Debbie Persaud's Blog : 2008 : September

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Debbie Persaud's Blog

September 2008

Philadelphia Distance Run- September 21, 2008- “The Philly Slide”

Posted by Debbie Persaud Sep 27, 2008

It was a bright sunny day and you can feel the warmth and enthusiasm that the people of Philadelphia are known for. The course is flat and starts in Center City on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway lined with beautiful fountains and international flags. You pass City Hall and Independence Hall. After heading back up Benjamin Franklin Parkway, you pass Fairmount Park along the Schuylkill River before finishing back at Eakins Oval.

I was proud to run as a member of Team McGraw. My performance at the Philly half-marathon (my first half-marathon) did not go as well as expected even though I finished the race. My goal was to finish the race under 2.5 hours. My right hamstring sprain from the ATL Cobb race started acting up again at 4 miles (despite stretching and wearing a compression band) which significantly reduced my pace time of 11:20 min per mile. My friend and the best ATC, Helen, ran her first half-marathon with me. (Actually, I had called Helen a week before the race and asked her if she wanted to do something crazy and join me for a girls weekend in Philly. Even though Helen dislikes running and her longest run was 4 miles prior to the race, she came out and supported me by running and honoring Jimmy's memory). During the race, Helen stretched out my leg and would not leave my side. At the 8 mile mark, I told Helen to leave me (which she did reluctantly after I yelled at her...sorry Helen) and finish the race strong by trying to make our race time of 2.5 hours. Helen finished the race in 2 hrs 34 mins which I think is amazing for a person who never ran 13.1 miles before. Ya gotta love that girl! YGB!!! Helen.

When I arrived at the 10 mile mark, I was unable to bend my right knee (due to a burning pain along the ITB) when I met Team McGraw runner, Dena. Dena, you were a godsend and thanks for keeping me in such good company and laughing the last three miles. I noticed that when I turned sideways and side-stepped/sashayed to stretch out my hips, I could move with less pain because I did not need to use my right leg to kick off.

Many thanks to Mark McGraw and Jeff McMahon who had finished the race but came back on the course and sashayed with me the last 0.5 mile. As we clicked our heels doing the "Philly slide", McMahon was chanting "There's no place like the finish line! There is no place like the finish line!" I was laughing so hard. I could not of asked for more supportive or cooler teammates. I managed to cross the finish line in a little over 3 hours (14 minute per mile pacing). What a crazy fun day!!

Many thanks to the crew at Rembrandts for a warm welcome and hosting a great after party for Team McGraw. A highlight of my evening was meeting Greg "The Bull" Luzinski who is a sweetheart. I really enjoyed meeting my teammates and feel honored to have met more warriors in the fight against brain tumors. I look forward to seeing you in NYC. YGB!!!

Debbie's Box Score

Last race: Philadelphia Distance Run- September 21, 2008

Total miles run for September 2008: 31 on land, approximately 36 miles in the pool

Injuries to date: Mild sprain on right ITB (ilotibial band). Followed RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) protocol for 4 days. Pain-free on September 24 and continued strength training (including dead lifts), pilates, yoga, incorporated stretching ITB with foam roller (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJLxruO3su0) may thanks HL!, and will continue training in the pool (running in place in the deep end) until orthotics arrive this week and Coach Pilla gives the ok to run with the group.

Current challenges: (1) Maintaining body weight of 115 lbs. A friend who is an Olympic style weightlifter has re-introduced me to the superfood- the avocado for healthy weight gain-many thanks Y! (2) Finishing Jimmy's last wish on the bucket list. Jimmy's goal was to finish the NYC marathon under 5 hours (see attached newspaper article). I would like to honor Jimmy by making his 5 hour time, but it now seems far from reach with this recent ITB sprain.

Lesson learned for NYC marathon 2008: Perhaps focusing on enjoying the training and the journey to be healthy and strong for NYC is more important than my competitiveness of making Jimmy's 5 hr race time. Maybe I get some credit for having the guts to show up.

Next race: ING NYC Marathon (26.2 mi)- November 2, 2008

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U.S. 10K Classic (aka Cobb race) Atlanta- Labor Day 2008

Posted by Debbie Persaud Sep 27, 2008

The U.S. 10K Classic is a challenging 10,000-meter (6.2 mile) race starting at Cumberland Mall and traveling along U.S. Hwy 41 (Cobb Parkway), ending at White Water/American Adventures Theme Parks. The race is held on Labor Day and the proceeds fund local childrens' charities in Georgia. There were a little over 15,000 supporters that entered the race and the crowd was great showing true Southern hospitality. This was my first timed race and I placed 2758 (13:00 minute per mile pace). Last year, Jimmy ran the Cobb race (in preparation for the NYC Marathon 2007) and placed 1005 running an 8:26 minute per mile pace despite having a GBM IV brain tumor and being on 18 consecutive cycles of chemo. I think that we all have concluded that Jimmy was a meta-human. I have attached a picture of Jimmy "SuperFang" during the September 3, 2007 Cobb race. Who would have known that this was going to be Jimmy's last race. The aggressive growth of his GBM into the cortex and 4^th ventricle caused two grand mahl seizures that would first take away his ability to walk in October 2007 and result in his passing in December 1, 2007. When Jimmy ran the Cobb race 2007, he was 148 pounds of muscle and the tumor gutted him to 92 lbs during the last two months of his life due to the lack of drug treatments available. I hate tumors! The picture at the Cobb race is the way I will always remember Jimmy: Strong, Fearless, Determined, and Passionate.

During the Cobb race 2008, I experienced my first sports-related injury. The race is mostly uphill and 4 miles into the race I tripped (but did not wipe out) on a raised clear plastic light reflector on the highway causing me to tweak my right hamstring. Although my right hamstring and right ITB felt sore, I still finished the race but could not maintain my 12 minute per mile pacing. There was a man in his 50s who was pushing a baby carriage running next to me and I had to finish the race before him (Ego...I know).

Debbie's Box Score

Last race: U.S. 10K Classic Atlanta- September 1, 2008

Total miles run for August 2008: 86 miles on new Asics

Injuries to date: Mild sprain on Right hamstring and Right ITB (ilotibial band). Followed RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) protocol for 2 weeks but continued pool work to keep up cardio. Pain-free on September 14^th and continued training with short runs.

Cross Training prior to injury: Strength/weight training (Mon & Wed), Pilates and Yoga (Tues & Fri), Boxing (Sat), Tennis lessons/league (Sat/Sun), and Cycle (Sun).

Planned Cross Training after Right ITB injury: My quads are a lot stronger than my hamstrings. Even though I stretch thoroughly before and after runs, need to focus on strengthening hamstrings and improve flexibility of ITB. Was recommended to incorporate dead lifts.

Current challenges: (1) Maintaining body weight of 115 lbs. Need to reduce cardio by eliminating tennis and boxing until after the NYC Marathon. Will pick up 4.0 singles and mixed doubles league Winter 2009- sorry Johnny H. Need to increase daily caloric intake to 3000 by supplementing with Ensure Plus. (2) Prior to injury, right leg slightly bends inward while running. Need to be conscious of this slight overpronation in my gait.

Lesson learned for NYC marathon 2008: Do not run on or near the white dashed lines on the highway where light reflectors are located.

Next race (if right ITB is pain-free): Philadelphia Distance run (13.1 mi)- September 21, 2008

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