A bit of everything

After my race on Sunday I felt great. I was bothered about my knee though. Went to my doc on Monday, he said it was a bit of overuse and did some laser. But then on Tuesday I went to a very good physiotherapist (sp???) in Sabadell, near Barcelona. He works with the Futbol Club Barcelona (Barça) doctors and is very good. He's been in the sport's injuries "business" for 35 years and knows what he's talking about. So I left work at 1 and headed to Sabadell. Got there, took me ages to park but finally managed, got there and waited patientlly while I read "Magical Running", what a great book! I read more of it once sat on the "bed" but waiting for him to see me.

In the end he comes and asks what the problem is. Before I can say anything, he says "too much calf". I tell him about how I started running 4 and 1/2 years ago and how it all went and what I've been told and all the tests I've been through and all I've done. I also told him I was told my achylles tendon was too short but he said, it's not that, he said my calf muscle is huge and the tendon can't cope with all that muscle... finally someone that agrees that my calves are huge (and horrible, although he didn't say that, LOL). I've always hated my legs, they look ugly and big. I've always "blamed" mom for taking me to ballet lessons when I was little but I guess it's my build, full stop. He also said that if I was a weight "thrower" or a speed runner I'd be good but doing long distance makes my muscles tight. To make a long story short, it seem like my very first diagnose was good: shin splints, yes, as simple (or not) as that, and they've been piling up over the years and now I have lots of liquid in there and we need to realease it. He did a sort of massage on the tibial bone... OMG... I saw new galaxies and planets... it was soooooooooooooo painful! He said I have to do this myself every day... geez... I must apply cold gel and press my thumb upwards along the bone to undo all the knots that are there. My legs are still so sore today (to the touch) where he pressed... oh my! He said to stretch my tibials a lot and my knees, I'm to use warming up gel before running, apply this special tape on my shins, then apply ice right upon finishing my run and then apply the cold gel and pressure on the bone to untangle what's tangled up! He never said anything about rest or stoping. He was soooo cool!

So, I went to the bike path today. I did a short run. The temperature was great, even hot I'd say! And I had no pain, no bothers... it was great! Hoping to go to Banyoles tomorrow and I'm planning on doing 2 laps around the lake. That's about 12,5km. Hopefully I can do it!

So, all good news I think. Also, I am eager to do my first half... possible dates are: Feb 6th, I'm already signed up but Paula's competing that day and might not be able to do it. Feb. 13th, a flat half near Barcelona (on the other side of me), March 20th, another flat half near Barcelona (on the side closer to me) and then first or second Sunday in May the half in Girona. After my exams on Dec. 12th my PT said we'll start upping mileage to see how I do. I'm so excited! I work so much better with a goal ahead... I just follow the carrot!!

1:08:33

This photo appeared on the main sport's paper here in Catalunya. OMG... on the digital edition, in a 40 photo album, this was number 2... not my best shot by any means, but way too cool! My partner is my beloved Maria!

87th edition of the Jean Bouin, a 10K race in Barcelona, this am. A lovely day with lovely crispy air and 10,250 runners! My watch said 1:08:37 but the official results say 1:08:33, so... I take it! After all I was wearing a timing chip and I guess that's the result that counts :P

It was great. I was lucky enough to meet Maria, a friend, and we run together... needless to say, running with someone is such a pleasure! She "pushed" me and we had a great time!

My knee's been bothering me since Tuesday with a "knicknack" and I'm going to the doc's again tomorrow... no pain while I run but bothering while I'm still, so I better have it seen to!

So, another race under my belt... getting closer to my half!

Banyoles again :D

It was a hard day at work today where lots of "harsh" feelings came out. We talked about it and it was good as we downloaded some stress which is always nice!

I left at 1, I went to pay for Paula's new leotards that I got on Friday and didn't pay (visa machine wasn't working) and then came home, got changed and headed for Banyoles to go around the lake. It was another perfect day for running. Sunny, crispy, beautiful! I run in the opposite direction today and decided the other way is much better. Did the full loop and felt great. Was 12 seconds per km faster today than yesterday. Think I'll rest tomorrow and then go out again on Thursday, we'll see. Friday will be tricky day as I have a dinner in the evening and a psycho appt at midday but will try to go after the psycho at the bike path and think the appt and the run will be the perfect combination! If I'm up for it I'll go tomorrow again, if not, I'll allow my body a day's rest (which ain't that bad after all) and resume on Thursday, we'll see!

2 days in a row... happy about it and feeling great! Slow but good, at least I'm out there!

Running under the rain!

So I went running today. It was raining, yet it didn't stop me. The truth is that I've been somewhat stressed due to some stuff that's going on at work and I really needed to get out there. It was awesome. Since it was raining, there was noone about, it was just lovely! I run very very slow but I got out there and run for 34 minutes plus some others of warmup and cooldown!

Might go to Banyoles tomorrow (might be very muddy...) or back to the bike path where I run today. I need to get studying too. I didn't take part time with all it means not to study but the truth is that being able to go running at midday is a privilege!

My pace today was very very very very slow, I think the slowest ever... don't know what'll happen on Sunday at the race... maybe I'll repeat what I did last year: last, but as long as I can run it, who cares how long it takes?

I'm determined to run a half in Feb. We'll see what happens!

Ok, here it goes...

After thinking about it for ages and really wanting to do it and after reading a few stories of regular people , people just like me (and you ;) I guess...) I want to go for it. I want to make it for Barcelona 2012, that is the Barcelona marathon in 2012 held the first weekend in March. So there... I said it. I had it in mind. Don't know if I ever stated it in writing but here I go. If I want it I've got to fight it. Noone's going to give it to me. If one want something, it won't be easy, it won't be "free", so there... I am signed up for a half on Feb. 6th but as I have stated some other time, it might be the date of Paula's first competiton of the season (don't know if it'll be Feb. 5th or 6th and where. We'll find out for sure, I think, on Monday Nov. 29th). If it is held where I run, no problem but it'd be too much of a coincidence. If not, there's another one on Feb. 13th, the following weekend, so I better get going. I'm late in training already so... here I go... I will lose weight along with it, slowly but surely and will run a half and in 16 months I hope to run Barcelona and then my dream, my biggest dream of all... NY in 2013 (I was no in the raffle this year, will be no I guess this year and next, so it's a yes for 2013!!!)

So Jacky... mothering, working, studying and training... I can do it with organization. I can, I can, I can!!!!

87th Jean Bouin!

That's happening next Sunday, November 21st (www.jeanbouin.cat) That was my very first 10K race after being sidelined for 3 years and after only having started running 3 months before that. It was a great day! So, lots of memories for me on Sunday of how far I've come and how far I've got to go. I know I won't do too well but I'm doing it no matter what. My brother wants to try to run under 49', we'll see. He can surely do it!

No running today, lots of walking yesterday, park in the am with the kids today and afternoon at home. It's dark at like 5:30 and it doesn't feel like getting out there at all! We've realized we can't let Pol take 3+ hour naps, so as of next weekend, if he sleeps less we can go out before dark and since we'll be out already it won't be as hard and we can use all afternoon too :P

Off to the doc tomorrow (for my leg, what kept me away from running for 3 years) for a checkup (we do them every 2-3 months) and it comes in perfect as my back is warning me...

Will run (if no other obstacles) at midday tomorrow, woohoo!!!

Sigh

Ok, the time has come. It's got to stop. I need to do things right. I have to lower my anxiety levels and running is a natural remedy for that. I have to control my eating and running is great for that. I need to focus and running is great for that. I need to find time but the day only has 24 hours. Conclusion: ORGANIZATION is the key. I can do it. I want to do it. I need to do it... JUST DO IT JACKY, JUST DO IT!!!