February Run Log

I broke myself.  I guess I can't claim to have chronic back pain because a day and a half isn't really chronic...but, holy cow, I don't know how people live with back pain.

The worst part is what did me in felt so AMAZING & BEASTLY.  A week ago, Monday, Dodd and I joined Kelly on her hill workout day.  That was BEASTLY because we ran uphill for 60 seconds & I really pictured me being halfway up the hill at 60 seconds when Dodd & Kelly were all the way up.  So I was cockily surprised when I wasn't really that far behind Kelly...who wasn't that far behind Dodd.  "I'm amazing." thought this 47 year old woman.  So I get it in my head that the weekend 'short' long run will be my Hill, Yeah training 12 mile loop {528 to Doty ~ which becomes South River to County Line}  Because I had a meeting Saturday morning our run group split up with Mike & Kelly running 15.4 at a 9:15 m/m pace in the morning {yeah, he'll speed up for Kelly}  & Dodd & I running at 1:00.  Of course I make the mistake of telling him how fast Mike & Kelly ran.  And he is so strong on the hills.  We ran just under 9 m/m, and pounded the hills.  We reached the top of County Line with 2 downhill miles to go & opened up.  8's and under for the last two & IT FELT GOOD.  A runner's high like I haven't had in a long time.  I was on top of the world... until around 6:00pm ~ when my back just froze up.  And stayed that way all day yesterday {tried to run to loosen it up...got a mile}  I was grumpy & in pain all day.  Mike's working on getting the knots out of my hamstrings {as Dr. Becky has decided this is a direct result of tight hamstrings...running hills...fast} and I'm stretching {wishing stretching was a daily activity and not just when I'm hurt} and finally this afternoon it has loosened up a little.  This morning I was pretty sure I'd never run again.  Now, I think I'll manage tomorrow.
So February was good...but ended in pain.  Hopefully, like the last two times I've broken myself, it won't last long.

February Totals:

118.27 miles for the month 
250.78 miles for the year 

237.32 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ five runs this month...including a calf killing 7 miler in the snow.

382.15 miles in my Nike Vomero ~  ran a 5 mile speed workout at Spire this month.

137.3 miles in my New Brooks Glycerin 13 ~ 

Training for:    The 20 Mile Drop...April 10, 2016...with a training plan as if it were a marathon. Have run the first 16 & 18...20 still to come in the training.  First race of the season ~ Greenway 10k on March 20.  

Joined the March Mileage Challenge ~ maybe I'll win a race entry or two. (or none)

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Dear Sugar, & SERIAL! ~ 'cept we've even run as a group at the Y ~ so I listen around the house while I'm cleaning.

My WEIGHT: weighed myself once this month...137.  ugh.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   18.08 ~ and then we drove to Columbus.  My left hamstring wasn't happy.

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  46.21 February 7 to February 14.  Two long runs recorded that week.

Favorite place to run this month: Even with the pain...the 12 mile hill route was AMAZING when we ran it.

# of books I read this month: none...but I'm reading.  Just can't seem to finish one.
Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.36 ~ May 17, 2015 The Cleveland Marathon

PR's:
5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14 & TIED the time Run for the Hills 6/21/15)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)