The Great Outdoors

I have been running in the great outdoors for one week and I am ecstatic to be back out there. That being said, I am struggling with the fact that I am just not where I once was. I know I'm recovering from an injury, but still it's frustrating. I'm not allowed to run very far or very fast, but at least I'm running and everything will come back with time, training, focus and determination. I hope.

On Sunday, I completed my longest outdoor run since the injury - 4.7 miles in 40 minutes. My IT band on my right leg was really tight towards the end of the run, which was mind boggling to me because that hasn't hurt since the beginning of this year when I was doing big miles for Boston '07. I have a feeling my right leg may be picking up some of the slack for my left leg (the injured one).

My PT gave me a running, strength and cross training workout that gets me until this Saturday when I will do a 45 minute run. It's funny to be in a gym again... I'm terrible at the strength and cross training part of the whole thing, but I am learning to love it. I have been on the elliptical and am somehow finding that fun. I've also found a new love for rowing - I've never done it before and probably look ridiculous, but it's fun! The strength part is going well too and I am feeling stronger all around. In fact, here's a picture of my gym gear - magazine for reading while on the elliptical, post-it with the day's workout and pen for notes.

On Friday, I will see my PT again and consult with him on where I can go from here - at the last consult he said he could have me marathon training again by January 1st - and what's up with my IT band.

Coffee & PT

I haven't written in over a week because life has been just more of the same. Physical therapy on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Running on my 20 minutes on off days from PT. So I really haven't had much to say, until today...

I ran on the treadmill at lunch today for my 20 minutes. About about 10 minutes I started smelling coffee. I knew I couldn't be sweating out coffee because I haven't had it in a few days and it was a really strong smell - like a Folgers-waking-you-up-in-the-morning kind of smell. My gym has a juice bar (a.k.a. I'm a big muscle man and on top of the 'roids I'm already doing I drink the Super Whey Protein Muscle Man drink while I sit at the bar in my teeny tiny t-shirt that I had to have someone paint on me this morning just so girls will look at me) so I assumed that they were making a fresh pot of coffee as part of the gyms member appreciation week. A couple more minutes pass by and I catch a glimpse of the girl next to me. She had started on the treadmill oh just a couple minutes ago... let's say about 10 minutes into my run. Do you get what I'm hinting at here? Yes! She was drinking coffee while walking on the treadmill. If anyone can explain this to me, please do so. I am baffled.

So PT... . Tonight I did a strength test to see how my leg was doing. I did a few different weight strength tests and then some elliptical, stairmaster and backwards running on the treadmill. I was beat after all the cardio stuff, but I felt like I should have done more to really max out the weight. The PT says I'm just about done. Tomorrow morning I go in to talk to him about what, if anything, I have left to do at PT and what I can do as far as running goes. I'm looking at this as good news that hopefully I'll be back into a more solid running schedule with some more miles - more outdoor miles, hopefully - and then eventually back into racing.

Running vs. Jogging -- Chapter 3: Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes participated in the New York City Marathon this year. Is she a runner or a jogger?

She did not wear a bra! Need I say more?

RW Article

Chapter 1: First thoughts
Chapter 2: Pearl Izumi®

My 10 Minutes of Running

I did it today. I ran for 10 minutes. And yes, I did the 6 minutes on the elliptical, my stretches, and 6 more minutes before I started running, just like my PT said.

It was a beautiful day outside - 56 degrees, sunny - and yet I was inside... on the treadmill. It was painful to be there. I haven't been on a treadmill in about nine months. There was a girl on my right, who I actually thought looked like a runner and then I was thinking of the Pearl Izumi® ads and according the them, a runner would never be inside on a treadmill. Then I was afraid that everyone would think I was less of a runner because I was inside. Maybe she is rehabbing an injury too. I never really thought of it before, but at the gym on the treadmill I ran with people so it was hard for me not to go fast and get competitive. But I made it through and those 10 minutes were the fastest 10 minutes of my life.

I iced when I got home and tomorrow I'll go to PT. I'll let them know how great I feel and my fingers are crossed that I'll be released to add on more time to my 10 minute run.

New York Marathon Weekend

New York had a full weekend of running this weekend. On Saturday, Central Park played host to the Men's Olympic Marathon Trials and on Sunday the city hosted the ING New York City Marathon.

The Men's Olympic Trials winners were: Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell. Official results can be found on the USATF website here. Unfortunately, running had to say goodbye to a great athlete on Saturday. After 5.5 miles Ryan Shay collapsed and later was pronounced dead. Here is what the USATF had to say. This is the second time I've written about someone who has collapsed and died during a race. It has happened quite a few times and until now I've always thought it was just people who aren't prepared, haven't trained enough, didn't consult their doctor, or have a pre-existing heart condition. Now, I'm left wondering what it is that's killing runners.

On Sunday in Central Park, Paula Radcliffe won the New York Marathon. Although I loved watching Kara Goucher beat her in The Great North Run, but I was happy to see that Paula won today. She had a baby and back surgery 11 months ago and now she's back winning a marathon. Incredible.

TGIF - Happy PT Friday

I can run! I can run! I can run!

I got permission to do the elliptical on Thursday. I had to do something. So I did that for 20 minutes on Thursday night. I'm impressed I made it that long. That thing (the elliptical) is the most boring thing ever. Anyway... I woke up Friday and felt incredible! I had no pain at all. It was great. So I headed for PT Friday after work to deliver the good news.

My PT was psyched for me and said it wouldn't be much longer until I was back. PT was great and I did all of my exercises with no pain and I was feeling really strong. I love the weight lifting part of PT. I've learned so much in just a week and a half. The best part of PT came at the end.

Me: Can I run this weekend? *hopeful smile*
PT Tech: I'll ask the PT when I call him.
Me: Thanks.
PT Tech: Can Janette run this weekend?...OK. ... OK. ... Got it. ... Yes, I'm writing it down. ... OK. ... Bye.
PT Tech: OK. The PT said you can run.
Me: Awesome. Thanks!! *illuminating smile*
PT Tech: But... You have to do 6 minutes on the elliptical, then do your stretches, then do 6 more minutes on the elliptical and then you can run for 10 minutes only. And you have to run somewhere soft. So if you're outside run on a field, if your inside run on the treadmill.
Me: I can run. This is awesome.
PT Tech: Yes, but remember to do 6 minutes on the elliptical, stretch, 6 more minutes on the elliptical, and then you can run for 10 minutes only. *she puts more emphasis on the 10 minutes this time as if I don't hear her*
Me: Yes, yes, 10 minutes. I got it. I'll keep it to 10 minutes - that's better than zero minutes.
PT Tech: OK, go have a good run this weekend. *smiles hoping I keep it to only 10 minutes*

Wahoo!!! I am incredibly happy! I'm going to make these 10 minutes count!

Running vs. Jogging -- Chapter 2: Pearl Izumi

I received an e-mail this morning from Active.com advertising free shoes for life from Pearl Izumi®. I thought the picture was super entertaining and went along with my earlier comments regarding Running vs. Jogging. You can also check out the Pearl Izumi® website to find out just how they feel about runners and joggers. I think their website URL says it all... http://www.wearenotjoggers.com/home.

They've put together a lot of fun things to play with on their site so whether you're a jogger, a runner, or a wearer of Pearl Izumi® shoes check out the website. You can kill time at work. (Just kidding, boss.)