Kaiser Permanente Corporate Challenge

The Kaiser Corporate Challenge, 5K Run/Walk, took place on Thrusday evening. I was hoping for it to be easier than it was. The race started at 7:00pm and honestly, working all day wearing a suit and heels wears me out. Halfway through the run my muscles were buring and the voice in my head was weighing the run/walk option but I am proud to say I ran the whole thing with a fairly good time. I think it was at the 30 minute mark. The finish line time was 32:17 but that was based on the 7:00pm start but I was towards the back of the pack. I am hoping to see the official chip time soon. Our company had a good turn out and awards were presented for the top 3 overall finishers for men and women and the top 3 men and women Masters. And would you know...wait for it...I am the proud owner of a 3rd place Women Master trophy. I love my company, they just keep finding ways to make me feel good about myself. I was a bit, I guess you would say, embarassed to recognized in the Master group, (The trophy even reads Masters (40+) less I forget I am over 40.) but I got over it pretty quick. I have my eye on a 2nd place trophy next year. I figure I have a pretty good shot at it if I keep running, lose a little poundage making myself more aerodynamic, and we don't have any fast runners who turn 40 in the next year or fast female runners over joining the company. As part of Talent Acquisition, I'll have to keep an on that...

Oh, and the best part ~ No shin splint!!

Running and Life

Over the past weekend I had the opportunity to visit with my "ex family" in Huntsville. I was looking forward to the catching up with everyone and the opportunity to run some place a little flatter than my normal surroundings.

This would be the first time I'd run outside for quite sometime and was I was anxious to see how it would feel. With the Kaiser Corporate Challendge less than a week away I was hoping 3 miles would come easy.

The Sunday morning weather was great and the coarse was relatively flat. I did an out and back. On the way back I was starting to feel a little fatigue but I was enjoying it. I realized this is the same feeling I get when I return home to visit my parents and run. That feeling of being strong, of overcoming obstacles. My memories of Huntsville are mostly good but also include a very dark and sad time for me. With every step I seemed to say look at me now, you didn't beat me, look what I've accomplished, I can tackle anything and come out a winner.

Run/Walk

Wednesday did 3 miles on the treadmill. Planned to run Thursday but shin felt a little tender so I punished myself on the elliptical.

Today, I thought I would try the run/walk thing. A practice used by many and endorsed by no other than Jeff Galloway, the running god of Atlanta. They say this is the way to "run" a long race and feel strong at the finish. It takes we awhile to wrap my mind around the walk part. If you're running a race, wouldn't walking be cheating? I am working on getting comfortable with the concept. I've known about it for years. Read many a success story about run/walk. So today I tried out 60 minutes of run/walk 3:1. Well mostly 3:1 but there was a 4:1 in there to ensure minute 59-60 was walking. I am freaking like that. Some shin tenderness during the run but feeling good now . I'll probably ice my shin for good measure and to make people at work wonder what I 'm doing walking around with a bag of frozen corn. Maybe this run/walk is really the way to run...

Ode to My New Shoes

I love you, I love you, I love you! Monday morning run ~ 3.5 miles in 35:27. No speed demon, but no real pain. I love my mizunos, I love Big Peach Run Company. I am a happy runner.

New Shoes and Good Intentions

Every Friday night I go to bed thinking I am going to get up early Saturday morning and go for a nice run. Every Saturday morning I wake and go back to sleep. In my defense by Saturday morning the 4 1/2 - 5 hours of sleep I get Monday -Friday catches up to me. So this Saturday was no different. When I realize that yet again I missed my morning run I start to plan, can I do something later in day? Honestly the odds are slim, laziness takes over. But this Saturday I decide that perhaps I need new running shoes. Everybody knows that new shoes make you want to run and run fast. And perhaps my shoes have been contributing to this whole shin fiasco.

Late afternoon I head to Big Peach Running Company, my first visit. They have me step on this machine that gives you an image of your feet to tell you where you put pressure, what kind of arch, and much more. Then they record me running on the treadmill so they can go back and dissect my stride. Lo and behold perhaps my shoes could be adding to the shin problem. Which I am told is usually something new runners experience. I am not really a new runner but maybe I am not a consistent runner so I am forever starting again. Anyway, I try on a few pairs, none of which are in any color combinations that really grab me. Certainly none as pretty as my pink and gray Ascis. I think I try Saucony, Mizuno, Asics, and New Balance. I am Asics girl, even in my non running periods I sport Asics. So how do I wrap my mind around the Mizunos feeling the best. I mention this to shoe guy who gives me a pep talk about how all the brands are good and you 're just looking for the pair that best works with your mechanics. I find some comfort in the fact that I've have a prior relationship with Mizuno, not long ago I drop quite of bit of money on an array of Mizuno stuff for Hammer's softball gear.

I leave the store anxious to try out my new shoes and wondering will I ever have that "runner" look? You know that long and lean look. Coming in right under 5' and always seeming to be battling an extra 10-15 pounds, perhaps not. Still on my new shoe high I immediately change into my least favorite running shorts (note: do laundry) and drive to the park to test them out. (not ready to tackle the hilly neighborhood) Once at the park I start running and realize 1) it's still hot as hell in Georgia at 5:30pm and 2) as an act of kindness to my fellow man I should not attempt to run in these shorts until I am 5-10lbs lighter and have some sort of tan. So I decide to do an inaugural mile in my new shoes and call it a day. Ever the optimist, plan a early Sunday morning run.

No early run on Sunday, actually no run at all. But my inaugural mile was done at an easy pace in 9:46, Happy to see I haven't gotten slower.

YES!

3 miles this morning. Slower than I would have liked, 10:30, but 3 miles. I'll take them. Happy to report that I am feeling no real pain in my shin. Yeah, I am super woman! I was hoping for 4 miles in 40 minutes but I didn't want to test fate and the batteries on my MP3 player died about the 3 mile mark....

Back in the Saddle

I woke with great joy on Sunday realizing that there was no pain in my shin. Yeah. I wondered was this too good to be true? In order not to jinx myself I did not attempt to run yesterday, I waited till this morning. After 35 painful sweat soaked minutes on the elliptical I couldn't take it any longer and I had to run, run free. The run was only 15 minutes and there was just a hint of tenderness in my shin but I was running, running happy. Afterwards, I thought "so this is the way it's going to be"? I am starting over, having to slowly build distance. Distance, sounds funny to think of having to build back up to 3 miles as distance. But that's exactly what I need to have done by the 25th for the Kaiser Corporate 5K. But hey I am not complaining - I am the happy runner. Maybe tomorrow I'll aim for 16 minutes...

Shin Saga

I managed not to run all last week and most of this week. But come Thursday I had all could take of 45 minutes on the elliptical. After my mandatory 30/35 minutes on the elliptical I ran 10 minutes yesterday and 6 minutes today. Certainly not earth shattering, doesn't even count as a run. That's just a warm up and I had to ice my shin. I know I am short on patience but this has been the deal since July 4th. Panic started to take over when I realized the amount of time that has gone by since I've really been able to run, and run pain free. What happens now, am I destined to hang up my rooming shoes and become a mall walker? Will I totally embarrass myself at the Kaiser Corporate Challenge on the 25th in front of my co-workers? Am a destined to become a slave to the elliptical machine?