Blogging on the Powwow

Yes and no. I started running 9 years ago, as part of a weight-loss strategy -- like so many other people. The weight has come and gone multiple times over the last 9 years, but the running stuck. Like so many others, I found running and physical activity absolutely addictive. I went from running 3 miles to training for a half marathon almost over night...and then marathons and I even did a 50k (31 miles) once. In all, I have run 9 marathons (or plus); I tend to run 3 or 4 races a year: 5ks to marathons. But, like many amateur runners, I have suffered running injuries here and there. Last winter when I was recovering from a stress fracture, my wonderful physical therapist, Bob, at Pinnacle Physical Therapy , said to me: You need to fire yourself and hire a coach, because you have too many training errors. So, I did. My former physical therapist at Pinnacle, Leigh, moved to Texas and set up an online coaching business. A cyclist, runner, and swimmer who does full-length Ironman race...

I once read that if you're going to be a dedicated runner and especially if you are going to do distance running, it's all a matter of time before you get injured. There is no way to avoid it. I wish it wasn't true, but it has been for me. I started running in 2004 and that spring suffered many, many running injuries. I fell in love with the sport so much that I just couldn't hold myself back. Being a novice at all things sport and exercise-related, I thought, "What's the worst that could happen?" I was really ignorant, to say the least. Me - 4 days before the Turkey Trot. Never a good sign, under any conditions. I've had at least one--if not three-- stress fractures , inflamed knees, chronic   shin splits ,  Plantar fasciitis ,   vamp's disease , and numb toes or   Morton's neuroma . The latter is what put me in my infamous surgical shoe that was the subject of many comical Facebook postings (if I do say so myself). The neuroma app...

What happens the day before a marathon? I visited the race location for the marathon to pick up my running "bib" and race packet. At this race, there was also a table labeled "SWITCH" for people who had registered for the full marathon and wanted to switch to the half. I was happy not to need this table! My running bib for the marathon! #261 Race organizers usually hand out a shirt or a even better...a jacket! I was happy to get another running jacket! Carb-load! It's very important to eat lots of carbohydrates before a marathon. I am gluten/wheat-intolerant, which means I usually eat rice or potatoes. It's very important to stay hydrated  the day before a marathon ! It's very important to rest the day before a marathon. I try not to do anything out of the ordinary. No running, jumping, rearranging the furniture (to prevent tripping), running down the stairs, or wearing shoes that will pinch my toes! Pour over your runn...

I finally found a use for the Facebook timeline! I was able to look up which day last August I injured myself while on a planned 19-mile run. It was August 30, which is 364 days ago. Today, I again headed out for a 19-mile run, since I am training for the same marathon, and fought the same near-injury as last year, but in the other foot. And, I succeeded this time! I didn't have to call Neil for Aleve at mile 7 and I didn't have to call Neil at mile 9 and ask him to pick me up. Instead, I called Neil at mile 10.5 and told him that I was playing it safe. I was on Plum Island. I stopped at a convenience store for a Gatorade and asked for a cup of ice, went outside, stripped down the right foot and applied the ice - hoping to stave off any impending injury. It worked.  Moreover, the owners of the convenience store were quite the team. A man nearing 80 rang up my purchase for Gatorade. He said, without batting an eye, "That will be $18.61." His son turned to me and said...

It all started in March 2011 as I crossed the finish line to complete my 7th marathon - this time, the Lower Potomac Marathon  in southern Maryland. Here I am at the finish line. (I also just have to add in this cute picture of Kathy and Dorothy - wearing their "Team Emi-Lou Staff" t-shirts that Dorothy and Neil had made for this and all race occasions.)  I am a slow runner, but the clock showed that I had shaved 1 minute off my last PR (Personal Record for you non-runners)...completely by accident. For the last 4-5 marathons I had shaved 1 minute off each time I crossed the finish line - and it was unplanned every time. I have always been a casual marathoner. I'd love to hit most sought-after goal for any marathoner - well, the first goal is to just finish. The second goal is to finish in under 4 hours. This is called running a "sub-4 marathon." But, in truth, it just hasn't been in me. I've been happy to run marathons, never paying much atte...