I'm still alive!

Nothing much has been going on. I am in 'rehab' mode from my last marathon still, and that was advised by my PT and coach for this upcoming Knoxville marathon (they have been great to work with, by the way....)

I did go to the PT the other day for a gait evaluation, and he told me I have a weak behind, which was leading to my sore IT bands. My gluteus minimus (I think that's what it's called), is exceptionally weak, which allows my thighs to over rotate inward and cause IT inflammation on the outer part of my knee. He gave me some exercises to do and assured me if I do them, I will be fine in a month! Years of pain could potentially be relieved with some silly looking rubber band exercises and wall sits. Amazing!

Due to my weak behind, my PT suggested I cap my long runs at 4-5 miles until Jan 1. At that point, I'll have 3 months to ramp up my long runs and get ready for the Knoxville marathon!

Oprah is totally going down on March 30 (4:30 marathon time) and P Diddy(4:15 marathon time) too!

Lights, Camera, Action!

I haven't been up to much lately, until this past Saturday. This past Saturday was the first day that I was able to meet my "teammates" for the Marathon training Local News reality show.

Everybody on the team is really nice, and they really did a good job in picking the team. I don't say that because they picked me, but our group is very diverse. No two people have the same story or the same background--which I think is really neat. Each one of us on the team is going to be able to 'speak' to a different crowd of people and really drum up interest in the marathon and living healthy lifestyles. I am looking forward to the next 5 months. This should be really cool.

There is a slight downside to this whole experience--but it's really not a downside--the cameras. On Saturday, we took a lot of pictures. They filmed us doing a lot of different things as well. I ended up in a step aerobics class (...) and most of it was filmed. It's going to turn out really funny, because I had never done a step class before. This one was "prostep" or something like that, where there is a routine that you either know or you don't. I didn't know the routine, obviously, and by the time I figured out what they were doing, the song was over. One of the songs was "2 legit to quit" by MC Hammer, and that at least made the class halfway cool. I was 2 legit to quit.

I guess this will start showing up on TV after Dec 1, and after that date I won't be able to go to the grocery store without bodyguards and a gun. I'm mildly curious how many times someone will come up to me with the "Aren't you on TV..." line. The preliminary over/under on that is 10 if there are any bettors out there.

Sunday, Nov. 11 I ran a 5K! It was really the first time I had run since the marathon with any effort. I ran 2 times on a treadmill last week (1 mile and 2 miles, respectively), and I got on the bike 3 times (about 5 miles each time) the week before that. I was a little curious about how I was going to fare in the run, and I wasn't really sure if I should really run hard or take it easy.

This run was the 'debut event' for our marathon team, so I didn't have much of a choice in regards to participation. I had to go. I also really have a hard time "holding back" in a race, so I went hard. I ended up running my fastest 5K since High School! 22:35! Last year, I ran the same race to gauge where I was prior to any training. I ran 24:59 on the same course, basically rolling off the couch and going to the starting line. I was a little surprised by this time on Sunday given the circumstances, but happy nonetheless.

Another neat thing about this race, a friend and former boss of mine was co-chair of the race with her brother. They lost their father to cancer a few years back and she is really involved in the community and in fund-raising for Cancer research. She is a cancer survivor herself. This was a race against cancer, and it was the most successful one to date. I was glad I could be there, and the pic is of Sharon above the starting line with the starting gun.

I am still recovering from the marathon (technically), but I feel fine. I have been working out at the gym with the weights and trying to strengthen my 'core' a bit more before I start running again. I failed to mention that my coach for this Marathon training team is a former olympian herself and in talking to her over the weekend I think she is going to have me doing a lot more lifting than I did in preparation for Detroit. I am still going to have one long run a week, but I think that during the week I am going to be doing 5-8 miles and weights. I'm pumped.

The average American watches 4 hrs, 35 minutes of TV a day...

YUCK! The average US household watches TV 8 hrs, 14 minutes a day. That statistic is staggering to me. I had no idea the averages were so high, but then I look outside at a busy restaurant or street corner and based on the 'fitness' of the people I see, I am not surprised.

This raises the question: is TV that good, or is America that lazy? Granted, I am guilty of TV watching. I watch sports pretty regularly and I do have a show or three that I enjoy (The Office, Flight of the Conchords, House). I am also guilty of exercising 3-4 times a week for a good 2 hours each time. When I am laying on the couch, I am recovering from a workout--and I see that as a distinct difference from what the USA collectively is doing in front of the TV.

I have been reading a pretty good book this week. I am almost done with it, and I really want to continue this reading habit. I could read while recovering from a workout just as easily as I lay in front of the TV. I am already mentally preparing myself to downgrade my comcast service. Not because of money, but I don't need that temptation. I dunno, this TV stuff is making me want to puke.

USA Marathon Trials

RIP Ryan Shay. You never want to hear about anyone that is 28 years old dying. I'm 28 years old. It's a sad and curious situation. My thoughts really go out to his family and I am curious to hear what the cause of death is. 5 miles seems a little early to be having an exercise induced heart attack, especially for a marathoner.

He was an EAS runner, and Bill Romanowski is/was affiliated with EAS. Romanowski was known for being a 'performance enhancer' and he was the coverboy for EAS a few years back. I really don't want to accuse anyone of anything, and maybe EAS thinks that they are totally legit and on the up and up, but this makes me question how far is EAS pushing the envelope? Are they not telling their athletes something about their product?

I am going to be curious to find out the cause of death. I have always viewed EAS as "not quite illegal, but close..." as far as 'supplements' go, and this is making me question that assumption even further.

Congrats to all of the finishers at the Trials today. Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenheim, and Brian Sell are going to the Olympics! Ritzenheim and Sell have Michigan ties, which makes them cooler to begin with. Sell is a Hanson's runner. Hall is from California (lame).

If you don't know about the Hanson's running group, you should check them out. They really have a good thing going up there in Michigan.

EDIT: Ryan Shay had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart, and a low heart rate. He knew about this since he was 14, and it had never been an issue.

Post Marathon Thoughts

It's been about a 10 days since I last ran. I really haven't felt up to it, and it still feels like my legs are recovering from the marathon. I have worked out twice, both times getting on the bike, stretching extensively and doing some Ab, hip and quad work. That has felt really good.

I also re-evaluated my training program and I have changed to the Higdon Marathon Novice 2 program. It has more miles and the long runs are more frequent and a little longer. I think running more miles, along with leg strength training is really what I need to do to finish under 4 hours. My first marathon last weekend was the first time in my life that I can remember my body giving out on me. I have always been able to get by on my natural ability I guess you could say. Having to walk during the Detroit Marathon was definitely a humbling experience that is motivating me to train harder and have more focus for this Knoxville marathon.

Another thing that I came across that really caught my attention:

Seriously? Oprah AND P Diddy have faster marathon times than I do? Really? OPRAH?

That needs to change, and fast. You're going down Oprah.