And The I-T Band Played On...

And I must say, it was hard to face the music.

I started to feel the fire in my knees during the last five miles of the marathon, only to be accompanied by the sensation of being knifed in my left calf muscle. Thinking this may just be good old fashioned fatigue having just run 21 miles, I pressed on through the pain and raced to the finish line.

My legs were sore and my knees were stiff, but three days after the marathon I felt like a champ. I thought I would ease in to my post-race routine by skipping the running and warming up with a core class my friends just started taking. 60 minutes of pure hell, perspiration, and abdominal punishment did not replace, but rather surpassed any discomfort previously noted, but I loved it and felt stronger than ever.

Now that one week had passed, I was excited to set out for a run with Gale this morning. We barely covered one mile before I felt intense pain along the outsides of both knees and under the knee caps. From Gale sharing her personal experience and consulting several articles, I am sure I have the ever so common I-T band running injury. Not to be ignored.

The recovery is most promising. The recommendations are rest, stretching, icing, massage, vitamin C, and as a last resort, anti-inflammatory medications. When running resumes it is important to run on even surfaces and to start slowly.

Now what? I'm scared to go back to that core class.

Pink, PR, and Pinot Noir

This last Sunday morning wasn't my usual "sleep in, lounge around, drink a pot of coffee and relax" kind of day, but rather a "get up at 5:00am, eat a banana, drink a cup of coffee and run the 31st annual Napa Valley Marathon" sort of Sunday.

Hoping to push through to a personal record (PR), I knew it would suit me best to wear something pink. From head to toe I wore a Vivid Pink Nike Visor , my sister surprised me with an Asics Core Long Sleeve running shirt in fuschia, I ran in my favorite Smartwool Adrenaline Light Micro socks in Orchid, then treated myself to a pedicure with La-Paz-Itively Hot pink varnish by OPI, as it is more than likely I will only have all of my toenails for another month due to continuous pounding they endure during a 26.2 mile run. Delightful.

Between the few measly hours I was able to sleep, I woke up to the sound of rain that wasn't letting up. I stumbled out of bed at 5:00am, dressed for the occasion, ate a little snack, threw on a trash bag to keep me as dry as possible before the race, and was out the door.

My good friend drove me to the start as I nervously, single-handedly carried on continuous inane banter. Looking for Sherry while hiding under my Glad Bag, I listened to one lady crack on about how many more marathons she was running this year and how the last one would be "slow, like four hours or less. Just for fun..." While others were performing high kicks and slamming power gels. One man wasn't wearing shoes, and another man was wearing briefs, tube socks and rubber sandals. Ugh, runners. So weird. Anyway, with only minutes to spare I found Sherry and before we knew it we were clipping away at mile one.

Despite the fact that the morning was cold, somewhat windy, and certainly wet, I was able to break my PR by 17 minutes! If Sherry and I hadn't been able to lie to each other during those last 8 miles, saying how great we felt and how fun it was, I may not have had the spirit to continue, but deception at its best kicked me all the way to the finish line.

Best part of the race? Our amazing support team. Our friends and families covered the entire distance, cheering us on from mile to mile in the rain. Even my 7 month old nephew toughed it out in those conditions. You're the best George!!

After slamming a cheese burger and sweet potato fries from Taylor's I took a short break before dipping in to a celebratory glass of Schramsberg Brut Rose. Hours later I was more than making up for the calories burned, thanks to my mother and sister who slaved away at the world's best Mac and Cheese from the Jimtown Store cookbook. And as determined prior to all of this, we had one of my favorite Pinot Noirs, Williams Selyem 2006 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard. Oh my God, it was heaven.

Literally & Figuratively Under The Weather

My computer and I both came down with nasty viruses last Monday. The biggest problem? I had only a few days to get well and prepare to run 26.2 miles in what was predicted to be a windy and rainy day for the 31st annual Napa Valley Marathon. On Friday I was still unable to surf the web, hoping to discover a drastic change in the forecast, and felt it was just as unlikely I would make a full recovery.

I did everything I possibly could to reverse the situation. Drank gallons of water, slept every spare moment I had, popped vitamin C and zinc, and prayed to God I would be able to celebrate all of my dedication and hours of training by running the race.

Along came Sunday and feeling much better than I expected, Sherry and I rocked it! We ran through wind, rain, and a bit of pain, and mucho thanks to our awesome friends and family we were cheered on from start to finish.

Now I must get my computer back to health so I can tell you more about the marathon weekend! To be continued...

How To Reign In The Rain

With six days left until the marathon, I have been checking the weather forecast every hour in hopes that it will magically say something different. All reports suggest steady showers with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's. I think above all other concerns of a possible running injury, missing a long run, or not finding something pink to wear, this was my biggest fear of all. Rain on race day.

Having consulted as many articles as I can muster up the interest to read, I gathered some helpful tips for successfully running in the rain. It is best said that failing to plan is planning to fail, so being prepared to run in a downpour is the most important consideration.

1. Wear a trash bag over your clothes while you wait for the race to start. Stay as warm and dry as possible.

2. Don't overdo it with extra layers. Your body will become overheated as you warm up.

3. Wear running attire made with wicking fabric. Not cotton. A waterproof cap is good idea to keep the rain out of your eyes.

3. Don't start out the race too fast. It is tempting to speed up when you are cold, but remember to pace yourself.

4. If possible, have dry clothes at the finish to change in to as soon as possible.

5. And of course try to have fun. You have worked hard in preparation for this day

There is still a chance that the weather forecast will miraculously change. So keep your fingers crossed for me!

BYOB

The March/April issue of Women's Running features an awesome online service that allows you to build your own bar. YouBar was created by a mother and her marathoner son, putting a healthy spin on customizing your own nutritional energy snack. With nearly 50 different ingredients such as peanuts, goji berries, and almond butter, you can now tailor a bar to your own tastes that also meets your dietary needs. The website is easy to use, and while you are building your masterpiece a complete nutritional facts list appears in the upper right corner and quickly crunches the numbers as you customize your creation. The coolest part? You get to name your bar. I'm still working on that. Clairathon bar? Last call bar? Bar belle? The options are endless. Check it out!

We Can Do It

My marathon training plan had tapered down to a mere 15 miles this last weekend, and I was wondering where on earth I would find the drive and energy to knock this one out. With less than four weeks until showtime, I must admit that I am tired.

My running group rocks. This year I happen to be the only one training for the marathon, but I haven't run a single long run solo. The ladies have changed their schedules, e-mailed encouraging words, and staggered start times to make sure that someone is running with me the entire distance. I cannot believe how awesome these women are.

I have had some difficulty navigating through a most useful website, Mapmyrun.com, and while I can't imagine a running life without it, I am still having to consult my fellow runner, Kathy, to help me out. She graduated from Duke so I figure she can do anything. Sure enough, she whizzed through the program and provided us with a beautiful 15 mile run.

We tried something new, the PowerBar Gel Blasts in cola flavor. They taste like the good old gummy coke bottle candies I used to love as a child, and they pack a pretty nice little energy punch. I love them!

So thanks to my running mates, I completed my training assignment feeling stronger than I had imagined.

Oops, I did it again.

I can't say this is the first time I haven't paid attention, but it could be in the top three of paying the price.

Last weekend I barely moved through 17.5 miles of training that my Rookie Marathon Training Plan required. Knowing that the following weekend would lend me a break in mileage, I consulted the schedule to see if it suggested 14 or 15 miles, I couldn't recall. As I collaborated with my marathon partner to determine the course, it turns out I was off by one week and THIS was the weekend I needed to run an "Easy 17-18 miles." Ugh.

I suited up with my favorite running shoes, the Progrid Ride by Saucony. Surprisingly inexpensive, this is the best, most comfortable shoe I have ever owned. I tried something new, the G2 Ice Punch by Gatorade and loved it. It packs the same powerful punch of original Gatorade with fewer calories. One of our good friends agreed to follow us along the run and supply us with the necessary water and bananas for fuel.

So Sherry and I met in Calistoga, somewhere close to where the marathon starts, and ran along the Silverado trail for 19 miles which took us all the way to Yountville. It was brutal but beautiful. The mustard is in full bloom, the vineyards are all pruned, and the weather was a kind 55 degrees. We made it!

What are friends for?

Friends are for getting you up and out of bed, out the door and ready to run by 6:30 a.m. on a cold Saturday morning.

I am nearing the end of week eleven of The Rookie Marathon Training Plan, which today calls for an "Easy 17-18 miles." Sure. Just take it easy while you repeatedly pound pavement for three hours. Most enjoyable. I was about to throw in the towel when two of my running friends joined me and propelled me through most of these miserable miles. Thank-you Missy, I now call Missy Mitochondria (you have never seen anyone pull power out of a hat like this fiery Italiana) and thank-you Gale, a.k.a. Gale Force Wind (ridiculously strong, fast, and quietly persuasive).

Running 17.5 miles does not feel good. I belted up with Strawberry Gatorade which I bought because I liked the color, and have remained faithful to the black cherry Clif Bar shot bloks. So we set out in about 39 degree weather and ran through forests, vineyards, and neighborhoods for about three hours, until my vision was blurred, my feet were numb, my patience had thinned, and 17.5 miles were finally behind me!

The reward? I made myself a breakfast sandwich with the world's best english muffin from The Model Bakery, topped with egg and prosciutto. Delightful.

Whenever I prepare to run an official race I ask myself two very important questions. What am I going to wear? What will I drink to celebrate this accomplishment?

I am currently training for the 31st annual Napa Valley Marathon. I cannot complain. I live here, and as far as beautiful surroundings in which to train, I feel that competition has already been won.

This year I am going for a PR (I'm about an hour and a half from qualifying for Boston). I am thinking my personal record will most likely happen if I'm wearing something pink. Actually I have never run a race without it. While I am in love with the Nike Dri-FIT seamless running shirt in raspberry, I'm open to looking for something new.

As my liquid light at the end of this tortuous tunnel, I'll be enjoying a 2006 Williams Selyem Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard Pinot Noir to accompany my celebratory carbo extravaganza of the world's best mac and cheese, which is really why I run.

Wish me luck.