Three Things Thursday

I rarely write a Three Things Thursday post, because I usually can't think of three things of interest to report, but I have a few newsworthy items for you today!

1. The Maffetone Method. I've been running a lot lately. I'm 12 weeks into my heart rate training. I'm using The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing, inspired by this rock star who went from hilariously painful looking 5K race photos to kicking ass and taking names at Ironman/triathlons. Thank you Katie for being amazing and for all the reading recommendations. I am learning so much!

My running has been going well despite (because of?) the limitations put on my speed by my sworn obedience to my heart rate monitor. 

Three weeks ago I decided I should run the Appalachian Trail across the entire state of Maryland. It was a nice little run in which I spent 12 hours on my feet (and a couple of minutes flat on the trail). Speaking of the trail, there are trails with rocks and then there are trails that are rocks. And they say the AT in Pennsylvania is bad.

Photo style also borrowed from/inspired by Katie at This Amazing Day.

2. The Great Bear Staredown. Two weeks ago, I went running in George Washington National Forest with my friend Brian. Brian is a front of the pack runner who regularly wins ultramarathons. He had pulled ahead of me a few miles into our run so I was very surprised when I rounded a bend to see him standing in the trail. 

A big black bear stood watching us about 50 yards away, her cub in a nearby tree. As a midpack runner, I was very excited about seeing a bear, especially one that was more than just a flash of black disappearing into the woods. 

But this bear didn't hurry off. In fact, she had been staring at Brian for about 15 minutes. 

We decided to bushwhack straight up the hill to the left to give her a wide berth. We hadn't taken more than three steps before mama bear started up the hill as well. We beat a quick retreat back to the trail, fearing a charge was imminent. She climbed further up the hill, but didn't head our way.

After a few minutes of nervous discussion we decided it was likely her cub had gone or she wouldn't have moved that far away.  We started tentatively down the trail. She stayed put, her gaze affixed on us the entire time. We walked until we were out of sight.

We ran together for a mile or so and then Brian pulled ahead. As he ran out of sight, I checked over my shoulder to be sure the bear wasn't following me. That old joke occurred to me: You don't have to be fast enough to outrun the bear, you just have to be faster than the slowest person with you. Crap, that's ME!

3. Vermont 100 Miler. Speaking of um, running, my second 100 mile race (ever) will happen in nine days. I'm running the Vermont 100. 

I've been reticent about the subject as I crammed to come back from my 5-month foot injury. Thanks to a really skilled sports acupuncturist, I think I have been able to put enough hay in the barn. I may be a little short on training mileage, I may not have done a night run or raced anything long in over a year but I am ready to tackle this challenge. Vermont, here I come! 

If you want to read my race report from my last 100 miler (also at Vermont) 8 years ago, it's here: 102 Miles of Vermont: Reflections of a Babe in the Woods. It's the story of a young, impressionable girl who fell under the spell of a powerful man in the woods.

The incomparable Bob Gaylord and me at mile 89 in 2006

Wish me luck!

Plantar Plate Injury and Capsulitis: Cured!

For nearly six months, I struggled with a plantar plate injury, capsulitis, metatarsalgia - there are many names for it, and plenty to read on the internet about what can be done. 

After I exhausted the internet's articles, discussion boards and forums, taped the toe down, rested, and put in metatarsal inserts, what to do next?

This mild but persistent injury had dogged me since mid-October, coming and going but never fully resolving, despite the efforts of two different podiatrists and my regular acupuncturist and a month of no running whatsoever.

At the insistence of my good friend Katie, I went to see her Sports Acupuncturist. Where would I be without you, my friend?

Yes, there was a little tightness around my second toe. But the real issue wasn't in my foot, it was in my lower leg. A tight flexor digitorum longus was the culprit. As a runner, I really need to learn my anatomy.

Oh, all that punishing climbing I'd been doing on the treadmill last fall? Yep, that's where it burned, how about that?

Plink, plink, plink, plink - a few needles in key spots and after I got past the slight soreness the next day, I could feel the difference. For the first time in months it just felt RIGHT.

One sports acupuncture session with Larry the Legend solved my issue. 

If you too have this not-so-common injury, I highly recommend a sports acupuncturist.

Since then I have carefully been building my time and mileage, and I'm pretty excited about the possibilities. 

Vermont 100, here I come!