Team In Training Week 4

Well, today we battled through the snow for a nice run in Fayetteville. I did 7 miles with a couple great people on my team, and it's good they were there to help push me, because the run was a challenge! I fell between my goal of a 11-12 minute pace. The hills really did a number on my legs, though. Although, that's not really a bad thing. I was still able to endure. My feet didn't have any pain. Just before the water stop at the turnaround 3 1/2 miles out, my right foot started to go numb. I stopped for water and did a little bit of a stretch. My foot felt fine on the way back.


This is still very encouraging to me to know that it's not as bad as it was before. Before, it would go completely numb and would stay that way for about 5 miles. So, I am very happy. :-)

Much Better!

So tonight, a little over a month since my first run after surgery, I finally got a great run in. I did a 4.28 mile training run and pushed myself a little harder than I have been. Lately, I've been going for a pace between 11 and 12 minutes. I've been closer to the 12 minute mark, but tonight had an 11:16 pace. That's about what I did my last half marathon at. It was a good run.

The best part of the run was that my arch pain didn't show it's ugly head! Also, and most importantly, my right foot didn't go numb!!! This is very encouraging to me since the last time I felt like I had a good run my right foot went numb.

I've still got a ways to go, but I can finally feel as though things are going to be fine.

Team In Training!

Well, the Team In Training season is officially underway. I've been running now again for almost 2 weeks. Like I said in my last post, the arches of my feet hurt, but I feel as though that's progressively getting better. I've been doing a 2 minutes run/walk routine that seems to be working well for now.

Yesterday, we had our first group training session (GTS) with the team. I did 4 miles of my 2 minute routine. At one point I was going downhill, so I decided to run for 4 minutes. This was at about the 3 mile mark. My right foot started going numb.

I can't tell you how disheartening it was to feel that sensation in my foot again. After everything I've been through, that's the last thing I wanted to feel. I could deal with calf pain, foot pain... but numbness. UGH!!!

So, soon after I started to feel that, I got to a water stop. I stretched out, and went on my merry way. Before surgery, after stopping the numbness went away, but shortly after starting to run again it would come back. Yesterday, after leaving the water stop, it didn't come back again. So that was good.

After talking it over, I'm thinking it could be that way for several reasons. One, I haven't bought new sneakers since just before the Mountain Goat run in May. Since then I've done 2 half marathons, the Mountain Goat, the Boilermaker, a couple 5k's and the training for all of them. They're probably not good sneakers anymore. Two, I haven't been back in the running game very long. Endurance is lost very easily when you're not running. Three, it was very cold out and hard to get the legs warmed up. Perhaps I should buy leg warmers!

If it turns out my surgery didn't work, then I'll have to deal with the numbness. I was told before surgery that I could still run with it. It'll slow me down a bit, but I don't think I'll ever win a race anyways. I'm not in this to be fast. I'm in this because I enjoy it. I was actually able to deal with the numbness pretty well. It was the calf crap at mile 10 of the Lake Placid half, and feeling like it was going to cramp at the ARC half that I couldn't deal with. This surgery may help with that, too.

So, I'm not down for the count, yet. In fact, I don't see me going down for the count EVER! I've still got a lot of running ahead of me. I love being a part of Team In Training and there's still not a cure for cancer.