IT Band Troubles

The taper for the Portland Marathon started last week and unfortunately I have encountered some problems. On the marathon training menu I had a 10 mile run on Saturday. I was not too worried about running 10 miles yes it is a long distance but totally doable. The bad news came after 1 mile of running, my knee started to hurt. Sometimes after I warm up a bit the pain goes away but it just kept getting worse and worse with every mile until I decided to head home.

I ended up running 9 miles my knee hurt it is my IT band I am sure of it. I have been icing and stretching but it is still hurting me when I go up the stairs. On the training menu for tomorrow I have a 5 mile run at race pace and then a 8 mile run on Saturday. I am not sure if I will be able to do these. The Portland Marathon is a week and a half away and I am worried my IT band flaring up is not going to be helpful at all I hope I don't have to walk the whole marathon.....

I am very very worried.

Am I Lazy?

Today is Thursday. Last Saturday I ran 20 miles in preparation for the Portland Marathon. The training program had me going for a 30 minute jog on Wednesday which I did not due and then a 10 mile run on Saturday, yes I am into the taper. On Wednesday however I did not go for my 30 minute recovery jog I just did not feel up to it I figured I would do it today Thursday but I am not feeling up to it today either. Since I ran 20 miles on Saturday I have not been running I have gone for about 4 miles walks every day though am I being lazy?

I guess I am just tired from running and want my legs to recover for my next long run then my next long run and then the Portland Marathon. I know its important to keep the legs moving thats why I am walking but is it really important to run even though I don't really feel up to it?

What do you guys think?

20 Mile run! For the Portland Marathon!

On Saturday I did my last "long" run before the Portland Marathon, the dreaded 20 mile run. I woke up in the morning got my breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries, one cup of coffee, and a small bagel with peanut butter ready the whole time hoping I would be able to complete the distance. I am currently away from home so my 20 mile training run would have to be in a place that I have been before but that I am not that familiar with for running and this was making me a little nervous.

Anyway once I had digested my breakfast, I grabed my Ipod, Garmin Forerunner, Nathan Fuel belt (which I just purchased) my honey Stinger Gels, and my Endurolytes Capsules and set off on a very very long run.

It was about 60 degrees humid but no rain when I started running I got into a good pace, I was going a little fast so I slowed down. I also took my Honey Stingers and Endurolytes every 5 miles. The running was going fine when I got to about 10 miles I was a little bored as I was running in large circles but it was going fine until mile 16. I really started to feel the pain then, and I cramped up a little and it was a little harder to breath. I kept going and at mile 17.5 there was a large hill so I decided to walk up it. From that point opn it was walk/run for the next 2.5 miles.

I think that my nutrition is a bit off.... Maybe I need more sodium and maybe I need to consume my honey stingers every 4 miles instead of 5 miles which would be about every 35 to 40 minutes. I feel like I will be able to finish the Portland Marathon but I just wish I would of been able to run for longer. Also when I stopped running I cramped up really really bad which again makes me feel like my nutrition was a little off. I hope I can do this! I hope I can also figure out the nutrition aspect ofthe Marathon before the actual event!

Honey Stinger Gels

I have been doing triathlons for many years and I have always had problems with my nutrition. I put Nuun in my water but when it comes to Cliff Shots or GU I just am never able to stomach it. All these products make ma gag. I am currently training for the Portland Marathon so I really needed to find some nutrition that I could stomach. First I tried Sport Beans by Jelly Belly they were fine but after about 10 miles I wanted nothing to do with them. When I was at a store a few weeks ago getting ready to buy some sport beans I decided to look at the GUs and check them out again. That is when I came across Honey Stinger.

The packaging said that the Gold Honey Stinger tasted like honey so I decided to give it a try. I went for a 16 mile run a few days ago and tried the Gold Honey Stinger and I love it! It is great! It tastes good and has good consistency it is easy to swallow and it does not make me feel like I want to vomit. It is great! So if you have the same issues that I have encountered I highly recommend trying Honey Stinger Gold Gel. They also sell bars and chews check them out!

Run Run Run

As I said before now that triathlon season is over I am focusing on running in order to achieve my goal of running my first marathon, the Portland Marathon on October 10 2010. I have never really been a runner, I would just run my 5ks and 10ks for triathlons and leave it at that but slowly over the last couple of years I thought it would be a good idea to do some half marathons and a marathon, I am not sure what I was thinking.....

On Sunday as part of my Portland Marathon training I ran 16 miles at a 9:39 pace which in theory is about a minute slower than my race pace if I wan't to complete my time goal for the Portland Marathon. I am not going to lie I feel like it went well but it was also PAINFUL! Tomorrow I have to run an 8 mile tempo run and on Saturday I have to run 20 miles, my last "long" distance before the marathon in a few weeks.

I have started to come to the realization that I probably will not be able to complete the marathon in my time goal, I am not being negative just realistic, I am not sure I can maintain that sort of pace for 26.2 miles. Under no circumstance do I want to be disappointed when I cross the finish line as that is a huge accomplishment so I am really trying to not worry about the time. Anyway training for a marathon is HARD! I knew it would be and I am looking forward to just doing the marathon.

Eugen Women's Half Marathon Complete!

Yesterday was the inaugural Womens Eugen Half Marathon and I had a great time. The race was well organized especially for a first time race. The day was sunny so I little hot for me but not extremely hot. I did well It was my fastest time in a half marathon, I took 2 minutes off of my previous time! I finished in 1:53:14 that means I placed 154 out of 1,555 so I feel like I am moving in the right direction for the Portland Marathon. It was a great race I recommend trying it out next year. The finishers pendants we got at the end were really nice as well!