Project Cross Train!

First of all, I need to say that it has been 2 MONTHS since my last migraine with aura attack! I haven't gone this long in between attacks since they started last year. Yay to finally getting some results (accidentally). I have been feeling so much better lately, so I am ready to amp up my training again, and get back to where I was last spring.


How I feel without migraines. Oh yes, I have done this dance.

I have cut back on my running since HSV half. I have decided I will not sign up for another race until I have made cross training a habit again. Lately I have noticed more back pain, which is a direct result from letting my core strength go. Not to mention I am running slower. This is also a result of not cross training. It is not all about abs and getting ripped again. My stomach is flat, my weight is the same, but I am weak right now, and I don't like that. I remembered last year when I was at my peak performance running wise, and I was lifting weights several times a week. So, my new plan is run 3x a week and cross train 3x a week. My goal was to alternate days, but so far I've done a short 3-4 miler plus 20-30 min weights or other cross training on the same day, and have taken more rest days. This isn't really my ideal, but I have been sleeping bad, and the holidays are already jumbling my schedule. I have a tendency to workout cram when I am forced into rest days. Next week I am going to devise a more organized plan. In general, I pretty much hate cross training, but as a runner I find it to be a necessary evil. No one can deny you get better running results with a little cross training thrown in.

My plan is to start writing out my workout schedule again. This is another thing I did last year to help. I was training for the two back to back half marathons, and needed to make sure I got in a lot of workouts at optimal timing. Basically my week would consist of 1 long run, 1 speed run, 2 easy runs,  1 full body cross train, 1 active rest day, and one full rest day. The active rest day would be yoga or something light. I would then squeeze weights in after the easy runs, sometimes an hour or more, and maybe after speed work. I always took my full rest day after speed work day. I will have to work my way back to that. For now I want to have 3 running days total (1 long, 1 speed, 1 easy), and 3 cross training days of my choice. To start, of course these will be lighter weights, lighter workouts, but eventually I will get back to the heavier weights and longer cross training sessions. The last day will be a total rest day, as I now do at least some yoga with every cross training day.  I think giving running and cross training their own days to start out will be a nice transition instead of doubling up right away. I realize this is only 1 rest day, but I am an oddball. I feel like crap on the days I don't work out. I have played around with different combinations of rest days, and working out 6 days a week just works for me. It also was something that kept my migraines more spaced out before I started treating them. Plus, on the days I work out, I eat better and hydrate better. I am guessing that has a lot to do with me feeling so good those days.

I hate rest days not because I am a super tough chick, but because I like to put off house work.

Since my chest wall injury last May, I have lost a lot of upper body strength. I don't want to jump right back into weights as far as that area is concerned, so I am trying out other new strengthening exercises. So far I am loving barre! I am using light weights for my lower body, but to get a good all over body workout, barre is perfect for me. It combines strength and stretch, which is so important for a runner. I got the idea to try after seeing one of my favorite bloggers, The T-Rex Runner, posting about it. After the hip flexor trouble I have had my last 2 races, I think this is going to be a go to CT exercise for me. My chest wall has been a little sore, but nothing like the agony weight training had been causing. I think for a while, this is what I need for my upper body. It has always been my weak area, but since that one little injury, I have constantly managed to hurt myself. Since then I have been trying to figure out the right exercises to start back with. Barre is the winner for sure! I feel the appropriate amount of soreness after, not the "Oh God my chest is broken forever and I am possibly having a heart attack" pain that I kept rebounding into before.

Weirdly accurate.

Another thing my GP recommended for my upper back/chest wall issues is a deep tissue massage. I am still trying to talk myself into this. For one, deep tissue massages hurt, and I am a wuss. For two, I don't like people touching me, so a stranger touching me really painfully is probably not going to be a  comfortable experience for me, but if it resets me and helps with my muscle tightness, it will be worth it. I have also debated a chiropractor, but again, not yet brave enough. I need to do something though, so I figure fixing my core is a start that doesn't involve other people touching me.



So my question for the probably 4 people who read this blog: Have you gotten a deep tissue massage or gone to a chiropractor to help with a work out injury? Did it help?

I will report back next week on my new schedule!

-Teacup Runner

"I love you, Lord, my strength." -Psalm 18:1 NIV

HSV Half Race Recap

Half #4 complete! What an awesome race! My finish according to garmin was 13.27 miles in 02:20:08, 10:34 min/mi. Unfortunately chip timing did not work, so that's all I have, but no bad at all! It was not much faster than BSTC Half, but I felt so much better during and after.

J, J's husband's shadow, and I before the race

The race started out sunny and cold. I did decide on shorts, compression socks, gloves, and a long sleeved tech shirt. It turned out to be a pretty good decision, because I was baking about 5 miles in, but not terribly bad. Pants would have been uncomfortable. My friend J and I met up before the race as usual. She had decided to "run naked" this race, sans gadgets as she had been having issues with her garmin. Like I posted before, no music was allowed, so we were without earbuds on top of it, which meant hearing all the funny conversations along the way, but more on that later.

Race start!

The race started out with me just forcing myself not to run ahead of the crowd just to get away from it. It was HARD. People were passing me despite my 9:30 something pace, and this stressed me out. Where did all of these fast people come from? I had determined at that point I would be last, but at least I wouldn't be puking at the end (for the record, I was not even close to last. I stayed middle of the pack the entire race). I also learned that not going out too fast would get me away from the starting crowd just as fast as going out too fast. I just like to have my own little space during races. That's when I find my groove.


Yeah. Pretty much.

The first mile, my mind was racing. It went a little like this:

.3 miles : Why did I pick winterfresh gum? Always go with cinnamon in the cold! Always! Pretty sure my lungs are actually frozen.

.4 miles : Glad I wore shorts. I don't feel any cold on my legs. What is wrong with me that I cannot feel cold in my legs? Maybe I am bionic. No, I'd definitely be faster if I were bionic.

.45 miles : Ugh my toes. I can't feel them. Pretty sure my toes are ACTUALLY FROZEN.

.6 miles : Dude, way too short man shorts at 12 o'clock. Oh God, oh God, man thighs. Too much man thighs. So white, so hairy... Ack, look away before more man parts show. Never mind, it's too cold for that. Still disturbing. How is that even comfortable?

.7 miles : Pretty sure my nose is actually frozen.

.98 miles : Oh, look, there are my toes. One less thing to worry about.

2 miles in : I am burning up. Why did I wear a shirt? I could take my shirt off, but then I would have to repin my bib to my shorts, which would surely lead to injury. Oh no, camera. Smile like running 13.1 miles is your idea of relaxing on a cold Saturday morning!

The first 4 miles were like that. I laughed with a lady when a car backed out and blew exhaust in our faces. I listened to a veteran, a Marine, and an older lady talk about their running "careers" to pass the time. He was 57 and had just run the USMC Marathon, and was running one in Vegas next week, as well as RCM in December. She was 68, and did not start running until she was 35, but ran marathons like you and I take bubble baths. She had amazing neon yellow leopard print compression socks, and I decided I would need to get a pair of immediately. I thought if I could keep up with these two, I would consider myself a rock star. Runners really are like a fine wine, we get better with age.

At almost 5 miles I took a few honey stinger chews and grabbed water at the water station. I walked that station just to make sure I got all the water down. I was risking it not being enough to chase fuel with, so I wanted to get as much down as I could. At that point I felt good all except my left hip flexor was doing its usual complaining. I pushed past it and kept running. I found a lady who earlier in the race had Mandesa's "Overcomer" playing, and listened to a Jars of Clay song for a bit before pulling ahead again. Little things to distract from the hip flexor pain.

Once we hit the Greenway I got another burst of energy. It was SO pretty! The leaves were all fall-like, and the mountains in the background made it so picture perfect for running. At one point, however, I was feeling too hot and stuffy and it got a little congested. Some lady passed me and then blocked me from getting away from her. The unfortunate part of this is she had rap music blaring from her phone. It took every bit of restraint I had to not rip her armband away and toss it in the water we were running next to. Note: rap music during a race to me is like sticking my head in between giant clock gears. This is when I had regrets about not breaking the no ear bud rule.



Eventually I got away from rap music girl and was able to spread out from that crowd a little by passing her at the turn around. I took fuel and walked through another water station at mile 9. My hip flexor was beginning to bother me down to my knee, and randomly my ankle was aching, so the walk to drink that cup of water was a relief. Knowing I would lose my momentum, I started running again as soon as I finished, and just focused on the views.

This was the greenway part. So peaceful when void of rap music.

When we came out of the greenway, a spectator told me to run fast and take the guys in front of me. They had been with me much of the race. Their conversations had been cracking me up some. The one guy was running with I kid you not, giant headphones around his neck. I did end up passing them at one point, and overheard them talking about the "tiny gal beating them" or something to that effect. Then listened to them guessing my weight (something about being small and light and faster. Um, so not the case guys, and you are both way off). That's when not having earbuds got entertaining. They caught up to me at about 10.5 miles and caught me wiping my nose on my gloves. The one guy says, " That's why I should have worn gloves, to wipe my nose!" I told him I recommended gloves that were not fuzzy, as it left fuzz under your nose, to which he replied he noticed they were glittery. Ah, race talk.

My entire left leg felt like it was going to fall off at this point. Car exhaust girl came up beside me, and we started pushing each other, trying to talk about races (both of us were trying to redeem ourselves after BSTC), our crazy friends that ran marathons, and also about how much pain we were in. We lost each other right before the 13 mile mark, but she came up and passed me right at the end, us cheering each other. Right after the race we high fived  and found our finisher tshirts, then said goodbyes. That's about how runners are. You find a temporary best friend right when you need one, even if you may not ever see them again. You can talk about gross things, you can spit and shoot snot rockets. I mean really, what other time in life can you meet someone while spitting and it be acceptable?



I think I limped back to where I was meeting Ryan to pick me up. My left leg was cussing at me in left leg language. I went straight to a hot epsom salt bath, which fixed things right away. I was nauseated from inhaling a slice of pizza pre-race, but continued to graze all day despite that fact. Runchies are weird. I'm not sure when I am going to figure out that pizza right after running is not a good idea.

I am a little sore, but nothing terrible. I really enjoyed this race. The course was awesome, the volunteers and spectators great. I think out of all the half marathons I have run, this one wins for prettiest course. Probably because the time of year. I want to do it again next year for sure! I think for anyone wanting to do their first half, this is a great course for that as well. It was mostly flat, and plenty to look at to distract you from the miles. I barely looked at my watch, and my friend J ran without one, if that will tell you anything! I feel like I redeemed myself from BSTC Half, and am looking forward to training for Scottsboro. 

-Teacup Runner

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"-Psalm 8:9 NIV

Thoughts Two Nights Before the Race, HSV Half Edition

2 more days until half #4! For whatever reason, I have continued to get ridiculously excited about this race despite probably being entirely too ill prepared. I have run a whopping 7 miles this week. My plan was to get another short run in, but as life would have it things have been too busy this week. For starters, in my journey back into music ministry, I have agreed to sing tonight at church for a ladies fellowship group. I feel completely unprepared and insanely nervous. I even tried to get out of it initially, but I do feel like God wants me doing this regardless of the fact that the song on my heart comes out a little squeaky. It is odd for me. I am not a follower by any means, but not really a leader either. I just sort of do what I want and hope it comes off appropriate and not offending anyone. "Winging it" should be my middle name. It's ok. I got this. Most likely.

I feel confident that regardless of how I sound tonight, God will reach people, and the fellowship will be amazing. I can't thank Him enough for leading us to this church. 

The other big thing on my mind is what to wear on Saturday. Early in the morning I am cold lately, but I keep over dressing for my runs. I feel pretty confident that my bottom half should be comprised of compression shorts and socks, but no clue if I should do sleeves or not. It will probably be in the upper 30s, so I will need gloves, but I don't want to burn up and have nowhere to ditch clothes. I like to have as little on me as possible during these long runs. It appears I bought two pairs of bright cropped running tights to choose from for nothing, because I am too hot natured when I run. Honestly, the worst part is waiting on the race to start. Freezing and then not even a mile in, burning up. Then each outfit option comes with more decisions about where to store fuel, phone, etc. Then there is the fact that I just really wanted to wear the bright neon purple tie dye looking tights. Too much thought wasted on this.

I am not sure what it says about me that I am putting more thought into gear than a pacing strategy. Speaking of pacing, I had planned to test out a little Jeff Galloway run/walk intervals in my garmin this week, but forgot. I thought about trying that for the half. I know it is unwise to try out anything new at a race, so naturally I probably will. If anything, maybe it will keep me from going out too fast, and I can abandon it second half if it isn't doing it for me. I don't know. We can't have music this race (lame), so I need a distraction of some sort in case I struggle.

Don't judge me, Wonka. I do it because I am claustrophobic!

It's really a shame I have yet to master reading while running. Running is the only time in life I don't have a book of some sort on me. Can you imagine? Wonder if I could get away with an audio book. When I emailed the race director about ear buds, I got a short snappy "Rules say no music" response back. No music, eh? So earbuds are cool as long as no music? I really should invest in some of those wireless buds. Under a toboggan I'd be gold. Ok, enough fantasizing about rules I will never break. Spectators, I rely on you for my race entertainment! Witty signs and cowbells, people!

-Teacup Runner

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."-Galatians 1:10 NIV