« 24 (and there's so much more) | Main | YOU PEOPLE ... »

January 4, 2005

Risks and Resolutions

On my right shin the muscle that flexes my lateral toes is very sore. You'd think I'd traumatized it somehow. It hurts when I first start running and then becomes barely noticeable until I get tired and then it gets tight again and I think it causes my calf to get tight, too.

So this morning as I jogged over to meet the group for the workout my mind was occupied with this new little nagging pain and the recognition that I'd run my longest training run *ever* just two days ago. I didn't feel like I was being very smart to be going to this workout (ok plus it was o'dark-thirty and I was on the trail on my own, which was making me feel even more crazy.) I usually err on the conservative side when it comes to spacing out my workouts and running when things hurt, but I decided this morning to take a little risk and see how things turned out. If my shin hurt or I felt like poop I could always just ease up or cut it short. I figured it'd be better than not starting at all. I'm at the point in my marathon training where a bad gamble can have really grave repercussions; but it's also probably not the time to sit around and wait for the perfect conditions for a workout, either.

I think this morning's gamble paid off. I have been craving long repeats, and Gilbert did not disappoint this morning. Last Thursday was 5x 1000; this morning was 5x 2000 on the same course we ran the Zilker Relays back in September. I did not do them as well as I would have liked. I would have liked to have done them progressively faster; I ended up alternating fast and slow. It was something like 8:06, 7:44, 7:47, 7:43, and 7:53 (I left my watch at work; I took it off while I was fidgeting over something I couldn't figure out.) I'm a little embarrassed about the last one being one of the slowest, but the crowd had thinned out drastically after three, even, and Gilbert had told us remaining marathoners that four was fine. But I had intended to do five when I started, so I made a deal with myself (and another woman I convinced to go with me) that I'd do a fifth one if I kept it more or less under control. Only three of us finished 5 repeats - I'm so proud of us. Hopefully I won't strain my shoulder patting myself on the back.
****************************

I have been reading all the other bloggers' resolutions and it's been inspiring! I feel left out of the party to some extent, though, because I don't really have any New Year's resolutions. The timing of this calendar year just doesn't line up well with the timing of my life. Right now I'm starting to wrap up a huge commitment in the marathon, something I've planned for now for months, and at work we've been getting ready for the session. Now's just not the time to start anything new. My "new year" will begin after this legislative session is over at the end of May (and if the members run off to Oklahoma or New Mexico again I'll have plenty of time to think about what to do with my free time!) I already have ideas of what I'll do when I get my life back in May, but for now I'm just going to focus on what I have in front of me. It's plenty!

Posted by jenandmats at January 4, 2005 9:38 PM

Comments

I'm all about setting New Years resolutions at times other than Jan. 1. My birthday (even though it's not very far from then) is one option, because it's a new year for me.

Does stretching your calf make your shin feel any better? That's the only thing I know to do for shin pain (other than icing). I was having a really weird pain in my shin recently, it really hurt when I pressed on it, but it didn't hurt when I ran. I was a little worried for about two weeks, but now it's completely gone. I hope yours disappears the same way.

I'm so impressed with the hard work you're putting in. Thanks for the inspiration!

Posted by: Alison at January 5, 2005 7:59 AM

That was one kick-A workout for a morning workout. There is no need to be ashamed that the last repeat was one of the slower repeats, as you said, it was only two days after your longest training run EVER and it was early (dark) morning.

Keep on icing that shin and trying to stretch it. I usually move around and contort myself until I find a position that feels like it is stretching out the sore area.

Your training regimen for Austin is very inspirational. I'm going to keep it in mind whenever I think about focusing on one race.

Blondie

Posted by: Blondie at January 5, 2005 6:44 PM

I think setting resolutions at the start of the year is just a convenience thing so people remember to do them. I made a couple career and life-related ones this past week, but I know for sure the running goals won't be reset until after Freescale!

That last lap is always a bit lonely because so many of the people have gone home by then. I haven't quite settled on whether that makes those of us left dedicated or nuts.

Posted by: Alex at January 5, 2005 8:55 PM

You're kicking butt, J Stewart. And you don't need. no. stinkin'. resolutions.

Posted by: Janie at January 6, 2005 8:12 AM

Your hard work ALWAYS impresses me! If I did make NY's resolutions (which I avoid doing like the plague), I would resolve to train more like you!!

Take care of that shin so you can run your sub 3 :)

Posted by: bridget at January 6, 2005 2:31 PM