I'm so sorry I have been neglecting you. To be fair, it's not for lack of content! -- I actually have lots to write about.. which means I had a ton of things going on towards the end of 2011. Eventually, I'll do a recap and you will be bombarded with pictures of the art shows I went to, musicals I've seen, the film photos I have taken in class, my awesome family, the food that I ate and all the shopping that I've done! Soon soon soon... I promise!
But for now, here's a marathon-training update.
In December, I was feeling good and was up to 14 miles (Can I interrupt myself and just say that this is AMAH-ZING?! who am I?). The weekend we were scheduled to do 16 miles, my left calf started cramping up at around mile 12. I tried to shake it off but the pain persisted and the second I slowed to a walk, it was GAME OVER. It was so bad that a LARoadRunner volunteer called a car to drive me the last 2 miles (ego bruiser).
I knew LARR training would be on hiatus for Christmas & New Years, so I skipped the last 2011 training in order to heal whatever injury I had. Maybe I didn't stretch enough or maybe I stretched too much-- is there such a thing? Maybe my shoes are wrong. Who knows?! I don't! I keep saying this, but I have never been a runner or any type of athlete. This being said, I don't really know the difference between a strain, sprain, cramp, ache, shin splint, or something more serious.
Last week, I bought new shoes, a custom insole, gu packs, salt tablets (? whaat?) and compression bands for my calves. Honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing.. I'm wishing and hoping that the nice people at the running stores are giving me sound advice and not hustling me. So I started running again (3, 7 then 5 miles). I really wish I hadn't done the 5 miles because a new pain entirely has surfaced. It hurts whenever I'm on my toes lifting off or landing to take a step/run. The pain seems to be on my inside leg, inbetween calf and shin. It hurts on both legs but seems to be worse on the right. What is going on?!
Sigh. The marathon is a little over 2 months away and I'm getting nervous, scared and worried (not a good combo). I've put in a lot of time, energy and money(!) into this training/marathon and these pains are frustrating and slightly discouraging. Don't get me wrong, I expect to be in some pain.. but definitely not after a short run. This is a 26.2 mile challenge that I'm determined to conquer! Please pray for me and send my legs all your good ju-ju vibes. I need it!
juju for jahjah (please)!
ps: And lastly, because I believe posts should never be picture-less. Here's a pic of me taken by the bf during cicLAvia when I was doing homework for my photo class. I honestly have no idea how he took this becauseI didn't even notice him but he seems to be right in front of me.
