The Ultra-Adventures of a Painfully Normal Girl

I just returned from volunteering in the Ink n Burn booth at the Endurance LIVE expo at the San Diego Convention Center. While I had no knowledge of the event prior to a few days ago, it was an enjoyable event. There were many big name as well as up and coming companies there. Also, there were clinics and chances to rub elbows with the pros.

A few of my favorites were there to include infinit and nuun. Granted there were quite a few triathlon booths that I glossed over. Then there were the new discoveries. Clif Bar now has a delicious granola bar. Also adventure racing sounds like a whole lot of fun.

There were also several nutrition related booth which got me to thinking that sports nutrition should be added to the list of potential careers. It's something I'm passionate about...mmmm, food.

What all this really made me realize though, was that it is great finding a group of people just as crazy as you are so that you fit right in as "normal".

Today's joy of running: having amazing running friends to share the love of gastronomic delights and tasty beverages with.

(hey, not all running joys directly involve running...)

For those of you who know me, I can be downright terrified of the water in certain circumstances. So when I say I took a surfing lesson with Josh, it was a big deal. Well, I had a blast. Being the first lesson, we did plenty of drills on the beach to learn how to stand first. The instructor assured me that it wouldn't be scary at all and that the water would not be more than waist deep where we were.

Finally it was time to hit the surf. Mind you, it was not like the surfing you usually see. We would ride the wave in towards the beach. Unfortunately on my second attempt, I crashed unceremoniously landing with my toes bent back at a ridiculous angle. Luckily, I only suffered some soft tissue swelling and pain. The same cannot be said for Josh, who broke one toe and fractured another. (At least now, we have a good story...).

After a few tries, I finally was able to stand. Our instructor was so excited to see me stand that he came skipping over to me and tackled me into the surf to the point where I was entirely submerged. Normally at this point, I would have majorly panicked, but I stayed amazing calm instead. VICTORY!

Moral of this story... I had to take a few days off from running to let my foot heal. Hopefully, I will be back Thursday!

Today's run was the first time that I was able to tear down a substantial hill since last March without so much as a twinge of pain. It was as amazing as I remembered. Needless to say, my morale is returning...

Ok so today began the week of the 3 mile runs. Yes, I realize that in the couch to 5k program, the goal is to build up to 3 miles. The problem is that a run of 3 miles will never be the same thanks to the Marine Corps.

I understand the PT environment, however the run-til-you-puke mentality, especially during the PFT, made me forget that running can actually be fun.

And now I have an aversion to running that distance. I would rather run 2 or 4 or 50...

Yesterday, Josh and I went for a hike. We have decided to hike each weekend slowly increasing pack weight and hike distance. There is a mountaineering course in his future as well as mine, as long as the knee continues to play nice.

Honestly, it felt great. While the runs have been kicking my butt, this hike was the mental/morale boost I have been desperately needing.

Its as though my emotions while running have followed the wildly fluctuating ups and downs of the terrain I have been along. However, I do realize that my body is struggling to reach the level of stamina and ability that my mind remembers from before. It seems to have forgotten the pain and frustration associated with getting to that point.... oh, yes, now I remember.

So on the way home from today's run, I decided to pick up a few groceries. I zipped around efficiently grabbing what I needed. The checkout clerk, in a tone that said I-don't-really-want-to-be-here-but-I-have-to-pretend-that-I-care, asked what sport Team Ink N Burn supports. I was wearing one of my Team Ink N Burn shirts, which are the most amazing technical shirts if I must say.

"Ultramarathons and such endurance feats."

"Oh... marathons. I keep thinking I should start running because runners are in such great shape, but I hate running."

I stopped myself from sighing out loud and decided not to explain that I was not talking about marathons because of the sheer apathy in his voice. I mentioned something instead about running on trails being more fun, and then I was on my way.

My new Gamin 310XT came to day. I tested it out on today's run and it is thankfully better than the 405. I am quite excited that it has a 20hour battery life and it can be turned off when you are not using it to save the battery. I set up the 4 available display screens with all those stats I so love/hate while I am running.

Unfortunately, my knee has been aching on and off since Tuesday's run... right about where the cyst is. Strangely, though, I didn't feel it while I was running today. Which brings up today's conundrum; do I try a cortisone shot now while I am low in mileage or do I wait and see? I want to keep it as healthy as possible for 2011 ultra season and the mountaineering in my future.

My optimism levels elevated slightly after running, eating, and drinking beer with some fellow trail crazies. Granted it was a relatively tough 2.5 miles in the mountains of east county, but I loved the snow and the change of scenery.

I have decided that while I am running these short distances, now is the time to focus on nutritional expermentation. I feel as though I have said this already, but I'm serious this time, really... The first focus will be eating "cleaner". There will be more fruits and veggies and less processed foods. I have already reduced coffee intake to certain weekends and special occasions.

Cheers!

I have been terrible at posting lately, but forcing my way through the couch to 5k program has left me less than inspired. It's not a hard program to follow but it is frustratingly slow. Luckily, I run with Andrea most of the time and she is entertaining and inspiring in her own way.

I occasionally still get twinges and tweaks in Thing 1 (the bad knee), and therefore I remain somewhat skeptical of 2011 being my return to ultra running. The cyst does not seem to be going anywhere soon and I remain hyperaware of the knee. Thus far it hasn't bothered me while running or walking, but the IT band does say hello every now and again (usually while hiking instead of running). Perhaps I am so focused on it that I am imagining it... one can hope.

Anyway, I don't really do the whole new year resolution thing, so I will continue to take my running one week at a time without setting long term goals or major races until I get more distance under my belt, or rather shoes.

Happy New Year!