Personal Record

Philly Bound

2008-07-01T22:00:00.003-04:00

As might have been obvious from the new counter on the right, I signed up for Philadelphia :)

My Scottish cheapness made me do it so early because the price went up today, July 1st. I'm so happy to have this hard goal now; it immediately excited and scared the hell out of me. 21 weeks, and a lot of hard work to go. What could be better?

The next couple of months bring some fun trips for me, and opportunities to train in (presumably?) cooler weather. The first is this long weekend in New Hampshire.

Hope you enjoy your Fourth!

3-Borough Foot Commute

2008-06-28T18:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the one and only time I'll run to work via this course. In the past I've frequently enjoyed long runs involving this route to the Brooklyn Bridge and over, but always on an early weekend morning with sparse traffic. On Friday, the congested roads made for an unpleasant hazy, fumey, humid, hot, sticky, and dirty 11+ miles. I survived (just) but next time there's a longer run commute, it will be my usual 7-miler with a Central Park loop tacked on.

I realized that my pace slows by at up to one minute per mile in high humidity, and the reason I experienced that fantastic run the other week was probably due to low levels of it. I just can't seem to get moving when the air resembles molasses.

I don't know whether this is premature or way overdue, but I'm starting to consider a marathon goal. I'm entertaining thoughts of Philadelphia, but would rather this one in New Hampshire was later in the fall so I could have time to train. We have family who live close to the race start, and it sounds terrific from the reviews I've read. Philadelphia has the benefits of being near-ish by and reasonably flat, but I can't say I'm thrilled with the write-ups. Failing a fall '08 marathon, Spring '09 might work just as nicely. Obviously, my preference is to train in winter conditions over the hot and humid summer insanity served up by NYC.

The Apple Falls Far

2008-06-22T23:30:00.009-04:00

Congrats to my mum and step dad who completed their upteenth Highland Cross yesterday. This is a little known invitational-only duathlon involving a 20-mile ran and a 30-mile bike ride over treacherous terrain of the Highlands of Scotland. As I listened to my mum relate her race report I thought (and not for the first time) that I must be one of the few people my age whose Sunday phone calls with a parent involves such nonchalant comments as "I only fell once" and "the rivers came just up to my ankles this year which was good, - usually I'm wading through up to my knees." Things like that.

Not your typical grandmother. Lucky for me.

About a kilometer into my afternoon run today, I fell in what must have been rather spectacular fashion across the edge of the road, while cars passed inches from my head. I think I completed one full tarmac somersault after crashing down on my right knee and elbow, before bouncing back up and running on - with my body reasonably intact, but my dignity in tatters. Fortunately, the pain dulled after 10 minutes or so, and I was able to complete my 6-miler around Roosevelt Island. This rounded off a 35-mile week, which is a distance I haven't acheived since September 2005. So as my vacation week comes to an end, I'm chafed, but chuffed.

Old Meets New

2008-06-20T18:00:00.010-04:00

Instead of running around the outer deck of our cruise ship 110 times, I ran on dry land in our first port of call - St John in Canada, on Monday.

There is almost nothing that makes me happier than combining the two loves of my life - travel and running, and this trip proved to be no exception. I mapped a vague route before we left New York on Saturday, but quickly abandoned that plan, choosing instead to aim for the highest point I could see (turned out to be Howe's Fort) and the Reversing Falls. With that, and all the twisting, turning, - who knows where the heck I was - street running, I must have covered over 11 miles (1 hr 45 mins).

On Tuesday we sailed into Halifax, Nova Scotia. I was among the first off the boat again, with a rough map tucked in my back pocket. I jogged along the harbour front for a couple miles then turned inland, and head up to the highest point - the Citadel (pictured left) - before heading back after about 6 miles (51 mins).

It was virtually impossible to get lost on either of these jaunts, since I could see the enormous Victory from almost every angle of each town. As I meandered my way around, I thought about the need that exists for cruise lines (or any travel agents) for organized 'running tours.' If somebody wanted to pay me enough, I would happily sail the seas and take groups of running tourists who might be too nervous to go it alone, for runs around each port of call. In fact, as my husband already suggested, this company could be named The Running Tourist. Ach, I'm sure somebody has already thought of all this, right? Well, Carnival definitely didn't offer that service.

Other than those runs, we managed some site-seeing, swimming, gambling, a stand-up comedy and a dancing show, a game of bingo, a couple of spa treatments, and some serious gluttony - including one ridiculously indulgent midnight 'gala buffet.' I fear I consumed many more calories than I burned off.

My second favourite thing to do on holiday is discover a new, delicious local beer. We were not disappointed by Garrison's Raspberry Wheat. Heaven.

After yesterday's 4-hour disembarkation drama and unpacking mayhem, the last thing I wanted to do was go out for a run. I am so glad I did though, because it turned out to be the best of my long drawn out comeback. It was about 8.5 miles up to Astoria Park and back, and I felt like my old, strong, fast self. Way overdue, but wonderful.

This is why I love the winter.

2008-06-10T19:00:00.002-04:00

The worst things about my 85F/70% humidity 6:30am run through NYC
4) Passing garbage trucks (gag!)
3) Passing superfund sites (super gag!)
2) Passing a smoker, or a ‘cloud’ of smokers
1) Running up to water fountains on the west side highway only to find they haven’t been turned on yet (wtf?)

The best things about my 85F/70% humidity 6:30am run through NYC
6) Getting a “Good Job!” yell from Lance Armstrong look-alike Josh on the Queensborough Bridge
5) Having my Hellgate vest design complimented by passing cyclists
4) Seeing the boat we will be cruising on in 4 days on the Hudson
3) Having Manhattan sidewalk washers spray me with a hose (bliss!)
2) Being hit with a blast of cold a/c air from hotel foyers
1) Finishing

Happy Blog Day

2008-06-07T22:00:00.008-04:00

I sucessfully beat the heat this morning, by completing a 10+ mile run around the roads and trails of Forest Park before 8.30am. I don't believe I've ever traveled by subway to get to the start of a lone-training run (Forest Park is the other end of Queens from me), but it was not nearly the trouble I thought it might be getting there, and it was well, well worth the trip. Since we're a little starved for 'greenery' in my neck of the "woods," the lush, dense vegetation, and the sights and sounds of all manner of wildlife in this park proved to be a wonderful soul-restorer. And of course, its dirt trails offered the old joints a welcome dose of relief from my usual concrete prescription.

So again, I'm happy with another week's running - at least I will be tomorrow if my legs permit me a relatively short workout so I can decidedly break the 30-mile barrier.

As I've mentioned, this mileage would not be possible if it weren't for my work week 'fun,-but-I-think-I'm-going-to-develop-lung-cancer-from-the-traffic-fumes' commuter runs between Queens and Manhattan. On this theme, I was interested to come across this article on the NYRR site, which I could have written myself.

I'd like to give a shout out to this blog, which is 3 today, and our wee princess, who is 21 months today. The proverb tells no lie; time really does fly.

NE1410S?

2008-06-01T21:00:00.004-04:00

I came back down to 25 miles this week, in keeping with my trying-to-be-ultra-sensible comeback schedule. I remain thrilled that my knee is holding out, in spite of all the twinges and aches. This week reinforced how important it is to me to just be able to run. At one point in time, I believe I thought it was all about the competition, but now I know it's about staying happy. And, as I might have mentioned just a few times - running keeps me very happy.

I finally made it back up to my club on Wednesday. Not to partake of their speed work track session, but to jog around pretty Astoria Park and reacquaint myself with some of the gang. That made me happy too.

This morning I "cross trained" for the first time in forever, with a game of tennis - a sport I haven't played in 20 years or more. I loved, loved, loved it. In fact, I don't remember loving it half as much as a kid. My friend and I are determined to try to make it to the courts regularly through the summer/fall. I hope it will contribute to my general state of fitness without causing injury.

Plan for the coming week: cross the 30-mile threshold, taking in a longer trail run at the weekend.

I think there might be a correlation

2008-05-25T22:00:00.002-04:00

Seamen, 12 O'Clock!

2008-05-24T21:00:00.004-04:00

My company chose a great week to move
to a new location, and I chose a good new running route
to take to it, via the West Side Highway, past all the handsome Fleet Week men ;)

I feel like things are going my way these past couple weeks with this running malarky. I managed 25 miles last week, and I'm concluding this week tomorrow with 29. Between runs, my left knee aches pretty much constantly and midway through each run, shooting pain radiates from it causing me to limp - but only for about a minute. So since I seem to be warding off serious injury, I figure I'll keep going and hope for the best.

Meanwhile this news, about my all-time hero, the greatest ever female distance runner, is distressing me. I'm crossing everything for her.

Island Hopping

2008-05-11T21:00:00.007-04:00

It's been a fun, busy, productive ... almost overwhelming week. Amidst it all I restricted myself to 4 runs, totalling 21 miles. I'd been hoping to push it up to 5x and 25-30 by now, but I continue to be cautious. My last run was this morning in perfectly bright, cool, NYC spring conditions - a slow 7.5 up to and around Roosevelt Island.

When I got home, I was treated with the super delicious Mother's Day Matt special of sausage gravy and biscuits. I've decided this is possibly the best post-run meal in existence.

I wish I was the type of runner to be content with the level I'm at currently. After all, I'm infinitely happier now than I was during my long hiatuses, and I attribute 100% of that mood improvement to my sport. But I'm just too in love with the longer distances to be satisfied. I've already mapped out some brand new 20+ mile routes around Queens and the other boroughs. I can't wait till I'm ready to try them out.

In the meantime I hope to build up my work-week runs shortly. My company is moving our office two avenues further west, so I'm going to adjust my in-and-home bound routes to take in the West Side Highway and Central Park. Maybe when I get fitter, I'll approach from the south after coming over the Brooklyn Bridge. Our new office comes equipped with a shower - which is just about the most exciting work-related thing to happen to me in years. I look forward to being less offensive to my cube-mates after arriving to work on foot this season, as I have been in sweltering summers past.

And on

2008-05-05T23:00:00.005-04:00

So I took 3 days off running, out of sheer panic over my latest bout of knee pain. Then I ran about a 3 yesterday and a 4.5 home from work tonight, and everything seems ok(ish.)

On Chad's advice, I've incorporated the wall squat to my routine - to which I must return religiously. I repeatedly make the mistake that when the running appears to be going fine, I slack off on the strengthening/stretching exercises. Clearly, I'm going to get injured over and over and over, unless I get serious about prevention. I read my way through 3 years of old running diaries last night and counted at least 11 separate occasions where I complain about left knee pain - a couple of those times it knocked me out for months.

Last Thursday I couldn't do the wall squat for 5 continuous seconds. Now, 5 days later, I'm up to 90 seconds with reasonable ease. Sure, I feel the burn, but it's bearable.

So, it's still 1 step forward and 2 back for me. I read the progress other people make with their comebacks and marathon achievements (serious congrats to Chelle and Josh on their recent PRs!), and wonder when it'll be my turn. I've figured out the logistics of squeezing running into my overloaded schedule, I have the enthusiasm, the heart, the will. All I need are strong knees to carry me there.

Deja vu all over again

2008-05-01T23:30:00.000-04:00

I curse the lack of soft surfaces in this city. I curse my weak knee. I curse this sport.

My left knee appears to be buggered once more.

Ran a medium-paced 4.5 Tuesday and a slow 7.5 Wednesday. Felt aches during the latter. Ran about a hundred yards whilst pushing Kyla in her stroller tonight (to elicit happy squeals,) and felt sharp stabbing pains the likes of which I've felt - ooh, about two or three dozen times now over the past 5 years.

The tedium!!!

Looking forward

2008-04-27T20:00:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I took the 'long' route to work in the morning. Friday I finally ran the 7.5+ miles to my office via the Pulaski Bridge, Greenpoint in Brooklyn and the Williamsburg Bridge.

The skyline view from the Williamsburg on a sunny, cloudless day beats just about anything. I admit, it left me missing London just a little bit less.

So it's time to start stepping things up a bit. I've reached the 20 mile a week threshold, and I plan to increase that to 30 over the next month or so. I'm starting to think about a possible marathon goal - most likely in Spring '09. I far prefer the idea of training hard through winter rather than summer weather conditions. I hold the London dream, of course, but since that seems incredibly difficult to get into, it will probably end up being a domestic course. Preferably flat.

I've decided to hold off racing for as long as possible. Every other run, my left knee twinges alarmingly, and I'm reminded how fine a line it is between health and injury. And I really, really, really appreciate being healthy right now.

Back 'home'

2008-04-20T21:00:00.014-04:00

I'm back now from an unexpectedly fantastic trip to London. The change of pace and level of socialising has left me feeling like I've been on vacation for 9 days, instead of on a business trip.

I feel quite disorient(at)ed to be back on US soil, particularly because by the time my plane took off from Stansted, I had been absolutely convinced (by myself and friends) that we ought to move to London asap. I arrive back in NY on a beautiful spring day, and can't quite remember what all the highly persuasive arguments were. It's very confusing. But I suppose I should remember how lucky we are to have such options.

I do recall one of the indisputable reasons is that London is a wonderful city for the long distance runner. Training for a marathon there must be heaven. Especially if you are anything like me; someone who likes to explore far and wide, who isn't scared just to examine a map on a Friday and hit new roads, paths and parks on the Saturday (and not just stick to the same old routes.) Two of my runs there are most memorable - both about 6-milers.

The first originated in Twickenham and brought me along the ridiculously picturesque river path to Richmond and back along the opposite bank. It was perhaps 60F, sunny and bright, the bird chorus easily overpowered noise of nearby, unseen traffic. There was an occasional sun shower, but this only hightened the whole experience. Everything was so green and lush and sparkling and pretty. It was easy to forget I was right in London. It was a sensory treat for my hardened New York soul.

The second originated in Borough, where some friends of mine live. I ran from their townhouse to the Tate Modern, then struck off east along the Thames past the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, to Vauxhall. I turned around at a bridge and sped back, faster than I've run in years.

My legs spoke of the effect of that run today; they were weak on my 4.5-mile local route. They - as I - felt tired, but happy.

Stranded at Kennedy

2008-04-13T23:30:00.007-04:00

As predicted, my Mum and Chelle turned out superstar performances at the More Half Marathon last Sunday. Individually they achieved remarkable 81 and 78 AG%s respectively and together they came in 11 of 2572 teams. It was another year of freezing my ample tooshie off while cheering from the sidelines, but it was worth it to see Chelle speed her way to another PR, and my mum whip the ass of thousands of women decades younger than her. What really made the morning though, was watching Susan Loken and Jody Hawkins near the finish line grab each others hands in apparent premature victory celebration, only to be pipped to he post by Caitlin Tormey. I couldn't believe the pair of them didn't take a second to glance behind them to see Tormey hot on their tail, and that they were so oblivious to the screams of the bemused finish line crowd.

This morning on my run to work, I approached the Queensborough Bridge and noticed a familiar tall, lean blond figure running up ahead. Fellow Hellgater Kate - like most - has an unmistakable gait. Going east to west over the bridge, there's quite a long incline to the apex. I decided I would try to catch Kate before we got too far. I closed the gap quite quickly and my head filled with proud thoughts about how much fitter I'd become. Kate is a very talented runner; I never could usually match her stride. It wasn't until I caught up with her that I remembered she is four months pregnant, doh! It was perhaps not that great of an achievement after all, especially considering I then struggled somewhat to stick with her the remainder of the bridge.

That was my third run I squeezed in so far this week (it's Thursday evening as I type.) I am now killing hours waiting for my very delayed American Airlines flight to London. I would have hoped they'd offer free wireless in the terminal as compensation, but it seems they want $14.95 from me for that convenience. So god knows when I'll actually get to publish this post.

I diligently packed my sneakers and shorts, and am very much looking forward to some runs along the Thames or around some of the many huge green parks while I'm in The Big Smoke.
___

update:

It is near midnight on Sunday 13th GMT and I am in Twickenham, finally blogging. I'm having a ridiculously fab time here in London. We watched the marathon this morning down at Tower Bridge. I was struck by two things - 1) how much more subdued the spectating crowds are here, compared to the US, and 2) how many more charity and/or costumed-dressed runners there are here. My running friends and I resolved with certainty to run this race one year soon!

I ran yesterday along the Thames in Central London near my friend's house in Borough, and tomorrow I run along the same river all the way down here. I'm in heaven.

The Fitness at the End of the Tunnel

2008-04-06T22:00:00.002-04:00

It's been a very busy and fun week, one book-ended with two races in Central Park. My stepdad ran my old favourite Scotland Run last Sunday and my mum pairs with Chelle to run the More Half tomorrow.

This morning was the second time this year I've run round the Bronx Botanical Gardens, (before slowing down to enjoy it properly with Matt and Kyla.) Now that we're members I'm hoping to make this a regular habit this year. Its short, sharp hills are a contrast to my usual routes, as are its dirt trail, car fume-free, and green, colourful setting.

Overall, I remain satisfied with my slow return to running. On Monday I broke the one hour barrier for the first time in forever, which felt like a real workout. I can see a speck of fitness up ahead now. There's a long hard slog in the tunnel still to go, but it's up there.

Stretch Quiz

2008-03-16T22:00:00.006-04:00

I am really proud of my running this past week. Well I was, that is, until I read the mileage Chelle put in over the same period. Just kidding. Pride and mileage, like everything else, is relative. I managed about 18 miles over 4 runs (three of which felt great), and that’s way the hell more than I have accomplished in months.

I have a quiz (with a practical element) for anyone who may be interested or able to advise me.

Look at (and then do - if you like) the stretch illustrated in this image. Lie with your back on the floor, bend your knees and place your feet about 2 feet from your buttocks. Keeping your left foot flat on the floor, place the heel of your right foot on top of your left knee. Now relax and let your right knee drop back naturally (for these purposes you don’t hold have to push with your hand like this woman is doing.) Then switch legs and do it over.

When I do this stretch, my left knee falls much further back than my right. I would say there’s about a 10 to 15 degree difference.

So my questions are as follows:
1) What is this stretch stretching – the hips, correct?
2) What is the asymmetry of my two sides telling me? Are certain muscles/ligaments/whatever unequal in their ‘looseness?’ My right side definitely feels much tighter, and it always has been
3) Do you experience the same thing, or are you perfectly symmetrical?
4) Do you think it is common/normal to be uneven like this?
5) Could it lead to problems for runners?

I have become convinced lately that the unevenness of my two sides is somehow causing my recurring left knee injuries. This conclusion is based on no sound logic or research whatsoever. It’s just a hunch.

Industrious Evening

2008-03-10T22:00:00.008-04:00

Today after work, I:

ran the 4.5 miles home
stretched
ate dinner/fed Kyla dinner
bathed Kyla
read her approx 9 books
washed 3 loads of laundry
hung it all up to dry
played hide in the 'tent' with Kyla
cleaned the bathroom
collapsed on the couch
published a lame blog post

Where I'm At

2008-03-09T19:00:00.003-04:00

I can gratefully disclose that the 'twanging band' incident came to nothing. I have been able to run a few good times since then. The knee continues to ache constantly (yawn - I'm so bored to still be talking about this,) but I've decided I may now be imagining it worse than it really is. Which is a strange opposite of the usual 'injury denial' that goes on.

I'm dreading the warmer weather (to run in.) I realize that I love the winter temperatures (to run in.) About 35-40F is perfect, I've decided. It was over 60F and humid in NYC the other week, and stupidly, I ran with long pants and a long sleeved T, and almost passed out. It's just so much more pleasant to run when you and your skin can breathe.

This morning was one of those perfect winter running days I'm talking about. About 38F, sunny and bright blue skies. I finally managed what I've been failing to do for months, and joined some Hellgaters in Central Park to cheer on the 15k racers. After some catching up, I ran (with heavy legs, but a light heart) home via my old favourite Queensborough Bridge route.

Since a few people asked (honestly, they did!) here are a couple of recent Kyla photos. She just turned 18 months. In the second pic she's wearing an adorable Indian outfit her nanny bought. She is going through an unbelievably 'delightful' stage right now. Happy, charming, malleable, eating well, sleeping well...How long can this last?!

Rubber Band

2008-02-27T21:45:00.005-05:00

I’ve run three or four times each of the past few weeks, for just a handful of miles, with walking/jogging interspersed. Every other run is super tough; it feels like I’m running on Jupiter, such is the struggle to lift my feet and move with any forward momentum. But then the next run will be easier, and the good old days of my fitness aren’t such a distant memory.

Tonight’s run was the best so far. I walked just about 10% of it, and felt relatively strong. However, in the last few hundred yards, something peculiar happened to my left knee (the troublesome one.) The best way I can describe it, is like a rubber band inside ‘twanged’ – if that makes any sense at all. No pain as such, but that was probably because I stopped immediately and walked. I’ve been icing like a maniac since I got home. The pessimistic me can’t help but think I was granted a month’s reprieve from injury and that’s it – back on the bench. But we’ll see. I’ll take my day off as planned tomorrow, and attempt to continue my snails’ pace comeback after that.

I hate my left knee. I really hate it. Perusing all my running diaries, I see a clear pattern of it repeatedly interfering with training. I wish some remarkably insightful physical therapist or doctor could examine me once and for all, and diagnose what it is about my legs/feet/hips/quads/hamstrings/gait/whatever that is the root of all this hassle and heartbreak.

Waiting to Exhale

2008-02-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

I found myself wanting to skip sleep and hurry onto the next day a couple nights this week, such is the improvement of my mood. Slumber seemed like a waste of time - tomorrow held too much excitement and promise. That's how much running - albeit the slow, strained and short type of 'running' I've managed three times this week - cheers me up. Sounds ridiculous right? But I can't tell you how it transforms me. Or maybe I can tell you, because it does the same thing for you.

And so, with the knee brace, and stretches, and most vitally - the quads/hammy strengthening exercises, I perform every night, *FINGERS CROSSED* things are going a little more my way. And through my dieting, I'm also starting to lose some weight, which helps me feel more like my real self. Those twelve pairs of old size 4 jeans are waiting patiently, while my cheap, stubborn streak refuses to go spend money on the size 8s I need right now.

I'm excited about an London trip I've arranged, which coincidentally takes in the marathon. Since my teenage years I've watched the fabulous coverage (so much better than any I've ever seen over here) on TV, and finally - I get to spectate for real. And of course (again, touching wood) I'll bring my Brooks for some sight-seeing jogs around the capital.

There's no accounting for the things we love

2008-02-02T17:30:00.000-05:00

Do I win a prize for being the most sporadic blogger in the blogging universe?

A summary of my life the past four months:

My all time hero passed within feet of me, on her way to win her umpteenth marathon – just 10 months after giving birth. Oh the shame.

Work continues to the bain of my life. Working a very stressful job in the this city + being a mother often brings with it a little more stress than I can handle.

Went home to Scotland for a week with Kyla. Was struck yet again at just how much higher the quality of life is across the pond, and resolved to move home asap. But life has other ideas, so we’ve decided to stay in NYC a while longer and get on the property ladder. I must say, I didn't think it would be so hard to get someone to take all our money.

Had an offer on dream apartment accepted.
Three weeks later - sellers took apartment off the market.
Had an offer on another apartment accepted.
Three days later – sellers ditched us for a higher offer.
We’re still looking.

Kyla grows more and more insanely cute (& insane) by the week. She spends her days screeching, running, throwing things around, and generally wreaking havoc. She now speaks about 50 (intelligible) words, can spell her name and count to ten – when the fancy strikes her. Not bad for a 16-month old!

January ’08 – got my diet back on track and started power walking at lunch time around Madison Square Park with similarly disgusted-with-their-bodies colleagues. Never thought I’d use my Ironman Timex to take walking splits, but that’s what things have been reduced to. Nevertheless, I have grown a little fitter as a result.
I am also stretching religiously, and foam-rollering for at least a half hour a day.

Saw Spirit of the Marathon, a documentary-style movie following elites and regular Joe’s in their training for the ’05 Chicago marathon. It was fairly moving and inspiring – particular since I ran that very race myself. The only thing I found kind of strange was the having the subjects explain things like gels, and electronic shoe chips. I mean – who would go see that movie if not people who already know all that stuff in intimate detail? Just a minor complaint.

Every weekend or so, I attempt a little jog with walking interspersed, but my left knee continues to give me grief (literally.)
Had orthotics adjusted, which did not make any difference.
Bought a knee band, which seems to have helped somewhat. I can definitely feel my knee after just two or three miles of walk/jogging, so god knows what state it would be in if I actually wanted to run. But it’s something.

I can’t help but believe that 3 years of hard running (& 3 marathons in 12 months) ruined me for life. I’m so envious of runners who get injured and recover in a few weeks or months. I’m so envious of runners who get injured and recover. Let's face it: I’m so envious of runners.

When I was at the height of my fitness – probably around the time of my Chicago PR, I wondered if my world would end if I couldn’t run any more. And now I must tell you, it kind of has. In a way.

3 months & $450 later

2007-09-15T21:30:00.000-04:00

I've been too scared to check my calendar and calculate exactly how long I've been off the running until now (for this post's title.) I'm actually pleasantly surprised to find it's only 3 months. Feels more like 3 years.

I'd like to blame something else for my misery, frustration, anger and general unfriendly grumpiness over this period, but I don't think I can. To be honest with you, I've been too depressed to read your blogs, which only remind me of what I'm missing. I did not realize how vital running had become in my life - my stress reliever; the cause of my happy disposition - until finding myself without it for this extended stretch. Living and working in this city can make you crazy. It has succeeded in driving me nuts lately, since I've had nothing to vent the pressure. As a general rule, I can't stand being around angry, intolerant people, so god knows how unbearable I've been to others lately.

So long story short, I finally received my custom orthotics last week. Though I trust implicitly the prescribing doctor, I am highly skeptical of them in their current form. I was disappointed to note the limited arch support, given that my issue is over pronation (advice anyone?). Since trying them on my first short run today and having my left knee ache ever since, I think my mind is made up to return them for an adjustment. So no blind optimism here (I've learned my lesson), but instead cautious pragmatism.

Can't say I'm sorry to have missed out on running through the horrendously hot and humid New York season though. There is that silver lining.

In other, cheerier, news, our Kyla turned one on the 7th. We had a wonderful party in Central Park for her and a friend. Thanks to Jared for taking these terrific pics.

Square One

2007-08-05T22:30:00.000-04:00

I did not in fact, step off the face off the earth last month, though it probably seems that way. If there's anyone left out there who might end up reading this, I say thanks for coming back! I'm hoping to make this a more regular thing now that I might actually have some running to write about...

This morning I donned the Brooks for the first time in two months - and ran for a tentative 6 minutes! The knee did not trouble me at all whilst on the move, but I've been hyper paranoid that I can feel it twinging ever since.

I have been MI - I - I - I - SERABLE over this past couple months of inactivity. I mean, on the grand Mood Spectrum I probably haven't been that unhappy, but I'm so used to an elevated frame of mind that this felt pretty bad. I attribute a large portion of it to the absence of running. I attribute another part of it to my pathetic reaction to being unable to run. I essentially withdrew from the world: too lazy/depressed/fearful to call a doctor, to take up any other form of exercise (I cancelled my membership at the Y just before this happened), to stretch, to watch my diet...or pretty much do anything constructive and positive for my mind or body.

Hopefully now this horrible downward trajectory is coming to an end, and I can start to turn things around. Just don't let me complain about my speed or the heat or the cold or the wind or anything peripheral to the sport of running ever again. All I want to do is run.

It's 5am, I can't think of a title

2007-07-04T05:00:00.000-04:00

The knee still has not improved any, and I still have not managed to secure a doctor's appointment (part personal laziness/part medical unavailability). If I let myself think about it for too long I get fairly depressed, thinking about the fitness I'm losing, the weight I'm not losing, the friends I'm missing, the NYC marathon I probably wont be running now...

Mainly though, my week is just plain incomplete without running. And every other aspect of life seems just that bit less enjoyable when running is not in the mix. That probably doesn't make much sense, but maybe you runners know what I'm trying to say.

Still, as I mentioned, I find it genuinely impossible to take this hiccough seriously when I put it in context. My current insomnia is more related to the 5 days of work I have to cram into Thursday this week. My knee is barely worth giving any thought to. It does make this blog a little redundant for now though.

Happy 4th Americans!