Getting my run on!

Finally getting to put some miles behind me!  The knee is holding in there but just doesn't feel great.  Yesterday I set out for a 13 mile run, I completed 11.  I could feel my knee tightening up somewhere around mile 5, I knew I wasn't going to make the 13.  I told my self that I will stop on an odd number... 7, 9, 11 or 13.  After hitting each milestone I would reassess my knee. At the 7 mile marker the knee felt off but not really hurting, so I pushed on to mile 9.  I could feel that when I started to slack on my stride it ached a little.  As I was finishing up mile 10, the aching seemed to be a little more sporadic.  I knew fo-sho somewhere between mile 10 and 11, that 11 was going to be my magic number!  I am very pleased with 11 miles.  It is a little depressing when I look at my original training program... Yesterday was supposed to be my first 18 mile training run!  I will just have to keep on doing what I can and try not to push myself past the breaking point again!  

On a positive note!!  I love, love, love the road bike.  I can definitely see a triathlon in the near future!  I am also done with school until January 18th!  By the start of next semester I will officially be a "MARATHONER".  Thursday morning we are taking off to drive up to Washington to see my folks!  YEAH!!!  A plus to this- My little brother Danny is coming with!!!!  The holiday spirit is slowly creeping up on me and I am feeling great.  Next week while Timmy is at school, I will be baking!  So if anyone has any great recipes that they wouldn't mind sharing with me, that would be greatly appreciated!!  

Happy Holidays!!!

-Kristal

I'm back... kinda sorta!

It was a rainy mess out there today!  Reminded me of home, OH how I miss Washington.  But who really wants to go running in that crap?  NOT ME... so I kept pushing the run off until the rain finally subsided and I had no excuse.  Unfortunately, it was until 4:30 or so, which didn't give me much daylight.  I set out for 9 miles... at mile 5 my knee started to ache.  I decided to call it quits and head home.  I only finished 6 miles and at a relatively slow pace.  My knee feels a little off now.  I have a 10 mile bike ride planned for tomorrow, we will see how that goes, I might need a day off.  I am being very cautious with the old knee, better to be safe than sorry. The plus side to my run- A beautiful scene! The sunset was amazing today, I pulled out my my iphone to snap a picture but definitely didn't give it justice. 

Happy Running!

**-KRISTAL-**

Merry Christmas to Kristal

WHAT???  Is that a road bike I see... Why, yes it is!  Timmy got it for me for Christmas, I think he wants a wife that will be able to walk in 20 years!  The knees need a sport with a little less impact.  Triathlon... here I come!

I am finally coming off "resting".... I ran 3 miles yesterday and it kicked my butt.  It felt really good though. I have a short bike ride planned for today and 9 mile run planned for tomorrow. Now I have to play catch up without getting hurt again!

Happy Holidays
-Kristal

A sad sad day...

For the first time ever... I called it quits mid run!  I can't believe it.  My knee wasn't hurting bad but it still just didn't feel right.  So before I let it start hurting real bad, I turned around and jogged back to the house.  This week was planned for a 5 + 8 + 5 + 16 = 34.  Doesn't look like I am gonna make my 153 miles in December... I already cut 20 last week and today I cut another 3 (I only made it 2 miles today). I just have to keep my goal in mind--- Finish (without walking). I HAVE to be injury free to be successful. After I got back to the house, the 2 mile jog stiffened up my knee, so the resting continues!  BOOOO!!  I will keep you posted but I think I might have to cut my 8 miles tomorrow... :( 

-Kristal

Slacking vs. Resting

I am resting I swear...  My knee is definitely bum!  It is soooooo hard for me to "rest", I just feel like I am slacking, being lazy! My only goal for this whole process is to be able, come Marathon day, run 26.2 miles without stopping.  This goal can not be reached if I am injured.  I must rest and recover from this little mishap so I can finish strong!  The words from my wise and very old brother... "Good thing this thing [injury] happened now and not a week before the race."  I would have rather it not happed at all but he is right!  So, for now, I rest... I went for a walk today with the dogs and the knee tweaked a little bit.  I was going to try a short run this weekend but after the walk I am nixing that idea.  I am now shooting for Monday, 5 miles... Don't know if my knee will be ready but I am optimistic. 

Tim and I attempted to take some photos today for Christmas cards.  We didn't use either of these photos but I thought they were cute! We ended up using a photo of just us two and left the animals out!

The Zoo...

The pups and me!

The exciting news on the home-front... Kristal might be getting a road bike for X-Mas!  Cross your fingers!  They are pricey but will be way less of an impact on my body so I can do this physical working out stuff forever!!  :)  

-Kristal