The girl is back!!! Yes, the day is finally here where I begin my marathon training with Roger Aspholm, my coach, for the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA. The photograph above was taken a few days before my surgery. I would like to have officially started my training in June. My body was not ready for the intense workouts that are required, especially after my surgery… not to mention the sacrifices I have to make to put the time in for the training. In the end, the sense of accomplishment and the proud look in my kids eyes when I bring home a plaque makes it all worth it.
See, I am not just running for myself, I am setting an example for my 4 boys that if you put in the time and effort you can do anything! But the ultimate juggler’s schedule just got a bit harder now since I added writer, recipe developer, photographer, and editor to my ever so hectic daily routine. Oh… did I forgot to mention I love a challenge. Bring it!
No, this wasn’t a vandal… just little old me trying every shoe in the store. I am getting over a heel injury since my last race at the Steamtown Marathon. I am one those people that if you tell me to stop running the only way you are going to get me to listen is if you tie me to a bed post. There is a silver lining to my situation. I was physically limited due to my surgery and when I was finally mobile exercise was out of the question. Giving my body a rest definitely helped the healing process. I make it a point to incorporate a calf stretch before and after my run and that has been working wonders for my heel as well. Now I am back… can someone please play the theme to “Rocky”. I started running mid-May with some short runs to build up to my training schedule. After my lovely umbilical hernia and diastasis recti surgery from having a million kids, gotta love those little buggers, I am almost normal again… sort of. All I need now is a pair of new sneakers so I stay injury free and a cute outfit to go with it😉
It is important to get assessed and sized with the proper sneaker. Although my current sneakers are still surviving the snow, rain, sand, and trail runs, I thought it would be best to alternate with a nice fresh pair. I made a few changes since my heel injury. After 24 years, I thought it was time to retire my old orthotics and get a new pair. Those bad boys took a hell of a beating. After an extensive fashion show at the Runners’ House and with Jason’s patience and great advice, I decided to switch to a neutral sneaker with a bit more cushion. I’ll let you know how that works out after I do couple of runs.
July 2nd: 6 Mile Endurance Run
My first run since I began training happened to fall on my teammate’s birthday gathering at Gypsy Donut. Come on, doesn’t everyone eat a bacon, maple glazed donut after a run? Everything in moderation, I say. We met, ran across a beautiful town, to a scenic trail along the river and back. It was a perfect leisurely run.
July 3rd: 8 X 400 Meter Repeats at About 6:30 Pace.
This next run is one of my all time favs. I originally was going to do this workout on July 1st, but someone drank a little too much at the concert on Thursday… oops. Thankfully, I ran when the weather was much nicer and was able to perform at optimal speed. After a mile warm up and static stretches, I ran my favorite track distance 8 times and then a one mile cool down.
July 4th: 5 Mile Recovery Run
This was just an easy run before the chaotic 4th of July festivities began at my home.
July 5th: Circuit Training and Yoga
I went rogue on this day… Instead I did an intense cardio weight class. Oh, and I replaced yoga with a hip hop cardio class… they are kinda similar right🙄? There is a method to my madness though. Since my joints are a bit loose lately yoga is out of the question for now. My shoulders have a mind of their own and like to separate from the sockets occasional… I have a 3rd degree torn labrum in my right shoulder, but we’ll get into that in another post. As for the hip hop class, all I can say is I LOVE to dance… move over Beyonce😜
I will be posting highlights of my training schedule once a week. I am excited to be sharing this journey with you and I hope we can motivate and educate each other along the way. Happy running!
Good luck with your training! It must feel nice to get back outside and train again! I always loved shorter runs than the longer ones. As a kid I would be the sprinter in the school. Keep up the great training!!
Thank you! I always like shorter runs until my late 20’s. I ran my first marathon in Dublin Ireland and wanted to run a marathons all over the world instead I had 4 boys:) but now I am back!!!
That’s fantastic!! Good luck with your marathon. How do you manage the time? Putting in the miles and juggling 4 boys must be tough! I run too! My furthest distance is 13.1. I’m looking to run my first marathon soon..I hope.
Thank you! It’s not easy but a squeeze in a run whenever I can no matter the time or weather. You should definitely run a full marathon. It’s such an amazing accomplishment!
Great job…I have a 5 month old and a 2 year old and work full time and currently, not sleeping more than 4 hours at a time but so desperately want to put on my sneakers again but I am afraid of what I will be like….I am starting small and going to train for a 5k in late August and build up my endurance again, but I almost feel like I am starting from scratch!! My main goal is to train for my 2nd marathon in my 40th year which is 2017! Ahhhhh!!!!! Wondering how I will “find” the time, energy, etc!!!!
Keep up the good work! I love the track workout!
Thank you! I completely understand how you feel. After I had my second son I decided to train for a 1/2 marathon. I was try to manage training on the lack of sleep going on at that point in my life. One day I was on the track exhausted and about to do my track work out. I ended up falling and spraining my ankle and couldn’t run the race. I was devastated! From then on I swore I will not try to push myself when I know the timing isn’t right. It didn’t stop me from running but now I know the importance of sleep. I now have 4 kids and my marathon time has improved 22 minutes. My advice is to listen to your body. Running is everything to me and I almost lost that because I wasn’t paying attention to what my body was telling me. You know yourself the best and what you are capable of accomplishing. I don’t want to discourage you from trying so go out there and do what feels right for you. Good luck and I would love to hear about your progress!