knee pain sucks

I've always had knee problems and now they're acting up as I'm running more and more. When I was 11 I fell on concrete on my right knee and partially severed a tendon or ligament (I don't remember which one) ever since then I have been too afraid to bend my knees...so I don't! It's horrifying to me to think of bending them past a certain point, and watching other people do it makes me cringe. So i finally went to a chiropractor and told him about it. He used this weird metal device that sounded like a staple gun on them and they actually feel much better.

About to leave for track in an hour, so I hope they hold up to more circuit drills!

Circuit Drills!

Yesterday was our first set of circuit drills. Circuit drills = pain, but they are still fun. I say that now, but in a couple months I will probably be regretting it since they only get harder. It is pretty much running a lap around the track, then a variety of excercises like squats, one legged squats, sit ups, push ups, all that good stuff. Then...what? another lap around the track, and then repeat 4 times followed by a "victory lap" which is us shuffling around the track with our half empty water bottles picturing what we are going to eat when we get home. Or maybe that's just me?

The bad news is that I am a slow runner, but I completed the full circuit in 23 minutes 50 seconds. The good news is I have incredible balance according to one of the coaches. I am the one everyone hangs onto when they are falling over stretching their quads of doing one legged squats. Thanks Wing Tsun! Usually, my name and "incredible balance" do not go in the same sentence, especially when Sihing Adrian is talking. Hahahaha.

I also got to punch coach Al in the stomach to demonstrate how solid his core is. Thanks Wing Tsun!

Push ups did not defeat me as much as I thought they would...but still...booooo push ups. I think I'll be stuck doing "girl push ups" until I die, but hopefully I will die with strong upper back muscles.

Thanks to my newest set of donors, Michael Hoch! You are awesome. And I can't believe you run as much as you do per week.

And Madeleine Corson, who is also awesome, and one of the best graphic designers I have ever met.

The Lake of 1,000 Smells

Ran all the way around the lake of 1,000 smells today with Greg and took our neighbor's pug, Tank, with us. I was pleased with my consistent pace, and amused at how much algae was floating around. It always takes me back to cross country in high school when one of our team mates fell into the lake near the "submerged shopping cart" which was always one of our markers. Good times.

My next goal is to make it around the lake twice, which would be 6.2 miles. But I think first I'd like to move at a faster pace. Maybe bump it up a notch from tortoise to racing snail.

Tank made it mostly around the lake, wheezing a little, but picking up the pace after our water stops for him at teh drinking fountains. He also had fun chasing geese, and eating their ummm...leavings...which was pretty gross. Ah Tank. You are a continual source of amusement and poop.

Thanks to my first set of donors! David Sophia Siegel, my neighbors Alex and Erica (tank's parents) and my mom and dad.

I think the most daunting part of the entire thing is the fundraising, I know it's only day 2, but still. Eeeeek. I know my friends love me though, otherwise they wouldn't return my calls. You love me...don't you?

Ready?

Thanks for visiting my training blog! I'm going to try to update this as much as I can during the training to let everyone know my progress, and also complain a lot. Ha ha. Seriously.

Yesterday was day 1 of training and it would have been completely fine and dandy, but Greg and I got there half an hour late because it's all the way out in San Ramon and both of us were coming from Montgomery bart. We really need to arrange car pooling with other team members.

And YES, Greg is doing the half-marathon with me! So that's super exciting. I ran cross country a looong time ago, but he has only done sprints...a loooong time ago.

The track was actually closed (doh!) but we ended up doing laps around a field instead. I was super impressed with myself for making it around 5 times in 13 minutes. Greg is already calling me "the tortoise" because I can keep a very slow consistent pace.