September 29 - 2 miles + 3 games full court

I did not sleep well — at best I got 5 hours of sleep, but met the guys for morning basketball. Ran two miles first on the treadmill without stopping, slowly (5.8 mph), in 21:30. Felt good and back to normal. Then was a captain (picked John, Chris, Jordan and Curry) and played 5-on-4 full-court basketball. I made a few 3-pointers and two 2s but no one was playing exceptionally well today, or hitting a lot of outside shots. Even had a steal!

September 28 - 2 miles + weights

Was amazed that I actually got up and went to the gym after standing for 6.5 hours straight last night, photographing a wedding at Epping Forest Yacht Club. (and yes, I had cake — hazelnut wedding cake with buttercream frosting, and some of the decadent groom's cake, which was chocolate ganache!) I warmed up with 10 minutes on the bike, then ran 2 miles with Lisa on the treadmill (took it slow — 21:30) and felt okay, surprisingly. Then did arms and back. Debating whether or not I'm "ready" (I know I am mentally) to run the Marine Corp Half Marathon Saturday. It was my first 1/2 marathon last year and I enjoyed it but wondering if I can push past all these injuries and go for it in '09?

September 26 - 10 miles

Last night had dinner at Blue Bamboo — calamari, salad, and awesome dessert. I was in bed at midnight with my alarm set for 4:55 a.m. Got up, ate peanut butter toast for the first time in ages (seeing as how I've been injured and not running with the Saturday groups) and headed downtown to do 9 miles. I bumped into Cheryl and decided to join a slower group that did a different ratio - 2:30 to 1 instead of 3:30 to 1 that I am used to. The combination of slower pace + this ratio helped me get through, and I knew the group leader, Nancy, from training last year. I was concerned going into it that I may not make it because of all my leg issues lately. But I was determined to try! We started off up and over the Acosta Bridge then ran into San Marco and back over the Acosta. I felt good. It was extremely humid and I was completely soaked at the end (was 81 "feels like 86" with 61% humidity when we started), but managed to pull off an extra mile for 10 instead of the 9. (in 2:03) It was awesome to see the group members who raised their hands today when asked if this was the furthest they've ever run. Then, I thought back to my first 9 mile run — 8 1/2 years ago! Time flies.

September 24 - Basketball + Volleyball

Got up and did the bike for 15 minutes then played an hour of full court basketball. Made the first 3-pointer so I got to be team captain. I picked up Salem, Byoung and Jordan. I played okay (not as good as Tues.) and made a few shots. After work I had an intramural volleyball game against a good team. We went into it undefeated (5-0) but were missing three of our main players. We played well but lost at the very end of the third game.

August 22 - full court basketball

Warmed up 15 minutes on the bike then played two games of morning full-court basketball (almost an hour). My legs felt decent, and I was wearing the New Balances. I made the first two shots of the game — both 3-pointers! I hit two more.

August 21 - Gym 1 + 2 miles = 3

Went to the gym in the morning, did 1 slow mile on the treadmill then rode the bike for 30 minutes and did arms and back weights. After work decided to go for a jog. (in New Balances) Got about 3/4 of a mile out and my shins and calves were on fire. None of this occurred before I went to see the PT/massage therapist a week ago. I stopped, stretched several times, and tried to keep going. No luck. Finished a lackluster 2.20 miles.

August 20 - 3 miles

After a hot day outside at the Jacksonville Jaguars game (of course we lost), and food in the Touchdown Club, I headed out for a walk. Ended up doing 3 miles and they weren't very fast. It was nice just to be outside as the sun was going down and finally starting to cool off a little!

August 19 - 3.25 miles + 2 miles

I woke up, and then walked 3.25 miles. Started to get hungry so finished early. Later in the evening I did a 2 mile jog, with walk breaks. Legs still feel heavy and my knees are still bothering me. Very, very frustrating. Overall 5.25 miles.

August 18 - 2 miles

Slept in this morning, and had a going-away gathering after work. (chocolate cupcake, chips and salsa, and water — no beer!) Waited for the humidity to drop but it was very hot and humid today. Ran 2 miles and after 1 mile my legs felt extremely heavy and my lower calves to the back of my heels were tight. I stopped several times to stretch. Just wasn't feeling it, at all. Surprised how nice the weather was and how easy 9.11 miles were a week ago but couldn't even push myself to 3 miles today.

September 16 - Volleyball + 5 miles

Played and won our intramural sand volleyball game after work, then Audra and I ran 5 miles with 4 to 1 ratios outside in the hot, humid Florida air. Both of my knees hurt a bit, both legs felt heavy and the outer parts of my shins were tight.

September 15 - Basketball

Warmed up on the bike for 15 minutes with Lisa, then full court basketball with the guys. Legs felt okay. Wasn't making my shots — an off morning.

August 14 - Visit with the Physical Therapist/Massage Therapist

So today was the big day. I was hoping to find out what is wrong with my knee/IT band. Went to a massage/physicial therapist. She asked a lot of questions, then had me lay down, stand up, sit up — all to see if one leg or one hip was higher than the other. Everything was okay. She then did different massage assessments and, as usual, the same areas were exceptionally tight and/or knotty...upper back, hamstrings (near IT band), calves, etc. There are so many things that could be causing the pains I've been having, she said. Switching shoes, a change in diet, etc. The biggest things to watch for changes are: stress, sleep, salt, sugar and caffeine. Well, I've been stressed, had varying amounts of sleep, and have increased my caffeine consumption lately (lots of Tazo hot tea at work!). I also have tight muscles. So, unfortunate for me, I left with no clear answers and $85 less in my bank account.

September 11 - 9.11 miles in memory of 9/11

Slept in this morning after eating like a crazy person at the Sulzbacher 11th Annual "Transformations" event last night downtown, and wasn't sure if I should run tonight on my own or wake up early and run 7.5 miles with the group tomorrow. I set out tonight and finished the first mile in 9:30 as I ran past Summer, who was coming back from a run. I ran a 3.5-mile down-and-back course, stopping for ice water at the turnaround point. Ran back, adding some other parts on after the initial 7. Was very thirsty again. Told myself I'd ask the next person for water. Found a lady and her young daughter getting out of their SUV in a neighborhood. She brought me a 8 oz bottle of cold Zepherhills and I was stoked. Kept going. Ran around a school in search of a water fountain at mile 7.5 and there was not one to be found, even by the playground. Kept going. Knew I wanted to do 9.11 miles in honor of 9/11. Finished the 9.11 miles in a respectable 1:32, stretched, drank an orange Gatorade, showered, and iced both knees. Felt fairly good throughout the run. Temperature was 84, humidity at 60% and a steady breeze the entire run. I look back a week ago when I set out to run and before reaching a mile, I had to stop and walk home, thinking I was done. I think about today and being able to do all 9 miles — 1/3 of a marathon — without too much effort.

September 10 - Basketball

After last night's run I wasn't sure I'd make it to the gym this morning. Didn't sleep well but was up early. Played a quick game of freethrow line knockout with Chris and Curry to find my right knee really hurting. There weren't enough players for full court at first, thank goodness, so we played 3-on-3 half court and then four-on-four full court. My knee was fine for the hour we played. I scored a few 3s including a game opening NBA 3-pointer (waaay outside the 3-point arc).

September 9 - 7 miles

Volleyball game tonight was forfeit so wasn't much of a game. Decided to go for a run afterwards since it was relatively nice outside. First mile or so was okay, mile two was a bit tougher and my legs felt heavy, and by the end of three I was starting to find my rhythm. The little bit of knee pain I had in the first few miles went away for the most part. IT band wasn't hurting but felt a little stiff. Miles 4, 5, 6, 7 were good, and at the end I felt as if I could do more. The weather was awesome...fall seems to be making an appearance, finally! I stopped to walk occasionally. Towards the end I was running around a 9:40 pace.

September 7 - 5 miles + 4 hours of sand volleyball

After 4 1/2 HOURS of sand volleyball yesterday (exhausting, but fun), and no attempts to run for two days, I saw an overcast sky and decided to lace up the sneakers - at 11:30 a.m. I ran the first mile in under 10 minutes, then walked 1 minute, then ran to 2 miles, and the sun began to beat down. Despite a reading of 82 "feels like 86" and 67% humidity, it was unreasonably hot, and I didn't have much water yesterday. I got to mile 3.5 and needed water badly. I stopped in an ice cream shop, got a cup of ice water, and continued on. The mistake came just before mile 4, when I decided to add on a .8 loop. I did part of it, and was dying, so I stopped to walk for a few. Legs felt fine — no pain — but exceptionally heavy. I then jogged the rest of the way, completing 5 miles in 54 minutes. I stretched, had the best tasting 20 oz. of orange Gatorade ever, and took a warm shower. Tough and tiring today but no knee pain at least. Showered, napped, then took off for four hours of sand volleyball. Exhausted.

September 6 - 4.5 hours of sand volleyball

Not as hard as running but still a good workout and a fun time — I played four and a half hours of sand volleyball. Played four on four, three on three, and two on two...the most tiring of all. Sometimes I miss team sports. I also miss the chance to run to my full potential due to these injuries. Running is more like free therapy, allowing me to run down a bad day or a crazy situation, whereas team sports make me more carefree. I love that I've been able to play basketball and volleyball so much lately.

September 4 - A very sad 3 walked miles

I made the mistake of looking at an online intermediate half marathon training schedule today. It's a month out from the Marine Corp 1/2 in Jacksonville and the schedule I found said to do 9 miles. Despite the 10 I did a few weeks ago I have been in the 4-6 range. I thought, I can do 9, sure no problem. I set out this afternoon (overcast skies) and made it about 7 minutes in before the nagging right knee pain began. I walked for a few, thinking it'd work itself out. I started to jog again and there it was - immediately. I turned around. I tried one more time and couldn't do it. There were a few tears, mostly out of being so hopeless, but I headed back and walked until I reached 3 miles, and came in, stretched, showered and iced. Sometimes I think I should just give up and find a new sport. I somehow haven't had any IT problems on my left leg lately, where this all began but now I have new pain in a new spot. It somehow doesn't seem fair.

September 3 - 4 miles (elliptical) + 4 miles (bike)

Rode the bike this morning with Lisa for a bit then got roped into full court basketball. Having guys tell you they "need" you to play is a good feeling but I thought I was getting out of it today. Not quite. Sometimes being the only girl can be intimidating but most of these guys are cool. They even pass me the ball, and today I was hitting almost all my shots, including a bankshot three-pointer. (not too shabby) My team won 3 close games. Great workout for an hour of running up and down court - HR was up in the 180s. Wore my new shoes, and my right knee was killing me the first few times up and back, making me think there was no way I'd last. It went away and I was able to sprint. Legs still felt funny though. After work I did a few minutes on the treadmill then decided elliptical was a better idea so I did 4 miles (41 min.) there and then 4 miles on the bike.

September 2 - 3 miles

New kicks, round two.

Volleyball game got rained out after work so went and exchanged my Brooks Glycerin 7's for a pair of New Balance 758s. My friend Owen, part owner at Jacksonville Running Company, let me try a few pairs of shoes on and decided these would be good to try. I got home, went for a 3 mile jog in the mist (almost rain) and they were okay. Definitely need to give them another try. Ran about 9:45 pace and felt okay, legs just feel heavy. What is the deal?