Chasing Boston

A Vegetarian Runner Chasing her Utopia

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Awwww my sisters made my day! What a wonderful early birthday present! #chasingboston #shinsplints #bestsistersever #yessistersiinstagramedthis #instaeverythibg

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I know I know it’s been awhile. In my defense marathon training is a) exhausting, all I do is sleep, eat and train and b) who really wants to hear me complain about my injuries? I’m done with week 9 and onto week 10. Only six more weeks of training left until the marathon. Shin splints or not,...

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Week 9 and all the Weeks Prior

I know I know it’s been awhile.  In my defense marathon training is a) exhausting, all I do is sleep, eat and train and b) who really wants to hear me complain about my injuries?  I’m done with week 9 and onto week 10.  Only six more weeks of training left until the marathon. Shin splints or not, it’s time to get outside and start running again.  What a better way to start than with 50-degree weather this week. 

These past couple weeks I’ve been plagued by reoccurring shin splints.  They’ll pop out of nowhere.  The pain isn’t existent when I am running. Instead, I’ll be sitting in my office chair at 10am and suddenly my shins will be on fire.

To be exact I haven’t run consistently since Super bowl Sunday, February 1st.  I’m playing it cautious. I’d rather run a 4-hour marathon and enjoy Boston than be miserable and in pain the whole way. During my 3rd marathon in 2012 (Chicago) I ran Boston pace; Sub 8:10 until mile 23 and then I collapsed. Imagine spaghetti with sauce splattering all over the ground, that was me.   I was running on a stress fracture in my right foot.  My hips gave out because I put too much pressure on my left foot.  I spent the next 3 miles waddling to the finish line.  Taking approximately 50 minutes to go three miles.  This is why I am proceeding with caution for Boston. As much as I want to run it well, I’d rather run the whole race.

To recap, these past five weeks since February 2nd I’ve spent over 50 hours on a spin bike. Cycling to keep up my endurance and maintain my hip strength.  I’ve also tried to swim and elliptical but only minimal hours spent on these activities. I loathe both of these endurance workouts.   While my leg strength isn’t quite ready for Boston, I’ve developed quite the bikers butt. This will help propel me up the endless hills of Boston and up Heartbreak hill at mile 20.

Besides cycling, plyometric and weight training exercises are great ways to maintain and increase your strength and stamina.  I’ve done loads of 2-3 minute wall sits, weighted squats, squats on a Bosu Ball, calf raises and endless lunges.  My legs feel strong and I can confidently say I’ll be able to run come race day on Monday, April 20th.

Moving Forward

I’m entering week ten and I am going to try running again.  I’m also implanting shin strength exercises into my morning routine as well as borrowing my sisters super fancy foam roller to rub out the kinks after a night’s sleep.  I’m also going to see an acupuncturist on Wednesday.   I’ve never tried eastern medicine so I am cautiously optimistic.  Hopefully my doctor will also show me how to tape my shins. I’m nervous and excited to try running again.  I’ll let you all know how it goes.

Peace, Love and Running.

-Michelle

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Weekly food prep for marathon training. #carbsoncarbsoncarbs #healthycatbs #fuel #chasingboston

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Week Five & Six: Being Responsible with my Training

Insert expletive here @$%$#! My shins, my poor shins.  I did it again and gave myself minor shin splints. During the spring of 2010 I gave myself shin splints training for my first marathon.  Now I’m training for my sixth and have minor shins splints again. Five years later I’m stuck back at the beginning, unknowingly pushing my body in the wrong direction and quitting too late.

However, it’s not 2010 its 2015.  I have five marathons under my belt to know when to cut back and when to increase the difficulty of my training.  It’s week seven and there is still nine weeks left of training.  I’m going to try running at the end of this week to see how I feel.  For now, I’ve successfully kept my endurance with indoor cycling and strength via weight training.

Yes, I am insecure about not being able to run.  I’m worried that I’ll disappoint my entire immediate family who have invested time and money to come watch me race.  I’m worried that I’ll put too much emphasis on my time to enjoy the race.  I’m worried that I’ll not appreciate the significance of Boston. 

As hard as it is to push those worries aside I know I will enjoy Boston.  I’m ecstatic to be completing a goal I’ve had since my first marathon.  I know that regardless of my finish time I have the support of my friends and family. They all think I am a great runner; I just need to believe that too.  To break it down, maybe some statistics will help?

Of the qualifying times for the Boston Marathon only 1% of the 10% of people who run marathons qualify. The median finish time for a female marathon runner is 4:41:38.  For the 2015 Boston Marathon there were 25,493 applicants and only 23, 546 qualified with an average of 1:02 faster than their qualified age/gender time. 

I am lucky to surpass the standards.  It’s time I start believing in myself.  Sure I’ll never be a Kara Goucher or run as fast as some of my friends but I am running the Boston Marathon.  I will be running the marathon in 64 days and I will cross the finish line.  I’ve reached my goal.  It’s time to complete my dream.

 Peace, love and running.

 -Michelle

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Cake pops at work? So tempted...marathon training problems. #marathontraining #chasingboston #eatingclean

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Mmmmhhh must resist temptation. Red Velvet and Chocolate Covered Donuts look so good against the cubical wall. #chasingboston #eatingclean

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Week Four: Gaining Ground and Getting Stronger

Willpower…I have none. Well, I have some willower but it’s lacking. I managed to survive four January work birthdays, two friends’ birthdays and multiple grocery store trips but I caved and ate three Swedish fish. A leftover from my friend’s birthday at climbing team the sugary sweetness was calling my name. I know it’s only three pieces of candy but I know myself. I lack self-control when it comes to sweets. The point of eating clean was to improve my performance and to decrease my sweet tooth cravings. My goal after the marathon is to be able to say no most sweets and occasionally eat the desserts that I truly enjoy.

Other than my perpetual cravings for sweets training is going great! I managed to get up early twice this week on Monday and Friday. See, some willpower! I’m getting stronger mentally and physically. I dislike getting up early but the thought of missing a workout on my training plan is enough to get me out of bed.

I switched my long run around this weekend. Instead of running 14 today, I did my long run yesterday Saturday, January 31st. I decided 30-degree weather sounded better than 15. By mile 8 I thought about cutting my run short and only going for 12. My hands were freezing cold, almost to the point of frostbite. There was a nasty wind coming from the southwest that tore through my 3 layers of gloves. I managed to pull my sleeves over my hands and finish up my 14-mile run. I surprised myself and ran a 7:47 pace even in the bitter wind.

My week ended at the gym instead of going for my scheduled 8-10 mile run. The shin area of my legs is sore and I don’t want to develop shin splints. I’d rather run slower at Boston than not run at all. Just to be there is enough for me. 79 days to go until Boston. I feel so lucky to be chasing my dream.

Peace, love and running.

-Michelle

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Sitting in front of my space heater thawing out my frozen fingers. I'll take that time with that nasty wind! #chasingboston #gettingfaster #marathontraining

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Dare to Dream

NEVER BE AFRAID TO DREAM (BQ QUALIFYING TIME 3:35:00).

1st Marathon Spring of 2011: GO! St. Louis 3:49:52

KEEP CHASING THE IMPOSSIBLE.

2nd Marathon Spring of 2012: Fargo, ND  3:43:57

NEVER GIVE UP.

3rd Marathon Fall of 2012: Chicago 4:07:56

AND NEVER GIVE IN.

4th Marathon Fall of 2013: Twin Cities 3:31:24

I"ll be completing my dream Monday, April 20th 2015. 

BOSTON MARATHON!

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Week Two & Three: Sick but Consistent

Wow, maintaining a blog about marathon training is harder than the physical preparation!  Sorry, guys.  I’ll try to be better a routinely posting.   My writing might be falling behind but I guarantee I’ll keep posting pictures. #instagramaddict

Week two started off fantastic. The temperature increased to 15 degrees on Sunday, January 11th.  I ran 8 miles in the sun and no wind.  I was so excited by the Minnesota winter heat wave that I managed to maintain 7:57-minute per mile pace. My goal is to just finish the Boston Marathon but ideally I would like to run an 8-minute per mile pace.  By running marathon pace for my long runs I will increase my endurance and mental stamina for race day.

Then bam, Monday hit and my healthy body started to feel repercussions of the office plague.  Limited paid time off and being busy encourages my coworkers (myself included) to come to work sick.  Somehow, I started feeling nauseated by Tuesday, January 13th and continue to feel nauseous through Friday, January 16th.  I had a mini anxiety attack about being sick but forced myself to take two days off from training and a day off from work. I Slept, drank water and slept.

Sleeping did the trick!  I managed to finish week two with an 8 mile run on Saturday, January 17th.  However, I kind of wished I was still sick so I could play hooky and skip my half marathon training run the next day.

All that dreading for nothing, 13.1 miles flew by on Sunday, January 18th! 7:57 pace is my jam.  The rest of the week zoomed by and I followed my marathon-training plan perfectly.  I even forced myself to get out of bed at 5:30am on Thursday, January 22nd to strength train.  I finished off the week with a 10 mile run on Saturday, January 19th in 35-degree weather.  Numerous people were wearing shorts around the chain of lakes.

I assemble a short list that encompasses the best and worse of marathon training thus far:

The BEST (Give me some more!)

Eating clean = feeing great

Getting back into college shape

Eating tons and tons of healthy/complex carbs

Carbs on Carbs on Carbs

Boston Bragging Rights!

CARBS ON CARBS ON CARBS

Running w/friends = Paige

The WORST (Is the torture over yet?

No Baked Goods

Limited Social Life

No Cookies, Cakes & Ice Cream

Funky smells from excess protein

No Mac N’ Cheese

Bye, Bye Frozen Pizza

Feeling Tired.

Constant Desert Cravings

I pretty much miss unhealthy junk food and sleeping late into the Morning.  I hope to more after the marathon but to kick the junk food habit.  Maybe only treats a couple times a week and not in the office?  Any suggestions?

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The best running partner I've ever had = fresh baked bread. #longruns #chasingboston #marathontraining

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Not bad for being sick earlier this week! #chasingboston #marathontraining #halfmarathon

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Still smiling after 8 miles of winter running. What a difference 16 degrees and no wind can make. #chasingboston #marathontraining

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Marathon Training – Week One: I’m tired

I ran Twin Cities Marathon just 14 weeks ago and I’ve already forgotten how exhausting

it is to train for a marathon (26.2 miles).  The task seems so daunting, painful and sometimes monotonous. Yet, I trudge on because I enjoy the quietness running brings, embrace the routine and love the challenge.

It’s incredible to see what my mind is capable of accomplishing and to push my body to its limits.  Five and a half years ago I thought running a marathon was impossible.  This year I run my sixth.

Week one of marathon training started off with freezing temperatures.  I ran my first 10 miles of training at negative three degrees.  I am thankful for my friend Paige who ran my first three with me.  After my run, I was so frozen that I spent the next hour napping against a warm space heater

.

The rest of the week I trained indoors. Everything went smoothly. I managed to do all the runs on my training plan

.  I’ve decided to train on a treadmill for my shorter runs and interval workouts

.  This will reduce the risk of injury, allow me to push my body without the hazards of snow and ice, and increase my endurance.  I’ll continue

to do my long runs outside with the understanding that I’ll have to go at a slower pace. 

The hardest part of training this week was getting used to the diet.  In order to improve my performance I have decided to eat “clean”.  I’ll talk more about what that means in my next post.  Essentially, I’ve stopped eating my favorite food group sweets. I’m saying goodbye to delicious baked goods in favor of complex carbohydrates.  I managed to resist temptation while grocery shopping, celebrating at my coworker’s baby shower and my cousin’s birthday party

.   The next 13 weeks will be tough but I think it’s a challenge I can complete.

On to another week of marathon training!  I’m off to run eight miles in light snow and 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Stay tuned later this week for another blog post about clean eating.

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Ran inside this morning to stay safe and test out my new kicks. It's 0 degrees in Minnesota. #artictundra #chasingboston #mizuno

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Shedding my layers after my first training run. Started the run at -3 and finished at -2. Thanks @plennny for running the first 3 with me. Can't believe I made it. #chasingboston #artictundra #10miles