I run for...my comeback.

We are halfway through 2017 and yet I feel like I'm just at the beginning of my journey to a comeback. In March, when I wrote last, I had just started running post-surgery, training for a 10K and hoping to finish better than I did the year before. Well I did exactly that! I finished my 10K with a PR!! (1:12:01) It was just the spark I needed to remind myself how far I've come, not just since my surgery, but since my entire running journey began 6 years ago. I am stronger than I think I am. Comeback milestone #1 ✅

In my last blog post in March I was also talking about scouting out my next ultra race. Well I have officially signed up again for the Table Rock Ultra 50K. I could not get this race off my mind. Yes, it will be difficult. No, I didn't finish it last year. BUT, I did run 35K of the race. AND, something I realized....the 35K was an elevation gain of 4,000 feet. The 50K elevation gain is 5,700 feet. SO I already completed much of the climb last year. This was a major confidence booster for me and reminded me once again that anything is possible. Comeback milestone #2 ✅

Now that I'm returning to my inaugural ultra attempt, I will have to change some things. I didn't finish last year for a reason. Sometimes it's really hard to nail down one specific reason why a race goes horribly wrong. However, last year I feel pretty confident that I did not get enough training on the trails. Trail running typically equates to elevation gain so last year, while my distance/endurance was exactly where it needed to be, this year I somehow need to get more elevation gain in on my training runs. One way to do that is to continue doing hill repeats (5 x 600m, 7 x 600m, etc.). I've already started doing this is accordance with my training plan and so far it's gone off without a hitch. The next thing that I've heard helps, when you don't have mountains in your backyard, is to run stairs. I'm writing this already 6 weeks into my ultra training and I have yet to do this but my goal is to attempt it at least 1-2x this month. I have to admit I'm not so thrilled about running stairs. (Is anybody?!) And of course, the last thing to help with the elevation gain is to finally get some real, bonafide experience on the trails. I'm happy to report that this is already occurring.  I have 2 runs under my belt on an easy trail close to home. This weekend I have a trail run scheduled with a moderate level of difficulty and the hope is to eventually get some trail experience on the Table Rock Ultra race course before race day.

Trail run!

I love the trails!

Besides working on my elevation/trail experience, I will also focus on doing more to become a better runner in general. I've started doing a few things but I'm constantly on the lookout for opportunities for growth and development. The first thing I'm doing, which is totally new to my training, is jumping rope. I heard in a podcast that this can be helpful to trail runners because it enhances coordination and helps them be more aware of their foot strike, a skill that's especially needed out on the uneven terrain of the trails. Secondly, I'm putting more effort into cross training. Cross training has always been a part of my training programs in the past but I would typically discount its benefit to me because it's not "running". Well now that I'm actually doing it I can attest to its benefits. From what I've noticed it helps me with strength, endurance, recovery and boredom. It's not subtracting from my running like I thought it would AND I'm enjoying it. I ride my bike, dance, do yoga, walk, swim and would be in favor of trying other things as well. Along with cross training, core workouts have also been a neglected part of my training in the past. This year I've been sticking to it and doing even more than what's required. My training plan incorporates core workouts onto the end of training runs 2x a week. These are typically short 10-15 minute core workouts. In addition to that I'm doing 2-3 longer core workouts as part of my cross training or weekend runs. Core strength will help me become a better runner too through stability, coordination, and endurance.

Another positive step towards my comeback is that I just completed my first 20 mile training run a week ahead of  schedule. Even 6 years into this marathon/ultra training journey, I am still amazed at the ability to push myself beyond what I thought was possible. Even knowing that I've done it before....it still feels like an impossible feat once I get out there. This is the mental part of training that most people don't realize. Running 20 miles and beyond is a constant battle between telling yourself you can't and convincing yourself you can. Then when it's all said and done you really feel like you can do anything. Next up for me is 22 miles. Just 10.5 weeks stand between me and my second attempt at the Table Rock Ultra 50K. This is my mountain, literally and metaphorically, and I will do whatever it takes to conquer it for my final milestone in the year of the comeback.

I run for...healing.

This post is a long time coming...almost 6 months to be exact. If you will think back with me, my last blog post was a recap of the Table Rock Ultra, a race that was disappointing to say the least. It seems as though since then my running journey has been through its ups and downs. After Table Rock I knew that an ultra was still my dream. I trained to run the 50K at Table Rock so the mileage was there. I quickly signed up for my next attempt, the Land Between the Lakes Ultra in March.

Training for the Land Between the Lakes Ultra started off great. I kicked things off in the first week of November with a 10 mile run. The weekend of Thanksgiving I ran a total of 23 miles in 3 days. I was feeling great, ready for the opportunity to redeem myself. Then in December things started to go downhill. I was hit with a sinus infection that had me struggling to get through my workouts. Despite going to the doctor and taking an antibiotic, I was not recovering. (This has been an ongoing issue for me the last 4 winters. I have had sinus infection after sinus infection with no relief until spring hits). My doctor finally recommended that I see an ENT. It was about that time that I quickly realized that running made my sinus inflammation worse. The doctor advised that I take it easy. I followed doctor's orders as much as a stubborn and crazy runner can. I still got in about 10-15 miles on the weekends but the fatigue and pain in my sinuses made it hard for me to keep up with my weekday workouts. Not to mention I had all of this going on with the stress of the holidays upon me.

January 1, 2017 was my last long run in training for my redemption race. 13.1 miles to kick off the new year. A week later I had strep throat. When the antibiotics for that were finished, I still had symptoms and was diagnosed with yet another sinus infection...3rd for the winter. I had my appointment with my ENT and it confirmed what I had feared...I would require surgery to fix my sinus issues. The scan of my sinuses showed that almost my entire left side was swollen shut. That was the pain and the pressure that I was feeling for months! It was somewhat of a relief to have some answers but with this news, my journey to the Land Between the Lakes Ultra was over.

I ran one time between January 1 and March 1 (the date of my surgery). After being down and out for 3 days after this short 1 mile run on the treadmill, I gave up trying to tough it out. I would just have to wait until after my surgery to get back into the swing of things. I walked A LOT and it was so depressing. All I wanted to do was run. The fear of the surgery almost had me wanting to reschedule for later in the year. Then I remembered how much this has been affecting my running and I knew I needed relief sooner rather than later.

Surgery went SO well! Of course it was painful but I only had to take a few days off work and after about 5 days, the difference was remarkable! I could breathe much easier, my smell and my taste improved, and I had no more pain and pressure. In this moment, it was hard for me to pull back on the reins and not jump straight into running. I waited the required amount of days (10!!) before easing into some exercise once more.

Day 11 post surgery - walked 30 minutes.
Day 13 post surgery - FIRST RUN COMPLETE - 2.26 miles on the treadmill
Day 15 post surgery - 2.72 miles OUTSIDE

First outside run!

And today, 18 days post surgery, I completed 3.7 miles outside. I would call that progress! It's so weird for me to be in this place. After every marathon there was definitely time for recovery and healing but it was 3 weeks at the most and I could still do some easy running/jogging. Two months of NO running is completely new for me. Starting from square one is completely new for me. So this year is all about healing and staging a comeback! I need to prove to myself once again how strong I am. I need to recover and heal from the disappointment of failing to complete my 50K last year. I am going to better, stronger, faster.

The first goal on my journey to a comeback is to complete the Illinois Marathon 10K with my mom. Last year we ran this together in the freezing rain and ended up losing each other at the end. It was hours (probably not that long but it felt like it) before we found each other. My goal is simple - to finish with a better time than last year. After this my slate is clean and I will start the scouting process for what races I want to run this year and I will start to plan my training in accordance.

Ready for my comeback!