Track Attack

I am a firm believer that speedwork is unavoidable if I want to stand a chance of qualifying for Boston. Despite the horrible math you have to do while running to make sure you’re staying on pace, it’s amazing to feel that you can run faster without as much effort—which of course, makes you want to run even faster.

I was never concerned with speed when training for my first marathon--my goal was to finish, not to be the new Deena Kastor. Eventually, I bought a fancy running watch (my beloved Garmin) and learned that I could go to mapmyrun.com and plan out my runs. I became increasingly more aware of my pace and even learned to program my watch to beep at me when I slowed down too much (which can get really annoying in San Francisco when you are being destroyed by hills).

But now, with the Boston Marathon carrot dangling in the horizon, it's time to really get serious--and do some serious speedwork at the track.

Wednesdays are designated "speed days," and I find myself masochistically looking forward to having my butt kicked by the Kezar Roadrunners--an awesome running group I joined here in San Francisco. We meet at Kezar Track, where Coach Joe gives us a different workout every week and we run countless laps around the track. Literally countless—I find it almost impossible to keep track of how many laps we’re supposed to do and at what pace (trust me, it’s harder than it sounds). Case in point, a typical workout can go like this:

Start by doing three 1200s, the first slightly slower than 10K pace, the second at 10K pace, the last slightly faster than 10K pace, with 400 recovery in between. Then do two 600s at 5K pace with 200 recovery. Then four 400s at 3K pace with complete recovery. Did I mention that I should also be keeping track of how long it takes to complete each lap to make sure I’m staying on pace?

Seriously, who can do math, convert distances from miles to kilometers or vice-versa, keep up an insanely fast pace, keep track of which lap you're on and at what pace you're running, all while remembering to breathe and trying not to pass out at the same time?

(Lisa can, and that is why she is my hero.)

Yesterday, in Lisa's absence, I was forced to do my own calculations. Miraculously, I managed to keep track of the distances and intervals, but pace? Not so much. So I improvised. 10K pace became simply "a decently fast pace." 5K pace: run really fast. 3K pace: run 'till you think you might die and your lungs might explode from lack of air. 1K pace: might as well fly. My pace was all over the place, and I could almost hear Lisa saying "Oh! 1:47. That was too fast!"

Somehow I made it through the workout with only a tiny bit of whining (there's only so much complaining one can do while gasping for air). I'm pretty sure I can picture what an asthma attack feels like now... I suspect it's very similar to the track attack I had yesterday.

Injuries, Interns and a Jelly-filled Little Tumor Named Ted

Today was my follow up appointment with a Sports Medicine doctor. When I first saw her, she diagnosed me with a lovely little injury cocktail to deal with--Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome on my left knee, Patellofemoral Syndrome on my right knee, all exacerbated by weak glutes. Treatment? Physical Therapy to strengthen my lazy butt.

I had also whined about being tired all.the.time when training for a marathon. We’re talking unable-to-function-zombie tired. We’re talking too tired to sleep sometimes (I know, shocking).

Amazingly, she didn’t just tell me to suck it up because that’s what marathon training DOES to you. Attentive doctor that she is, she asked me to keep a food diary and get some blood tests to make sure my iron wasn’t too low again (I’ve tried to donate blood twice this year and despite taking iron pills daily, my iron level has actually lowered--go figure!).

So they had an intern draw my blood (um, ouch!) and I showed her my 2-week food diary, which revealed that I need more calcium, more fruits and veggies, and well, more food in general.

So far, my knees haven’t been bothering me that much, but I know that I am reaching that dangerous level in my training where the pain started last time: The 40-mile week threshold. At the peak of my training, I will be running 54 miles in a week, which includes the last in a series of three 20-milers (lovely, thanks for that Hal Higdon).

Another fun little side note: my foot seems to be pregnant.

Turns out it’s actually a ganglian cyst, a little tumor filled with jelly. No one knows why they pop up and they’re not really dangerous. So I plan on ignoring this little guy, let’s name him… Ted, for the time being. As long as Ted remains nothing but a naughty bump, we can co-exist peacefully. But if Ted decides to make his presence known in other ways, he’ll have to be drained. Definitely not by an intern!

Dear Denise

I have thought of you often.

I have prayed and hoped and never lost faith

that you would somehow be all better again.


I think of your calm eyes,

your soft voice, and your kind smile.

I think of your beautiful, strong sister,

And my heart fills with love.


The love she has for you, I know

Is stronger than this world,

Stronger than the chains of time

Stronger than anyone can understand.


In your brief time in this world,

you brought so much joy, happiness and love

to your family and to all those who knew you.


You were an inspiration for me, Denise.

You fought bravely, you gave it all you had.

You never lost faith.


But God decided He needed you in Heaven.

And He called you back, His child,

Back to His arms

where you will be safe and healthy again.


I will think of you with nothing but love and admiration.

Rest in peace, sweet Denise. We will always remember you.

Dare to Dream

I am now at Week 4 of training for the Philadelphia Marathon and so far—knock on wood—no injuries! Just a lot of soreness... and consequently, a lot of whining (sorry friends)! A few people have asked me why I chose Philly, as opposed to a race closer to where I live. There are many great fall marathons in California, some of which are incredibly flat and fast (a very yummy combination). But my heart is set on the Philadelphia Marathon for a few reasons:

- I lived in Philadelphia for many years and it remains one of my favorite places in the world.

- Some of my best friends live there (and nearby) as do the runners in my very first marathon training group (Dublin Marathon with TNT in 2009).

- It is relatively flat, fast, and… a Boston qualifier!

When I was training for my first marathon, my goal was to simply finish in one piece. I had no desire to be competitive, and didn’t even run with a watch (!). I just wanted to do it, raise funds for a good cause (the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) with a great group of people. Mission accomplished.

My second marathon was a different story. I trained by myself and had the goal of breaking 4 hours. Finish time: 3:59:02. Mission accomplished again (barely).

My third marathon didn’t go so well. Although I loved running with the Leukemia Society again, I got injured, so my longest training run had been around 14 miles before I attempted the marathon. I was on pace until mile 20 and then hit “The Wall.” I had heard of “The Wall” before, the mythical point in time when a runner has the life sucked out of him/her, every breath is a struggle, every step is excruciating, and every second stretches on for hours. There was no going through it; there was no way around it. The Wall was there to stay and I had no choice but to climb over it. I made it to the finish line despite not being able to fully bend either leg (knee injury, awesome) for 6 miles under a blistering sun and Texas-style humidity. It was terrible. My tentative and insanely overly ambitious mission had been to somehow PR (just a little). Mission FAILED (shocker).

Now here I am again. Marathon number 4. This time, the bar is set really high: Qualifying for the 2011 Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon and most prestigious road race. A serious runner's dream.

I’m trying not to think about it too much. I’m trying to just focus on training hard, one day at a time, one mile at a time. I’m trying to just “have fun.” Sounds like a good plan, right?

Unfortunately, I’m not really a “let’s just see what happens” kind of girl. I am a planner, a doer, a “make it happen” kind of runner (and person).

I can’t help but salivate when I spot a runner wearing the characteristic blue Boston Marathon shirt with the very distinctive yellow logo. It makes me immediately pick up the pace.

My unexpected PR at the San Francisco half marathon (1:47!) temporarily pushed away the doubts and planted a tiny little seed of hope in my head and heart that whispered “Maaaaaaybe it’s not impossible after all!”

So now what?

Now I train 6 days a week. I’m running, lifting, doing physical therapy, taking vitamins daily and even a Spirulina supplement. I’ve lost one pound, bringing me down to 114, but my goal is not to lose weight so I'm guiltlessly packing on the carbs before my long runs. I'm going to bed early and stretching before and especially after my runs. I’m doing my part (hear that, Universe?). Now all I need is a little bit of luck! 14 weeks to go!

My Love Affair with My Couch

When you think of a “marathoner” what adjectives come to mind? Maybe someone who’s healthy, runs countless miles, and generally maintains a very “fit” lifestyle, right? We’re active, energetic—I’ll even go as far as to say pretty enthusiastic people. Or maybe I’m just thinking of myself and my running buddies. I don’t know. But what I do know is that we are not, by definition, considered to be “lazy” people. How can someone who has run a number of marathons, is always training for a race of some kind, and regularly puts in 10+ mile long runs every weekend be considered LAZY?

Oh, it’s possible. And that would be me. The laziest marathoner you will ever meet.

When I am not training for a race, or out running mile after mile around the city, I can often be found having what I fondly refer to “my couch time.”

Given the chance, I can sleep for 12, 14, even 16 hours at a time. I love waking up, eating a large bowl of cereal or oatmeal, and going right back to bed with a book, only to fall back to sleep two pages later.

I am also able to consume hours of crap on TV—from home decoration shows, to horrible reality TV, to whatever Anderson Cooper would like to talk about, and if it’s Shark Week--fuhgetaboutit.

When all this mind-numbing TV makes me tired, I will simply walk over to the bedroom, snuggle up with the latest issue of Running Times, and take a nap.

My favorite outfit? You guessed it—pajamas (the pink ones).

Sometimes, especially while training with a group, I was forced to wake up at ungodly hours, (as early as 6AM!) to join the team for a long run. I would set two alarms and somehow manage to break free from the block of concrete that was magically laid on top of me overnight.

Alright, granted, not every weekend is entirely devoted to long bouts of “couch time” temporarily interrupted by a long run. Believe it or not, I am capable of leaving the apartment to go shopping, go to the store, run errands, etc. During the week, I walk 2 miles to and from work every day (see earlier post about my hatred for the public transportation system), on top of the daily training runs and track workouts.

But oh, how I love, love, love spending the weekend with my couch, my two warm puppies sleeping next to me, a good book within arm’s reach, and monopoly over the remote control (a stocked fridge never hurts either).