Being on the Spot

February 2012 I had the honor to be featured in
Runner's World Nederland.

The photo was taken sometimes in January I had to step in -10 weather in a short and t shirt! I was freezing! I think from the photo you can see how I am so contracted! Overall i had a great time...

"Feeling of a Star"

A Runner's Nightmare: Iliotibial Band Syndome

     
Have you heard of Tennis elbow? Sure!! What about a runner's knee??

        With my little experience with running I never thought an injury can keep me away from exercising and mainly running for that long! After I made an ambitious New Year resolution, my left knee started to hurt from outside. I thought 1 or 2 days of rest will do the work and I will be back on my feet running.. i wish it was true!!

January 1st after running a nice 8 km with Running Repel on the Lint “ New Year Run” , my knee situation went only downhill.

The next day I couldn’t walk the stairs but also I couldn’t walk at all without pain!!! This is really a nightmare for a girl who is so ambitious as I am!! I stayed positive and kept convincing myself it will go away and I will be ready to run Egmond HM on 8^th of January, Unfortunatelly Egmond has to wait another year! I decided to see a physiotherapist just to have a look and to reassure me that it is nothing serious and that the pain will go away in couple of days! Well I definitely heard what I didn't want to hear. He said I am suffering from Iliotibial Band Syndome (ITB).

What is ITB, I have never heard of it!

The iliotibial band, is a connective tissue sheet that runs along the outside (lateral) thigh. It connects to the crest of the pelvis (where you would put your hands if I said put your hands on your hips) to the shin bone (tibia) just below the knee. The IT band's anatomy is complex but it's main job is to stabilize the knee. Most people are blissfully unaware of the IT band's existence until it starts giving them pain: iliotibial band syndrome.

The syndrome typically gives pain on the lateral aspect of the knee, especially if running downhill or walking downstairs. Other than a sprain, the pain is on the outside of the knee, so it makes diagnosis pretty easy. At the upper outer thigh, the ITB passes over the greater trochanter, which is a bony prominence of the femur close to the hip joint. If the ITB is tight it may rub against the greater trochanter and give upper "hip" pain.

I thought maybe physio # 1 didn't know what he was talking about because I was still hoping I could hear the answer I wanted to hear...so I decided to have a second opinion but Physio # 2 gave me the same answer!!! With a big disappointment I started a little bit to accept the idea but as stubborn as I am I really had to go to physio # 3 for a last opinion, maybe he had something else to tell me. Of course nothing new came from Physio # 3. From that moment the idea of resting and not running started to grow in my little head.

It has been over 30 days without running  and that was hard just because when you enjoy something so much it is always hard to stop doing it! Running has taught me about myself, it has pushed my limits , tested and proved my work ethic, my dedication, my will and resiliency. It made me stronger and developed my character it has also given me more than normal amount of time of serious introspection time. Running mainly  brings peace and happiness to my life as well as pain - but the pain brings appreciation and growth.

Yes, I am aware that running isn't the only activity in existence that can bring this to a person, but it has been a very effective source in my life, and I think it can be for most people.

Since last week I am allowed to start building up my running but I haven’t managed to run more than 30 min without pain. I am appreciating every minute I can run…  On Sunday 12/2 I Will have to miss another race “Schoorl’ . I am a bit disappointed but I have a lifetime in front of me to run races and be a fast runner! For now I will be enjoying a nice relaxing weekend with my family in Schoorl and on Sunday I will be cheering up for my TL friends!

Pain is temporary,

It may last a minute,

Or an hour ,

Or a day,

Or a year ,

But eventually it will subside and something else will take its place.

If I quit, however,it last forever .

(Lance Armstrong)

What 2012 is hiding for me?

It is the end of the year and looking back at 2011...

I run 3 PRs a 10 km in 39:14 and a PR in 10 EM in 1:07 I also run my first marathon in 3:11:05 and 6 weeks later I scored a PR at BeirutMarathon with a time of 3:09:09 (First Lebanese woman). I run 2 marathons in 2 months and I caught the marathon bug! I am officially addicted it was an experience not to be ever forgotten!! I have to give myself a credit because I didn't start running until May 2011 since i was recovering from the birth of BabyD via C section...


2011 was somehow unique and challenging just because I was able to combine my 4 days job as a software engineer who requires lots of sharpness as well as being a mother who requires lots of attention and a runner who is eager to run faster every day which also costs lots of time!I am known as a 'SuperChick' :D Through 2011 many doors were there for me to open them. Out of every door I opened a unique experience came out of it and these  experiences made me a stronger and a better person who is ready to attack 2012...

What does 2012 has for the little ambitious girl?

Motto: RUN FAST, BE THE BEST!  I would like to run more than 2 marathons just because I love the pain and the adrenaline and everything that a marathon has to offer!! At least one of these marathon has to be a sub3:05...  i would also like to run a sub 1:30 in a HM and a sub 1 hour in a 15k distance... One of my dreams is to run New York marathon and most of the time when i want something it happens :) especially when i have the full support of my hubby.

Speaking of hubby and running it can be very difficult at times, running can drift you away especially when you get addicted to running not only running but running with certain special people. When this happens it can be an issue and unfortunately at that point you might  have to give up some of your running mates but in the other hand you gain back the support, the attention and the love of your hubby. The bound becomes much stronger ...I am thankful to have a wonderful man who is totally willing to support my running and be there for me!!

I would like to thank all my family, my friends and my twitter friends who supported me and encouraged me throughout 2011!! You made my journey very exciting!!! THANK YOU!!

I will be drinking Champagne on your behalf!!

2012 Here I come...

Happy New Year 2012!!
Santé

Lintloop Max

Few months back we moved to Vleuten and the first thing i had to search for, is a peaceful place to run. I fell in love with the "Lint" which is only few minutes walking from my house. It is a nice course of 8 km only dedicated to bikers runners and most importantly no cars!!

When I saw that that the first edition of the Lintloop "Lintloop max" will be held on November 13th I had to sign up without even thinking.... How can I not run the course that I run at least 3 times a week?

I signed up before I knew I was going to run BeirutMarathon. First week of November I run the Zilveren Turfloop that was planned long time ago. If Beirut Marathon is on 27/11 when do i get to run my long run? That was hard to decide... Since @RubenRent is running Beirut Marathon with me and he haven’t planned a race on that day so I thought maybe we could run 30k together.
The question is am I really willing to give up the "homeTown" race and just go run a 30k? The answer was No! Ruben and i after a lot of hesitation if we should run de 10EM of the 5EM have decided to run the 30k in 3 etapes.
Etapes1: 10km pace of 5'/km
Etapes2: 8km racing " 5EM of the LintLoop Max"
Etapes3: 12km pace of 5'/km
3 etapes 30km. Sounds crazy no?! We were excited and curious to see how we were going to handle those 30k.--> we also planned to run the 30k and be on time for the prize ceremony, not sure why ;)

On Sunday 13th of November, Ruben arrives at 9:15 at my place we get some coffee head to the start to pick up our startnumbers. In the parking someone recognized Ruben and I from @RunningRonald blog!!! This someone was "John" who was doubting if he runs de 8k or de 16k, one week after he runs a marathon. According to my experience i couldn't run a 5k after my marathon!!John ended up running the 16k and a PR!!
After John left somehow Ruben and i looked at each other and laughed thinking how cool "we are famous!" thank you Ronald :))

Around 10:00 we headed to etape1 of our journey. Running and talking time went fast! By the time we were back we already run 12K and not 10Kas planned!! Was that smart or not?
We get to the car change into our racing gear, went inside to see Ruud, Ronald and John. All week long, I knew Ronald will be there to run a fast 10Em. His best time was a 1:05:07 will he be able to improve that? A small chit chat at the tennis club next to the start and we headed to the start. All week long i have been asking Ruud if he will run the Lintloop. I am glad he made it and was amongst us at the start of the 5EM.


I wasn't as nervous as usually maybe because I never run an 8km and i didnt have a goal time. My only goal was to run fast and who knows maybe i can finish first!!
The start was amazing, it wasn’ t stuffed, it was relaxing, Ronald and John were there and took some nice pictures " thank you" .... Ruud, Ruben and I were up in the front. At 10:40 the race started. I only saw guys flying in front of me. It went fast the first 500m, 4 guys were ahead, Ruben and I were in a group the first km. After 2 km Ruben took off to catch up to the escaped guys and i tried to stay below 4'/km.No too much stress knowing that i was leading the ladies race. On and off i kept feeling in my legs the 12 km that we run earlier. In front of me I kept seeing Ruben flying and catching up to the guys who escaped the first km, last km as always give it all and i finished First in the ladies and 8th total out of 393 runners with a time of 31'45 avg pace 3:57. I couldn't ask for better knowing that this was my 20th km of the day!!! At the finish Ruben says he was second with a time of 29'59 that is 16km/h !!!Wow, he also did a podium after 20k!! Ruud was just after me with an amazing time of 32'14.

We didn't waste too much time, straight to the car, we changed one more time and we head to Etapes 3 which is now only 10k left.
We run the Lint backward cheering for the runners of the 10EM. People making jokes that we were running the other way around, we were running on endorphins laughing and just telling people Ruben is second and i am first and still 10k to go. It was a really fun ... We crossed Ronald 2 times on the lint cheering for him...we stopped at the water post which we didn't have time to stop while running the 8k :)
By the time we arrived back to the starting point, we saw Ronald flying the last meters at 20km/h.... He did it!!! PR for RR with a finish time 1:03:04 and 6th overall!! "Chapeau"!!

Last km of our journey was quiet, thinking that the next time we reach 30k it would be while racing the Beirut Marathon...

30k in the legs, sunny day and podium for Ruben and myself ... It couldn't have been a better day than this!!!

More fotos Copyright by John de Boer

Zilveren Turfloop a PR @10k

Did this really happen or I am dreaming!! A sub40 for the 10 km distance? Wait a second that is not a dream, It did really happen Final time 39’14 in Mijdrecht on Sunday 7^th of November. How did I do it and how it all started?

After my last 10 km race in Nieuwegein with @RunningRonald , he believed that there is much more in me and that I can easily run below the 40’. He promised to be my ’HAAS’, which is "pacer" in dutch and helps me to run a sub40 . The same evening on the TL he comes up with a race and a date the Zilveren turfloop in Mijdrecht. I didn’t expect he would be so serious but he was!!

I was excited about the idea and I was saying the whole time” Yeah Sub40!I can do it!! “ But then my thoughts and everything else was focused at the big day " My first marathon". After my first marathon experience my recovery was not what I would have liked it to be. I have blasted my leg muscle during the marathon …the first week I couldn’t almost run at all. As soon as I reach 5km the same muscle get tight and I couldn’t run anymore!! Is this serious? Is this happening to me. I emailed @Ilonka-hengel and asked her for advice! In the same day she reassured me that this is normal and just need to take it easy but not to stop moving.  Second week after the marathon I rested a lot and went biking instead. Biking or resting, my muscle was still hurting me. The 10k race was getting closer and closer and my leg was not getting any better.

One week before the sub40 race the pressure was getting high. My "haas" made sure that all his 1000 followers on twitter knew about this race!!! If you went on twitter one week before the race you would think some kind of bomb is going to explode the day of the race!! Everyone was on fire to run a PR.  @RunningMarcel and @RunningRepel  were also amongst the people who wanted so badly to run a PR. keyword on twitter " "Zilverentrufknal".

With all that happening how could I even think about not be able to make it!!The excitement and the pressure of sub40 is getting high. Usually I get all excited but knowing the pain in my leg I kept doubting if I am able to do it!! Yes I do have a pacer but what can he do for me? Run for me? What is a pacer?

Sunday morning, I arrive to Mijdrecht and see that Ronald is already there waiting for me. Inside the sporthal we met with Ruben @RunningMarcel…You would think in a normal race you have to sign up and put your start number and your chip yourself but not ME!!  I had a 5 *  treatment. Ronald didn’t let me do anything he took care of everything…at that moment I was still wondering if he is going to run in place of me. hihi Is that what a "haas" does? “ I got the best "haas”.

A small warm-up run with a little race tempo 3’58. It felt good, my leg felt good but quiet nervous… Few min before 11 am I stand on the start line between Ronald and Ruben. All I wanted is to start…1 AM the startgun fires and the race started

Km1: Together with Ronad and Ruben then Ruben took off to finish his 10k in 38’10 big PR!!
Km2 to km5: Solid run with a pace between 3’54 and 3’59 . Ronald at that point reassures me that we will get the sub40 if we keep going and that I am already the second lady!
Km6 and Km7: 2 km against the wind and my pace went above the 4’ and knowing me you would know that this cannot happen !!
km8 and km9: I had to give it all!! Despite the small pain in my leg my pace was 3’56 3’55 respectively
KM10 GIVE IT ALL!! Pace 3:41

Official finish time 39’14…. Yes I did!!! I also finished second in the ladies!This is more than what I expected! I am still amazed …

I love running because I can push myself everytime and run faster everytime. I am so thankful to Ronald, Ruben and others who believed in me!! I expect from my "haas" to take me to sub38 next time :)
The good news since that day I have no more pain in my leg....Journey to the Next big Race Beirut Marathon!

Amsterdam Marathon: My first marathon an experience not to forget!!

WOW!
Where do I start! The day after the Marathon, a friend emailed me as I sat in front of my computer with my legs throbbing and asked me, "So, how do you feel"? I immediately replied, "My legs hurt, my pelvic joints feel like they are grinding together, and my knee is not stable"

He energetically fired back, "No, How do you feel"?

He was right! The pain would just be temporary, but as I sat there and absorbed his question, for the first time, I consciously acknowledged an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, relief and calm previously overlooked by the shear magnitude of what I had just experienced. I then responded to him, "Sunday was a big day, the culmination of a hard work and dedication, commitment and focus. I'm not sure how to explain it, figuratively; I've climbed the mountain, stood at the top, appreciated the views, and returned to the bottom. Now, I stand at the base, looking up, respecting what I have just done, without that lingering sense that tomorrow represents another training day, hard work and continued focus. I'm at ease! It's also a reminder that when I put my mind to something, I can accomplish amazing things and experience the most special moments life has to offer"!

After a week of sleepless night at 6 :30 am on Sunday I looked down at my running watch fastened securely to my wrist and immediately realized, today was the day! There would be no more counting down days, there would be no more training runs, today was October 16th, 2011, Marathon Sunday! Today I will run 42,1 km in Amsterdam.
My hubby dropped me at 8 am at the Olympic stadium, the drive going there felt long. I was getting nervous ever minute that we were getting closer. Once I get there I text @RubenRent to see if he was already there. We were suppose to meet in the sports shop at the stadium to have some coffee offered by @JoanHLWAdam the owner of the shop.

I see Ruben both nervous we go get some coffee while impressed by everything around us. The stadium,the finish line,the entrance to the stadium….At the sports shop we got to meet with other friends from twitter."Jaco", "Martin", "Ruud"...  Time went so fast 40 min before the start I go with Ruben on a warm up Run… to realize that it was freezing outside. I think it was around  5 degrees!!

We get back and we head to the start… this is it!! less than 15 min to go… no more going back, 42,1 km are in front of me and I was ready and excited to run after one week of tapering and missing the feeling of a good run!!! I am so happy that Ruben was experiencing the same feeling I had since it is both our first marathon. At the start it was freezing cold we were speechless waiting for the startgun.
First km went very easy I didn’t have the intention to run with Ruben but somehow we had the same pace and it felt great to be running with a first time marathoner.
I wanted to already run fast from km1 but since I don’t know how would I feel at 35 km that everyone warned me about, I had to be careful.

Km after km together with Ruben chatting along the way cruising at pace 4’45 . It felt easy after the 10 km.  At 11 km we had our supporters @RunninRonald together with @runSylrun and others. It was great to see them and of course picture time. Second 10 km we were at a faster pace already, Just before the 30k I started to have some stomach cramps a feeling that I don’t like at all but I kept ignoring it and focus at everything around me and enjoy the scenery of every km I run.

30 km the km that I will never forget… thats where Ronald, sylvia...were waiting to cheer us up.Few km before that point I told Ruben I am looking forward to see our supporters and here I already saw the big flag JVC board and I knew we arrived … Out of nowhere I only see myself  tripping with Ruben and both of us falling hard on the ground!!! PlAK!! My head also!!! Without even thinking stood up and kept running just like a little machine.,,, Ruben was also fine and we kept going…dizzy and bleeding from my knee kept running to realize that we are running even faster than before. This fall made us stronger and while worrying about the headache and the bleeding we were close to the famous 35K.
35km I asked Ruben how he was feeling, he said good beside some pain but who didn’t have pain at that point? At 36k I started to visualize the finish line, I felt strong and all I wanted now to finish despite all the pain my body was undergoing. The last few km were the hardest but the BEST FEELING EVER!!! Legs were heavy I was scared that we were slowing pace but Ruben was there to reassure me that we are doing just fine.

The Marathon was incredible for all the reasons you think it would be. Amsterdam is a perfect host for such an event. Every single neighborhood we ran through offered its own unique personality.. Marathon spectators seemed torn between handing out high fives to runners and dancing to the bands. Kids held their hands out hoping you would run by and acknowledge them with a high five! Every 10 steps somebody would yell your name out!

2 km to go …from there the crowds gradually regained size as we entered the park. I kept focusing on my legs because I felt there were giving up on me, they don’t want to run anymore, my muscles were so tight and i just wanted to get done!!
We get to the stadium for the last 200 m I began to feel light headed, it was hard for me to breathe and I thought I might end up like some of the finishers who were fainting left and right. Ruben's family and my mine especially my beautiful 11 months boy was there cheering for us, I didn’t see anyone I could only see the finish line. Ruben holds my hand and we crossed the finish line together in  3:11:05 that is 19’ faster than my goal time and 9' faster than Ruben’s goal time.
At that moment, everything stopped, the pain, the noise, and my thoughts. I clutched the medal in my hand, draped it around my neck, and felt at that moment my journey had come full circle.

A final thank you to my family, for friends and twitter friends who supported me during my training. Also a special thank you to Sonia Hanna and Roger Bejjani from the Lebanese RRA who comforted me and advised me days before the race! Thank you to everybody who came out on Marathon Sunday! Thank you to everybody who offered congratulatory wishes following the race!
This will forever be my first Marathon experience, and because of that, a special one. However, it will definitely not be the last. I plan on incorporating Marathons into my life going forward.

Video of the finish line... A moment not to be forgotten

AntoniusLoop 10km

 Friday noon while wrapping my work at the office just because my parents were coming that evening and just because i am about to take off for 3 weeks. I get a message from @RunningRonald asking me if I would like to join him to run on sunday a 10k race in Nieuwegein, the Antonius loop.

As usual i got all excited but i got disappointed to see that i couldnt sign up anymore. I informed @RunningRonald who told me to wait a little he will ask his sister if she can do anything since his sister works at the Antonius Hospial. The time that i had to wait was long but here i get another message to tell me i am in. All excited but i remembered that on satuday it is the birthday of my husband and running a PR after a party might be challenging.


On sunday i woke up early eventhough i slept late. Still laying in bed i thought to myself: " i feel good!!" I stood up to take my first steps and here i felt a pain in my head. Is that a hangover of the mix of wine and champagne from the night before?
Ronald picked me up and we head to the finish of the race where we picked our startnumber, t shirt and a bag of nice goodies. The weather was getting warmer, we went on a warm up run and here the feeling in my head was even getting worst! Ronald reassured me that there is no competition and a relaxed run would put me in the first place. To be honest thats all i wanted...to be first especially that my family was there...

We took the bus to the start of the race. Ronald and I were getting nervous!! why was i nervous if no competition.... i guess because am i really able to accept to jog a 10k race?? Am i going to accept to run nothing but better than last time i run a 10k? the answer is NO!! Thats not me! I want every race faster than last one no matter what are the excuses.
Why Ronlad was nervous? i think because he had the feeling that the the guys sitting next to us were fast and that he had to work hard. Hihi no i am not sure i think it is just normal to be nervous! I asked those guys what was their goal time and that young boy said 38 min i looked at him in shock because he was wearing a basketball socks and shorts.Never judge people from their appearance! I was quiet impressed and still couldn't believe he could even run a sub40!!
we started planning a tactic so he can beat him knowing that Ronald can run a 37'... The mean runners tactic was to follow his pace and win the race in the last kms.

At the start of the race i meet with a lady who is planning to run a 41'. Oh nooo! I thought this was going to be a piece of cake!! I guess not! The tactic of Ronald implies to me too ...i will follow her and overtake her by the end if i am able to with the little hours of sleep.
Race started at 12:00 just before reaching the 1km line we had to stop for the train for 25 sec and started again side by side i run the 10 km with Ruda

I was focused the whole way eventhough lots of people were along the way from the wandelaars race cheering for us. The last km before the finish I took initiative and increased my speed.It payed off i was able to finish first. I finished with an official time f 40'59 but the unofficial time with train stop is 40'34. Seeing my parents and family waiting for me it is always " the happiest moment"
Ronald over enthousiastic joined me at the fnish an it was super nice to know that we both finished first. A nice buffet was arranged afterward.

Overall it was a gr8 experience!! The race itself was very good organized and i would definetly do it again!!