Earlier this week, I started an amped-up core routine that aims to make me the Tim Tebow of amateur marathon running: I may not have the slickest form or most natural skills, so I am going to get strong enough to plow through my obstacles. For Tebow, the obstacles would be linebackers. For me, it’s [...]
Entries from July 2009
July 30, 2009
When should you run again after an injury?
For a month now, I’ve been gloomily telling people I’m laying low, with no long runs or speedwork, until August. This is per my doctor’s orders toheal my long-suffering hip, which sidelined me fox six months in 2007 and randomly flared up again in May. “August?” asked one of my running buddies the other night. [...]
July 29, 2009
I guess you *do* use your abs when you run
First, let me apologize for my blog looking all messy-like today. I’m screwing around with some stuff with the goal of moving my personal Web site to WordPress, so my blog and my Web site can live together in perfect harmony one day in the near future. For now — well, bear with me. Now. [...]
July 28, 2009
The two-week IT band plan
My running doc has instructed me to lay off the long runs and speedwork until August to give my hip time to cool down. So what’s a girl to do with that time, other than run an uninspiring, disappointing 5K? I’ve been pretty good about my physical therapy exercises, from my much-hated leg lifts to [...]
July 27, 2009
Post-race report: Crystal City Twilighter 5K
I make three goals for every race: An A-goal that’s incredibly tough, but still possible; a B-goal that’s lofty, but do-able; and a C-goal that draws the line between acceptable and “I shall weep into my free beer now.” You never expect you’ll really need your C-goal, especially for a race as short as a [...]
July 24, 2009
Race goals, inspiration, motivation, et al
I’m taking an off-day today in preparation for the Crystal City 5K tomorrow night. I’m excited for the party, and am going easy on myself goal-wise, in light of my hip’s recent crankiness and the 86-degree temps forecasted for race night. My A-goal (the wowza, that would be crazy, but not impossible if everything went [...]
July 23, 2009
Runner attacked in Rock Creek Park: One woman’s response
Sometimes, when I run, I imagine myself being attacked. Let me rephrase that: I imagine someone attempting to attack me, because this daydream doesn’t end well for my attacker. Once provoked, I proceed to beat the crap out of the guy, using a trick I learned in a self-defense class in college: Poking a man [...]
July 22, 2009
Recovering during a step-back week
I’m pretty decent about taking one full day off per week, understanding that the rest lets my muscles get the full benefits of all the hard training I did the week before. Know what I’m not so good about? Step-back weeks, the entire weeks where you step back in mileage and intensity after two hard [...]
July 21, 2009
Too sick to run?
Earlier this week, I wrote a post about how hard it is to stop a body in motion, when that body is yours and it is injured and your doctor has warned you to give that body a break. Today, I got a sign from the running gods that really, it’s time to chill out [...]
July 20, 2009
Stopping a body in motion
I’d really been doing OK not training for the Marine Corps Marathon yet. I’ve been sticking to 5 or 6-milers three times a week, as discussed with my running doc, and had been doing just fine without long runs and speedwork, which he explicitly outlawed until at least August. The hip’s been doing … you [...]
