Preparation for the Race

I have to apologize... I really can't get the race out of my head. So since that is on my mind- you get the read about it. 

I have been getting over my cough and sinus infection, and still nursing my hip pain, and my confidence was waning regarding actually running the race, and even finishing.

On Monday, I forced myself to the gym to run, and not even at the 1 mile marker, I had to stop. My hip was screaming at me, and when I tried to run, I couldn't breathe. That did very little for my confidence. I ended up stretching while Dustin ran for an hour and got in about 4.5 miles. After all that stretching my hip did feel better, so I started an ibuprofen regimen and decided I would stay on that and stretch gratuitously every day until the Race. 

On Wednesday, I decided my hip was feeling up to it and I wasn't coughing as much, so off to the gym we went again for round 2.  Before we left, I had D put RockTape on my right leg- down my entire leg to try to help alleviate the pain in my hip. My chiro thinks it might have to do with sciatica pain so I looked up how to tape for that: place the tape on whichever side is bothering you (my right) in the middle of the leg to just above the butt. And then a 5-inch strip horizontal over the area of pain. I might be crazy, but I feel it helped.  I decided that I would mainly walk, but I set the treadmill at 4.3-4.5 and walked as fast as my legs would allow.  When I felt good and warm, I did a tentative run for 30 seconds, and went back to walking, and it felt good. So I ran for 1 min increments, and walked for 2-3 minutes for the whole hour. I was really happy when I got over the 4 mile point, and my runkeeper app told me that I maintained, even with all the walking, 15 minutes per mile, and did a total of 4.25 miles. I felt a bit of my confidence come back. This was also the first time that my hour run went by pretty fast! I started running, and before I knew it, 45 minutes had passed and I was almost done. 

I also went to my chiropractor one last time before the race to get adjusted and have him work out the hip pain. I told him I was still feeling tightness in my hip and upper butt, so he did a little extra to try to help out. I know I’ll be seeing him the moment I get home.

That brings us to yesterday, Saturday.  This was my LAST chance to get in a long run. Again, I wasn't so confident that I could do it- I hate running on the treadmill for more than an hour, and the weather has been so cold and snowy, I didn't want to risk running outside and possibly catch an icy patch and injure myself further! So I talked to a few running friends and they suggested that I break up the run. Right- its not the same as running the mileage in one go- but even with a few hour break, it will still help condition my muscles.  So I figured I would go as long as my brain would allow on the treadmill, and then come back later. So we got to the gym, checked the kids into the day care and started out. The gym's daycare closes early on Saturday, so I had that looming as well. The first hour I did 4.25, and then I took a little break from the treadmill and walked outside to get some fresh cool air- it felt SO good to be outside. then I came back in a ran about 25 minutes until I had to get the kids agin. That brought me to just over 6 miles- pretty decent for 80 minutes. D hung back and got his full 2 hours on the treadmill, and then worked out further. I headed back around 4:00 PM and finished out my run. I got to 4 miles, and that brought my total to 10.09 miles for the day!! Made me feel really good. This morning I'm really feeling it, and I imagine this will be how I feel the day after the race. I felt pretty satisfied with myself and I'm happy I got the mileage in!!  I also practiced using some positive reinforcement phrases to help me through. I used a Forrest Gump one: “One day I decided to go for a little run…”  And “Leave it all on the road” and really just simply counting my steps “1,2. 1,2. 1,2.” Or the simple “1 more minute”. Something else that helped was thinking about the countless others that have made this journey and lived to tell the tale, and telling myself- if they can do it, I can do it. I can’t say enough of positivity.  If I doubt myself and tell myself I can’t, or I have to stop, then of course I do. But if you push forward in positivity and even run with a smile- it does a lot!

At this point in training, we start to tapper off the mileage, and just do a couple of maintenance runs, and I’ve already warned D that we won’t be running a full hour on Monday and Wednesday. The main thing to focus on this week is great sleep and hydration.  The night of the race, I will be lucky to get a few solid hours of sleep, so we gotta get our “sleep cache” up.

Trip preparation:
I have been racking my brain of all the little things I have left to do. Finish my costume. Put finishing touches on D's. The Disney Store had all their Halloween costumes out and on sale, and there was one left of Jake and the Neverland Pirates. So I nabbed it.  I had resigned to making a vest for Lucas, but I wasn't happy with it. So when I saw this- I knew it would be perfect and Luke would be happy that he got a costume like the rest of us.

There’s a meme I found on Pinterest that says “You know you’re a runner when you plan your vacations around runs.” Ain’t that the truth!! Not only are we going to Cali for the races, but we are also going for a vacation as well! I’m really excited to let myself get wrapped up in the events and get excited with my kids. My in-laws are coming as well to help cheer us on and tend the kids during the race, and it will be their first time to the DisneyLand Resort, so I also have thoughts of how to make this a great experience for them, too.

D has started to bring things out that we need to take. We'll be visiting the DisneyLand parks the day after, so that requires all our DL gear too. Our Ears are hanging on a mirror right now- can't forget those!
My awesome sister and brother in-law made D and I a “runners kit” for Christmas- SO thoughtful! I was really touched that they put so much thought and effort into it. They included Rocktape, freeze gel, Advil, Bodyglide, Epsom Salt, and a big chunk of chocolate. These will definitely be accompanying us on the trip.

What are your “must have’s” for a race? Anything else you would suggest?