Jumping off of the plateau

I had forgotten how quickly one can benefit from changing a running routine; particularly when changing means upping the mileage and putting in a little bit of speed work. I literally have only done two actual speed workouts and one hill work out. The rest is just plain mileage. I've noticed that my comfortable pace short to medium distance runs are faster than before. I am learning that the planned and frequent walk breaks are not as beneficial to me as they are for others. I am getting away from being fixated on "saving" energy on the longer runs and just going a pace that feels good. The last two long runs have not only been faster than any in the last six months, but I have also finished them feeling like I could go further if I wanted to. I am also finding it easier and easier to get into a mental groove that allows me to enjoy solo runs. My guess is that my anxiety is lower and I don't spend the whole time fretting over what might happen during my run. Part of me always goes back to thinking about the Tacoma Marathon. I felt like absolute crap and I still finished. That tells me that I can feel like crap and still run. It's all temporary and you always come out stronger afterward.

During the past three marathons, I felt as though I was stuck in a pace rut. Part of it was the planned walk breaks, as I am realizing that for me, the stop and go is more exhausting than it is helpful. I wondered how the heck I was able to jog through the Eugene Marathon at a sub 10 minute pace when I have had to work so hard for 11+ minutes per mile on the last three marathons. In the last two or three weeks, however, I am feeling running refreshed. That is not to say that all of my runs have felt good, although most have. It's more like I am feeling like I am finally climbing out of a certain rut and setting higher personal goals is seeming more and more realistic.

Ahhhh!

Changing the routine

Now that I am running longer distances on a more regular basis, I am realizing that my body is getting used to the rate of exercise and my metabolism has either hit a plateau or gone back a little. Last year at this time, I weighed the most that I have ever weighed and I could really feel it when I ran. It was only a difference of about 12 lbs from normal, but on a 5' 1" frame, that makes a pretty big difference. I'm almost back to that dreaded weight despite my increase in marathons. It is much harder to maintain a good balance between calorie intake and output when you have to carbo-load and suck down gels and eat recovery meals. I am also a reactive hypoglycemic, which means that blood tests show that I have normal blood sugar levels, but at any time that blood sugar goes down even a little I experience exaggerated symptoms...light-headedness, headaches, nausea, and what I call "jello legs. So, in response, I need to eat every two hours throughout the day to avoid those yucky symptoms. Bleh.

I've read that to lose one pound you've got to burn off about 3500 calories per week. That boils down to about 35 miles of running..no prob! But once again, if I keep running the same way, the same time of day, then my body will adjust and won't burn as much. Soooo, I decided to mix it up a little. I've begun doing some "speed work" on Thursday nights. This morning I ran with Mike's soldiers (and beat about half of 'em) along ruston way and then up 30th street and back. I did the hill twice while the guys only did it once. tee hee! Now that it's summer time, I am going to try to thow in some spin classes and other alternate stuff, hoping that should do the trick without having to track my food intake much more than the typical portion control.

I love summer. If I wasn't a teacher and I didn't have this break, I think I would be a big fat ball of lard. Pfew!

She's a maniac, maaaaaaniac...!

A little over two years ago I ran my fastest marathon to date. Not only was it my PR, but it was in Track Town USA, also known as Eugene, OR. I am a product of the U of O School of Music and consider Eugene my second home. I will never forget the perfect race, on a near perfect course with perfect weather, among the perfect group of friends. I was probably in the best shape of my adult life and felt like I could conquer the world. During my training weeks leading up to Eugene I did not waiver. I had my husband's (then fiancee) undying support and decided that Eugene would be the first of three marathons in three months to qualify me as a Marathon Maniac (www.marathonmaniacs.com). The other races to follow would be the inaugural Tacoma City and North Discovery. My sense of immortality would quickly dissipate, however, when I came to experience what I now know as a full blown panic attack about 10 minutes after finishing the race. When the numbness in my fingertips and toes began spreading throughout my body, my chest felt as though someone were sitting upon it and then every muscle in my body, including my toungue began to cramp and freeze up, I was certain that I was going to die. The medics told me that I may have overhydrated and made me eat potato chips. Then I remember some guy sticking a plastic bag over my mouth. I had never before struggled so much to convince myself that I needed to trust these people. After all they did what they thought was right. Once my breathing pattern was regulated and I was able to swallow some more electrolytes, I recovered quickly....literally within 20 minutes. This should have been the first clue that it was panic, but I was very ignorant.

It took me about two months of blood tests, emergency room visits, major paranoia and uninformed doctors telling me that I should never ever run a marathon again to figure out that I had inherited yet another perk of the depression/anxiety spectrum....panic disorder. It has taken me two years to get to the point that I can live with this disorder and not walk around life in fear of another attack.

So, here I am today...a little older, a little wiser, a little fatter and with many more miles on my feet. As cheezy and cliche as it sounds, reaching my goal of maniac status means more than just that. It means I have learned to take control over that little monster inside me that makes me fear the world. It means that I am stronger than I think I am. It means that a new door has been unlocked to a place with no walls.

Panic Management...check.
Learning to run a marathon despite panic...Royal Victoria Marathon...check.
Yakima River Canyon Marathon...check.
Tacoma City Marathon...check.
Bladder Infection management...check.
Green River Marathon with great running friends...check.
Marathon Maniac status...check.
New goal - 6 in 6 months...check.
What next?