Coming off my high of realizing I was successful in my 2008 Resolution, I decided to go for another challenge this year.
I’ve been a casual runner for the past few years, and two years ago I started getting more serious about it. I was training to run my first half marathon in November of 2007, and a few weeks before race day I started feeling pain in my lower back and left hip. I wanted to stick with my training schedule so–like an idiot–I ignored it and kept running. A couple weeks before race day a new pain in my lower leg added itself to the mix, and again–like an idiot–I ignored it and kept running. The morning of the race I pushed the pain out of my mind, and was thrilled to cross the start line. But of course, your mind is one thing–your body is quite another. Your mind tells you, “Suck it up–you can do it!” but your body knows when to say, “Enough is enough–we’re done here.” Since I was too stubborn to stop, my body did it for me. My left leg started giving out on me a couple miles into the race. By mile 6 I had told my running partner to go ahead without me. I never made it to mile 7.
To say I was devastated is an understatement. Adding injury to insult, it was weeks before I could walk again without pain, and months before I could do anything more active than walking without pain. I started running again in the spring of 2008, but it wasn’t the same. I’d feel the beginning twinges of pain, and then I’d panic and wouldn’t run again for weeks, or even months. Because of this, I barely ran at all in 2008.
One of my gifts from G this past Christmas was a Garmin Forerunner 305–a runner’s watch I’d been eyeing back in 2007. When I opened it he told me, “I know how hard it was for you to not finish that half marathon. And I also know how much you love running. I hope this will help get you back out there.” It was so sweet–and just the nudge I needed. That’s when I decided my New Year’s Resolution for 2009 would be to re-commit to running. And since I do better with measurable goals, I later amended it to: In 2009, I resolve to run 400 miles.
For additional accountability, I’ve decided to keep track of my mileage in the right margin of my blog for all the world to see (because let’s face it–you readers are all the world to me). Wish me luck!
Who else is making a running resolution this year? I’d love to hear about it!
Related Posts:
My 2008 New Year’s Resolution
Crazylegs 8K Race
My Summer Vacation–Day 3
Ok, did you ever get the pain checked out?!?!? I’m dying to know!
I was a runner in high school and college and had a similar injury that my trainers blew off as sciatica, but it turned out to be a degenerative hip/Sacroiliac Joint issue that ruined my running career because it was improperly treated and now has turned into arthritis.
So, while I commend your resolution to run the 400 miles this year – especially so I can live vicariously thru you – hee-hee, please get it checked out!!!!
Run D Run!! I’m cheering you on!
I started running only about 3 years ago..started as a way to lose weight and have loved it ever sense. I was wondering the same thing..did you ever get the pain checked out? I ended up w/ a stress fracture in my right tibia. Be careful and listen to your body if you feel the pain. Easier now to see an orthopedic doc than later. I am definitely trying to run at least twice a week and at least 3-4 miles each run to keep a good base. I hope to do another half sometime in the next year. We will see! Good luck! great christmas gift! jen
YOU CAN DO IT Forrest, I have faith in you.
😉
Good idea to post the progress. I may have to steal the idea since apparently holding myself accountable isn’t enough. Great goal. You’ll hit 400 and then keep running long before 09 ends! I bet it’ll be a lot easier than you think. Just be careful and start slow.
I’m running a marathon this year. Okay, there, that was the first time I’ve typed it out! Whew.
Great idea! I would love to start running after my baby is born but I really hate it! You should share your tips to make running more enjoyable! I’m going to try!
I started running in 2008 and pushed too hard too fast and ended up getting injured. I’ve vowed to start running again in 2009 and take it slower this time. Good luck to both of us!!
Awesome! I plan on doing 500 this year and look forward to keeping up with your progress. I will be posting mine on my blog, as well.
What kind of injury did you get in your last half marathon?
I too am making this my 2009 New Years Resolution! I joined Cool Running last year and never took advantage of the program. Im so excited to start this program called “The Couch-to-5K Running Plan. Here’s the web site if you’d like to take a peek.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
I also have the program downloaded on my ipod if you’re interested. It’s such a neat feature when you’re running!
Good Luck and I cant wait to read your progress!
~Teana
Great resolution, D! I made a running resolution this year to pick and stick to a training program.
It’s a follow-up to my 2008 running resolution of “let my knee injury heal completely.” In 2007 I did something similar and ran a half-marathon on an injured knee. It landed me in physical therapy and unable to run a mile without pain.
The good news is that I’ve healed, but it took learning the hard way to slow down when my legs want me to. So while I dream of another half marathon (or a whole someday), my knee usually tells me to stop around mile 8 these days.
Good luck with your resolution, D! I’m jealous of your Garmin and look forward to watching you reach your 400 miles.
-John
I love reading your blog and finally thought I’d comment! I’ve always told myself I’d run a marathon someday but don’t think my body is cut out for it. I run almost every day 3-4 miles and that’s about all I can do! I think it’s great to keep track of your mileage! I might do the same…what about keeping track of bottles of wine drunk? Mine would probably make me not want to drink again haha! -Kellsey
I’m a pseudo-runner – I go out hard, train for weeks, get hurt, quit, try again. I have a mileage goal for 2009, too, but I plan to combine it with the elliptical and running – my ankles are too weak at this point to run everyday.
I”m mostly a lurker but coming out to say: you can do it!!! (Waterboy!!). I started running in october and have a goal of 40 miles per month in 2009. I didn’t really have a scientific way to calculate it, 10 miles a week just sounded about right 😉
I also need to say that thanks to you I can’t read an adult book! (Lol, Just kidding!). I just finished New moon and started reading The secret life of bees, partly because I’m cheap and was waiting for the 3rd book to come out in paperback and partly because I never got around to reading the secret life of bees and always thought I would enjoy it. Let me just say those bees have nothing on my Edward!!!. My husband thinks I’m insane, but what can I say, I’m just dazzled by the monsters!
Happy 2009 and I love your blog! It totally cracks me up!
Andreina
Congrats on the 2008 resolution working for you! I have a running type resolution in my list, I ran my first 5K last year and I want to try it again as long as we are not pg. Good luck with yours in 2009!!!
Thanks for all your words of encouragement everyone!! I’m excited to share my progress with all of you, and to hear about yours as well!
Sadly I don’t know for certain what injuries I was dealing with. I went to the doctor when I started having pain and they told me they’d need to do an MRI to know anything. Unfortunatly b/c of our insurance at the time, we would have had to pay $5,000 out of pocket for it. I decided it wasn’t worth it, and kept running through the pain. A couple weeks before the race the pain was so bad that I rolled out of bed one morning and couldn’t put any pressure on my left leg. I hopped to a phone, opened the yellow pages, and dialed numbers until I found a chiropractor that could see me that morning. He took x-rays of my lower back and hip and told me my body was out of line (no surprise there) and my pain was likely pinched nerves. That made sense to me b/c that’s how I had been describing the pain prior to that. He told me to stop running for awhile and I told him to get me to race day first, and then I would. After an adjustment I felt immense relief. So of course, I ran again. And then could barely walk. So then I got adjusted again. Those last few weeks pretty much looked like this: Run, Pain, Adjustment, Repeat. And I’m fairly certain the lower leg pain that came toward the end was a stress fracture. Looking back I realize how absolutely stupid I was being, but in the moment I was just so focused on reaching my end goal that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Hindsight is 20/20 and I fully realize it was so stupid of me to try to run through it all. Ugh!
Like some of you have said with your own running goals, I’ve decided to be MUCH smarter about things this time around. If I do feel the pain returning, I’m going straight to the doctor. And I plan to take things slowly and not do too many miles too soon (or too fast). Last week I ran 3 miles (my first run in months) and it felt great. And then of course I decided I wanted to run 6 miles next time out. Yeah, gotta pull the reigns in there. I ran another 3 miles two days later instead. Much smarter. (But unfort. those runs were in 2008 so I can’t count them toward my 400 goal.)
I currently also strength train about 2x/week and do the elliptical, so I will not be relying solely on running as my exercise, so that’ll help.
Thanks again to all of you for your supportive words and for sharing your own stories and fitness goals. Not only have I enjoyed reading them, but it also gives me a lot of encouragement. Good luck to all of us!
@gk–I actually did have a moment where I thought, “Hell, I’ll probably drink more bottles of wine than the miles I run in 2009” but decided against keeping track to know for sure. Some things are just better left in the dark, lol!
@Andreina–thanks for coming out of hiding! I love seeing comments from new people! =) Sorry to suck you in to the Young Adult literature, lol! No worries–after you’ve finished with the Twilight books, I’m sure you’ll safely find your way back to the big girl books. I made it out–after reading the Twlight books 2+ times, but made it out nonetheless–and am now reading a Jodi Picoult book, with reviews by Teen People nowhere on the cover! If I can do it, so can you. But the trick is to finish the entire Twilight series first. Enjoy!
Nice work woman! I’m excited for you!
haha, so there IS light at the end of the Twilight tunnel 😉
I finally started getting into The Secret Life of Bees. I think eventually I stopped looking for any signs of Edward in the book and started enjoying it!. I can’t wait any longer though…so I’m reading up as fast as I can so I can go get Eclipse PRONTO!. I also did not like the Movie and I was stupid enough to watch it right after reading Twilight. I wish I would have read the entire series before ruining with the movie!. After many glasses of wine and exciting nights of New Moon, I think I have finally put the movie behind me.
On the running, I have read that a good rule of thumb is to not increase your mileage more than 10% per week to avoid injury. So you are on the right track…take easy and enjoy it
Since me and the husbter are also big winos, I thought I would let you know we are also loving our Vinturi Wine Areator!!!. Of course, I type this with my perfectly areated glass of Italian wine by my side!
Thanks for visiting my lil’ blog and for the nice comments! 😉
Andreina
Your goal sounds great and you will no doubt reach it! I set a goal last year to run my first marathon and run at least 1,000 miles and I did it. This year I am shooting for 1,500 miles and at least a couple marathons. In 2007 I was silly and injured myself during my first half marathon as well. I managed to finish the race, but I wasn’t able to run for a good 6 months. Last year I was much smarter and have so far been injury free. Ease into it, listen to your body and be smart. Not sure what your shoe situation is, but I had a gait analysis done to help get the right shoes and that definitely got rid of some aches and pains. GOOD LUCK!
i signed up to run my third marathon – the minneapolis marathon – it’s brand new this year. i’ve gotten 4 friends to sign up so far. another is signing up for the 1/2. i have really tight hamstrings and some unknown diagnoised pain in my left leg but i’m thinking positive
Wow good for you! by the looks of the comments, you’ve inspired the thoughts of many, including myself. I have been thinking about exercising more this year, and as much as I have never liked running that much I think it might be the best way to get in shape and stay that way.
Take care,
Lisa
Good luck with the running! Be sure to do some cross training and weights on your “in-between” days to strengthen your other muscles too (I learned that the hard way)! I rode the bike and it really helped strengthen my legs for the days I did run – weird as it may sound. I’ve ran two half marathons in the past year and a half, so I think I’m going to take this year off from any races above an 8K
I am!! It’s like we’re on the same wavelength. I just wrote yesterday about how I’m going to start training again, because last year I was training for a half marathon when I found out I was pregnant.
Way to go! I’m psyched to see your progress.
I LOVE this idea! You’ve inspired me to do the same on my blog…check it out.
I love the idea of running and doing a half marathon. However I seem to get bored while I run, so I don’t find it as appealing. This year I want to train my mind to be a good running like most people train their bodies.