Full Circle

My running really started with the 2003 Melrose Run for Women.  My husband and I got engaged in the summer of 2002 and due to financial reasons, had to plan our wedding for 2004.  In the winter of 2003, I looked at myself and said I really want to get in shape for my wedding.  I was never really overweight but I wasn't in that good of shape either.  I danced for 9 years, played baseball, pop warner cheerleader but never thought of myself as an athlete.  Further, through the college years came drinking, smoking *cringe* and poor eating habits.  In 2003, I was going to the gym but not really sure I wasn't making any sort of headway.

In the winter of 2003 going to the gym, I told Jay I wanted to get rid of this chub on my hips.  He said "Why don't  you start running?".  I thought he was ridiculous.  I hated running, I was not a runner and was never going to be a runner.  However, it was worth a shot because I really hated this hip chub. :)  I started running as much as I could on the treadmill- a little here and there but I wasn't really convinced it was something that I'd stick with.

One night I walked into the locker room at the gym and there was a paper flyer for the Melrose Run for Women.  This was about February and the race was in May.  I picked it up and signed up to keep myself committed.  Well I ran the race that year and for the years to follow with the exception of 2008 (I was training for the San Diego Marathon and had a 20 miler the day before - in retrospect I should have just run it but lesson learned) and last year, 2011 when I was very injured.  I recalled today how a year ago I was freshly dealing with my tibial stress syndrome and I couldn't run for 1 minute - nevermind this 3.5 miler.

Well I've run a lot of races since 2003 and have gotten very competitive.  I had a good long stint of healthy running and then have documented in this blog how starting really in April 2011, trouble with injury.   I just spent from February 2012 to April 2012 in physical therapy trying to recover my tibial stress syndrome issues that never really resolved from last year.   Joyfully, within the last two weeks, I must have tweaked something in my butt - yes a pain in the a$$ which evolved into a very painful ache while running.  Within the last week or so, I was really starting to be just depressed.  Maybe I'm never really going to be able to be the runner I want to be I thought to myself and well, I started to belief it.

Yesterday, one day before race day - I usually don't drink.  Well, I just wasn't that into this years Melrose Run for Women - I had planned to run it just to be with my friend but knew I wasn't going to do anything.  You see, I really wanted to win this race at some point - it would really just be so wonderful to win the race that really lured me into the world of running but as of yesterday, this wasn't going to be the year.  Further, while finishing PT, my PT girl said to me "You can run the MRW but you're not going to win it this year".  Okey dokey.

This morning I dragged myself to the start.  Jay looked at my face and asked me what was wrong - "I'm just not that into today".  I drank coffee.  I NEVER drink coffee because it upsets my stomach so much and usually I plan on running so hard that would just push me over the edge (the bathroom edge).  So I drank my coffee.  Well I got plenty sick before the start.  I met up with my friend Sue and my friend Linda - both wished me luck, Jay wished me luck but well.  I didn't expect anything at all.

I went to the start and my heart started pounding like it always does - I guess it's just the electricity of the start.  I ran off from the start for a few minutes just to get my legs warm so I wasn't going zero to fast but nothing too long.  I came back and they walked us to the starting line.  My friend Linda yelled "where is my girl - I know what's going to happen after the gun goes off" - Not really - again, I had no goals - I didn't I had anything in me.  There were even two girls ahead of me who asked if I wanted to go in front of them and I said "Nah, that's ok".  As we lined up, I noticed a masters women who I was familiar with - I mean really familiar with.  She took the Thanks4giving 10K female win away from me in 2010 and it really burned me.  I just looked at how jazzed she was and once again she'd beat me out.

The race starts and we're off.  To my surprise I was behind the police escort along with this master's women "T" and two other women - another master and another girl a bit younger than me with headphones (as a side, as a former headphone wearer - I get it but trained myself off of them and man, do I wish other people would too - they are unsafe and you really have no idea what's going on around you - ok- I'm done).  Even where I was, I thought in my head "there is no way I'm staying here".

The course is not an easy one.  Lots of rolling hills- so big up hills, a big screaming downhill and lots of broken street in between.  We went up the first hill and I think at that point, we lost to the other women so it was "T" leading and me.  I was close to her but not too close.  Again, I kept thinking - there is no way I'm holding this.  I was kind of dying.  I felt like I was going to puke, breathing hard, feeling low on fuel - but I kept going.

Between Mile 1-2 there is another small up hill and then a straight away - I stayed close to "T" and kept thinking - again she is going to beat me, but man, I'm in second - that's great - I was happy.  Between Mile 2-3 there is a SCREAMING downhill and I thought I'd gain on her but she kept it going faster down that downhill - I'm always cautious on the downhills always feeling like I'm going to fall and do a somersault over and over.  There were several times where I was REALLY close behind her but I refused to pass her.  If I passed her and she passed me, it was diminish my confidence and any chance I might have of winning would definitely be gone.

Jay was at Mile 3 and I could see him from the distance and I could see via his body language that he looked, that it was me and just started laughing when it was me that was rivaling for 1st and WHO I was rivaling.  We rounded the corner for the final stretch and there is one last uphill, a straightaway and you come into the finish.  It was on this uphill that I passed "T" and I was in first place.  I couldn't believe it.  I couldn't believe I had a chance at winning this race - as I made it through the last .5 mile my friend Linda came out into my view and was screaming at the top of her lungs "GINA!!!!!!" - I finished.  I won.  Wow.   The race that sucked me into the world of running, that lead me to 8 marathons and countless races, I had won and my goal had been complete.  I couldn't be happier.  My hope and inspiration has been revived and I am thankful.

The best part is that my body feels great and I've gotten the shot in the arm I needed to get me psyched for the 2012 season.  Thanks to all of those that I run with (and that I don't run with) that have supported me through injuries and will continue to listen to me through the 2012 training season!

Place No.  Name                Div/Tot  Div   Ag City               St Nettime Guntime Pace  
===== ==== =================== ======== ===== == ================== == ======= ======= ===== 
    1  307 Gina Newton           1/190  F3039 34 North Chelmsford   MA   21:57   21:58  6:17 

Seemingly smooth sailing

Post NYC Half - my recovery seems on track to really return to full strength hopefully by the end of May.  It's actually scary for me - I feel nothing wrong with my leg anymore - and having felt something wrong for literally a solid year this week, it's really weird!

With each passing week, I've been increasing speed and duration (not together - except when I break the rules which although I try not to, sometimes it happens).  I  have 2 PT visits left and then my PT girl said I can likely fly away on my own back to my coach to ramp up to normal training.  Yay!

My next race is Doyle's Pub Race on 4/22.  I'm just excited for that race because I haven't done it since 2005 and it's a fun one and of course there is beer.  I'm excited to see our friends Thor and Heather that we haven't seen in awhile and just really enjoy the day.  It finally feels like things are looking up.

I'm very committed to doing all the little things to keep me healthy.  If things stay steady I hope to sign up for the Toronto Marathon in the fall as my goal marathon.  I'm taking it day by day though but it's looking like I'll make my first trip to Canada in October!

NYC Half Complete - working my way back

Headed into Sundays race I was apprehensive.  I had sent my PT girl a note about declining an invite to run an 'easy' 5K (to benefit her fundraiser - I chose to donate instead of signing up for the race knowing I wouldn't be able to put a lot behind it) prior to leaving for NYC.  She responded saying it was 'probably better' and that we'd get me in good shape for the next big race.  Oh no, I wasn't talking about NYC half like she thought but it made me think - did she really not think me run/walking this half was the best idea?  She hadn't let on.  Now I'm paranoid.

My plan was to run 10 minute/miles and walk through all the water stops.  Easier said than done - I am not capable of this - physically and mentally.  I drove down with Dan and Tom who I hadn't seen in awhile so it was good to have the 4 hour drive to catch up.  They did the Gina exchange to my cousin Mary who I spent the night with getting some quality cousin time.  That night as we sat there watching a movie, I swear I felt the area of the injury aching and it occurred to me that maybe I should bail out.  That's just not me and I was there - I was doing it.

So bright an early we set off for the race meeting up with Dan and Tom and Mary walked us to the corrals (she easily snuck in).  It was great because I could keep all my warm clothes on (it was chilly!) and then hand back to Mary and start the race.  The only modification I made was to drop back a corral which was fine because I had company with Dan although soon after the gun went off he went to run his race.

I started off very slow as I was told and very quickly the first water stop was there - I walked through it as I was supposed to.  It wasn't easy.  Every time I stopped at a water stop I had the very supportive volunteers yelling "C'mon, you can do it".  I wanted to say "Yes, I can do it but I'm not allowed to do it as I'd like to" :)

It was a different experience running this race 'easy'.   I was far more aware of my surroundings and spent a lot of time focusing on those around me and the spectators.  The course was actually kind of difficult: rolling hills for 6 miles through Central Park, out towards and into Times Square, a right down 42nd street and then to the water towards Battery Park/World Trade Center area.

I kept my pace but realized I was progressively getting faster.  I still tried to keep myself conservative but every time I'd look down, my watch showed a slightly faster pace.  So I pressed it to see if I'd feel anything, nope - nothing.  No pain at all.  As I continued, I tested little by little and still no pain.  It was coming to around the mile 9-10 marks and well, my stomach started to hurt.  There it is! An 'old' typical pain - something other than this injury hurting.  As stressed as I get when my stomach hurt, I was thankful it was the stomach hurting and not the injury - that in fact felt great. 

As the last water stop approached I considered not stopping for it because, well - my stomach was really bothering me but I felt like if I didn't stop, the Running Karma Gods would make me sorry I had broken my promise.

As we made our way past the 12 mile mark, we went into a very long tunnel - it was scary long and all I wanted to do was get out of it - so again, I picked it up.  Coming out of the tunnel I could see the '800 feet left' sign, a 400 feet left sign and so forth.  Well, I picked it up here - I was almost done, nothing hurt and I truthfully just lost my head.  It was awesome and I was really overcome with emotion as I made my way to the finish.  I had just hoped I could skirt in under 2 hours having come back from injury and keeping my '10 minute mile' - well that ended up at a 8:27 pace for a final time of 1:50:37 - definitely not my best half by far but not my worst.  The best part? No pain.

I arrived at my chiropractor and PT visits today - happy but cautious because I hadn't followed directions - both Mika and Jess were very supportive and happy I had done so well.  I have been downgraded to 1 X week PT and the bad calf essentially felt equal to the good half.

I even got to run over 6 miles today @ 8:01 pace - it seems like things are headed in the right direction.  Fingers crossed it's only up from here!  I have running every other day for the next two weeks.  In terms of racing, Doyle's 5 miler at the end of April is up next.  I'm sure I won't be in top shape by any means but I'm excited just to be back in the game!

Run/Walking: Starting the Climb back

Well this was a good week.  I saw my MD and put in two more PT sessions and got permission to start run/walking.  I was actually petrified to try it.  In the past year, so many of these 'tests' have been met with more pain.  With it being spring, the days getting longer and a half marathon a week away (although no chance of racing it), feeling pain when I gave it a test for the first time would have made me just sad.

So Tuesday night post MD visit and post Monday PT visit, I suited up for my brief 'test' run.  I was allowed to do 20 minutes of run walking like 1 minute run/1 minute walk, 2 minute run/1 minute walk and 3 minute run/1 minute walk.  Very exciting - no really - I couldn't wait to get home although I was scared.

It was first fun just to get ready for a run - it feels like it's been forever.  When I started out, it was like someone let me out of jail but also a bit of "how do I do this again?".  My body felt like it needed a little lesson on running again but before I knew it - I was run walking around my condo complex.  I felt so happy to be out there.  I had no pain - a bit of tightness but no pain.  I came in from the run ready to tell my husband of the success and hit the first stairs to lead to my basement and felt an 'ouch'.  What the heck is that?  Then paranoia set in - maybe this wasn't so successful after all or am I just too tuned into every little pain I feel?

The next day I visited my chiropractor and PT girl.  Both looked at the injury and remarked on how good things felt - this meant a lot coming from the chiropractor who had yet to note this.  The PT girl dry needled the calf again finally getting a trigger point that had been 'running' (HA HA) from her the prior two dry needling sessions before that.  I knew she got this point because as I left, this one spot felt pins/needles - just numb- that one spot - so weird!  The PT girl also gave me two more days of run walking - one of which I did yesterday.  This run went even better than Tuesday which was a relief.  It was also 50 degrees out which made me want to run forever! This time I did 2-4 minute run periods and almost ran pretty much the entire 20 minutes the way it worked out.

I'm feel really optimistic.  My next run/walk day is Saturday and I can't wait!  Long story short, things seem to be looking up!

Making Progress

I've been in PT for just over a week now and been needled 3 times (2 X the calf and 1 X in the glute).  Things are improving although I think yesterdays calf needling was particularly intense.  This is in anticipation of my half marathon I'm still hoping to 'be part' of on March 18th (NY City Half).  I say part of because I will be unable to run this true to Gina Style i.e. losing my head in running from start to finish as fast as I can.

The PT girl looked me point blank in the face and said "If you run this race like 'normal', you WILL set yourself back".  She made her point.  Boy did she make her point.  That is the last thing I want.  Being injured is more work than being healthy and more time consuming!  I asked her "Well, what pace is that?" "9 minute miles" - well then 9 min/miles it is.   Truthfully I just want to register for the Toronto Marathon as to not let it fill up like every other good marathon does these days.  I can't do it until I'm out of the woods with this episode and back on track in terms of speed work, racing etc...but I've really learned from this experience.

I learned who to go to for what type of advice - that's for sure.  Not everyone has all of the answers- it's more about asking a lot of different experts: coaches, chiropracters, MDs, physical therapists and fellow running friends what to do and how to do it - putting it together and figuring out how that works best for my body.

This running game is constant learning.  Until I get the OK from the MD March 6th, I've been elliptical-ing my little heart out (and a biking 3X week).  I feel good though, my body feels strong and I've been eating really well and drinking (booze) much less (although with 4 beer taps in the house it's impossible to go cold turkey).  Hoping all the stars align for when I can final get back to the roads and run like 'normal'.

3 more weeks

I finally went to see an MD yesterday.  I also had an ultrasound today to check for a varicosse vein - seriously?  I didn't think people like me could get those.  Got myself some PT and some heavy NSAIDs which seem to be helping.  In the interim, lots of crossing-training.  Our new elliptical comes Friday and our gym in our house is coming together.  It will be so nice not to have to trek to the gym or BE at the gym for that matter.  I go back to the doctor in 3 weeks.  Coach says I can still cross-train to be prepared for my March 18th half marathon - fingers crossed.