Happy Friday!!! Who has fun weekend plans!? Lol I don’t… Just (hopefully) a CPR class tomorrow afternoon/evening out in the ‘burbs for Girls On the Run. But I’m super excited that GOTR starts Monday!!!!
If any of you are super observant you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned running all week… Well, that’s because I haven’t been running all week (cue internal shudder). I waited until today because 1) I was overwhelmed with switching over my blog and 2) I didn’t feel like talking about it. Talking about it makes it real.
Here’s the story: on Monday I was doing my 5 mile run on the treadmill (I think it was hot out? Can’t remember why). Anyway, I had just about hit 4 miles and had a sudden, sharp pain in my right IT band and stopped. I tried to stretch it out and start up again. No go.I tried to just stretch, roll and not worry about it. Wednesday morning I was up early and pumped for 9 miles. Since I knew there was a chance it wouldn’t go well (and it was supposed to storm), I also headed to the gym. I made it 0.33 miles.
Soooo I freaked. And mind you, this was the SAME DAY I woke up with my blog not working and freaking out about that. It was a rough day. I immediately called the Novacare Hotline, which is free for CARA Marathon Training Program runners. I scheduled a free injury screening that day in between classes since they had a location very near my school.
He told me my IT band is clearly tight and that I should have been doing strength training all along during training. Well… I was doing it, but after a while I kept getting worried I’d be too sore for runs. I think when I went home and then to Colorado and Boston is when it stopped all together. I knew it was important but I guess it was just at the back of my mind with everything else going on. Lesson learned.
So anyway, I didn’t run my 9 miler Wednesday or my 5 miler yesterday. My plan right now is to attempt a mile today to see how it feels… I still haven’t given up on this 14 miler tomorrow. I know that it wouldn’t hurt to just take off until next week but it PAINS me not to run. I LOVE RUNNING. Yes, I am a crazy person. But that 18 miler last week was FUN. I haven’t run since Monday and I miss it so much! Ahhh I’m getting all worked up just writing about this!
I did feel better, however, reading this morning that Molly is dealing with a similar thing and after taking to her dad has chosen to take off some time from running. We’re following the same training plan so I feel like we’re training together!
So that’s that. On to more exciting things, I wanted to tell you all about my Spibelt!! I can’t remember who it was, but when I was home in Kansas City someone referred to it as a Ninja belt (or was it my brother? anyway, someone) and so now that’s what I’ve been calling it!
If you’ve been looking for one, you can find it at my amazon store!
It’s basically just this supper cool pack that you wear around your waist. Okay, okay, it’s basically a fanny pack. But I love fanny packs, so it works. I got it because at the Chicago Rock N Roll Half Marathon I realized only one GU gel fit into my little pocket in my shorts… I’d never needed more than one! I’ll need at least 5 at the marathon… So I got this as a great way to carry all my stuff!
Let’s breakdown what’s inside. I believe this was for a 12 miler? Something like that. Sorry it’s a smidge blurry.
Inside I could fit my keys, some chapstick, a GU, 3 Clif Shot Blocks (wrapped in saran wrap like a mofo…) and then on long runs I always bring a credit card, a bus pass and a $20 bill wrapped together. That’s so I can get home or get anything I need if I get stuck miles from my apartment.
You can wear it a million different ways, but after trying a few I found that I like to wear it around my waist, pack just off to the side in the front and underneath my shirt. Cool, right? I know.
A girl I run with in my training group wears hers on her back, higher up and on top of her shirt. She has a deep curve in her back which makes it sit perfectly. I tried it there and it kept flopping up and down. But where I put it, I don’t even notice it’s there!
If you’re upping your mileage or need to have a pack to carry things while running or walking, I highly recommend the spibelt! I was surprised how much fit in that little pouch, it expands really well!
For the marathon I hope to carry my phone in there with headphones coming out and up underneath my shirt, rather than wearing it on my arm because the arm band chaffs during longer runs. I have not tested this theory yet… I also plan to bring my emergency money, a few gels (the rest I will give to various family and friends and pray that I come across them during the race), aaaand… that’s it? I’ll take suggestions.
Well, I will be sure to keep you all updated on running (trying not to have an anxiety attack right now) and I also plan on posting an “eating” update at the beginning of next week, because I realized I haven’t been mentioning anything about my GI issues or emotional/binge eating in a looooong time!
Hope you have a great Friday!
Any suggestions for what to put in my Spibelt for the marathon?
Can someone magically fix my IT band? Or at least pray?