Running Smart

via Running 101 pinterest board

Runners aren't always the most rational of people. Especially when it comes to running. And injuries. 

Like the one lady I knew who ran the Boston Marathon on a broken foot...and now her foot is all messed up and will never be the same as it was before.

Or like that time I ran the Chicago Marathon severely undertrained and hobbled the last 11 miles.

I went to the sports doctor last week in hopes she could figure out what the heck was the problem with my IT Bands that was causing the knee pain.

Turns out, wasn't my IT Bands...which is why the PT exercises weren't working.

The problem is my KNEE CAPS. Or patellas if you want the technical term.

They apparently have stopped "tracking" the right way...for whatever reason.

(Because they are DUMB.)

I left there happy to know the issue and with a prescription for a new round of physical therapy!

The only reason I am happy to go to PT is because my physical therapist is amazing and I miss her.

I get to have TWO video gait analysis done to see what shoes I should be wearing (and then I get to go by shoes! My boyfriend can't be mad...doctor's orders!)

The sports doctor said I can still run. As long as I am comfortable.

And the more I thought about it, the uncomfortable I was with running the 13.1 half marathon in a few weeks.

(This is where the title of this post kicks in!)

And so, with a quick email, I am now running the 5k, not the half marathon.

And that's ok.

I still get to run. Maybe I can race a good 5k, which I haven't done in...a really long time!

Fellow runners: Let's sometimes listen to normal (non-runner) people, and do the SMART thing.

P2SLU3- I Love NYC & Big City Tales

It's Martie's turn to host the link up and it comes as no surprise she chose something NYC-related. She's obsessed with NYC. I am too though, so no worries! :) This week we talk books set in big cities. I love big cities. Especially my own of Chicago!

Divergent by Veronica Roth (trilogy)

I had to start with this because it takes place in post-apocalyptic Chicago. You see that skyline at the bottom of the book cover? Yeah, that is the Chicago skyline...the building on the far left is the Sears Tower (never call it the Willis Tower!) Also, Veronica Roth herself is from, and currently lives in, Chicago. 

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Shanghai Girls is set in...you guessed it! Shanghai! Also known as "The Paris of Asia". This is an incredible story of Pearl and May, who are sold by their father to pay back his gambling debt. 

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Of course, I had to add a book set in New York City! This tale of Nanny...being a nanny...kept me laughing the entire time! And I just found out there is a movie of it, and a sequel called Nanny Returns!!!

It was so hard to stop at three books, but I had to limit myself otherwise I would be writing all day long!

Now, head on over to Spunkrella, and link up!

P2S: Link Up 2- 5 Books for Young Women

This took a lot of thinking. So much thinking that after reading all of the posts so far, I can't even come up with five. In fact, I've never read about 95% of the books suggested so far.

First up...

...A Little Princess! 

pause for surprise!

Of course this is the one book I immediately thought of. The message of the book, all girls are princesses, is something that every girl can learn. We all deserve to be treated like princesses no matter our age, our size, the color of our skin, what social class we are in, etc etc. There is no reason why any young woman should ever think she deserves anything less than being treated well, by men or by other women.

Second...

...Lucky.

Alice Sebold was an 18 year old college freshman when she was brutally raped and beaten one night near campus. This memoir chronicles that event and her recovery afterwards. It is nothing short of absolutely moving and brave. BRAVE. Many victims of sexual assault don't even come forward to report the crime committed against them let alone write an absolutely amazing memoir about the experience. I think every young woman heading into college should read this in hopes it will make them cautious about the actions and behaviors of others.

Third (and last)...

... Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.

Chelsea Handler...oh, what to say...

I am including this because it is a series of hilarious true stories by comedienne Chelsea Handler that conveys a message of "It's okay to do stupid things." For me, her tales can encourage young women (and older ones too) that it is perfectly ok to do stupid things and have fun and not be embarrassed about it. And certainly not to let others make you regret or feel bad about any decision you make. Everybody makes a mistake, does a really stupid thing, or makes a complete ass of themselves. Everybody. At some time. We learn from them. And if Chelsea can embrace all those times and turn then into a hilarious compilation for us to read, we should embrace our mistakes too. Remember what Mrs Roosevelt said: "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." 

So there are my three!

Head on over to Spillerena to see the original post, write your own, and link up!

Firefly Legend

    The legend goes....

    Once upon a time a firefly was pursued by a snake. Relentlessly. For three days and nights the snake hunted and chased the firefly until exhausted she stopped and turned to the snake and said: May I ask you a question?

    The snake said: Well I don't usually allow such things but seeing as I am going to kill you anyway, go ahead.

    The firefly said: Am I part of your normal food?
    The snake replied: no

    The firefly said: Have I done something to hurt you?
    Again the snake said: no

    The firefly then asked: Then why do you want to destroy me?
    And the snake said: Because I can't stand to see you shine....

    Envy and hate are born of fear. And fear comes from lovelessness. If you have love, all the world dances and shines and everyone in it is a star. The loveless see the world as an empty void, where those who dazzle and bask in the bright white light of love must be dragged down to the dank depths, where the loveless live.

 

Half Marathon Training, Weeks 1-6

I guess we should get back to the running part of this blog...

Six weeks ago I posted about starting training again for the 13.1 Chicago half marathon.

I figured it would be time for a recap....

Week 1

Sunday- Rest. Done!

Monday- Bar Method. Done!

Tuesday- 3 miles. Only ran 2. Phew.

Wednesday- 3 miles. Ran all 3!

Thursday- Rest

Friday- Rest

Saturday- Rest

Week 2

Sunday- Rest

Monday- Cross training. Stepmill.

Tuesday- Rest

Wednesday- 3 miles. Nope. Ran a little bit, then knee pain. Grr.

Thursday- 3 miles. No big deal, done.

Friday- Rest

Saturday- 4 miles. Nope.

Week 3

Sunday- Ran the 4 miles I didn't run on Saturday.

Monday- Cross training. Stepmill.

Tuesday- Modified Bar Method.

Wednesday- 3 miles. Nope, didn't do it.

Thursday- 3 miles. Done.

Friday- Rest

Saturday- 5 miles. Nope.

Week 4

Sunday- Ran the 5 miles I didn't on Sunday. 

Monday- Rest

Tuesday- Bar Method.

Wednesday- 4 miles. Only ran 3. Thought I was only on schedule to run 3. Oops!

Thursday- 3 miles. Skipped.

Friday- Rest.

Saturday- 6 miles. Skipped. But I swan in a pool for an hour!

Week 5

Sunday- Rest. Was going to do 6, but was too hungover. Oops.

Monday- Cross trained. Elliptical.

Tuesday- Bar Method.

Wednesday- 4 pace (9:55) miles. Yep!

Thursday- 3 miles. Only got 1 done. Knees. Damn you.

Friday- Rest

Saturday- 7 miles. Woke up late, got 5 done.

Week 6

Sunday- 2 miles to finish the 7 from yesterday.

Monday- Rest

Tuesday- 4 miles. #RunForBoston

Wednesday- Modified Bar Method.

Thursday- 3 miles. Rested. Legs were throbbing at work.

Friday- Rest

Saturday- 8 miles. I was in Milwaukee and ran an easy 2.5 with my friend. (I did run the 8 miles yesterday!)

Thoughts

You may have noticed I mentioned knee pain. Which I had more than mentioned above.

Yeah, it sucks.

Knee pain is from my silly IT Bands. 

The pain comes and goes with no real rhyme or reason.

So, on the advice of my physical therapist from last summer, I made an appointment with a sports doctor.

It's next week. I'll report back. No worries.

I am hoping to still be able to run the 13.1, if not, I will see if I can drop to the 5k.

So, we'll see what happens.

Winner Winner!

The winner of a paperback copy of The Reader is...

*drumroll*

found on Flickr, via Google

Jennifer of The Well Read Fish!!!

Jennifer likes to read in the bathtub. 

I do too. 

Just wish I had a bigger bath tub.

Woop woop!

Jennifer, please email me with your mailing address so I can send it off to you!

(My email is in the right sidebar).

Congrats!

Post Script: If I don't hear from Jennifer in 72 hours, I will pick a new winner.

Preview to Summer Link Up: Three Favorite Books

It wasn't too hard for me to pick my top two...The Reader and Valley of the Dolls. 

Picking the third, A Little Princess, took a bit of thinking and perusing my bookshelf.

I have read all of these books at least twice, three time for Princess, and each time I fall more in love with them!

As a bonus-the movies of these books are all outstanding too!!!