those who are still considering about donating to the cause, please do so! Team AIDAsha is relying on your support to ensure a successful fund raising campaign for this year.To donate you can click here.
To all those who have already contributed, I cannot express how thankful I am! All the support means a lot to me and helps me run those last few miles that are so difficult. THANK YOU!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Mixed bag
Did you happen to look at the countdown widget on the right? Yes….there are only 45 days left now.
Right now I am mixed bag of emotions!
I am excited by the prospect of running my first ever marathon.
I am scared of not making it in time.
I am proud of myself for having come so far.
I am nervous of how much more I have to go.
I am happy sharing my experience so far with people and talking about the cause.
I am very worried and nervous about my pace and endurance.
I am freaking out that there are only 45 days left for the marathon.
I am so glad that there are ONLY 45 days left now and soon I will be done with all this and can reclaim my weekends!
I am so proud of all my teammates and the wonderful friends I have made in this journey.
I am sad to always be the last one to finish any distance.
I am so humbled by all the support I have received be it in the form of donations, wishes and encouragement.
I am so scared of letting people down.
This mixed bag of emotions needs to go out and run and clear her mind!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Quick update
Wow....its been more than 10 days since the last post. I am so sorry for not posting my updates. I wish I could say that I have been so busy with all the running, that I did not get time to post! But alas, it is not so. On the contrary, I feel that I have run very little in these 10 days.
We went to Seattle for labor day weekend. I so needed that break. But the timing could not have been worse. Right in between the training and also right when I started to get some amazing data in the lab. Before leaving for the mini-vacation, I felt really guilty about going, but now in hindsight, I was glad that we did go coz we enjoyed so much and were truly refreshed once we got back. We had such a good time there....amazing friends, lovely weather, the beautiful pacific northwest mountains and the exciting Seattle downtown! We enjoyed everything and have come back with so many memories. The best part was meeting high-school friends whom I had not seen in the last 10 years.
This weekend was a cut-back run. We had to do 13 miles on the Minuteman trail and I did 11.5 miles. I was not too happy with my run, but I knew that I had to pay the price for not running the previous weekend in Seattle. Now there are just 6 weekends left before the big day and the next few weeks are going to be the toughest part of the training. And now after a refreshing break, I am all ready for it!
We went to Seattle for labor day weekend. I so needed that break. But the timing could not have been worse. Right in between the training and also right when I started to get some amazing data in the lab. Before leaving for the mini-vacation, I felt really guilty about going, but now in hindsight, I was glad that we did go coz we enjoyed so much and were truly refreshed once we got back. We had such a good time there....amazing friends, lovely weather, the beautiful pacific northwest mountains and the exciting Seattle downtown! We enjoyed everything and have come back with so many memories. The best part was meeting high-school friends whom I had not seen in the last 10 years.
This weekend was a cut-back run. We had to do 13 miles on the Minuteman trail and I did 11.5 miles. I was not too happy with my run, but I knew that I had to pay the price for not running the previous weekend in Seattle. Now there are just 6 weekends left before the big day and the next few weeks are going to be the toughest part of the training. And now after a refreshing break, I am all ready for it!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.
"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal."- Rob de Castella, winner 1983 World Marathon Championships.
I think I have just gotten over the 'being in trouble part'. I did not feel bad at 10 miles.
We were supposed to do 18 miles. I just stopped at 17.5 miles. My legs could not carry me any further. I was completely fatigued out. I was fine till mile-13 and this was my first long run wherein I did not take a walking break till mile-13. Even after that short walking break, I was okay for another 1.5 miles. But after that it was like I had no energy left. I was completely fatigued out. I ran into Amol and another friend SK (they were on bikes) at mile 14.5 and had more water and a gu gel. But it did nothing for me. I knew that I had just another 3.5 miles more.....but they felt like forever. I kept breaking into run-jog-walks. It was horrible and my legs felt completely disconnected from my body. They felt like jelly and each step felt like I would wobble over and fall. Amol was with me the whole time and he could clearly see my plight. And then at mile 17.5, I could not go any further. I knew that I had just another 0.5 miles to go.....but my mind gave up on me that day. First my calves, then my soles, then my back and knees and finally my mind. It could not edge my body to go on. In retrospect, I am so angry with myself for not finishing the last 0.5 miles!
The good part:
I think I have just gotten over the 'being in trouble part'. I did not feel bad at 10 miles.
We were supposed to do 18 miles. I just stopped at 17.5 miles. My legs could not carry me any further. I was completely fatigued out. I was fine till mile-13 and this was my first long run wherein I did not take a walking break till mile-13. Even after that short walking break, I was okay for another 1.5 miles. But after that it was like I had no energy left. I was completely fatigued out. I ran into Amol and another friend SK (they were on bikes) at mile 14.5 and had more water and a gu gel. But it did nothing for me. I knew that I had just another 3.5 miles more.....but they felt like forever. I kept breaking into run-jog-walks. It was horrible and my legs felt completely disconnected from my body. They felt like jelly and each step felt like I would wobble over and fall. Amol was with me the whole time and he could clearly see my plight. And then at mile 17.5, I could not go any further. I knew that I had just another 0.5 miles to go.....but my mind gave up on me that day. First my calves, then my soles, then my back and knees and finally my mind. It could not edge my body to go on. In retrospect, I am so angry with myself for not finishing the last 0.5 miles!
The good part:
- I did not break into a walk till mile 13. That is such a major improvement for me.
- At least I ran as much as I had run last week.
- Recovery was real good this time. After the run, I went home and had an ice-cold water bath. In the evening I stretched again and used the foam roller. Sunday morning I repeated the stretch and foam roller exercises and was out and active the whole day. Monday morning I could even go for a short 3 mile run. The ice, foam roller and regular stretching really helps.
- I gave up.
- I did not finish 18 miles.
- Did I mention....I gave up!
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