Beyond Boston: Lisa Cabiles

My friend Shawanna recommended Lisa as someone to interview for this series, and I'm glad she did! Lisa's story is inspiring; she just ran a PR in a marathon time trial on June 7! She is coached by Ryan Hall, & has big goals at Boston 2021 and beyond (hint: targeted at 2024).

Introduce yourself (who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.)
I’m Lisa, Christ follower, mother of 3, and marathoner . I have my eyes set on qualifying for the Olympic Trials 2024. Recently I started training with Coach Ryan Hall and was able to crush my PR by 13 minutes on 6/7/20 with a 3:02:34 marathon time trial.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
I was totally bummed by the postponement of Boston 2020 but expected it with all the other events being cancelled due to Covid . Therefore I was really looking forward to the September 14th date . The cancellation of Boston 2020 was a huge letdown though, as I was gearing up to run with #TeamHylands this year, and have gotten to know many teammates via Instagram and FB. I also have known some of them prior to being selected for #Teamhylands and was really looking forward to reuniting with them at Boston 2020.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not? 

Yeah, I will run Boston 2020 virtually with #teamhylands  

We are a team dedicated to running Boston in spirit together the week of September 7th to 14th.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
Yes I have qualified for Boston 2021 and plan to have a race course PR .

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your early running career through present. 

I started running in 5th grade when my Dad took me on a 2 Mile run 🏃‍♀️ and I collapsed on the grass and said I was never going to run again 🙄 

I then did an alumni run with my brother’s cross-country team (not on the team at the time) and ended up finishing 4th female which secured me a varsity spot. I didn’t necessarily like running at this point but enjoyed the team spirit . I went on to run track and cross-country and went to state my senior year .
I ended up not running in college as I was very focused on academics and graduated with an BSN in nursing at the age of 21. 

I continued to enjoy running 5-10 mile runs throughout my 20s. 

 
After I had my first kiddo, we took up stroller running . This is where I ended up finding marathon running. I would go on 10-12 mile runs regularly but hated mornings so never considered racing.

 
Finally October 12, 2016 for my 33rd birthday I ended up running 20 miles. I knew then I could complete a marathon. I signed up for the Seattle marathon 2016 in which I qualified for Boston 2018. From them on it’s been history. June 7, 2020 I completed my 27th marathon with a 3:02:34

Why did you decide to run your first marathon? 

I fell in love 😍 with long distance running and wanted to qualify for the Boston marathon.

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try? 

My first marathon; I figured with all the stroller miles I had done ✅ I had the speed and strength to qualify.

Why did you decide to run Boston 2020? 

Since Boston 2018 (yes even with the horrific conditions) I fell in love with the Boston Marathon. The entire weekend is electric, and the entire Boston community is so welcoming. It makes for an epic race experience.

How did it feel to be accepted into Boston 2020?
Thrilled but even more so to be running with Team Hylands.

What did you learn from this journey - from BQ to postponement to cancellation?
I have learned to be patient and know this time of no racing is only setting me up for my journey to OTQ as I can train harder than I ever have before.

Beyond Boston: Richard White

I met Richard through my local running club, and through running several of the same local marathons (including Bass Pro 2015, which we ran mostly together!).  I've always been impressed with his marathoning ability, and that he just always seems to keep going!  His Boston streak is very cool, and I think he should be an official B.A.A. ambassador.  I know that pretty much everyone in our local running club looks up to Richard.

It may be impossible to top this Boston photo

I have lived in the Branson, Missouri area most of my life. I worked for Skaggs Hospital in the laboratory for many years. I am currently a chemistry teacher at Hollister High School. 

I started running over 20 years ago when my Dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack. I was overweight and wanted to get healthy. Soon I was running marathons and broke 3 hours at the Little Rock Marathon in 2011. 

My first Boston Marathon was in 2009. I loved everything about it and have run in every Boston since for a total of 11 consecutive Boston Marathons. I was surprised when the B.A.A. postponed the marathon this year. Historically, it has always been held on Patriot’s Day despite any unforeseen circumstances. I have run Boston during a heat wave when they cautioned runners against running. I ran in 2018 when a freezing torrential downpour caused many runners, including professionals, to drop out. I ran the year terrorists' bombs killed 3 and maimed hundreds. Then we ran again the next year to show that we cannot be intimidated by cowards. 

The motto of the Boston Marathon has always been “The show must go on”. When everyone was speculating whether the race would be held as usual this year, I said yes. I was wrong. It took a microscopic virus to postpone and ultimately cause the marathon to be held as a virtual event. This reminded me of the movie “War of the Worlds”. 

The Boston Marathon is an awesome event that never ceases to challenge me. I will run the virtual event in September and will run again on Patriot’s Day in 2021. I plan to continue my running streak as long as the Good Lord allows and have no doubt that the marathon will throw me many curve balls along the way. I’m counting on it. 

Beyond Boston: Elizabeth Cox

I officially met Liz in 2007, but her dad was one of my professors in graduate school a couple of years before that, so I'd heard about her running adventures before we officially connected.  I knew she'd had a successful collegiate running career, and at the time all of my running buddies were male, so it was really exciting to start doing some training with her!  We kept in touch over the years (that running buddy bond is never broken!) and have run several of the same races.  Liz has a great blog, with a lot of running posts but also a lot of family oriented posts plus book recommendations - I highly recommend you follow her site.  Her parents, brothers, husband, and children all run too, and pictures of them all in the same race shirt together are the best!

The look of someone en route to a PR marathon

Introduce yourself - who you are, where you're from, what you do, etc.
I am a mom and a teacher. I was born in Ohio, grew up in Kansas, and now live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been in Tulsa for 10 years now! I taught 1st and 2nd grade for 6 years before deciding to stay at home with my son after struggling through being a working mom for the first year of his life and realizing it wasn’t for me. After staying at home with my kids for 4 years I went back to work teaching 3 year old preschool part time when we enrolled my daughter in 3 year old preschool. I’ve been at the preschool for 2 years now and plan to go back to teaching full-time when my daughter starts 1st grade. She will enter kindergarten in the 2020-2021 school year. I’m also an avid runner, reader, and animal lover.

What are your thoughts on Boston 2020 being cancelled? How did you handle the initial postponement and eventual cancellation, mentally and physically?
Initially when Boston was postponed to September I was deep into my training and had put in a lot of work. I had run 20+ miles 4 times already along with all the speedwork and tempos. I was excited for just a couple more weeks of work and then starting my taper. Then I came down with the flu and was super sick for over a week. I found out Boston had been postponed while I was still sick so I didn’t really care because I felt awful. I was also starting to stress about flying in a plane come April since Covid-19 was making its way to America. I was obviously disappointed I put in all that work and wouldn’t get to show it off in a race, especially since I knew I was in PR shape from the awesome long run workouts I was able to get in. I think getting the flu when I did was a blessing in disguise because it really softened the blow of the disappointment. I knew I lost some fitness not running for a week while sick and no one wants to have a chunk of time off running during a big marathon training cycle, so I knew it wasn’t an ideal situation going into a marathon and focused on that as a positive to keep me from being too disappointed.

I was so excited to get back into training for the rescheduled Boston that I started back earlier than I normally would have. I usually do a 16 week training cycle for a marathon, but I was so excited I started 20 weeks out from Boston. In the back of my mind, the whole time I was training, I expected Boston to get cancelled. I figured once race day got closer they would have to cancel and then I’d run a marathon in town instead. I had already set up with different friends to come run sections of the marathon with me if it came to that. When they made the announcement that Boston would be virtual I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. I hadn’t put in any 20’s yet and was just a few weeks into training so it was no big deal to just transition over to half-marathon training instead. I was so thankful they made the call early so I wasn’t deep into training and because I could just scrap marathon training altogether. Also my family has been a huge part of this journey, supporting me and encouraging me the whole way. My husband, mom, dad, and brothers were all going to travel to Boston to cheer me on. My mom overcame thyroid cancer a few years ago and my dad has COPD caused by lifelong asthma so neither of them were going to take the chance of contracting Covid-19 by making the trip to Boston if the race actually happened. That took away a huge part of the excitement for me that they wouldn’t get to go with us. I’d rather run it when it is safe for everyone to travel and for spectators to gather on the course! A race is not worth jeopardizing the health of anyone involved so I was glad the B.A.A. made that decision and that they made it so far in advance that I hadn’t made it deep into a marathon training cycle again.

Do you plan to run Boston 2020 virtually? Why or why not?
I decided not to run Boston virtually because I had just started my training block and had only gotten my long run up to 16 miles before they decided to make that change. I am not a marathoner. I’m more of a half-marathoner who also enjoys the marathon. When I run one marathon a year, I get really excited for those long, long runs and love the training. But I’m ready for a break and shorter races when I’m done. If I chose to run virtually and then applied and got into Boston for 2021, I’d be running 3 marathon cycles in a row and that would just be too much for me. Boston was never about the medal or the gear for me, it was about running the course and enjoying that experience so I’d rather wait to actually run the course.

Do you plan to run Boston 2021? Why or why not?
I plan to apply for Boston 2021. I’m so glad they are extending the qualifying window out so I can use my same qualifying time as I did to get in for 2020. I didn’t run a marathon in the fall of 2019 because I planned to run Boston in the spring. I was 4 minutes and 32 seconds under the standard for my age group, so I’m hoping that will still be enough to get me in for 2021. I also hope they are able to run the race by then! This has all been pretty crazy!

How did you get started in running? Tell us a little about your high school and collegiate running careers.
I have always loved to run. My favorite games my brothers and I played when we were kids all involved running. My favorite sport growing up was soccer and I loved it because I loved to run. In 5th grade we had to run a mile during P.E. and I realized when I beat everyone in my class, boys included, that maybe I was pretty good at it. I still remember memorizing my time so I could go home and ask my dad if it was fast. I ran track in middle school, setting school records in the 800 and 1600. I was too scared to run the 3200, it seemed way too far! Then in high school I couldn’t decide whether to play soccer or run cross country in the fall because my high school only had co-ed soccer where they played against all-boy teams which happened in the fall. My best friend said she would only go out for cross country if I did it with her, so I decided on cross country. I am so glad I did! I qualified for state in cross country my freshman, junior, and senior years, earning a medal at state my senior year. I also ran track all 4 years of high school and ran every distance from 400-3200 over the years. My least favorite race to run was the 400 but I’d do it on the 4x400 when they needed a 4th runner. I set school records in the 1600 and 3200 my senior year and medaled at state in the 1600 and 3200 both my junior and senior years. I decided to run in college and chose the D-II school I went to because I didn’t want to run year round and they didn’t have indoor track. They actually only had a cross country team but the cross country team competed in a few track meets in the spring. It was the perfect fit for me because it was really laid back with mileage mostly around 50 miles per week, peaking around 80 miles a week. I loved it and our coach made it so much fun. I know I could have been faster had I gone somewhere else but I loved it and I think having a laid back high school and college experience has led to me being a lifelong runner with very few injuries (editor's note: she is being modest, she was and is very fast!). I’ve now been running for 22 years with no major running-related injuries (editor's note: this is a HUGE accomplishment)!

Liz & I after the Little Rock Marathon 2009, with Tanya
 who will also be featured in this Beyond Boston series!

Why did you decide to run your first marathon?
My older brother ran a marathon in November of 2006, my junior year in college. Going into it I thought he was totally crazy but then being at the race, cheering on the runners and feeling that atmosphere, I just had to run one too! The following year I ran the half-marathon at the same race where he again ran the marathon. After I graduated college I was so excited to train for my first marathon!

When did you set the goal of qualifying for Boston and what inspired you to try? 

I qualified for Boston with my first marathon back in 2008. I knew there was a lot of prestige behind the race but I didn’t really care to run it. I had some bad experiences with the marathon and after running 3 marathon cycles in a row, the last one in the fall of 2009, I decided to take a break. I didn’t run another marathon until 2017 when my older brother decided he wanted to run a marathon again after a serious accident where he was hit by a car while on a run in 2016 and was in a coma for almost a month. He fractured his femur, pelvis, and skull and sustained a traumatic brain injury so it was a long road back to running for him. I really wanted to run it with him, especially since he ran my first marathon with me! When I didn’t train very seriously and ran a PR, I decided I wanted to train better the following year and attempt to BQ. I first became interested in Boston after the bombing and felt a huge connection with all those runners who competed that year. I had a desire to support the race and maybe run it some day. Then after years of reading race recaps from Boston and watching the race on TV, I decided I wanted to experience the course myself! So I set the goal to BQ after my marathon finish in 2017.

What was your journey to BQ like? Was your qualifying time for Boston 2020 your first BQ, and if not why did you decide to run Boston 2020?
I qualified for Boston in my first marathon back in 2008. At the time I was in my early 20’s and my mentality was to train with the littlest effort possible so I got the long runs in and not a whole lot of weekly miles. My highest mileage week was 38 miles with a 20 mile long run! I wasn’t taking it super seriously and just focusing on getting the long runs in so I could finish the race. Since I waited so long to attempt to BQ again, even though I was 12 years older, the qualifying time was now 10 minutes faster! Thanks to the growing popularity of the race and the qualifying times dropping a few times. When I first decided to attempt a BQ and was training for my marathon, the standard was 3:35. During my training cycle they dropped the standard to 3:30. Luckily for me, I was already planning to shoot for significantly under the standard to ensure I would actually get into the race. After running a marathon PR in 2017 off minimal training, I was confident I could run much faster the following year and felt like shooting for under 3:35 was definitely possible. I felt like it was the right time because I was only working part time so it would be easier to make the trip. I had never done any long run workouts before so I added those into my training plan and that made a huge difference for me. Even though I’ve run 5 marathons now, I still feel like a newbie and I’m learning so much from each training cycle I complete.

Tell us a little about the marathons you ran before you achieved the BQ.
Like I said before, I don’t really think of myself as a marathoner and it’s not my favorite race distance so I haven’t run that many of them.

I ran my first marathon in November 2008 at the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, OK. My goal was to finish and in the back of my mind I hoped I might be able to sneak under 3:41 to qualify for Boston. Back then the standard was 3:40 for a female under the age of 35 and anything from 3:40-3:40:59 would qualify you and likely get you in, even though I didn't plan to run Boston. I only ran one 20 mile long run during my training. The course was 20 flat miles and then the last 10k all up and down hills so that was a bit challenging. I finished in 3:40:05 and was hooked. I had so much fun and felt so great, I couldn’t wait to train for my next marathon and break 3:40!

My next marathon was April 2009. My training went really well and I was sure I would break 3:40, that was my big goal. I chose the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon because it was flat. The race website referred to it as a flat, fast course if it’s not too windy. The atmosphere of the race was very emotional and the event was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately the wind was out of control with 20 mph winds and gusts up to 40 mph. It felt like I was getting blown backward at some points! I was pretty proud to finish only 3 minutes over my PR in those conditions.

My third marathon was again the Route 66 Marathon in November of 2009. I got sick the week of the race and should have gone to the doctor but was pretty sure I would be told not to run the marathon, so I just drank Airborne and hoped for the best. I was again shooting for a sub-3:40 finish. At the halfway point I was already struggling and knew it wasn’t going to happen. I switched my focus to sub-4 which I barely got in 3:58:04! The day after the race I went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with bronchitis and a sinus infection. I was so low after that race I couldn’t bring myself to run another marathon and wasn’t sure I’d ever run another marathon.

When 2017 rolled around and I found out my brother was running a marathon in November, I was super excited to run it with him. I planned to run the race and finish with him so I didn’t worry about shooting for a specific time and just got the long runs in. He figured he’d finish somewhere in the 4:00-4:30 range. On race day he got super excited and took off really fast without me. It took me 12 miles to catch up to him and when I did he encouraged me to go on and run my own race so I did. I could see the 3:40 pacers ahead of me and knew if I ran a negative split, I could run a PR. And negative split I did with a high 1:51 first half and a 1:47 second half! I finished in 3:38:58. I was so excited to have run a PR when I was planning on running around a 4 hour marathon! I realized even though it was a PR and I had qualified for Boston with my previous PR, now I would have to run even faster to BQ and set that as my goal for my next marathon.

Tell us about your awesome race, with a PR and BQ in the Tulsa Route 66 Marathon.
My race at the Route 66 in November 2018 was a magical experience. It was one of those races where everything falls together perfectly and the race is so much fun. Using my long run workouts as a guide I thought I was capable of running 8:00 pace for the first half of the race and then dropping to 7:45 pace for the 2nd half. I told my husband on a perfect day with great conditions I thought I could run a 3:26. Race day was cold, barely above freezing, with a drizzling rain and some decent winds. I was so excited for the race not even those conditions could dampen my excitement! To add to the fun, my group of friends I run with some mornings were entered in the marathon relay and I knew I would see them out on the course. Between them and my parents it was like I had a built in cheering squad following me on the course. It was so much fun! I went through the half-marathon mark a little faster than I expected in 1:44 so I didn’t drop the pace right away and decided to maintain until the 20 mile mark to see what I had left. I didn’t want to take off too early and burn out. I hit the 20 mile mark on pace to run a couple minutes under 3:30 and was so excited. I felt great so I really took off and dropped to 7:30-7:40 pace. One of my favorite moments on the course was somewhere around 23-24 miles when I saw my family. My dad cheered and said I was on pace, everyone knew I was shooting for a BQ. I told him I was actually 3 minutes under pace and his reaction was awesome, he was so excited! My brother told me I wasn’t far behind my friend, Morgan, on the relay team. My mantra for those last couple miles was every second you pick up, is a second closer to actually getting accepted into Boston. I also wanted to close the gap between me and my friend in the relay so I could see my friends finish. It was so awesome how it worked out because coming up toward the finish when the rest of the relay team was coming onto the course to finish with Morgan, I was coming up behind them. They all started screaming at me to catch them and finish with them and it was so encouraging. It was the best finish I’ve ever had in a marathon. I crossed the finish line and when I saw my husband I started to cry. I knew I had done it and I was so proud. It was the best race I’ve ever run and I put it together perfectly, again negative splitting the race, this time by 3 minutes. I gave Ty a hug over the barrier and told him, I’d done it, I finished in 3:26 just like I said. He told me that I’d actually finished in 3:25 and I didn’t believe it. I actually had to go to the results tent and get my time because I was so surprised but he was right, I finished in 3:25:27!

How did it feel to achieve your BQ goal and to be accepted into Boston 2020?
It was the best feeling and running such a strong last 10k made me feel so strong. I rode the high of that race for weeks and even now when I think back to that feeling I still do! I was really nervous about getting accepted. Everyone told me I shouldn’t have any trouble getting in with how much I was under the standard, but you aren’t in until you get in! I was so darn nervous because I wanted to run Boston so badly! It was naptime at school and I was sitting in the dark eating my lunch when I got the email notification that I had been accepted. I was so excited but had to be quiet because we had some kids napping and some resting, so I just did a little quiet dance and texted my family!

Side note: Boston would have been my first marathon outside of Oklahoma. That's especially funny because I lived in Missouri when I ran my first 3 marathons. I told my friends that since I was ready to run a marathon outside of Oklahoma, I figured I'd just go big and have it be the most famous marathon in the country. Go big or go home, right? haha

What did you learn from your BQ journey?
I learned that the marathon is a beast and can lead to such high highs and also some very low points. I’ve had a couple marathons that did not go as planned and were so darn rough! Even with my BQ Marathon in 2018 I came down with a stomach bug a few hours after the race and it was a reminder how sickness can steal everything you worked so hard for! With the marathon I think you have to be so mentally strong just not for the race but also for the strong possibility of disappointment. It sucked for me to work hard, get into Boston, and then not get to run. But there are so many people who have worked for years to get in and then miss it by seconds and then people who worked for years, finally got in, and then won’t get to run it this year. So I feel like I was lucky in that I made it in the first year I attempted, even if that year ended up to not be the best year to run Boston since it was the only year the race didn’t happen in the race’s 123 year history. Through my journey I’ve learned to be adaptable and focus on the positive. Those are things that are a continual struggle and journey and this was one more step in mastering my ability to do so. I have also learned that the more work you put into training for a marathon, the easier your recovery is. The most painful recovery I've had was when I trained for a 4 hour marathon and finished over 20 minutes faster than that in the race. The easiest recovery I've had was with my BQ where I worked much harder in training!

Anything else you'd like to share?
Since this is Sara’s blog, I have to share that Sara and I used to be running buddies. It’s something I brag about quite a bit. I used to run with someone who is an aspiring Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier! I may not be fast enough to keep up with her now, but we did run together once upon a time. I have learned so much about the marathon from Sara and I know I wouldn’t have made it to where I am in the marathon without her guidance, ideas, and support. Anytime I have questions and want some help in deciding the best path forward, she is so gracious in sharing her ideas and experience. I feel so lucky to have made a connection with her. I met her at a party the evening after I ran my first half-marathon in 2007 and we started running together in the summers. Back then she was attempting to break 1:30 in the half and now she can run two halves back to back in a marathon significantly faster than that. It is such an inspiration! I always knew if she could just stay healthy she would be soooooo much faster and I’m so glad she has found a way to do that (editor's note, after recently taking 15 weeks off: she mostly found a way to do that, hah! -- and also this whole paragraph made me tear up, running friends are the best)!

Since Liz specializes in Oklahoma races, this was after a 20K
we both ran there in 200?

The "Beyond Boston" Series

When I heard the news that Boston 2020 was cancelled, my heart hurt for those who were entered.  While it's hard to place high importance on running with everything going on in the world right now, this race was extremely important to many and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some.  Many worked very hard to get there, some narrowly met the qualifying cut-off, some have long-standing Boston streaks, and everyone was looking forward to the experience (I won't even mention the logistics of cancelling travel arrangements).

I really enjoyed sharing the stories in my 2:45:01 and Beyond series, so decided to do another series - this time about runners who were planning to run Boston 2020.  I will link their stories below and add to the list as I post them!

Featured runners:
Elizabeth Cox
Richard White
Lisa Cabiles
Carissa Liebowitz

Da'Rel Patterson

Tenille Taylor (& Ryan Niehaus)

Erica Green

John Efthimiou

Ken Mason

Rachel Shuck

Tabatha Dickey

Jenni Sherman

Devra Leach

Sherry Lee

Dean Gartland

The meme below doesn't apply to these qualifiers, but a friend shared it and I thought it was hilarious (as someone who knows all about repeatedly missing a qualifying standard!).

Inflammation Issue Update/Summary

I've stopped calling this an injury, because if the diagnosis is accurate, it really isn't one; the process isn't about healing but about getting inflammation down, and the bone formations in my hip has always been this way.

I wanted to write a more organized summary that linked all of my other posts in case it can help someone else with the same issue. Will my blog come up when people search "mystery hip injuries in runners"?  Hah!  I have been updating this post over time, and now that I've been really running for 3 weeks I'm going to re-post this as the final version.

The summary of the issue is:

• Feb. 11 - I did new knee drive drills after a light progression run, in what was scheduled to be my first week of fairly normal training after the Houston Marathon on Jan. 19.  I took more time off and easy after Houston that I ever had after a marathon, which makes this ironic.  My body was still weak from having bronchitis though.  Basically it was the perfect storm (illness inflammation + weakness + coming back from a break + knee drive drills).
• Feb. 12 - I ran 8 miles easy, with a slight tightness in my hip flexor area at the beginning and end of the run in 35 degree rain.  An hour later I could barely walk and by the end of the work day I couldn't walk without holding onto something.
• Feb. 13 - I could walk enough to go to work, but I was limping badly.  I saw my chiropractor and had ART; he thought my TFL muscle was irritated.  I again had ART on Feb. 17 and 20.
• Feb. 20 - I saw a sports medicine physician, who ordered crutches and an MRI.  I used the crutches for about 3 weeks (update after this appointment is here).
• March 3 - I started biking more.  For the first few weeks of this injury I did very little for me, about 30 minutes of cardio some days (bike or pool) and focused on strengthening my glutes and core (mainly with floor work), hoping that would alleviate my issue. I did some yoga throughout this whole time - how much depended more on the time I had available and what else I was doing versus any recovery factors.  I love how yoga makes my body feel overall, but it didn't do anything positive or negative for this issue specifically.
• Throughout March - my biking increased, not because I wanted to keep running fitness or I was obsessively cross-training, but because I started to love cycling!  It was fun to have cycling mileage goals to chase, and I love being outside. 
• March 26 - I had the MRI, which was a long story in itself.
• March 31 - I got the MRI results, which ruled out all of the "bad stuff" and pointed to a possible hip impingement (not a definitive diagnosis).  The physician prescribed PT and gave me the option of having a cortisone injection in my hip; I chose to do PT first.
• April 1 - I started PT.  After my very first session of manual manipulations and nerve glides, I could walk without a limp for the first time since Feb. 12!  No pain and no limp with walking have continued through present (PT update here).
• Mid-April - When I started PT she had me take a couple weeks off all strength work, then I started reintroducing that mid-April.  By the end of April I was back to doing standing work (weighted squats, weighted deadlifts, walking lunges, jump squats, band walks, etc.) with no problems.  Of course all of the gyms were closed so I was lifting at home with my 20 lb dumbbells.
• April 23 - I finished PT.  I also ran 0.1 mile to test out my hip, and I still had slight pain and a small limp when running (85%), so I scheduled the cortisone shot.  The PT said it would likely be more successful since I did PT first.
• April 29 - I got a cortisone shot.  That morning I ran 0.25 to make sure I was doing the right thing. My hip felt better than on April 23, but just.not.quite.there. (90%), so I felt I was doing the right thing.
• May 7 - I ran a mile pain-free!  I ran 0.5 on May 2 but was about 95%, so decided to take a few more days since the cortisone shot could take up to 2 weeks to take full effect.
• May 8 - I ran 2.23 miles (#irunwithmaud) pain-free, although something felt a little "off".  My whole body felt pretty odd running though, which I expected after not running for nearly 3 months, so I thought I was still on the right track.
• May 9 - I started to run another 2 miles but stopped about 100 m because my hip was back to 85%. 
• May 12 - I spoke with my sports doctor again, recapping my progression and regression following the cortisone shot.  He said that the shot having a positive effect showed that the problem is in the area we have been targeting, although he'd hoped the effect would be much longer lived.  He advised to give it some more time and to continue cross-training (anything that doesn't cause pain is fine).  He said future options include another steroid shot in 3-4 months or a PRP injection.  He also had a hip specialist in his office look at my MRI, and he agreed with the course of treatment my sports doctor was doing. 
• Week of May 10-16 - I walked 2-3 miles most day, to see if that would help me ease back into running.
• Week of May 17-23 - I discovered run/walking allowed me to cover 3-4 miles with no issues.  As much as I disliked stopping to walk, I dislike not running at all even more.  I started with 1:00 run/1:00 walk, then upped to 1:00 run/0:45 walk, 1:30 run/0:45 walk, 3:00 run/1:00 walk. Another perk of doing this was that I didn't get discouraged with my pace being slower, because of course it's slow; there is walking involved!
• Week of May 24-31 - I continued run/walking and continued increasing my run time, for runs up to 5 miles.  I also ran 5 miles straight on Saturday, and tested the waters with a tiny bit of faster running (4 x hill strides).
• Week of June 1-7 - I started running for real!
• I'm going to stop this "come back" log here, but I'll continue to write monthly recaps about whatever God has in store for my running!  I am pretty sure that He knew I wouldn't handle the uncertainty of 2020 races and them getting cancelled one by one well at all, and also that I wouldn't take down time if I could avoid it, so this was the best path for me through this time.  The hip thing clearing up as it did didn't make a whole lot of sense, but I know that God healed it in His time.
• June recap
  
• July recap 
• August recap
• September recap

I was partially through this core workout when I noticed
Bandit laying on his back next to me & had Jon snap a pic

Note to a runner on a comeback: "You'll get back there, but...."

Throughout the time I was off running, I realized how very common injuries are in runners at all levels.  Running is hard on our bodies!  Someone you know is always either injured or returning from injury - and many, many runners you don't know are.

That made me feel better when I couldn't run.  I don't wish injury on anyone, but it's nice to not feel alone.  Social media made me more aware of all of the runners, especially professional and elite runners, who are injured at any moment.   It wasn't just me that was dealing with something!

The last time I was in shape!

But the flip side is that social media has made me hyper aware of people returning from time off better than I am.  It seems that some people can stay really fit from cross-training - if you're one of those people, be thankful!  My body seems to adapt super specifically per activity.  When I started biking I was in top running shape, but biking even 12 miles was difficult and biking 20 miles was harder than running it. I got into pretty good biking shape (20 miles became nothing, 40 miles became "not long", and I rode numerous 50-70 milers), while I got terribly out of running shape!  I expected this to happen, and I didn't bike to maintain running fitness but instead to enjoy biking for itself and to be outdoors, so I wasn't disappointed.  I am sure that biking helped me more than sitting on the couch, but I didn't have an easy transition back to running.

Sometimes it's hard to not let comparison steal your joy.  It seems like many people go straight back into running fast after time off.  It seems like they just effortlessly float back into training, even though I know that's not exactly true.  It seems to come back fast for some people.  Every story of, "I PRed just 6 weeks off of injury" is meant as encouragement but is pretty discouraging when you figure you'll be doing good to run one mile at your former marathon pace 6 weeks after returning to running!  There is also the "I [insert major accomplishment here] after 4 weeks of land running and 1 workout" you hear from pro runners.  Don't even get me started on my error of looking at my own past comebacks (I have learned, age makes a huge difference)!

Many with good intentions say, "You'll get back there" in regards to your running fitness.  If that's a goal you have (it's okay if it's not!), you probably will get back there, but it's okay if it's a long journey and it's okay if you don't get back there too!

So I just want to say that if you're returning from an extended period of time off and are struggling, you are not alone!  I am there too!  I know I can't judge my comeback (from nearly 4 months completely off running) at 2 weeks in, but I am also very in tune with my body and its capabilities, and I can tell you it's going to be a very long time before I'm back to peak fitness!  I look forward to putting in work to get to whatever my current potential is, but I'm not going to tell you one of those stories about how I came back and immediately ran well again.

If you're feeling like you're the only one who isn't coming back quickly, you are not alone.  I know you'll work to get back there (if you want to), but it is okay if it takes 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years.  And you are just as valuable if you never get back there too - God's plans are always better than ours!

7 Monumental months later...

It feels like the Indy Monumental Marathon was a whole lifetime ago, yet at the same time I can't believe 7 months has passed since my last solid marathon.  With the 2020 the world has had, this race has been one of the last things on my mind, and reflecting on it seems pretty trivial, but a recent project reminded me that I still have a lot of mixed emotions about it.

Usually when a race I run a PR in gives out a race poster, I personalize it, frame it, and hang it in my workout room.  The Indy poster sat rolled up in my closet for almost 7 months.  Right after the race, I decided I had no reason to frame it because I was sure I'd revise my PR in 4 weeks at CIM.  Then I lost my brother a few days before CIM and a marathon was the least of my concerns, then despite reservations I gave it one more shot in Houston, at the beginning of the worst case of bronchitis I've ever had (which I now highly suspect was COVID-19 - I'll get the antibodies test at some point).  Next came time off running with hip pain, followed closely by a worldwide pandemic that changed everyone's lives.  I wasn't able to run through stay at home orders/quarantine, and framing a stupid poster was the last thing on my mind!

Then, after 15 weeks off, I was able to return to running on May 30.  There is nothing like returning after time off to make you appreciate your past fitness!  While Indy wasn't good enough, I gave it absolutely everything I had and have recently felt more proud of my performance there - probably mostly because I'm quite confident I couldn't currently run even 1 mile at 6:19 pace!

So, I framed and personalized the poster, which brought up a lot of unexpected emotion!  Three ladies I connected with either during or before Indy are in the photos I included; I realized that I didn't think anything differently about them for not achieving the OTQ (the are all AH-mazing!!!), but I sure can't get past thinking differently of myself for not being able to do it.  I'm proud of Indy but I'm frustrated it wasn't enough.  I'm disappointed it was so windy that day.  I wonder "what if?" Mark were still alive and I'd run CIM.  It's all become so interwoven and I'm not sure how to change that.

Right now I'm in the "I'll never run anything fast again" phase of returning to running after extended time off, but I've done this before so I know it is likely I will want to race again.  I love running so much, and I realize that even more now that I'm back after being unable to do it (absence make the heart grow fonder, and in this case so does biking!).  I would love to take all of the good parts of running and none of the bad - all of the rewards without any of the risks.  If anyone has figured out how to do that, please comment below!  ;-)

Things I wouldn't have done if it weren't for COVID-19

I have been counting my blessings during this odd, unprecedented time, and I realized that there are several things I have done that I wouldn't have had this not happened.

1. Slowed down.  I'd already started down this road before the pandemic, when I used crutches for a couple of weeks for my mystery hip injury.  I experienced a great deal of frustration when I first started crutching around - I am used to going nonstop and suddenly everything took much longer and I needed help doing things that I usually take for granted.  I figured that God was trying to teach me patience, and that has carried over into the stay at home order and other changes.  The pace of my daily life has slowed down.  I'm still busy at work, but I'm not busy with much of anything else!  Everything is more intentional, deliberate, and in-the-moment vs. rushed.
2. Taken a crash course in and worked via Telehealth.  I did not have any experience as a Telehealth provider before COVID-19, and now I feel like a pro!  Some days I've had 8 hours straight of teleconference appointments.  Initially this change was stressful, particularly because there was no preparation time, but I have learned a lot and adapted.  I attended several webinars, listened to podcasts, and read a lot on the topic.
3. Explored bike routes galore.  I love the area we live in and am thankful for it for many reasons, but I have never been so thankful for the endless farm road cycling options just outside my front door until this time period!  Two bad things happened and coincided for this to work (pandemic plus my hip issue), but I wouldn't be able to lunch break ride if I wasn't working from home, so I'm super thankful this all aligned and for the biking options I have.
4. Used the Peloton app.  The app offered a 90-day free trial, which I jumped on since I was spending a lot of time on the bike.  I didn't realize all of the other activity options the app would have, but in addition to the spin classes (which I love!), I am also doing yoga classes, core workouts, and strength workouts.  If at any point I think my running career is over, I will for sure buy a Peloton bike.  I have been thankful to have a spin bike at home through this (I got one for Christmas 2015 and it's come in handy anytime I've been unable to run).
5. Read ebooks.  I read all of the library books I had checked out and had already read nearly all of the books I had at home, so I began checking out ebooks through my public library's system.  Initially I didn't like it - and I think I will always prefer actual books - but it grew on me and I love the selections right at my fingertips.  I also discovered I could easily read them (on my touch screen computer that has a keyboard that rotates around to tablet mode) while riding my spin bike, which was a great discovery.  I always read a lot, but the volume of books I read has also increased.
6. Finished all of my CEUs for my November 2021 recertification.  I just renewed by BCBA certification in November 2019, I so had plenty of time left to accumulate CEUs in my 2-year cycle, but several online CEU providers offered some or all of their CEU libraries for free, so I knocked them all out - for free!
7. Lived in sweats and no shoes.  A huge perk of Telehealth:  only your head and shoulders are visible!  I pretty much only wore shoes when exercising.  I haven't worn makeup, but on a regular basis my maximum makeup consists of tinted moisturizer and mascara, so that's not a huge change.

Most of my favorite cycling routes are versions of this loop,
which can be varied in about a thousand ways!

I also think the world has grown closer.  It's ironic because everyone is apart due to social distancing, but I think these shared global experiences have really brought people together.  People bond over shared obstacles, and people rally together to support one another more in times of trial.

I don't mean to minimize the seriousness of this pandemic, or those who have been heavily affected.  I know I am fortunate to be pretty unaffected, with job security, living in a rural area, and being an introvert (I have loved staying home!).  We lost a family friend to the virus, an elderly former neighbor who was living in Arizona, so we were touched by this, yet not nearly as much as many.  I pray that our world will come out of this a better place.

I've become a cyclist temporarily + hip update

In my last update, I mentioned how incredibly helpful just a couple of sessions of PT were for my mystery hip issue.  I am happy to report I have continued to walk without pain and without a limp.  I feel almost ready to run again, but not quite.  I've of course done the "run through the house" test several times, and my hip is just almost-but-not-quite there.  I have never had an injury recur after I returned to running, which I think means I'm really good at not pushing it when I'm almost-but-not-quite there.  I've been off running so long at this point what difference is another week or two going to make, right?  The difference between 1 week and 2 weeks off us huge; the difference between 10 and 11 weeks off is minuscule.

Since I had such immediate dramatic improvement, I thought for sure I'd be able to run by now, but improvement has been muuuuucccchhh slower since.  I am thankful I can walk without pain, and that I've been able to reintroduce strength work.  My PT recommended staying off the bike for a bit, which I have now done for one day (elliptical instead), but since I don't think the bike is bugging my hip I will probably get back on soon.  The PT thought the hip angle might be keeping my hip inflamed even though biking has never bothered it.

I am also considering getting the cortisone shot...

I've continued my cycling journey and have been really enjoying it!  I only started officially tracking my cycling mileage when I got my road bike tuned up and began going outside often, but since then I've had weeks of biking mileage of 164, 225, and 246.  I do a few Peloton workouts on my spin bike each week, several easy rides outside, and a long ride outside.  This week I'm taking a cut-back week instead of building again since I essentially went from 0 to nearly 250 miles in 6 weeks of biking (also since my PT recommended trying some time off the bike), but before quarantine is over I'm hoping to hit a 300 mile week.  Funny, when I initially got this injury I said I wasn't going to cross-train that much, but somehow we return to our "normal" level of activity, huh?

Banded clamshells with cat participation

2:45:01 and Beyond: Molly Nuun

Molly and I met when she messaged me on Instagram to say we have the exact same marathon PR!  As I started talking with her, I knew that her story of pursuing an OTQ would be an amazing one to share.  Her quest for the 2012 OTQ started with a question and comment from a coach, and she ran her 2:46:08 when the qualifying standard was 2:46:00, so was only 8 seconds away despite tripping and major wind gusts!  She ran 3 amazing marathons in 2011, but the wisdom she has from the experiences 9 years later is far more valuable.

2015 Wineglass Marathon win

Name: Molly Nunn

Age: 36
City/State: Winston-Salem, NC
Occupation: Sr. FP&A Manager 

Hobbies/interests outside of running:

Run-exploring new cities, golfing, writing my blog (although I do not update as often as I’d like), going to the car wash, sing-dancing loudly in the car, and eating great food and drink with friends. 

When did you start chasing the OTQ and what inspired you to try?

After college, a former Wake Forest coach noticed I was always out on the track doing workouts and asked what I was training for…I didn’t know! I did not accomplish much in college running other than walking onto the team (which was a huge feat for me since I went to a 1-A high school and had 23 people in my class) and I just knew inside that I needed something more from the sport. He said, “have you thought about trying to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials?” From there, I locked onto the goal. 

Tell us about the races you attempted to OTQ at and the outcomes.

2011 January Houston – Lesson: you need a LOT of GOOD calories before the race, I had McDonalds and could barely stomach the food. Dropped out at Mile 15.5. Lesson II: It takes a LONG time to get back to the start/finish or wait for a medical van.

2011 February Myrtle Beach – 2:46:59 – Almost made it!

2011 March Virginia Beach – “THE ONE” – 2:46:08. The day included 30mph wind gusts, but it was THE DAY. Got tripped at mile 16, lost my shoe, bruised my left rib, and bloodied up my left arm, but it was THE DAY. Got to the home stretch and saw the 2:45 ticking up, and up, crossed the finish line, and puked (it was the ONLY race I’ve ever puked in). Missed by 8 seconds, but it is THE DAY that stays with me.

2011 Wineglass Marathon – First Marathon Victory – 2:48:21. This is a day that should’ve stayed with me, but I was done trying to qualify for the Trials and unhappy. In 2015, I was able to win this race again after discovering “happy running;” I ran almost 7 minutes slower, but it was magical to live through that moment of winning the marathon.

What did you gain from this journey?

Now that it has been almost 10 years, the biggest lesson I learned is that you cannot constantly keep one foot in the past, and one foot in the future, you’ve got to, also, embrace that exact day, all that it gives you, and open your eyes to the magic you create; you also never know just how people you inspire to also pick up their dream and run with it. (ha pun intended!)

What are you most proud of about your OTQ pursuit?

I am proud to have discovered just how much strength we have been given, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually… we have so much power but it’s our decision how we harness it or set it free to do great and wonderful things.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you’d done differently in your OTQ pursuit?

Yes, two things: I tried to do too much at once; I was working full-time and paying the bills, going to MBA school, running 80-mile weeks, and not fueling or resting like I needed to. It was the burn out train, and I burned out which resulted in several years of injuries afterwards.

Second, is a hard one; sometimes, we get so focused on our goal and kind of dark and stormy about it, we push away people that want to support us in our relentless pursuit, the people that will still be there on the other side. We have to find the balance in the pursuit of the ‘dream’ and in meaningful relationships. Attempting to or qualifying for the Olympic Trials is a moment we can cherish, but dear family and friends is the part of life that’s priceless. I would’ve spent more time balancing and nourishing both.

What message would you like to send to those following your running pursuits?

My mantra has become “Happy Running” – life is very short and so it is important to work towards those meaningful things that help us become deeply and utterly joyful and happy.

Tell us something unique about yourself.

When I was 25 and a school teacher/coach, I had to get my CDL license and drove a school bus. I looked like a high school student DRIVING 60 high school students to cross-country and track and field meets.  It was terrifying.

What’s next for you?

… a 90 minute date with my elliptical machine! … and hopefully, a fast, fall Marathon!!!

Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you Sara; you are an inspiration!

2011 Wineglass Marathon win

PT or voodoo?

My first PT appointment for my mystery hip issue was on April 1.  Along with an intake and assessment, the PT did manual movements for my hip called manual distractions, and gave me three nerve glide exercises to do twice daily on my own.  On April 2, I had Jon do the manual distractions at home, and after just two sessions of them I was walking without a limp for the first time since February 11!  My no-more-limp situation has continued through today, April 6.

It simply blows my mind that 2 days of simple movements that take about 5-10 minutes a pop helped me more than 8 weeks off running did.  Clearly the answer to this issue was not time off running, it was this.  Although I sure wish someone had showed me this 2 months ago, I'm sure thankful to figure it out now!

The manual distractions basically push synovial fluid out of the joint and allow it to be replaced with "fresh" fluid.  They are really simple.

I feel like I could try running any time now, but my PT advised "not quite yet."  I'm going to try to get her to peg down a recommended start date at my appointment tomorrow (April 7).

In meantime I've been doing a lot of cycling.  Running is always going to be my first and strongest love, so it almost feels like cheating to say this, but I have fallen in love with cycling throughout this time.  I have become a much stronger cyclist (the bar was set pretty low to begin with) and now crave going out for rides on my road bike.  I plan to reintroduce running slowly to be smart about it, so when I resume running I expect to be doing a combination of running and cycling for awhile.  Until then, I am chasing cycling PRs!

Follow-up answers

As I mentioned here, I several follow-up questions following my hip diagnosis/non-diagnosis.  I spoke with my doctor who was helpful in answering them all (I warned him I will probably have more).  I'm publishing my notes so I'll have something to look back on, but also to possibly help anyone else who goes through a similar issue.

Can you provide more information about the hip impingement I have?  It is cam impingement or pincer impingement? 

Cam vs. pincher impingement is mostly an x-ray finding.  My x-rays do not show definitive findings, but it would most likely be a cam impingement or a combination.  Both are treated the same way.  My x-ray doesn't show anything for sure.

What exactly causes the pain?

Pain is caused by movement and inflammation.  My anatomy has always been this way but something irritated it.

Could muscles in the area also be painful from compensating?

Muscles in the area will compensate for it so could be contributing to pain, and could perhaps be why it's so running-specific.

 

Is it a definitive diagnosis from my MRI, or the most likely issue? 

It is not definitive.  MRIs are the best tool to diagnosis this type of issue but can also miss subtle findings.

What is the prognosis for this issue?  Will this heal with rest and PT?  Will this always be an issue?  Will I be able to return to running high mileage when I'm pain-free?

This will get better with rest and PT.  The pain will go away.  It will not always be limiting/painful,.  We need to calm down the inflammatory process.  My anatomy will always be the same (and has always been this way).  I can definitely return to high mileage running when pain free; I have been running all of this time with this anatomy.

Would Aleve or a similar medication help?

Aleve may be helpful (or Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, etc.), taken with food twice daily.  I am going to try this before trying a steroid injection.

I had the MRI...

Getting the MRI was a saga in itself, but I had it on March 26 and received my results on March 31.

The good news!
No stress fracture or stress reaction.
No labral tear.
No bone death (avascular necrosis).
No torn muscles.
Nothing looks alarming.

The bad news!
No definitive diagnosis to explain why I still have pain even when I walk, and any activity with impact is definitely out the question.

The only abnormality was possible signs of hip impingement, which is generally something you're born with and doesn't come from over-use or running (although physical activity that extends the hip beyond it's normal range, like drills, could aggravate the situation).

None of the professionals I've seen have really been able to pinpoint anything, and I don't meet the diagnostic tests for anything, so it's frustrating.  I'm very thankful I don't have any of the "bad things" they were looking for, but none of possibilities thrown out there make sense.  It's also odd that a hip impingement issue would not bother me biking.

I started physical therapy on April 1 (not April Fools!).  The doctor said another option is to have a steroid injection to reduce inflammation in the area.  After how much pain I've had following the contrast injection I had prior to the MRI, I am certainly in no hurry to inject anything else in there, plus I'd always rather try more conservative treatments first.

This diagnosis doesn't seem very definitive and there is no clear timeline for when I'll be able to return to running (just when I'm pain-free).  I have a lot of follow up questions for the doctor now that I've processed and researched the issue (update:  follow up answers are here).

Favorite yoga practices - links

I am on day 3 of this 30 day yoga challenge and have enjoyed it so far.  The first 3 practices have included enough core work that I haven't felt the need to do any planks since I began.

These are the usual yoga practice I do (all free real time YouTube videos):

Tight hamstrings

Post-run

Glute

Hip-opening

Intermediate

Nugget generally joins my yoga sessions, &
yes, I often do yoga in a hoodie, haha!

Podcast picks

After posting my reading recommendations, I figured I'd share my favorite podcasts during this strange, unprecedented, together yet apart time.  In alphabetical order...

Running-related:
Ali on the Run Show
Ben and Berry's Running Podcast
Chasing Bravery
CITIUS MAG Podcast with Chris Chavez
C Tolle Run
For the Long Run
I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein
Most Pleasant Exhaustion
Rambling Runner
Road to the Olympic Trials Podcast
Run Free Podcast
Running for Real with Tina Muir
Running Rogue
Running Through It
Strong Runner Chick Radio
The Morning Shakeout
The 1609 Podcast
Up and Running

Applied Behavior Analysis-related:
ABA Inside Track (also offers CEUs for BCBAs!)
Behavior Babe
The Behavior Observations Podcast (some episodes offer CEUs)

Other:
Working
How I Built This

I listen to podcasts while strength training, stretching, commuting, doing chores, and cross-stitching.  They are also good on road trips!  At home it can be nice to sit on your porch or deck and listen.