Pre-Marathon Training Reflections and Stats

Statistics provided by Garmin as well as my own training logs. They are not completely accurate as there have been some runs I have completed without my watch. Also, I often replaced a scheduled workout with a race.

Weeks Training: 16
(15? 16 week training program, with 0 running in the last week due to knee problems and an unexpected cold/fever!)

Total Number of Miles: 412.5

Number of Runs: 59

Types of Workouts:
~Track: 11
~Tempo: 10
~Long: (Runs over 10 Miles) 10
~Hills: 4
~Recovery: 7

Races: 8

Shortest Run: 3 miles

Longest Run: 20 miles

Training High: 2 exciting race PRs: Woodbridge 10k and the Newport 1/2 Marathon.

Training Low: Getting sick at the very end of training!!

Favorite Run: This is a toss up between the 13 mile trail run and the 20 miler @ 8:36 pace.

Least Favorite Workout: Hill workouts are always the toughest for me, but so important! This track workout was also really hard!

Cold Update
Thank you for all your cold remedy suggestions. I used many of them! Unfortunately, yesterday I developed a fever, so I stayed home from work and rested. I used another sick day today in an attempt to recover as much as possible. I feel much better today, although still a little stuffy and definitely tired, despite sleeping more than usual. I hope to feel even better tomorrow so that I can still run a relatively decent race on Sunday but I may have to reevaluate my goals. I hope to still be able to qualify for Boston, although if I don’t, my dad suggested trying to find another fall marathon to do, later in the season. Boston 2011 will probably be sold out by then but I would love to get that BQ under my belt. We will see. I will keep you posted. Thanks again for all the well wishes and support! Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

I Need Your Help!

Help! With 5 days to go until the big day, I feel as though I am coming down with a bit of acold! I was hoping the symptoms were simply allergies because the past few nights Dan and I have been sleeping with tissues on our nightstands, but now my throat is getting scratchy :( My dad has been feeling under the weather too!

I have been trying very hard to fight it by:

~Juicing Veggies
~Taking Vitamins
~Lots of Green Tea!
~REST!
~Chia Seeds
~Yogurt (probiotics!)
~Eating Right

So, I need your help. What are some of your tips to fight colds or to prevent them in the first place? I’d like to think my immune system is pretty strong but for some unknown and crazy reason, in 4 out of the 5 half marathons I have run, I caught a cold in the days following the race. It also doesn’t help that I work at a school and my kids always have runny noses! Jaime told me about ViraBloc Lozenges from GNC which I plan to pick up after work.

What are your favorite get well tips?

Right now I’m off to the gym and sit in the steam room!

Immune Boost!

As I mentioned in my Last Post, I have caught yet another cold! I really think I have caught every cold, flu, or other contagious virus that has come my way this cold season. I used to think that because I run/exercise so much I would have a strong immune system but now I think that all the exercising is part of the problem.

When I first started running half marathons, I would get sick after each one I ran! Literally the next day, I would come down with a cold. According to The Complete Book of Running for Women, by Claire Kowalchik, as well as many other sources (I believe Runner's World also touched on this, I just don't remember what issue!) "Though running generally strengthens your immune system, too much running can wear it down, which is why it is not uncommon for a runner to catch a cold after completing a marathon." For this reason, The Runner's World article I read, recommended avoiding public places, i.e., airports, malls, SCHOOLS. Unfortunately, since I am a TEACHER, avoiding school is not exactly an option (although sometimes I wish it was :) And interestingly, I scheduled a personal day the Monday after my Sunday Marathon and I didn't get sick!

After catching a mild version of the flu, (possibly swine because my student teacher had it!) a chest/coughing virus, and then a regular cold a week later, I had HAD it! Inspired by some of my favorite healthy living bloggers:
Lily's Health Pad, Jenna at
Eat, Live, Run, and Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point, (If you haven't already, you should check out the blogs of these amazing ladies!) I decided to take a trip to Whole Foods! As of a few weeks ago, I had already increased my tea intake to 3-5 cups a day, and started eating 1 yogurt a day, and I was still getting sick! To be clear, I did catch an unusual amount of colds/viruses this flu season, but I also noticed that they tended to be milder and more short lived than everyone else around me. Also, since I teach special ed (kids with severe Autism, ED, etc.) I come into contact with more germs than your typical teacher. I figured I needed to do more in terms of healthy eating, so I decided to decrease my meat intake and increase the veggies and whole grains. I am unable to do allll of my shopping at Whole Foods (I am a teacher, remember :) but I was able to get a few essential items:



As you can see from the picture, not ALL of the items are from Whole Foods, and all the items I bought were not photographed (I am relatively new to this blogging thing and didn't think to take a pic until after I put everything away!) Regardless, these items are my attempt to eat healthier! In this picture we have: Yogi teas (my new fav), Amy's soup and an Amy's veggie burrito (I have been reading so many good things about this brand and now I know why! I am obsessed...must buy more!) some Greek yogurt (which I haven't tried yet) and some regular organic yogurt just in case I don't like the Greek yogurt. I also got some unpictured soy yogurt which I LOVED btw. There is also some Tofu, which I incorporated into tonight's dinner, chick peas (love), fresh ground peanut butter and almond butter, and of course Oatmeal (another new kick of mine). Since this picture was taken, the oatmeal, almond butter, and burrito are already gone. Guess I will have to go back to Whole Foods sooner than I thought! I think I need a raise...

I promise an actual post about RUNNING is coming soon!

2 Weeks to go and Sick...

Soo I am still sick :( It is actually a bit worse than I originally thought. Friday night I had a pretty high fever that didn't break until last night. Today I feel a bit better, but am super achy. No 10K for me today...fortunately I wasn't counting on the points, just wanted to run for fun and I read somewhere that it is a good idea to run a 10K race 2 weeks before the marathon. Oh well, hopefully I am getting this cold/flu whatever it is out of my system so that I am ready to go for Philadelphia. I also read that for whatever reason, many runners get sick when they are at their fittest during training. Either way, being a teacher doesn't help! I have 3 paraprofessionals that work in my classroom and all 4 of us are sick. Its crazy that has never happened before. In my 3 years of teaching, we usually take turns being sick. Of course of teacher's convention, the nice 4 day weekend we look forward to, we all come down with something. Last year at this time I was in Orange County so I am also lucky I wasn't on some fabulous vacation when I came down with this! I am doing the best I can to get better...drinking lots of tea and juice. I am also lucky to have wonderful people that love me. D went to the store and brought back tylenol and a thermometer (we didn't have either of those things) and also 2 magazines, 2 movies, and some chicken soup. Later last night my parents came by with some homemade chicken soup. My mom also brought her stethoscope (she is so worried about the swine flu!)Fortunately I was all clear! Anyway, I am feeling a bit better today so I may show up at the 10K to cheer on my dad. I can't believe Philadelphia is just 2 short weeks away!