Choices....

I've been going to physical therapy for my left calf.  It's been hurting pretty much since I started running.  I got new shoes, I've been to the chiropractor (something I thought I'd never do), I've been to massage therapy.  It got so bad at one point I thought it had progressed to a stress fracture.  (That wasn't just a random thought, the massage therapist was the one who told me to get an x-ray before I tried to run on it again.)  I went to an orthopaedic doctor who sent me to physical therapy. 

It's not really getting better.

Last Tuesday the physical therapist told me last week I had to make a choice.  She said I could either stop running (for at least a month) and continue therapy OR stop coming to therapy.  She said that I am basically wasting my time and money coming to therapy as long as I am going to keep running.  She believes I am re-injuring the leg every time I go out on it.

The "old me" would have been a little happy because that would have given me an excuse not to exercise.  But, I'm not who I was.  I would rather be told anything else than I (might) have to choose not to run.  I told her it doesn't really hurt (too bad) when I'm actually out running on it.  She said that's because it gets warmed up and because of the endorphins running gives me.  

I told her if she didn't see me before June (after the Cotton Row 10K I'm registered for and have been training for the last 2 months)...she'd know what my decision was.   I decided I would run with the group that night and then run the 5K Saturday...and then I would see how I felt.

Saturday, I was talking to a woman (an amazing master's runner) at the Cookie Dash who told me she had trouble with Planter Fasciitis.  She said she had the same experience.  Her feet didn't bother her when she was running-it was only the next day that she couldn't walk!  Her ortho pretty much told her the same thing-quit running.  (She went to Spine Care --chiro-- who did/does ART --active release therapy-- and she's almost completely pain free now.)

ART basically breaks up scar tissue...which is exactly what I've been thinking is the problem all along.  I can't remember if I've talked about it on here before or not, but I was in a bad car wreck about 16 years ago.  I had my leg sort of propped up between the driver's seat and the door (I was driving).  I hydroplaned and almost went under an 18-wheeler.  He was paying attention and moved over as far as he could so I slammed into his back wheels-crushing the front driver's side of my car-and my leg.  I didn't break it, but it's never been the same since then.

So, tonight I bought a massage thingy (on eBay, not from the linked on-line store) that SHOULD help if that's the problem.  I'm going to cancel my PT appointments and move my ortho follow up to the first week in June (instead of two weeks before the race as it is currently scheduled). 

Decision made.

Week 2 Recap

WHAT I DID

Well, I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but I've been "gone" this week.  My (inside-only, fully declawed) cat decided to take a vacation (read about that here...and be sure to read the following two posts as well as they're related).  Not only was I heart broken, but I've been having a hard time this week (more about that later).

Never the less...Tuesday night, despite the rainy weather and my heavy heart, I went to my running group.  They said we did 3.1 miles, but I only logged 2.88 on my Garmin.  They might have added in the warm up jog over to where we stretch, but I didn't count that.  I ran 30 and walked 5, but my longest running interval was 7:30.  It was the first one.  However, my average pace was 12 minutes.  I don't think that's too bad. 

Thursday I managed to force myself out the door for 2 miles.  I was feeling really bad about it because I didn't feel like I did very well...until I looked at the stats from the run.  Even though my longest interval was only 4 minutes (the first one), I did run 19.5 total (walked 6).  The best part was that my average pace was 11:45. 

Friday a friend invited me for a "little walk"...we went geocaching and ended up walking about 4 miles!

This morning when I woke up it was raining outside and 43 degrees.  I argued with myself all the way to the park to meet up with my group.  When I got there I asked someone, "is it wrong that I still haven't decided if I'm going to run?"  Suffice it to say, I wasn't "behaving in accordance with a decision I had already made"...but I did it.  In the wind and cold rain I ran 3.5 miles with an average pace of 12:04.  After the second running interval for me (which was the longest at 7 minutes), I ran with the run/walk group and stuck with the intervals the plan called for (5/1).  I ran a total of 36.5 and walked 5.5.

WHAT I LEARNED

It's almost embarrassing to keep repeating myself...but again:

1) It's imperative to STICK WITH THE PLAN.  I've been trying to walk less so I don't usually walk the full time called for thinking I should be running more.  I talked to one of the coaches this morning and she told me to ...

2) Slow down in the beginning of my runs....and make sure I'm walking the full interval at a slower speed.  She said most likely the biggest issue I'm dealing with is a simple matter of conditioning.   She also said to...

3) Pick up my knees when I run.  (She didn't specifically tell me that, but she was talking to someone else.)  She said when you're tired you can have a tendency to shuffle along and that takes more energy and is harder than picking up your knees.  I tried it when I started getting tired; it really did make a difference!!  

4) Another runner was saying to concentrate on my arms....bring my elbows back, and make sure to keep them moving forward and back....  I don't think I can explain it in words very well, but it worked.

5) AGAIN...feelings lie.  I really felt like I had completely sucked during all four runs this week, but they really were not that bad when I looked at the numbers. 

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO 

KEEP RUNNING.  STICK WITH THE PLAN.  

Also, I plan to start cross training next week.  I didn't do it this week, and honestly since next week is spring break and my daughter will be home....I don't know if I'll really do it this week..but I'm going to plan on it anyway.

***My left calf is still bothering me a little, but I've decided it's just sore.  I didn't go back to Spine Care because I think it's something that will work itself out over time and I've got some stretches to do at home.  It "always" seems better at the end of the run so I don't think it's an injury...I just have to "woman up" and realize I'm no spring chicken anymore and little aches and pains mean I'm working!!

Also....my cat did come home from his little vacation, safe and sound!!

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!

:D

Week 1/Day 3

WHAT I DID

Well, I did something I thought I would never do....I went to a chiropractor!!  Having been an insurance adjuster for 10 years, I'm really not very fond of them...but Spine Care came highly recommended by some runners in the group (namely, my coach).  I have to say (after 2 appointments)...I'm very glad I went.  He told me I need to build up strength in my ankles and calves (which is what I thought), and my core.  He did not tell me I needed an "adjustment" in my spine-which would have made me run out screaming!  He did some electrical stimulation on my calf muscles and then had me do some exercises with a super heavy resistance band.  He also said I'd only "need" to go a few times.

I went to the first appointment on Wednesday and called it "cross training"...so I "rested" Thursday and ran two miles yesterday.  I did a seven minute warm up walk....and then I tried really hard to do the four/one intervals but I didn't make it.

I just looked at my time, and I'm actually VERY PLEASED...I did two miles in 23 minutes....average of 11:36.  I ran a total of 18.5 minutes of that time.  My average speed was 5:20, but my fastest speed was 7:80 ((pace of 7:42)).  That's better than I thought it was going to be.  My longest run interval was five minutes.

I noticed a MARKED improvement in how my calves were feeling.   After the run (and shower) I went to Spine Care for my second appointment. 

WHAT I LEARNED

After looking at my stats, I'm reminded (AGAIN) that how I feel is never going to be a good measure of how I'm doing.

I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!  I can't remember if I said it in the post after the group run (and I'm too lazy to go look)...but Tuesday night was probably the first time I really thought, "I CAN do this" without having doubts.  I think I've pushed past the initial excitement of it, although I do still really love to run, it's not the same as it was in the very beginning.  I'm not saying I won't have doubts again, but I honestly see myself running the marathon in December....and maybe even doing an ultra after that.  

Dress cooler.  The thing is I really HATE being cold.  Since I haven't been running as much as I'm starting to now, I've been okay most days, but I got very hot after the two mile run.  We'll start running longer distances each week so I've got to remember that.

 

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO 

Stick with the plan.

Cross train in earnest.  The chiro suggested a balance ball and resistance bands, but for now I have a great Pilates DVD that I'll break out.  I might even do that G-Ball work out again. 

"NEW WAY OF EATING" --ZONE NEWS--

By the way, the "new way of eating" is still going strong.  I've been having a really hard time eating all the food on the plan so I think I'll cut my calories down a bit.  I set up my plan for "moderate weight loss" so changing it will lower the count down just a bit for each meal, which will be good for me because I am not liking how full I feel after meals.  I know what I'm eating is very good for me and there's not one meal that's over 500 calories ((!!!)), but it's still a lot of food volume-wise.  (Darling husband has lost about 6 pounds, and is sticking with it.....I haven't lost any weight, but I think there's a biological reason for that right now, so I'm going to resist thinking about it for another week!!)

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon.

New Ways...

WHAT I DID

I started my "new way of eating" yesterday.  We aren't calling it a "diet" because the idea is that it will become the way we eat from now on.  I don't remember if I've talked much about it here...but I read a blog the other day that really got me to thinking (I'd link it if I could remember where I saw it...).  The writer talked about being on the Zone diet and how when she eats a lot of junk food she gets a "food hangover".  Many of the commenters have had the same experience.   A food hangover is not something I've ever had...but it sounds very interesting.

By that I mean I know how horrible an alcohol hangover feels...I have come to understand what drinking does to my body and why over indulgence causes me to feel so bad.  So, if the same can be true about food, that means there is a state of health that is superior to the one I'm currently in.  

Does that make sense?  

I know the food I eat is not just complete junk, but I also know I don't eat well.  If there is a way of eating that will result in feeling bad when I'm eating unhealthy foods--I WANT IT!!  That very idea is exactly why I don't drink very much anymore...because I can not stand the way a hangover feels.  It's just not worth it to me.  I want to get that same mentality about food!

WHAT I LEARNED

The funny thing is....my husband and I both ate considerably more food (in volume) than we usually eat in the course of a day.  But, there's a HUGE nutritional difference.  For instance, his usual breakfast is a sausage biscuit and two hash browns.  There's 720 calories, 46 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein, and 64 carbs in that fairly small amount of food.  This morning's breakfast was two and a fourth egg white and cheese burritos** and 27 grapes for a total of 475 calories, 15 grams of fat, 43 grams of protein and 42 carbs.  The "plan" calls for basically eating all day (three meals and two snacks), but no one meal is over 500 calories, and snacks are about 200 calories each.

**That's two and a fourth burritos, not 2 1/4 egg whites....just wanted to be clear there.  

Did you know all the FLAVOR of an egg is in the YOLK??  (But so is the fat...so maybe there's a spice I can add to that burrito?)  :D 

  

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO

As I always say...STICK WITH THE PLAN!!!  We're committed to doing this for three weeks before we evaluate if it's something we really want do.  The down side is, it's a lot of food which means the grocery bill was a bit higher.  But, at the same time, there were quite a few "staples" that I didn't have, so I don't think it will be as high next week.  Not to mention....what's health worth??

Thanks for stopping in....

What's that??  OH, you want to hear about my RUNNING???!  Sure, I can tell you about that, too.

:D

  

WHAT I DID

I ran 2.5 miles with my group--well, with the larger group...I think someone messed up and put me with a sub-set that's faster than I currently am, so I was mostly with the slower moving group.  I haven't uploaded my time yet, but I ran most of it, and I WASN'T LAST.   Now, I'm not knocking whoever it was last, because he/she was out there just like I was....but, my semi-competitive nature just won't allow me to be last, even though my body won't allow me to be first!!  

WHAT I LEARNED

Pain from an injury continues to ramp up, while pain from soreness will get better during a run.  I've been (mostly) experiencing pain from soreness.  I say that because (usually) I feel better at the end of my run than I do within the first few minutes.

Also, I am a BIG TIME whiney winnie butt!!  When I'm by myself I hyper focus on what my body is doing and I want any pain to STOP.  I'm a very "in-the-moment" kind of gal so I don't usually stop to think that in 2 miles I'll be feeling much better so it would be better to keep on going.  Running with the group really helped with that because I "had to" push through the aweful part.  

One coach and I were talking during the last 1/4 mile.  I was saying that at that point I really felt like I could go another couple of miles.  She said that I might just have to resign myself to the fact that the first two miles are going to suck! 

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO

The thing I have to keep firmly in my mind is that usually by the time that second mile is over, I'm feeling pretty good.

AGAIN...STICK WITH THE PLAN.

I'm also considering going over to Spine Care for a consultaion.  They were there last night talking to us about stretching.  ...Being a former insurance adjuster, I've never been too "up" on chiropractors...but, at the same time, I've dealt with a lot of people who seem to get a huge benefit from them.  I talked to the "dr" last night about my calves and she explained to me what was going on (which I understood, and it made sense, and fell completely in line with everything I thought, and everything I know to be true....and it's not something I can really explain in an intelligent way!).

Because I've had so many problems, she suggested (naturally) that I come in for a free consultation.  We'll see.

The schedule for today is cross train or rest.  I'm most likely going to opt for rest!!  The next group run is three miles, Saturday morning at 7 am.  It's in a park that I love...the weather is supposed to be perfect.  I can NOT wait!

Thanks for stopping in, come again soon!

:D 

By the way, thank you all for your encouragement.  It really does mean a lot to me.