Last week’s training took an unexpected turn. Hopefully, I’ll be back on the running trail sooner rather than later, because this girl’s got some important races coming up!
Monday
The day after my Leesburg 20K, I took my usual day off from running, but ran/walked 2.5 miles with one of my clients and her daughter. We kept a13:12 average pace, and other than my legs feeling more fatigued than usual, I felt fine.
Later in the afternoon I lifted weights with my upper body, but let my legs have another rest day.
Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, I met my MRTT friends for an 8-mile run including 12 hill repeats. My average pace was 9:46 which was about 15 seconds per mile slower than my usual run on that course. My legs definitely begged for me to take it a little easier, so I did.
Overall I felt great and I was so happy to run 8 miles for Taylor on her 16th birthday. I would have loved to run one mile for each of her years, but had to settle for .5.
Tuesday afternoon I had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my arm resulting in 10 stitches. On Friday I got word that all margins are clear, so it’s just a matter of not lifting anything with that arm so I don’t pop the stitches.
Wednesday
I usually walk, cross-train, or run on Wednesdays, but I’ve been feeling a little off lately (I think it’s allergies), so I chose to rest from any cardio workouts.
I did a leg strength training workout and lifted with only the right side of my upper body. I’m left dominate, and my left side is much stronger than my right side. What better time than the next two weeks to do unilateral workouts using my right side only! I was extremely careful not to lift any weights with my left arm, and was actually quite sore the next day!
Thursday
I met my girlfriends at 5:30 on Thursday morning for 5 miles, mostly in the dark. I came prepared with a headlamp and sunglasses; and we felt great running at an 8:48 pace! About 100 yards from the finish, I felt a sharp pain in my left forefoot. It went away almost as quickly as it came, and I didn’t really think about it again that day.
Friday
On Friday, I was mildly aware of my foot, but it was so minor that I included my beloved lunges in my strength workout. Again I focused on unilateral upper body lifts on my right side only. I also incorporated a few core exercises that didn’t require me to put any pressure on my left arm.
Saturday
I got up bright-and-early on Saturday morning just like all other Saturdays, got dressed, had a banana, and packed my stuff to go on a 12-mile run with Bill, Beth, and some other Cruiser and MRTT friends. The longer I stood, the more my foot hurt. I tried running a few times across the kitchen floor, and decided it would be really stupid to go on my run, especially a 12-mile run. I drove over to the trail with Bill, dropped him off, said hi to my friends, took their picture (cause that’s what I do), and drove home. Once home I went back to bed and took a two hour nap. Is it a nap when you’re climbing back in bed at 7:20 AM? When I got back up, I iced my foot and followed up several more times during the day.
Sunday
My foot felt great when I got up on Sunday morning! I slipped on my Sperry’s and headed to DC to watch the Nats play. My foot started hurting toward the end of the day, possibly because I did quite a bit of walking, or possibly because of my less supportive shoes… I iced it again when I got home, considered popping an Advil, but decided to wait and see how my foot felt on Monday before going that route.
Stay tuned…
Total weekly workouts:
Running – 13.14 miles
Run/walk – 2.5 miles
Walking – 0 miles
Lifting – 2.5 hours
- Questions:
- How is your training for your fall races coming along?
- What was your last minor/significant injury?
- Do you pop Advil frequently, or try to avoid it at all costs?
First of all, the most important thing is that your skin cancer check came back benign. That’s a great thing. I’m glad your foot feels better and hope it continues to improve. Be smart. Rest if you need to.
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Thanks, Debbie! The margins around the skin cancer that was removed were clear, so the doctor doesn’t have to go back in a remove more skin around where the cancer was removed. I’m very happy about that!
I’m going to give my foot one more day of rest, and see how it does tomorrow…
I had them same basal cell removal I few months ago- It does take a bit to heal. Congrats on the clean margins- mine too! (but this is my second one) 🙁 Rest up- sounds like your body is trying to tell you- and I know I had to take week off from the procedure- doctors orders. Hope the rest of this week goes well!
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…A 12 minute mile is just as far as a 6 minute mile!
Thanks, Mary Beth! Unfortunately, I have quite a bit of experience in the whole skin cancer removal thing, too. Glad to hear you’re fine now!
Oh no! What do you think it could be? I all of a sudden have an nagging achilles issue since my 20 miler on Sunday. Not sure what to make of that, but I’m resting this week and icing!
That’s the thing, Sue. I have no idea… I have a couple of neuromas in my other foot, but it doesn’t feel like nerve pain at all. I plan to give it a trial run tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
I hope your foot is feeling better. Most if the time in able to limit my Advil to once a month.
Training for me just started. Too many races in August to really start training programs so I’m officially starting this week… I’m starting on week 4 of a 16-week plan.
[email protected] recently posted…August Race Recaps Round 2 – Gaspin’ in the Aspen!
What a relief that your tests came back clear!! Great news!
[email protected] recently posted…August Race Recaps Round 2 – Gaspin’ in the Aspen!
Thanks!
Isn’t it great knowing what you know now, knowing that it’s okay to start on week four, and that you have the base to start there! Happy training! 🙂
I think going back to bed for two hours is just that: going back to bed. Even if you have been up and about, it is still close enough to the morning that it is not a real nap. Oh that would be so nice right now….Anyway, way to be smart about your foot and I am glad it felt better on Sunday.
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I’m hoping to give it a test run tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
i hope your foot heals quickly! i do pop aleve to get rid of inflammation.
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I used to pop Advil too easily, and then started worrying about what it might be doing to my stomach and kidneys. Now I’m at the opposite extreme, and don’t use it at times when I probably should. I started taking Advil on Monday morning, so we’ll see how it does.
ack, I really hope that the foot pain is nothing and that you are back at it again soon! The great thing is you have such a great level of fitness that you will still be fine for Ragnar even taking some time off. Fingers crossed for the trial run today — hope it was great (if you’ve already done it!).
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That’s what I’m thinking, too. I just don’t want some other injury to flare up because I add too much mileage back in too quickly at Ragnar (21.5 miles in about 22.5 hours). Time will tell, and I’m trying to be very patient and smart about it!
Have you started running in new shoes? I hadn’t noticed the New Balances before now. They’re really pretty, though! I hope your foot starts feeling back to normal soon! It’s no fun to not be able to run as planned, and definitely no fun (and no good) to have something hurt while running.
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My New Balances were part of my swag as a Fit Foodie Race Ambassador, and I love them! My foot felt pretty good during this morning’s run!