Sat. May 30 - 5 miles

This was my first run post-marathon. I've felt fine, leg-wise, for a few days so I was quite eager to lace on my new running shoes and hit the pavement. However, there is clearly still a bit of healing to do - by mile 4, my thighs ached and my right hip was sore, something unheard of in such a short and slow run. Still, it felt really, really great. I wore my new Marathon t-shirt!

My Marathon video - highly shortened version

Almost recovered - and some pix

After several days of walking like a penguin, my legs are finally recovering. I can actually sit down without having to use my arms to lower myself down! I went for a nice walk yesterday and should be ready for a very mild run tomorrow (in my new post-Marathon running shoes).

Here are some photos of the last pre-LA Marathon LA Roadrunners training run - group 7, natch.

How I've been spending my Saturdays

WOOOO! I'm a Marathoner!!

I finished the LA Marathon in 4 hours and 32 minutes! It was all fun and exciting, with plenty to look at along the route - until about mile 22, when the sheer agony in my legs and feet began to suck much of my enjoyment from the run. I felt like I was staggering the last four miles, although I think it was mostly in my head - my form stayed more-or-less a run or at least a trot. Never needed to fall to my knees and crawl, anyway - and I didn't walk, either.

Now my legs, and particularly the front of my thighs, are aching so much that I limp when I walk - and I have to carefully lower myself down when I sit. It was HELL walking down the Library Steps (the escalator was out of order, natch) on my way back to my car - I had to use the handrail and limp down like an old lady.

Still - all worth it! And as soon as the ache wears off and I can't quite remember how agonizing those last few miles were, I'll be raring to do it again. Sort of like childbirth...

Dorky Marathon movie to come soon!

Wed. May 20 - 3 miles?

This was such a tiny little run, I didn't even bother to measure it. We were officially told by our pace leaders to "chill" and so that's what I'm doing. I'll take one more very short run on Friday and then that's it until the Big Day.

Sun. May 19 - biked 16 miles

Decided to throw a little cross-training into the mix... felt great.

Sat. May 16 - 8 miles

Our last Roadrunner run of the season! This was a 'happy run' - just 8 easy miles, with lots of phot0-taking along the way. Great vibe - we're ready!

May 13 - 4.5 miles

Another short run as I taper down. Next comes the 8-mile "happy run" on Saturday, a few little runs next week, and then - MARATHON!

May 11 - 3 miles

Well yeah - I'm tapering down, you see! And this little run was so short and sweet that I really did feel gazelle-like for once.

Saturday, May 9 - 15 miles

I'm happy to report that this run was enjoyable, pain-free, and as "effortless" as a 15-mile run can be. We're tapering down from now on, with our next Saturday run on the 16th being only an 8-mile fun run.

I feel ready for the Big M!

May 6 - 3 miles (if that)

Oh, very bad run indeed! My shins felt sore from the get-go, and soon my entire legs were burning. I had unnerving flashbacks to last summer, when a mysterious shin/ankle injury kept me from running for several months - so I cut my run short and walked the last half-mile home.

I'm hoping that a rest on Thursday and Friday will appease my legs in time for Saturday's 15-miler.

May 5 - 5 miles

Went slow, as last weekend was tough on my legs. Felt fine, though I had no inclination to go any faster than absolutely necessary.

Update on Santa Monica Classic

My tag time was 52 minutes 34 seconds - that's a pace of 8 minutes 29 seconds per mile.

Woohoo!

Feel like I could do it a bit faster - perhaps if I weren't training for a Marathon just a few weeks away!

Two weeks of running

Oh wow, I haven't posted in almost two weeks, but luckily I haven't been falling behind in my running. I can't remember what I ran during the week of April 20, but it was probably two or three days of 5 to 6 mile runs.

Saturday, April 25 - 20 miles! This was our second 20 miler, and it was even tougher than the one two weeks before, at least for me. I didn't get that awful muscle cramp in my right shin - in fact, my feet and legs felt fine, considering - but I was suffering from bad hay fever and it made me feel weak (not to mention very drippy). But I stayed with the group, just barely. It's somewhat heartening to know that I can run 20 miles even feeling like crap.

Monday, April 27 - 4.5 miles. Felt I needed to have a mellow week. Legs felt fine.

Wednesday, April 29 - 5 miles. Ditto.

Saturday, May 2 - 10 miles. This was great - a beautiful day and an easy 10 miles. Didn't have to go pee at all during the run, a first for the longer training runs!

Sunday, May 3 - Which brings me to today - the Santa Monica Classic 10K. It was at 8, which meant I had a leisurely morning with the paper and still had time to bike over to the start. I run 10Ks regularly as training runs (a bit more than 6 miles), but I don't run them fast, so I had no idea how to pace myself or when to push it. I achieved my goal - under 54 minutes, meaning a less than 9 minute per mile pace - but it was a bit hard. First I was going slower than I wanted to because of all the crowds, and then we were going uphill all the way to mile 4, which was about at San Vicente and 14th, but then it was blessedly downhill after that. Felt a bit light-headed, which was very unpleasant. Otherwise a fine race, especially considering it came the day after a 10-mile run!