It's been 2 weeks and 3 days since I broke down and declared myself "injured." Since then I have taken quite a few days off, unintentionally raised my speed by 2min/mile, gone to PT and gone to the chiro (both docs several times).
I am starting to see progress. Today I ran almost 8 miles and got my pace back down to about a minute above where I would have wanted it. I am no longer following any plan that goes out further than 1 day b/c I don't know how my hip will feel until I start running.
I have been diagnosed with an injury my PT has seen only once before, in a soccer player. He asked me if my running routine looked something like a steeplechase course. Since normally this injury comes from kicking up high and dodging from side to side. It's a strain of the pectineus muscle.
Am I worried about the Country Music Marathon which is in 10 days..? Absolutely. I'm worried about finishing now instead of being worried about qualifying for Boston. It's such a shock to the way I've been thinking for the past few months. A little over 2 weeks ago I was running a 22.5 mile training run, I was doing long runs at a pace of 8:20, I was doing tempo runs well into the 7s. Now I am scared to even start a run, because I don't know if I'll be able to do it. I'm running paces into the 10s or even 11s. I've missed almost 100 miles in training. I'm SCARED.
However, CMM has a 1/2 option. I figure that I can run the half if need be. Will I be disappointed? Absolutely! Is it really more important that I still raised close to $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? Absolutely!
My focus, for getting a fast time, will now be Vermont City which is Memorial Day weekend. My injury may still affect that race. It really depends on how CM goes. For now I'm playing a lot of things by ear and trying not to think about the training that I missed.
In the meantime...I have loved reading all the Boston recaps and Tweets! You guys are all awesome. Congratulations!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Proof I'm turning into my students
My latest adventure with an injury has made me realize that I am turning into a middle school student. (Please note; if you have MS students, teach them, or just love them...many of these reasons are why I love my job so much...some of these reasons are why I need to run)
1. They think they are invinsible; this time last week I had convinced myself I was not injured and was planning a 10 mile race as part of my weekend's 17 miler.
2. They are stubborn; even when I knew I shouldn't run through the pain, I did anyway, until I physically couldn't.
3. They don't usually learn from mistakes; I'm pretty sure I was in this exact position a year ago.
4. They are competitive and like to show off; I think part of the reason I was so stubborn is the contest I started as a fund-raiser for TnT. I really wanted my mileage to impress all the guessers.
5. They like to stick weird things down their pants: The liner in running shorts make a surprisingly efficient ice pack holder.
6. They get embarrassed easily; When the PT asked me if I had shaved recently (because the medicine he was applying to my hip would sting if I had) I turned bright red.
7. When they want something they don't give up; ditto
8. They can put the phrase "what if" in front of any scenario you can dream of; what if I wake up tomorrow and the pain is gone?, what if nothing hurts after a mile?, what if I try spinning?, what if I foam roll every hour on the hour?, etc.
9. (not so running related) They play COD with friends instead of doing homework; I blog instead of writing my "Year End Summary," grading papers, or writing lesson plans...
All that being said, I did go to the PT today and he does not think it is ITBS which is GREAT in my book. Everything I read on ITBS showed more recovery than I have time for. The main "tests" my little hip muscle failed were internal and external rotation. He thinks its just an overused and inflamed muscle. We're treating it with ice, rest, stretching and a medicine he puts on a electrically charged patch. So far that's working well. The patch really seemed to help. So cross your fingers; so far it's good news.
Well that's all for now. I guess I should get back to practicing my fart noises and finding new ways to incorporate words like: chode, blue waffle, and Cleveland Steamer into my day!
1. They think they are invinsible; this time last week I had convinced myself I was not injured and was planning a 10 mile race as part of my weekend's 17 miler.
2. They are stubborn; even when I knew I shouldn't run through the pain, I did anyway, until I physically couldn't.
3. They don't usually learn from mistakes; I'm pretty sure I was in this exact position a year ago.
4. They are competitive and like to show off; I think part of the reason I was so stubborn is the contest I started as a fund-raiser for TnT. I really wanted my mileage to impress all the guessers.
5. They like to stick weird things down their pants: The liner in running shorts make a surprisingly efficient ice pack holder.
6. They get embarrassed easily; When the PT asked me if I had shaved recently (because the medicine he was applying to my hip would sting if I had) I turned bright red.
7. When they want something they don't give up; ditto
8. They can put the phrase "what if" in front of any scenario you can dream of; what if I wake up tomorrow and the pain is gone?, what if nothing hurts after a mile?, what if I try spinning?, what if I foam roll every hour on the hour?, etc.
9. (not so running related) They play COD with friends instead of doing homework; I blog instead of writing my "Year End Summary," grading papers, or writing lesson plans...
All that being said, I did go to the PT today and he does not think it is ITBS which is GREAT in my book. Everything I read on ITBS showed more recovery than I have time for. The main "tests" my little hip muscle failed were internal and external rotation. He thinks its just an overused and inflamed muscle. We're treating it with ice, rest, stretching and a medicine he puts on a electrically charged patch. So far that's working well. The patch really seemed to help. So cross your fingers; so far it's good news.
Well that's all for now. I guess I should get back to practicing my fart noises and finding new ways to incorporate words like: chode, blue waffle, and Cleveland Steamer into my day!
Monday, April 4, 2011
An overdue update and a race report
In short running has been happening and I have been neglecting the blog.
Overall I've been getting the mileage in (225 miles for March) and am in my last week before taper. I had a windy but successful 22.5 miler last Sunday.
That lead to a painful hip. Which I ignored. Always a good choice with my history...(didn't I have to DNS at New Jersey last year because of something similar...)? I continued to get in my mileage for the week. 10 here, 10 there. Staying in Fairfield where there's tons of hills (again little learning happens in this thick skull).
My long run for the week was supposed to be 17. I figured since I had limped home on Friday, I'd see how I felt on Saturday with a warm up 7 miler. If I felt good I would enter the April Fools 10.5 Miler. Well I felt extremely tight and slow and sore on my 7 miler. So I did the smart thing and entered the race.
April Fools 10.5 Miler Race Report
The first thing Eric asked me when I got home from this race was, "Why 10.5?" I'm not really sure to tell you the truth, but in actuality the course is 10.6. I think it has to do with being SUPER hilly and it's resulting lack of PR potential. This way, it's an automatic PR.
I should have known this was a treacherous race when: a) the map my run version assigned numbers to the hills; I normally run hills and yet none of my hills are long enough or steep enough to earn numbers, b) I couldn't find a single race comment, c) my normal 10mile pace would have earned me top woman finisher in last year's race, d) not a single person mentioned anything about the course while we were waiting to start.
I was pretty fearful going into this race because I had been hurting. I had had no pick up in my legs for the past week and really didn't want to be dead last. However, once I was running in the race, the pain went away and I felt pretty great.
Mile 1: 8:05
Mile 2: 8:22
Not my best splits as I should be able to hold under 8s for the 10 miles but like I said...hills. Mile 3 was where the hills really started. There was a series of 6 of them. All steep and pretty long. The first 3 hills were a full mile up.each. The 2nd was the steepest.
Honestly, I rocked the uphills. I would cruise up feeling great and passing people. However, when it came time to go back down, the pain came back. It was shooting all through my lower leg, but it began in the back of my knee. Then each pound would also kill my hip. So the race looked like this: pass 3 people on the up, get passed by 3 people on the down, pass 3 people on the up...and so on. I'm so happy about rocking the uphills though, because I really have been hoping all my hill training was going to pay off. I've had downhill problems in the past, so this doesn't surprise me, but it sure was frustrating.
Mile 3: 8:59
Mile 4: 9:09
Mile 5: 8:36
Mile 6: 9:12
Mile 7: 8:38
Mile 8: 9:09
Mile 9: 9:01
The hills start go get smaller at mile 7, but they are always there. My last mile and a half was practically a limp, but I ended feeling pretty happy considering the week I'd had.
Mile 10: 8:41
Mile .6: 9:19
Finish: 1:32.33
Overall pace 8:44, 3rd in age group and got a sweet purple trophy. Go purple!
I decided not to do my 10 miler yesterday, which I think was wise, because walking was more than difficult. The back of my knee was one tight bulge that Eric worked on for hours despite my continuous cursing at him to stop and then begging him to start again.
Today my leg is sore: still in the hip and back of the knee, but it's much better. I have an appointment with the chiro today and it's my normal day off anyway. Hopefully I'll be feeling good enough to get back to running tomorrow.
Saturday is my last 20 miler before taper and I'd be upset to not get this last big week in. Anyone else ever have issues that seem to start with the hip but also radiate down to behind the knee? Are these two separate issues?
Overall I've been getting the mileage in (225 miles for March) and am in my last week before taper. I had a windy but successful 22.5 miler last Sunday.
That lead to a painful hip. Which I ignored. Always a good choice with my history...(didn't I have to DNS at New Jersey last year because of something similar...)? I continued to get in my mileage for the week. 10 here, 10 there. Staying in Fairfield where there's tons of hills (again little learning happens in this thick skull).
My long run for the week was supposed to be 17. I figured since I had limped home on Friday, I'd see how I felt on Saturday with a warm up 7 miler. If I felt good I would enter the April Fools 10.5 Miler. Well I felt extremely tight and slow and sore on my 7 miler. So I did the smart thing and entered the race.
April Fools 10.5 Miler Race Report
The first thing Eric asked me when I got home from this race was, "Why 10.5?" I'm not really sure to tell you the truth, but in actuality the course is 10.6. I think it has to do with being SUPER hilly and it's resulting lack of PR potential. This way, it's an automatic PR.
I should have known this was a treacherous race when: a) the map my run version assigned numbers to the hills; I normally run hills and yet none of my hills are long enough or steep enough to earn numbers, b) I couldn't find a single race comment, c) my normal 10mile pace would have earned me top woman finisher in last year's race, d) not a single person mentioned anything about the course while we were waiting to start.
I was pretty fearful going into this race because I had been hurting. I had had no pick up in my legs for the past week and really didn't want to be dead last. However, once I was running in the race, the pain went away and I felt pretty great.
Mile 1: 8:05
Mile 2: 8:22
Not my best splits as I should be able to hold under 8s for the 10 miles but like I said...hills. Mile 3 was where the hills really started. There was a series of 6 of them. All steep and pretty long. The first 3 hills were a full mile up.each. The 2nd was the steepest.
Honestly, I rocked the uphills. I would cruise up feeling great and passing people. However, when it came time to go back down, the pain came back. It was shooting all through my lower leg, but it began in the back of my knee. Then each pound would also kill my hip. So the race looked like this: pass 3 people on the up, get passed by 3 people on the down, pass 3 people on the up...and so on. I'm so happy about rocking the uphills though, because I really have been hoping all my hill training was going to pay off. I've had downhill problems in the past, so this doesn't surprise me, but it sure was frustrating.
Mile 3: 8:59
Mile 4: 9:09
Mile 5: 8:36
Mile 6: 9:12
Mile 7: 8:38
Mile 8: 9:09
Mile 9: 9:01
The hills start go get smaller at mile 7, but they are always there. My last mile and a half was practically a limp, but I ended feeling pretty happy considering the week I'd had.
Mile 10: 8:41
Mile .6: 9:19
Finish: 1:32.33
Overall pace 8:44, 3rd in age group and got a sweet purple trophy. Go purple!
I decided not to do my 10 miler yesterday, which I think was wise, because walking was more than difficult. The back of my knee was one tight bulge that Eric worked on for hours despite my continuous cursing at him to stop and then begging him to start again.
Today my leg is sore: still in the hip and back of the knee, but it's much better. I have an appointment with the chiro today and it's my normal day off anyway. Hopefully I'll be feeling good enough to get back to running tomorrow.
Saturday is my last 20 miler before taper and I'd be upset to not get this last big week in. Anyone else ever have issues that seem to start with the hip but also radiate down to behind the knee? Are these two separate issues?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Plus 3 Network
What's better than the feeling you get from a good run?
How about knowing that your run is helping someone else. As a Team in Training participant and mentor, I know the rewards of training and logging miles in order to help others. After all our purpose is raise money to fight blood cancers by training for endurance events.
However, recently, I was told of another way to make my miles count. Every.single.mile. Plus3 network is a great website that lets you choose a sponsor and charity. Then you log in every time you run, bike, swim, kayak, skateboard, walk, spin, sail, do yoga, strength train, etc. If you have a GPS device, you can just upload your miles and tell Plus3 what you were doing, they do the rest for you. If you don't have a GPS or are doing an indoor activity, you can just enter the miles or time of your efforts on your own.
Depending on which sponsor and charity you choose, and the activity you do, each mile is worth a certain amount of change. I chose the charity of Team in Training and the sponsor: Chain Reaction Bicycles. They donate about 6 cents a mile. This may not sound like a lot, but since I joined on January 3, 2011, I have raised $23.62. I generally only remember to upload my GPS activity too, so I could be earning more if I would remember to log treadmill miles and cross training. I figure, by the end of the year, I'll have raised $100 just by logging the miles that are part of my daily routine. Not too shabby.
For those of you that are competive...there is a leaderboard for the sponsor and charity you choose. FYI: I'm currently the leader on my "leaderboard." :) There are also challenges such as first one to 99 runs or 99 spins or to reach 600 miles. You have to sign up for the challenges seperately, so no pressure if you're not into that.
As in most things these days, it's also a social network of sorts if you choose to use it that way. You can be friends with people that are with different sponsors and charities, so be sure and friend me if you decide to sign up.
What are you waiting for!? Imagine what all of use could raise if we lot into Plus3 Network. Why not give it a shot.
How about knowing that your run is helping someone else. As a Team in Training participant and mentor, I know the rewards of training and logging miles in order to help others. After all our purpose is raise money to fight blood cancers by training for endurance events.
However, recently, I was told of another way to make my miles count. Every.single.mile. Plus3 network is a great website that lets you choose a sponsor and charity. Then you log in every time you run, bike, swim, kayak, skateboard, walk, spin, sail, do yoga, strength train, etc. If you have a GPS device, you can just upload your miles and tell Plus3 what you were doing, they do the rest for you. If you don't have a GPS or are doing an indoor activity, you can just enter the miles or time of your efforts on your own.
Depending on which sponsor and charity you choose, and the activity you do, each mile is worth a certain amount of change. I chose the charity of Team in Training and the sponsor: Chain Reaction Bicycles. They donate about 6 cents a mile. This may not sound like a lot, but since I joined on January 3, 2011, I have raised $23.62. I generally only remember to upload my GPS activity too, so I could be earning more if I would remember to log treadmill miles and cross training. I figure, by the end of the year, I'll have raised $100 just by logging the miles that are part of my daily routine. Not too shabby.
For those of you that are competive...there is a leaderboard for the sponsor and charity you choose. FYI: I'm currently the leader on my "leaderboard." :) There are also challenges such as first one to 99 runs or 99 spins or to reach 600 miles. You have to sign up for the challenges seperately, so no pressure if you're not into that.
As in most things these days, it's also a social network of sorts if you choose to use it that way. You can be friends with people that are with different sponsors and charities, so be sure and friend me if you decide to sign up.
What are you waiting for!? Imagine what all of use could raise if we lot into Plus3 Network. Why not give it a shot.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I found my keys
That is all. 1.5 weeks post losing them. My Trader Joe's bag fell over in my car, and lo and behold there they were, under the passenger seat. Has anyone seen Adjustment Bureau? I'm convinced they were involved in this.
OK, well I also had a great run on Sunday. 16 miles at an 8:41 pace. This was not a planned pace because I've been trying to not stress about my long runs. However, it felt good to hold that pace for a full long run.
Compared to last week, the weather was great. I still have to admit that I like a cooler run, especially for a long run, but mentally, I'm ready for Spring. That being said, the 40s on Sunday was pretty spot on for what I need right now.
And on a life note. State testing for my 7th graders is this week. I think I'm looking forward to it being over more than they are. They are good kids and put their all into the tests, but the rest of the day...my class gets invaded by gremlins (and most of them aren't like Gizmo).
It's either the tests, or they're turning into 8th graders...time will tell!
OK, well I also had a great run on Sunday. 16 miles at an 8:41 pace. This was not a planned pace because I've been trying to not stress about my long runs. However, it felt good to hold that pace for a full long run.
Compared to last week, the weather was great. I still have to admit that I like a cooler run, especially for a long run, but mentally, I'm ready for Spring. That being said, the 40s on Sunday was pretty spot on for what I need right now.
And on a life note. State testing for my 7th graders is this week. I think I'm looking forward to it being over more than they are. They are good kids and put their all into the tests, but the rest of the day...my class gets invaded by gremlins (and most of them aren't like Gizmo).
It's either the tests, or they're turning into 8th graders...time will tell!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Exercise Induced Amnesia
This post is a little overdue, but worth sharing.
Sundays I have a pretty set routine. Get up around 6, eat some toast with almond butter and an apple, get in the car and drive to our TEAM group training location about 35 minutes away, listening to accoustic Sunday Morning.
Then I run whatever the set distance is (this week was 18 miles under 9min pace in torrential downpours), chat with TNT members for a bit and then head to Whole Foods for some fuel and veggies for the week.
Then I drive home, and grade papers or make lesson plans.
This week was no different. Rountines are easy. However, somewhere between putting my groceries in my car at Whole Foods and going to start my car, I lost my keys. You may think, "oh perhaps she returned the cart with her keys in them" - no cart (Only a few things; Whole Foods is pricey!), or "she left them on top of the car," -no such luck there, or "she dropped them in a grocery bag -nope; not only did I look in every grocery bag, I opened up my salad bar container to see if they somehow opened the container and placed themselves in there.
Long story short (well sort of). My mom had to drive the 35 minutes in the torrential rain to bring me my extra set of keys. It's now Thursday, and they are still nowhere to be found.
Sundays I have a pretty set routine. Get up around 6, eat some toast with almond butter and an apple, get in the car and drive to our TEAM group training location about 35 minutes away, listening to accoustic Sunday Morning.
Then I run whatever the set distance is (this week was 18 miles under 9min pace in torrential downpours), chat with TNT members for a bit and then head to Whole Foods for some fuel and veggies for the week.
Then I drive home, and grade papers or make lesson plans.
This week was no different. Rountines are easy. However, somewhere between putting my groceries in my car at Whole Foods and going to start my car, I lost my keys. You may think, "oh perhaps she returned the cart with her keys in them" - no cart (Only a few things; Whole Foods is pricey!), or "she left them on top of the car," -no such luck there, or "she dropped them in a grocery bag -nope; not only did I look in every grocery bag, I opened up my salad bar container to see if they somehow opened the container and placed themselves in there.
Long story short (well sort of). My mom had to drive the 35 minutes in the torrential rain to bring me my extra set of keys. It's now Thursday, and they are still nowhere to be found.
So my question for you is (I guess I should say questions)...Is it possible that in a fit of exercise induced amnesia I chucked my keys down a storm drain or something of the sort? Has anyone else experienced something like this? Has anyone seen my keys?
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