Recovery Category

Chicago Marathon: Week One

At some point, several months ago, I wondered when I’d exhaust the grace period of classifying post-stress fracture workouts as “Return To Running.” Seems as soon as I had that thought, the universe gave me other things to consider. Life pelted me and my family with some serious situations; namely, losing my father to cancer in February. Through […]

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Return To Running: Week Thirteen

Week thirteen was another good week of running. Felt great during my workouts and capped the week off with a lovely outdoor long run. Finally, a glimpse of spring! Monday Run: Tempo. Temps got cold again (was a real feel of 9F). Ran on the Alter G at Finish Line PT before my one-hour maintenance […]

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Return To Running: Week Twelve

Week twelve was a week of regrouping and getting back on schedule. I ran the workouts I missed the previous week and nailed them all. The return to a schedule felt good, though the broken heart and grief naturally persist. It’s completely confounding and somewhat miraculous how one can function in that conflicting state. Monday […]

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Return To Running: Week Eleven

Week eleven was one of utter heartbreak. I lost a family member to cancer early Tuesday morning. The week consisted of emergency travel on Monday for what turned out to be quiet and unexpected goodbyes; and the aftermath of learning to cope with acute loss. Though exhausted, I ran to clear my head. Monday Off. […]

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Return To Running: Week Ten

Week ten started off sluggish (a preceding  weekend of whirlwind travel can have that effect). Regardless, my workouts were within my target paces, and felt much better Tuesday onward. At least I had a few shots to run outside. Capped the week off by *watching* running at the Millrose Games! Monday Run: Tempo. This tempo […]

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Return To Running: Week Nine

Week nine was full of treadmill running. Alter G. Woodway. You get to know the difference in treadmills when you’ve been using them for weeks on end. With the bridle path an icy mess, and trying to limit the amount of pounding my foot takes on the road, it’s been interesting doing every type of […]

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Return To Running: Week Eight

Week eight was a great running week, for me. Mileage is continuing to build back steadily. Got a few runs in outside, which felt fantastic after so many frigid days and treadmill workouts. A return to the Central Park hills felt much better than last week, proving the body generally does, in fact, remember what […]

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Return To Running: Week Seven

Week seven was a big thumbs up in my book! Mileage is building back up slowly, and pace is coming down. I had a full schedule of physical therapy, cross-training, back-to-back runs, a tempo, and intervals. Braved the cold on Saturday for my “long” run, and even though the hills reminded me I’ve work to […]

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Return To Running: Week Six

Week six was a milestone week, post-injury, for two reasons: 1) return of the tempo run (hooray!); and 2) first back-to-back runs since October ’13 (huzzah!). Feeling good, moving forward, getting stronger and going longer. Monday Run: Tempo. First attempt at a gentle tempo run. Coach said one mile no faster than 7:30 pace. Ran […]

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Return To Running: Week Five

Week five saw a lot of indoor running on the Alter G because of bitter cold temperatures in the northeast. It was also the week of my longest continuous run since Chicago Marathon, and the much-anticipated return of (easy) intervals. Progress! Monday Run: Easy Intervals. The morning started at 50F, steadily dropped throughout the day. […]

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Return To Running: Week Four

Week four was another week of juggling workouts; but, happy to see my runs gradually getting longer. Still pain-free! Monday Rest Day. (Scheduled: 30-min run) Was not able to get my run in today, per schedule. Tuesday Run: 30-min Run. (Scheduled: 45-60 min spin w/ surges) Was scheduled to spin. Since I wasn’t able to get my […]

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Return To Running: Week Three

Week three required a little bit of juggling workouts to fit with my personal schedule. But, I’m happy to have a week that more closely resembles what I’m used to – five workouts including running and spinning. Not to mention I’m elated to be running pain-free while slowly rebuilding mileage. Monday Run: Easy. (Scheduled: 45-min Easy […]

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Return To Running: Week Two

Week two included some treadmill running, one gorgeous outdoor run, and physical therapy. Monday Run: Easy. Plan called for a 2-mile run with a 5-min walking break in between miles. Since I was at Finish Line PT, snagged some time running on the Alter G treadmill. First time running on this, and it’s quite an […]

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The Breaks: Moving Beyond Injury

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” Oprah Winfrey ~ Two weeks ago, I returned to Dr. Geller, the orthopedic podiatrist who’s been treating my most-recent stress fracture. He x-rayed the site of the injury, and gave me the green light – healed! You can see it in the middle metatarsal: a faint, swirly milky way of […]

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Return To Running: Week One

Week one marked my return to Coach Kevin’s running workouts! I was officially cleared to run on December 6, so back up we start! I’ve also embarked on Physical Therapy to help rehab my foot and correct my running form moving forward. It’s humbling to start up again running a mile at a time, but […]

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What’s Next: 2014 Spring Season

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” Walter Elliot ~ After the Chicago Marathon, and while my stress fracture healed, I began to wonder: what’s next. With every marathon I’d run, I immediately had the next 26.2 lined up. Until Chicago. Not only did I not have […]

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Eugene Marathon Base Building: Week Four

Week four is the last base building recap for a while! It was a relatively slow workout week, which I decided to keep easy. By the time Friday arrived, I actually felt a bit tired and worn. Decided to rest in preparation for Sunday’s 10-miler which turned out to be a good decision. That run […]

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Eugene Marathon Base Building: Week Three

Week three consisted of more running and less gym time. Mostly due to holiday schedule/winter break. Slowly increasing miles and logged first double-digit run since November injury. Finally at a point where my body’s feeling the closest to normal it’s felt since before injury. No noticeable discomfort or difference in the right foot anymore. Starting […]

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Eugene Marathon Base Building: Week Two

Week two was more cross-training than running. Overall, feel yoga is providing great strength and flexibility training. Really enjoyed the personal trainer session. Each session with her helps me build muscle to support running, and trains my body to stay in proper alignment while working. Only one more day of the year to possibly log […]

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Eugene Marathon Base Building: Week One

Week one of base building for Eugene Marathon! Am enjoying working with a personal trainer to help build muscle mass and work areas that’ll help balance out running form. Running is feeling less rusty each time I go. Am careful to assess how I’m feeling with each run. This week saw my highest mileage since […]

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Post-Marathon/Injury Recovery: Week Five

Week five was a good week. Was my first official week with the personal trainer; and I received clearance to re-introduce running into my workouts! I’m enjoying the trainer sessions as she has me doing more strength and weight training. The workouts are tough but they’re the path to faster and healthier running. My first post-injury run […]

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Post-Marathon/Injury Recovery: Week Four

Week four was a somewhat easy week, workout-wise. The good news is my right foot is feeling great and continues to be pain-free. Walking is back to normal, as is getting up and down the stairs. Feels as if nothing happened a few weeks ago. Finally made it back to yoga class, which was fantastic. […]

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