Okay I lied

My training plan today was for 3 miles. I am trying not to push my miles to prevent injury. BUT I couldn't do it. The weather today was 65 degrees for the first time in forever and it was overcast, slightly breezy, and I got out of work early. I had to do an extra mile (or 2).  There is a reason: the first 2 miles of a run I always feel awful. 3 miles allows me to only enjoy 1 mile of my run. My first two miles I get the cramps and stiff joints shaken out and loosened up and then I can finally ease into a pace that runs a fine line between making me want to vomit and pure joy.  Despite what my picture looks like I honestly did enjoy my run. Oh and I got my new Nuun water bottle... awesome.

I take ridiculously sexy selfies.

I am 1 day away from vacation. A month vacation! This rare thing in the fourth year of medical school where they make you take time off... a type A gunner's worst nightmare. At least I will be ramping up my mileage and can focus on cooking lots of new delicious veg meals! 

The Enemy

I live with my significant other and our amazingly cute shelter rescue lab mix Charlie. While 99% of the time this is amazing, 1% of the time it is not. TODAY IS THAT TIME. I have gone into total I need to do less than 2 hours for my first half marathon mode and that includes attempting to maintain proper (vegetarian) nutrition. Well... S.O. is attempting to sabotage me. He brings home Ben and Jerry's 2-3 times a week. He can afford to do this (mister oh I haven't been on a strict training plan like you but let me bust out a quick 11-miles when I am slightly hungover like it ain't no thing...). I cannot afford to indulge yet I cannot stop. Once it enters our freezer it will inevitably enter my mouth. It's like all the discipline I have (med school, training plans, etc) goes out the window when ice cream comes into the equation. Which means as soon as S.O. left for his soccer game tonight I ran to the door to make sure he was gone then tiptoed to the fridge in case he was listening then went H.A.M. on his ice cream. Yes I said it. Hard as a motherf... well you get it.

Hot yoga does not justify the massacre I just performed on a pint sized tub of pure joy.

I will regret this tomorrow.

Weekly Training Post

Since miraculously recovering from my injury, I have been attempting to modify my original 12 week half marathon plan to fit a 7 week plus/minus 1 week plan.  I had a really good 6 mile run last week at a fast pace and feel like I am able to run further but am trying to keep with the "no greater than 10%" increase in mileage... painful.

Monday:
2 miles

Tuesday:
3 miles

Wednesday:
Hot Yoga

Thursday:
3 miles

Friday:
Rest

Saturday:
7 miles


I have also hit the point where I think I need (okay want) a Garmin Forerunner. I use the free Nike+ app to track my mileage but my armband is starting to drive me nuts! We'll see if I can control my urge...

Recovery Days

I always use Sunday as a day to recharge and try to align my training schedule so that my stretch/easy days line up after my long Saturday runs. This weekend was the perfect example: Sunday morning I went to my favorite yoga studio for a kick butt heated vinyasa flow class. My instructor is 8 months pregnant and glowing with no evidence of slowing down. She was focused on stretching out our hips and IT bands which all the runners in the room definitely needed! After class I took our puppy to my mom's house for some veggie burgers and cupcakes (a birthday tradition). I am a firm believer in everything in moderation!

I also bought some new running shorts this weekend because I needed more pairs that had pockets large enough to fit my keys and my gels for long runs. I had some lululemon gift cards kicking around from Christmas (I know...) and finally caved and got a pair of the "groovy run shorts" despite feeling insanely guilty for spending that much money (or gift card credit).  The pockets are great; there are 2 in the front and one zipper pocket that can fit an iphone in the back. But there is a problem. I wore my shorts for all of 3 hours and the granny panty lining on the inside caused some friction rub right at my

Groovy Run Shorts

inguinal crease. Um... my thighs are not that large. And their lining is supposedly chafe proof. I believe Matt Frazier (No Meat Athlete) said it best: "during a marathon, anything that can chafe, will". I bought these shorts for long runs! This is karma punishing me for spending so much on a pair of running shorts. 

Another part of my recovery "weekend" actually includes Monday too.  My first run after a long run is always a quick 2 miles. And by quick I use my definition which means 7:15 minute miles with a hill or two if possible. It's a way to kind of push myself but also to limit the distance so that I keep from getting injured. Which is unfortunately a necessary thing. But I survived week one post-injury with 7 weeks to go til the half marathon so these are all good things!

Sweating. Meh.

I also try to stock up on healthy foods for the week and this weekend was no exception. Tonight the boyfriend and I are dining on No Meat Athlete's Orzo with Cooked Citrus Veggies. Total yum. As a herbivore-omnivore couple I try to find meals that will both fill and satisfy the meat monster while complying with my standards. I recommend this meal not only because avocados are the planet's gift to humans but because it's quick and makes awesome leftovers. As a future MD (oh my word 8 months til I am Doctor Chelsea wait what?) I try really hard to practice what we preach and to keep each meal cheap, delicious, and healthy. Disregard above comment about cupcakes. 

Did I mention it was 90 degrees on my run today?

I am running!

This blog serves 2 purposes: track my training for those who have donated to my race/races and to allow my mom to know I am alive and not buried within the 4 walls of the hospital never to return.

I am currently enjoying a french vanilla coffee and toast gearing up for my first long run since my injury (for you medical people that's PID 17 unclear etiology). My foot and ankle feel fantastic and I checked in with my favorite orthopod and I am cleared of a stress fracture aka I can run at my own risk.  This is extremely important to me as I have surpassed my fundraising goal for the half marathon and am well on my way to making a great contribution to the Children's Cancer Program! I also did yoga for the first time in about 2 months last week and could not raise my arms above my head for a good 3 days... oof.

I'm thinking about ordering a few new items from Oiselle's running line, I will review once sweated in and worn!

Today's run: 4 miles
Power song: "I'm Legit" -Nicki Minaj