Roadmap to Recovery

Four and a half months ago I messed up my foot during a half-marathon.  And I unknowingly continued to mess it up for quite some time thereafter.  I wish I could have known then what I know now.  Or better yet, I wish there had been a set of instructions that came with my foot injury.  Congratulations, Jen!  You have plantar fasciitis!  Here's what you're going to do next...

Seeing that that was impossible and wouldn't involve any growth on my part, I started with what seemed most logical.  I saw a podiatrist in the city several days after the run.  He took some x-rays, told me to pop some anti-inflammatory pills, sold me some Biofreeze, and told me to consider $500 orthotics.  I blocked out of my mind the idea of spending hundreds of dollars on shoe inserts. 

I followed his other recommendations and continued to run as usual.  Everything seemed fine with minor pain here and there.  But over the course of a year, I developed plantar fasciitis in my "good" foot.  My selfless good left foot.  It had, unbeknownst to me, been compensating for my injured foot.  Tendonitis in both legs soon followed.  The domino effect had started and I needed to nip it before it went further. 

My next stop on the free-my-feet-from-pain expressway was a podiatrist that specialized in running injuries.  His consultation included x-rays and strength and gait tests.  His approach was more thorough than that of the previous physician.  Believing that the answer also included arch support and knowing that the doctor recommended them, I broke the bank and ordered orthotics.  They turned out to be much pricier than the first place but I was confident this visit was the start to a good recovery.  And maybe it would have been, if I had kept up with stretching.  Or maybe I ran too much or not enough.  In any case, the orthotics were an improvement when I was running but my feet continued to ache when I was not running.  I couldn't be out of my running shoes or Danskos for more than 10 minutes unless I was in bed.  Sleeping. 

It took two years after my foot injury to get my lucky break.  I got a neck injury.  And that neck injury led me to the closest thing to a foot recovery I've had to date.  I had injured my neck moving furniture and was in so much pain.  My boss suggested I see his chiropractor.  I was scared.  My primary physician said she didn't recommend it.  I wasn't keen on having my neck cracked.  I was fearful of one wrong move paralyzing me.  But the pain got so bad at work that I lay down on the floor and texted my boss in the other room for the chiro's number.  At my first appointment, I was asked to fill out a pain chart.  Pain in neck.  Check.  When asked about any other trouble spots, I noted the plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.  I didn't know that I was on my way to hitting the jackpot of foot treatments.

My chiropractor was trained in Graston technique and told me it could help with my inflamed tissue.  It's a trademarked technique in which a practitioner uses a steel tool to find and resolve scar tissues that form in muscles and tendons as a result of injury.  After having gone through it, I'm convinced it's a method of torture to get people to tell their secrets.  It hurts a lot.  But it works.  Every time I finish a treatment, I feel like I have new feet.  It helped with the tendonitis too.  If I could have gotten a personalized list of instructions following my foot injury, "Get the Graston technique, ASAP" would have been at the top of that list. 

Do my feet still hurt?  Yes, from time to time.  Do they hurt as much as they did four years ago?  Heck, no!  But, like everything else, wellness requires maintenance.

I still wear orthotics and Danksos and have to stretch.  I can't wear sensible heels for long periods of time.  I have given away my beloved flats.  I still get the Graston treatments but I don't require as many visits now.  I'll never have the feet I had before the race.  And that's ok.  I used to think a recovery would automatically mean getting back to my old self.  But the journey led me to create a better and even stronger self.  I learned to appreciate health and movement.  I learned that when the body signals a need for rest, you listen and slow down.  I've learned how to deal with frustration when I feel pain, when I know I can't run the distances I used to and when I can't wear more fun and stylish shoes.  I understand the trade-off and respect limits.  Most importantly, I've come to value the body I inhabit, the wisdom it holds, and all the opportunities it affords me.

Best Foot Forward

It's been a long time since I've blogged.  I thought many times about writing but didn't want to address the changes that were happening.  I wasn't particularly interested in finding the silver linings in the process either.  I was disappointed and frustrated with the situation that unfolded after the half marathon in 2011, the subject of my last blog post, and how it worsened over time.  But now that I have more perspective and feel much better, I'm going to pick up right where I left off and talk about that race and what followed.

Back in 2011, I was loving running.  I ran to relieve stress.  I ran to stay fit.  I ran to clear my head.  I already had one half marathon under my belt and had set a personal best at the Broad Street Run in Philly.  I felt strong.  But running longer distances to train for the latest half marathon had become more challenging because of my changes in diet.  At that point in time, I was switching from a vegan diet to one that was non-dairy and no sugar.  This included a limit on most carbs and fruit.  My food plan mainly consisted of chicken, eggs, fish, brown rice and low-glycemic vegetables.  It was boring.  I hated fish.  I tried to make a mashed potato recipe using cauliflower.  Ew.  The only amusement I found on this plan was that it was prescribed to me by a vegan doctor at Thomas Jefferson.  I thought if anyone could convince me of ditching veganism it would be a vegan doctor.  Health before veganism?  I thought the two went together but I had the test results to prove otherwise in my case.   

Eating meat again took some getting used to but it was certainly easier than trying to run on a restricted diet.  I felt my muscles cramping during 6-8 mile runs.  Instead of looking for possibilities to improve performance, I assumed there were none and stopped running.  But race day rolled around and the runner in me still wanted to do it.  So I indulged in a big bowl of brown rice pasta the night before and laced up my running shoes.  I was a little nervous but figured I was young and still in good enough shape to pull it off.

Everything seemed to be going well until my foot cramped in the 10th mile.  Knowing the race was almost over, I ignored my foot pain and decided to finish.  I rationalized that the last stretch was on the other side of the river and there was no "cab-it-home" option.  And what would be the point of walking the rest of the way?  Run to get home quicker.  Get 'er done.  Finish what was started.

The pain came and went.  I walked a bit, then ran a bit.  The endorphins must have masked the damage I was causing.  It was only after the race that my foot felt like a cinder block.  I wobbled to brunch with friends and then wobbled home.  The next day, I had trouble getting out of bed...standing up...getting down the stairs...walking.   I remember saying, "Oh shit, what have I done?"  My body had a clear message for me.  I had gone too far.  I had taken it for granted.  I pushed my body beyond its limits and so much further than I could have known.  And now I had to make amends. 

It's taken me the length of time in absence from this blog (a really long time) to find solutions that have worked, to accept my body's "slow down" messages, to appreciate movement, and to revel in newfound strength and possibility.  The journey of experiencing optimum health doesn't have a clear-cut path.  And the journey is continuous without end.  It doesn't include a list of instructions (darn!).  At certain points it requires patience and persistence.  It relies on commitment.  It likes supporters and cheerleaders.  And it calls for trust that you'll eventually feel better...that you're doing the right things for your mind, body and spirit...that you are putting your best possible foot forward.  

Meet Me Halfway

On Sunday I finished my second half-marathon.  It was bittersweet as the anticipation of the race (race days feel like Christmas to me) was coupled with a fear that I was setting myself up for a possible injury.  I had signed up for the race back in the summer before experiencing several set-backs to my training.  I needed to take antibiotics in September for an infection, which left me weak and in bed for ten days.  I was instructed to change my food plan to a low-carb diet and reluctantly re-introduced meats.  I hated my new diet as it left me further weakened; I lost a bit of weight, which for my frame was a big deal.  I subsequently stopped exercising because I couldn't increase my calorie intake to accommodate running.  My energy was nonexistent and running became the furthest thing from my mind.  But I couldn't completely rule out the race.

I managed to get a couple runs in that included an 8-miler about a month before the race.  Given that I hadn't really trained for 8 miles and finished fine, I figured doing a half marathon wasn't that unreachable.  And in the days leading up to the race I cheated a bit on my diet and added some lentils and beans for extra carbohydrates.  It would have been impossible to run without proper glycogen stores.  I learned this during one of my longer training runs where my muscles completely cramped at mile 6 and I had to walk home.  A week before the race, and still recovering from fatigue, I had images in my head of someone having to scrape me up off the pavement.  But the carb-loading over the weekend paid off and my energy increased quickly.  I decided on race day that I would go for it and run.  In the back of my mind I still wondered if I was doing the right thing. 

My friend Robert gave me tremendous support, running the first two miles with me and surprising me at different mile markers.  I only started to struggle during mile nine.  It's amazing what crowds, fun signs (Zombies Are Behind You, Run!, My Mom Runs Faster Than Your Mom, On a scale of 1 to 10, You're a 13.1), and high-fives from kids can do to keep runners energized.  For not having run much lately, I was impressed by getting to mile 9 and feeling great.  And then painful side stitches, presumably from the gu energy gel, and severe cramping in my one calf set in.  There were two moments where the pain almost forced me to stop.  My pace slowed.  I was gearing up for the final stretch and felt it would be silly to stop after everything I had done.  "Why walk?  I'll get to the finish quicker if I run" I thought.  I kept thanking my body for giving me this experience and believed that it would sustain me to the finish.  It was like I was bargaining with it.  "Please get me to the end.  I just want to finish.  I promise to be nicer to you in the future."

The crowds at the finish line were amazing and I had never before experienced such energy at the end of a race.  I usually feel as if my shoes are filled with lead and typically struggle to cross but my body just wanted the race to be over.  It gave me a much-needed jolt to finish quicker.  I was proud of finishing given the circumstances of my health and diet in recent months.  But I wondered if I had done more harm than good to my body by running yesterday.  While I've given up many things (mostly food related) for the health of my body, on race day I put love of racing before it.  Maybe the cramps would have happened regardless of my training.  Who knows?  Runners suffer injuries even when training properly.

After the race I decided to put those worries out of my mind and celebrate with friends; I vowed to train better in the future knowing that this experience was informative and will make me stronger.  But Sunday evening my worries resurfaced and my heart broke to hear that two runners, one half marathoner and one marathon participant, died at and near the finish line.  I wondered what was going on in their minds during their journey: their anticipation, their hopes of finishing, the signs they might have enjoyed seeing on the course, the high fives they gave, the family members they saw or visualized cheering them on, their highs and lows, and if they were wishing away warning signs to stop, bargaining with their bodies, as so many runners do, to get them to them to their destination.

Bring It, Broad Street!

If you're a runner living in Philadelphia then I imagine you are gearing up to cheer or run in this week's Broad Street race, the largest 10-miler in the country. This was my first 10-miler and had been a milestone race for me last year. Thank the Universe that this year is not my first time doing it.

Yes, I completed BSR in good time in 2010. Yes, I completed a half-marathon a month ago. This left me feeling really good about the BSR which would soon follow. High off my 13.1 mile success, I started reading Runner's World magazine on the bus to work, getting giddy at the thought of doing more races this year. I found myself coming home from work exhausted but nonetheless psyched to lace up my shoes and hit the trails. I even got motivated to work on my inclines and speed, secretly racing boys to improve my timing.

But as I was discovering a new-found love of running, I was rapidly experiencing a loathe of my current work situation. I was not taking the best care of myself in the process, resorting to lots of coffee and processed foods to "carry" me through the roller coaster ride. And where did running fit into all of this? Well, it didn't. I tried to run on the weekend but ended up feeling the way I did all week...like I needed to hurl. After spending the day in bed with a throbbing headache and hot and cold flashes, I decided to refrain from any running during what was then the upcoming work week (and the worst work week of my life)...which brings me to the here and now. And my first run in a week...a week before BSR, which, knock-on-wood, went amazingly well.

My roommate asked me if I was nervous about this week's race, given my unexplained illness (likely stress related but not completely sure) and lack of running in the past two weeks. This isn't going to be my first BSR, so I've got that much going for me. I know what to expect, course wise (and it's flat; another bonus!). I don't need to wonder if I can do this race. It's been done before. Completing a half marathon at a decent pace a month prior to an upcoming race was a big check mark on the motivator list too. If I have to rely on muscle memory, dammit, I'll do it. I might feel sick on race day. But I always feel sick on race day!

Here are some extra TLC goals this week for my "Bring It, Broad Street" preparation for both the physical and mental aspects of my recent departure from my running routine.

*Hydrate - the temperatures this year are not likely to come close to last year's record (thank goddess). But going easy on the Joe will help regardless. This week I'll try to refrain from coffee and hydrate with chia frescas. And despite a fun date last week that happened to involve some alcohol, I will try and forgo said spirits at any upcoming date nights. It might have been what instigated the health situation last week.

*De-Stress - leaving work at 5:00 p.m. should definitely help. (most nights I am there until 7:00). Making plans to meet up with friends for dinner this week is a must. Their company makes life more scrumptious.

*Visualize - my dear friend Robert sent me an email last week with a detailed visualization about kicking asphalt at the BSR. In one paragraph, he took me through the course and got me successfully from start to finish. Training is essential but even with a detour in my running plan, I am confident that I can complete this race. Picturing a run across the finish line will help me meet the goal. My only concern at this point is setting a personal record. But I'll figure that out on Sunday. So many factors can affect timing on race day. There's no reason to worry about that now. In the meantime, I'll imagine a fast and solid run.

*Enlist helpers - adding a couple new artists/songs to the iPod gets me groovin'. Latest downloads include Lady G's Born This Way and Adele's Rolling In the Deep. Having friends or family come to cheer is the best. Susie might be making an appearance at the finish line. But even if friends or the fam can't come, picturing them there (add this to the Visualize list above) is a fantastic mood-booster. I did this during my half-marathon. I knew my parents were coming to the race but I had no idea where they'd be. So I pictured them at every mile marker. And this no doubt contributed to my fast finish time.

*Lastly, keep things in perspective - When it comes to terrain, temperatures, training, and timing, any race you or I will run is nothing like this one (sorry). When I was nervous for my first race last year (a 4-miler), a friend popped this documentary in the old DVD player. Watch the trailer. Enough said.



What helps you get ready to rock race day?

Par for the Course

Me and Mom, Post-Race

It's official. My brother and I successfully completed our first half-marathon! I must note my brother also kicked asphalt when he served in Iraq, finishing a 20-mile race in extreme heat. So this was probably a piece of cake by comparison.

The weather was a perfect 40 degrees (only perfect for the runners; for the spectators...that was another story) and the sun started peaking through the trees as I ran past the Washington Monument to the tunes of Sara Bareilles. Scrumptious sites and sounds.

We had had a momentous start to our race, just barely getting there on time; the D.C. metro is lovely and clean but not the place you want to be 20 minutes before a race. But, strangely enough, it built on the anticipation of the run, and when we finally made it to our destination, we were ready to get it on.

Supporters lined the streets with signs. Favorites included:

*Chuck Norris never ran a marathon.

* Toenails are temporary, medals are forever.

* You guys are really good at exercising.

My brother and I completed our race fast and strong, with my parents and sister-in-law (his wife-to-be) looking on. It was an awesome day! While I had this expectation in mind (I highly recommend picturing success in the weeks and months leading up to a race), the day-to-day training sometimes had me in a mental slump.

The cold windy weather that was winter had been getting on my nerves. We had seen a lot of snow and ice, treacherous conditions indeed, and I watched as daredevil runners ran right over sheets of slippery ice patches on Kelly Drive. I did not have such a death wish. I tried to run outside as much as possible but had to resort to the treadmills much more than I cared to. While I had no control over the weather, I had a few tricks up my sleeve...they got me through and helped my performance in D.C.

Dates - great little fuel bites, pre-run...compliments of Brendan Brazier's book on vegan nutrition for athletes.

Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer, Chai Flavor - vegan protein powder, perfect in smoothies but can stand on it's own too...just add water. Perfect for prepping on the go and an overall great recovery drink. It's pricey but worth it. You can find a discount with free shipping on Amazon.com.



Chia Fresca - a recipe the Tarahumara tribe uses to hydrate during 50-100 mile runs in the desert. Check out Born to Run for more on the fascinating story. My friend Robert, a vegan macrobiotic marathon runner, swears by chia fresca and introduced me to it. I started out by putting chia seeds in water and adding some honey and lime. Now I can just take it with chia and water. While the cooler temps definitely kept me going, my morning chia fresca was just the thing to minimize my water stops during the 13.1 mile run. It was so hydrating!!!

Daily Mile - I like to run solo but it doesn't mean I don't need motivation and running friends to keep me honest. Think Facebook for runners. Splendid.

I'll add the signs above to this motivation/fuel list as I work to increase speed for the Broad Street Run in May.

What fuels you?

Ready to Run

Nope, it's not what you think. Although there was a lot of intrigue to working and living in the U.S. capitol for a short period of time, the hustle and bustle proved to be too much to become a permanent nesting spot. But I can take D.C. in smaller doses and love visiting for the history, the monuments, and the people. I couldn't think of a better way to experience it all over again than with a run through the streets of the capitol. Check out the course!

After completing last year's goal of running the largest 10-mile race in the country and my longest run to date, I figured it was time to commit to a half marathon. I had wanted to do one sooner, particularly one of the races in Philly this past fall, but by the time I rationalized paying out the wazoo for it, registration had reached capacity. And to think of how convenient it would have been! The race started within blocks of my apartment! I happened to be walking near the course the day of the Philly half and full marathons, feeling all the energy and excitement of the runners. It made me miss race days. I searched for upcoming races but none were being offered locally within the next few months. I checked out the scene in NYC, realizing that you had to have won the lottery AND completed a half just to enter an upcoming half. Yowza!

But the D.C. race had everything I needed...scenic course, no lottery, and previous race time standards for which I qualified. Yay! Did I mention that I'll have a special running buddy with me? Mum's the word for now.

After a rocky start to the January training (ie the flu for 2 weeks!), I'm back on my feet and gearing up for the big day!

State-Dependent Running

I finished (emphasis on finished) my second 10k trail race of the season this past Saturday in beautiful Wissahickon park. But it was by far my toughest run for several reasons: despite a good night's sleep, I was exhausted after a jam-packed workweek, my regular practice runs had subsequently taken a backseat to work, it was hot on race day, and there were inclines on the course I hadn't really trained for. All of these factors led to a less-than-desirable (ok, outright shi**y) situation: I almost passed out in the woods.

When I started feeling sick, desiring an IV or someone to whisk me to the finish line where I would have appeared to have beaten Ed, I was nowhere near a road. I was, in fact, half-way up a steep hill, which probably made matters worse. The only thing I could do was walk it out...walk towards help. My head was pounding and I was nauseous. Any minute now, I thought, I'll blackout. I wasn't too worried. There were plenty of runners around if I absolutely needed assistance and I knew I'd see a volunteer soon. I remember thinking that the feeling would eventually subside. But all I wanted to do was be done with the race and I was only about half-way through at this point.

I started putting out vibes to the Universe. "Please let me reach someone who can help me" and "Please let me get out of here as quickly as possible."

While I had pictured the help being a person with a walkie talkie, I soon met a fellow racer who had also taken a break from running the trail; we walked 1/4 mile together, commiserating about the heat, the course, and how baffled we were to be experiencing trouble after having finished the Broad Street Run just a month ago.

Surprisingly, I started to feel better after this talk. We both began a light jog and a 1/2 mile later I was running full-steam ahead. I couldn't believe that the pain/nausea has ceased and that I had any energy left. I had never run faster in the final stretch towards the finish line. Thank you, Universe!

In the end, I completed the trail with a time of 1:21. At the start of the race I had hoped for a time of 1:07 (the time of my last 10k trail run) but all things considered, to have just finished this race was an accomplishment. And I fared much better than the guy last year, who needed to go to the ER and get paddles to jumpstart his heart because he didn't hydrate during the race.

Ed ran fabulously on race day, finishing with a time of 52:35 and placing 72nd out of 449 runners. Congrats, Ed!

Next up: a military-style 10k, complete with mud and obstacle courses. Things are going to get dirty.

One Tough Broad

There was hype.

There was heat.

There were open fire hydrants.

And there were two holistic health junkies...

rocking the Broad Street Run.

The running guru and I met up in the wee hours of Sunday morning, as per the advice of the organizers, to make plenty of time for the expected crowd. The Broad Street Run is the largest 10 mile race in the country, consisting of 30,000 runners. Broad Street was also going to be my farthest race, and run for that matter, to date. Yikes!

In the three weeks leading up to BSR I had been majorly slacking with running; my weekly routine consisted of two 2-4 mile runs with a 7-9 mile weekend run. I was counting on adrenaline and the cheers of people who lined the streets to get me to the finish line. Little did Ed and I know that it would be the hottest race day on record since 2001 with humidity and a high of 89 degrees.

The race was very well run (pun-intended), especially in light of the weather. Organizers upped the supply of water and gatorade and opened fire hydrants to spritz runners. Ed got sick and towards the end I felt pretty weak but surprisingly I experienced none of the usual issues during practice runs (cramps, knee problems, etc...). We passed a number of people who needed medical attention; some were less than 1/4 mile from the finish line! Ed and I did cross the finish line...and with decent timing too!

Ed's time - 1:18:12 - placed 1995 out of 26251 runners.

My time - 1:38:17 - placed 11749 out of 26251.

I want to give a big thank you to Ed for being my running guru and helping me meet my goal! And if you're thinking of doing a 10-miler, Broad Street is the race to run! You'll get pumped. You'll want to do it again.

What's next? A half-marathon in Philly, of course! Stay tuned.

Photos courtesy of Ed and Rose, the iPhone.

Subway Ride to the Starting Line

The Crowd at the Starting Line

View from the Finish Area - 5 miles from City Hall

Out of the Woods

This week was particularly challenging on the running front. The 6-mile practice run last Saturday was invigorating but towards the end of a 2-3-3-2 mile sequence this week I was at an all-time low. Throughout the crazy work week my stomach had gotten cranky. I became dehydrated as a result. Working out every day felt great but probably wore me out more than I had realized. By the end of Thursday's run something was wrong. After a short high I got a killer headache with a side of nausea and blurry vision. Yowza!

On Friday I took a break from all physical activity, drinking lots of water with electrolytes and making sure to get enough protein. Our 10k was scheduled for the following day and, up until the morning of, I was unsure if I'd be up for the race. Thankfully, I felt better just in time! The guru and I headed to the Tyler Arboretum for the 6.2 mile trail run. My goal was simple: finish. Given the hectic week leading up to the race, I just wanted to complete it (I still kept my fingers crossed for a relatively good pace/finish time).

It was a chilly but sunny morning with a great turnout of runners and their good vibes. The race started out slow with people walking; the trail couldn't accommodate a quick dispersement. About 3 or 4 minutes in we were able to pick up the pace and it felt like the race was finally underway!

The trail was beautiful and I was pumped! We were all flying down the hills, the sun was shining, and I felt better on this run than I had all week. Then I saw my first steep incline. Yikes! It would be one of many throughout the course and one of several that I would walk up. I figured as long as a bunch of runners ahead were doing it, I could follow their lead.

Aside from the inclines, the run was really enjoyable. The steep hills nevertheless had me spent by mile 5. I ran the rest of the race on empty but reached the finish line with a time of 1:07! The guru finished with an impressive time of 48:50!

Now it's on to the Broad Street run! Ed and I are really digging the races and might do another one or two before the May 2nd 10-miler. The Bryn Mawr Running Club's Out and Back is a fun run for sure ~ 4 mile race along scenic Kelly Drive with a tomato pie (and beer) party following on Boathouse Row. I think another trail race will be in order too.

Does anyone have races to recommend?

Happy Trails!

P.S. Trail pictures are from the Delaware County Pennsylvania Road Runners Club site.

Springing into Action

This picture doesn't do the first day of spring any justice! There were hundreds of people out on Kelly Drive with lots of sunshine and a great breeze. I couldn't think of anything more motivating to complete my first 6-mile run! For running enthusiasts, this distance is a small feat but for me it was a huge deal. It was an even bigger deal that I felt really great after it. The gorgeous weather played a major role. Now if only it could be this scrumptious every day!

The next race, a 10k trail run, is right around the corner. And the Broad Street run is fast approaching as well. Yikes! Thankfully, the food plan, the pilates and yoga, and newly added weight training/cardio, are all improving the running. Hopefully Ms. Sunshine and 70-degree weather will grace us with their presence at the upcoming races. Fingers crossed.

What helps you meet your running goals?

The Fun Continues...

I never thought I would say that running is fun. I just figured the headaches, coughing and knee pain were part of the deal; I wanted no part of this. The side stitches were not appealing either. They would come about almost instantly at the start of a run and last pretty much throughout the routine. But last night there were no negatives!

Ed and I met up for weekly run #2. I did some solo running in between our meet-ups but was looking forward to keeping up with the speed demon...in a snow storm! Aside from all the snow on my eyelashes, the run was seemless. Ed was naturally many paces ahead but made some stops to write encouraging messages in the snow. "Go Jen, go!" "You're 1/2 way there!" "Come on already!"

The run back after Starbucks also felt great and I even picked up my pace! I've never finished this strong before. The core strength I'm getting from yoga and pilates is making all the difference; it was my first run without flank pain. I'm hoping my pace and endurance will gradually improve in the coming weeks. Ten miles (my goal) seems far off in the distance; I'm worried that running it will feel like an eternity. And my guru is making run #3 a straight shot without breaks. But, he tells me, there will be a surprise at the end. It appears he is willing to bribe me to my ten mile goal. I'm totally ok with this :)

I wish for every runner a friend like Ed.

Kicking Asphalt

All the yoga I've been doing lately has had my energy levels soaring. I have never felt better physically. On my way into work on Monday morning, after a scrumptious yoga practice and an uber delish smoothie, I felt the urge...to run. Without missing a beat, I texted Ed, my running guru.

Ed tried to get me to like running a couple months back but it didn't stick. I didn't give it a chance. After one attempt I threw in the towel. I had dabbled in running for a season about three years ago, completing a 5k and a 4 mile race along Kelly Drive. That was it. I was afraid of knee injuries. I had trouble breathing after runs. Yada. Yada. I also didn't get much excitement from it, aside from the tunes blaring through my iPod. During my first race I considered running off course, jumping in my car, and going back to bed. This is something that Ed, zenmaster, will help me with.

As for the physical concerns I'm thinking and hoping they will fade away this time around. The yoga, ballet, and pilates I'm doing are strengthening the muscles around my knees and helping me breathe easier. All of these activities were not part of my routine when I originally took up running. In my second go at it, the exercise routines have made a noticeable difference.

Ed and I did meet up this week and hit the ground running. The thing about running with Ed is that it's super fun. He jokes around a lot and runs really really fast (see picture below), which is always interesting to watch. We have also taken to running at night. This makes me feel like a kid again, especially because it seems out of the ordinary to run so late on a week night. Aside from playfulness, did I mention that he is all about breaks? He mapped out a stop along the way for juice and mint tea.

While I did experience tightness in the lungs and a throbbing head, the mint tea alleviated most of the pain. I think Ed also tried to distract me from my hacking cough with talk of how great running is...the history of running...how humans can outrun dogs and horses and bears (although, he says, it depends on the type of bear).

Bottom line: If you are seeking inspiration in the running department, call Ed!

I'm thankful to say our run back was pretty seemless (yay!) and pain-free (yum!). This alone was an improvement from runs past. And I felt more agile and flexible. Thank you, yoga.

As for more running, I'm planning to do the 10 mile Broad Street run in Philadelphia. It will be my version of a marathon. True to form, Ed has already signed me up for an earlier race to get my feet wet. And while he'll be light years ahead of me on the course, I know he'll have my back.

Stay tuned...