Getting felt up

Finally heard from the doc. I'm going to see her today & she's going to feel me up like my pt did. This is the most action I have had in a while. We're going to talk about whether I'll need a spec scan(I guess kind of like a bone scan but more accurate than an x-ray to catch smaller fractures). The pain is getting significantly less w/ each day. Still some stiffness when I get up to move after sitting for a while. Felt no pain when I did the ellip last night.

Based on what the doc says I will either have more x-training or possibly a short run(I've got 3 miles scheduled). I know that I don't want to push it but on the other hand I do want to push it if you get my drift.

M, it would blow if I end up having to buy another pair of shoes right now. That would make the 3rd pair in 3 months. I wonder if I could start a charity to raise money for new shoes? You all would contribute? Right? And I heard the same thing about stretching providing no benefits before you run. My pt showed me some dynamic stretching moves that's supposed to be better. He said that I could save static(like quad stretches) stretching for after the run.

Robin I would totally rock the Ab Lab test right now. Bring it!

Remaining positive

Thanks for all the positive vibes & well wishes. I know a lot of you out there have been through what I'm going through now & it helps knowing I can vent & you know my pain.

In response to M's comment of possibly needing new running kicks to help the problem,I wish it were that easy. The shoes that I have now I just bought them around the 2nd week of Dec. last year. I have roughly 190 miles on them. So even though the pt said to me a few weeks ago when it was time to replace them that I would need something w/ more motion control,he didn't suggest that replace them now.

Speaking of, my pt hadn't heard from my doc yesterday. So still no word on that front. Did the ellip last night while trying not to feel down about it or jealous of the runners on the treadmills right in front of me. I felt less pain yesterday & I am able to walk around a bit better w/o limping. Which is a good thing.

Robin,I could sure use some mental diversion right now..;-) More x-training tonight. *Hugs*

Cancelled run/sad post

I had been thinking about what to write in this post. So many thoughts are going thru my head right now...

I spoke w/ the pt yesterday about right leg pain. He poked & prodded. He talked to me about shin splints & thinks that's it's possible this is what I may have. However because the pain is getting worse & ice/over the counter drugs aren't helping & he can't do an x-ray he's going to talk to the doc today about it & then give me a call. But he does want me to cancel my run(I had 3 miles to do). So instead I'm going to be hitting the elliptical for the same amount of time(roughly 26mins) that it would take me to do the distance on the road.

If left untreated the shin splint could result in a stress fracture(if I don't have one already). But the tricky thing w/ fractures is that they are hard to catch in an x-ray & sometimes bone scans can be unreliable.

The pt didn't say that I wouldn't be able to do my 10k in April but if I go to the doc & she says I have a fracture that means sitting out for several weeks(the race is April 5th). There would be no way for me to run it. I just feel all this training I did would be for nothing to mention I have already paid for the race. The pt did did say it may be possible to have my spot transferred to next year,refunded(I highly doubt it), or sell it. That just depressed me even more.

I know that I could walk it(especially after a month of not running). But honestly that would not only take me twice as long(no offense to those who do walk in races) but I would just feel frustrated afterwards because I trained to run the thing not walk it. Ya want to know what's funny(but yet sad) is that on my way to work I drove past a runner & almost sobbed out loud?

So I'll be at the gym today doing the ellip thang instead of my usual run. I'm out.

Less pain?

So yesterday's 4miler wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. My legs felt strong & my energy was good. Don't get me wrong there was some pain. But not bad enough to stop me from running. Of course once I did stop(w/ a time of 35:28/avg. pace 8:47) the pain did increase. And unfortunately by the time I woke up this morning,I was definitely hobbling. Usually my pain is worse after being still for long periods of time(sitting at work,sleeping,etc).

I suspect that my pt is going to tell me today to go back to the doc to see whether I have a fracture or something else. Which means another co-pay not to mention paying for any tests that may have to be done. I do have insurance but it's still a bite.

X-training today(thank goodness) followed by my pt appointment. *Hugs*

Missing weekend

It's Monday already? Where did the weekend go? Maybe I can file a missing "persons" report. Something like this..

"WANTED
Missing Saturday & Sunday
Last seen after Friday
If found please call xxx-xxxx."

I wanted to thank everyone for their kind comments after my rant yesterday. I'm feeling a little better(emotionally not physically unfortunately). I've been thinking that I've been training for the 10k since last December but have been running for now over a year so if I end up having to take some time off to heal then I have no other choice but I will be ok. I am just praying that I can still do the 10k in April. My pt appointment is tomorrow so I will talk w/ him & keep you posted.

I do have a 4miler today(yes I know I am a glutton for punishment). If I feel a great amount of pain then I will stop. I know others have taken ibuprofen before a run & I have tried that & it doesn't do a thing for me. I pray that this run is somewhat pain-free. *Kisses*

My 1st misquote...

Hey Robin I knew what you meant by summer being here soon enough. Not that you couldn't wait for it to get here. My bad..:-/

Speaking of the weather(again) it turned out to be just cloudy(but no rain) & cold for my Fri. 5mile tempo run. The sun actually tried to come out. Which would have warm things up pretty quickly considering I had on my cold weather gear & I would have been stripping faster than a teen on prom night! Anyway I finished w/ a time of 44:30 w/ a pace of 8:47.

Remember when I mentioned the shin splints in my right leg a few weeks back? Well unfortunately the pain still has not gone away. I tried icing & Advil & I thought some of my pt exercises would help but none of it is. I also said that I noticed my times have been getting slower but I thought it was due to me changing my stride. And while I know that may have something to do w/ it I know it may be largely due to some of the pain that I am feeling on my runs. It's not enough to stop me running completely but when I'm done my leg is feeling pretty bad.

I've got a pt appointment this week & I'm going to ask him about it. I'm hoping that I don't have to go back to the doc & worse stop running completely. But we'll see what happens. I swear if it's not one thing it's another w/ my body.

Sorry to end this post on a sour note but I'm worried & pissed that I might have caused some real damage that may keep me from completing my 1st 10k. I hope everyone has had a good weekend & I'm off.

Weathering the storm

Yesterday's workout went off as planned. Sweat,rinse, repeat(on Tues.) Looks like it's going to be a cold & rainy 5miler today. Fun!

Oh & Steve you didn't hear any complaints from me on my Wed. run. I've run in worse(or at least worse for VA) conditions & I know that you do on a regular basis. I just know now not to put too much stock in what weather.com says the temps are before I leave work for my run. Just need to wait until I get outside to see what the temps really are. Hope you're enjoying that burrito!

Robin commented how she couldn't wait for summer to get here. Well I personally can! So not a warm weather girl. I'll take cold,wind,ice,sleet,snow over blazing temps any day! Happy T.G.I.F. everybody.

Take my breath away

I know that's a title of an 80's song but somehow it's appropriate for what happened yesterday. Stepped out to do my 2miler. No stomach issues to speak of(trust me,I thought about running w/ some tp & I know that 2miles isn't that far but when you have one of those "moments" even 2 steps away from a bathroom is too far!).

Started running & literally for the 1st couple of minutes I couldn't breathe. It wasn't that windy about 9mph(I've run in windier conditions) but it was cooler than what weather.com was saying(they had temps in the low 50's). But it felt a lot colder(considering that when I ran on Monday morning it was in the low 60's-it was in the mid 40's yesterday). Gotta love VA weather! The wind started to die down about halfway thru my run but then it started sleeting. Don't ya just love the feeling of needles hitting your face as you run? I know that I do. Managed to finish the run w/ a time of 17:53/pace 8:47.

I've noticed that my times have been slower since I started changing the way how I run. But I rather do it right(hopefully becoming a more efficient runner plus avoid injury) & be slower than to be fast but wrong & end up at the doc again.

X-training today & here's to it being almost Friday. *Smooches*

Bloated elliptical

I know strange title,but a little back story. Monday night I experienced some shall we say stomach issues that had me running to bathroom right after eating. I was thinking maybe it was my dinner. But I didn't have anything out of the ordinary for me. Just whole wheat penne w/ meat sauce & some extra broccoli thrown in. But it didn't hang out in my in body long before making an appearance on the other end. Sorry for the graphic but I figure we're friends here.

So I thought maybe that was the end of it but my tummy felt off a day yesterday. Everything that I ate stayed in but something wasn't right. Talked to my R.B. & she said that she had to take her Mom to the doc because she was having flu-like symptoms. But her food was coming up. Of course when finished our run yesterday I remember giving her a high-5. Of course I came home & showered but it was after I did my pt exercises.

That leads us to x-training at the gym. 31 mins of bloated fun on the elliptical. I was praying that I wouldn't have to jump off in the middle cause ya know it's hard sometimes to get started again after that. Good times,people.

Feel better today & I've got a 2mile quickie. But if something happens it may be real quick. *Kisses from afar*

Quickie post

Back at work today. Who else hates coming back to work after a 3-day weekend. ugghhh.. Anyway at least the work seems shorter. Ya know always looking for the silver lining!

Got the usual x-training today. Not much else to say so I'm out!

Warm 7miler

Don't ya love 3-day weekends? Well for those fortunate enough to have them. Did my 7 miles this morning w/ the R.B. in a balmy 64 degrees. Thank goodness for the wind because it would have felt a lot warmer. My friend couldn't find her Garmin so we did the mileage w/o knowing what our pace was during the run. Which is something that I am used to since I don't have one but it drove her crazy. We managed to finish the run w/ a time of 1:01:35/avg. pace of 8:47. We were definitely pleased w/ that! She also let me know that my footfalls sounded heavy in the beginning but gradually lightened up.

Speaking of footfalls,Red mentioned that it sounded like I was using the Pose method(landing mid-foot instead of the heel) when running. I believe that I have read about it somewhere(probably from her blog). I have to admit that I didn't think too much of it until my PT told me that I needed to change the way how I run to become more efficient & avoid future injury. So hopefully like Red says,that practice will make perfect!

I hope everyone has a good holiday(for those that are off) & a good work day(for those who had go in). *Hugs*

Mother/daughter bonding

You read the title right. I spoke briefly over the Christmas holiday how my relationship w/ Mom has been strained over the years. But I have trying to be more open to spending time w/ her. I spent some time w/ her a few weeks ago on my birthday & she told me how she was looking for a new hairdresser. I recommended my hairdresser who I have been going to for 5 years now(yes once I find a good one,I stick w/ it).

Well she made an appointment for yesterday(same day as mine) & we spent time together at the hair salon. Her hair turned out really good & she'll be going back to my hairdresser. Afterwards we had an early lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. My mom got a Santa Fe Pizza while I got the Hawaiian. Both were good & we were certainly stuffed!

I'm having lunch w/ friend from church today & hopefully later I will get around to doing my taxes. I hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend. *Kisses*

Run softly & carry a big.....

Ok so I couldn't think of a clever way to end that phrase. But the point is today during my tempo run I am to run less like horse & more like a gazelle. Should be interesting. I can imagine the look I am going to get from drivers & such as I am skipping the light fantastic down the road. My pt told a few days ago that it takes as much as 10 weeks for a runner to completely change the way they run. Of course I'm thinking that my 10k is in 7 weeks I don't have that long! But then I realize it's not like I'm going to stop running after the 10k & this will benefit me in the long term.

So w/ that said wish me luck as I channel my inner gazelle on today's run. Happy T.G.I.F. everybody!

*Update*

So did channeling my inner gazelle work? Well my calf muscles feel a little sore(probably placed a litte too much emphasis on running on my toes). It felt awkward at first & there were times that I let my heel hit the ground first. But I tried to keep steps as soft & light as I could. My finish time was 42:53 w/ a pace of 8:32. About 1:30 slower than my previous runs but my legs feel better & I just overall think I didn't waste as much energy. So the gazelle running is a keeper!

Being watched

Is kind of creepy but in a good way. Got my 15 mins of fame yesterday w/ the pt videotaping my 2 mile treadmill run. He started towards the end of my run cause you're really into your groove by then. He got back(ummm..HELLO my butt looked HUGE!) & side shots.

What he found is that I pro-nate although not a lot but enough to possibly cause the tendinitis. So the exercises that he gave me is supposed to help w/ strengthening my hips,calves & ankles(it's all connected,baby). He also said that I tend to do the heel strike method. Apparently about 80% of people run like this. Good thing I'm not alone. Anyway he wants me to land more mid-foot to toe. That helps the muscles absorb more of the shock(& react accordingly) than the bones. In addition to the pro-nating & the heel striking I also sound like a Klydesdale(sp?) when running. I need to have a lighter footfall to be a more efficient runner. Think more gazelle & less horse.

Oh & to top things off the next time I need new running kicks I need some w/ more motion control. So the Nikes I have now are out because they are more neutral.

All in all good feedback from the pt about my gait(also got even more pt exercises to do at home).

April asked about what stretching I do for my shins. I got this stretch from Runner's World. You stand facing either chair or wall(for balance) take either right or left foot behind the leg that standing. Make sure your the foot that's behind the other is on it's toes. Then you start squating(as if you are about to take a seat) but lean forward slightly. You should feel a slight pull in your shins of the leg that you're balanced on. Hold for a count of 10-15secs. then repeat for the other side. Generally that does help but my bad case of shin splints on Tuesday may been caused from me landing so heavily on my feet.

Got the usual 2x/week x-training tonight. Sorry for the long post(if you're still w/ me) & thanks for hangin'.

X-training & Walmart

Did my x-training yesterday. Felt a whisper of shin splint in my right leg but it went away. I had already decided that if I felt a lot of pain,I was only going to 16 mins on the ellip & the rest of my cardio on the bike. But I was basically pain free throughout.

After they gym I stopped by Walmart last night to do some grocery shopping. The one in my area has decided to go "green" by selling canvas shopping bags. Theirs are black. I bought several a while back & they are definitely better than the plastic ones. Unfortunately it's hard to use them at the self-checkouts. The computer that runs the area is already preprogrammed w/ plastic bags so they know when you set something on the sensor & whether or not you've scanned it. Well when you try to put their canvas bags down,it thinks that you trying to checkout something that you have not scanned(like you're stealing) & the clerk has to bypass the option to make it continue. Yet one more thing to make shopping there even more of a chore!

I've got 2 miles tonight but it's going to be done on a treadmill videotaped by my pt. He's going to study my gait & offer some suggestions in regards to my injury. Never been analyzed while running so I feel a little self-conscious like I need to hold perfect posture the whole time. But I realize that I need to run like I normally do so he can help me. Thanks for listening.

Shin splints

Did 6miles yesterday w/ the R.B. in 52:16/pace 8:50. Had some ankle twinges in the beginning but that went away. Howeva I did have some shin splints afterwards. It was just a light pain right after my run but I stretched,did my pt thang,& iced my left ankle. Went to bed,got up(operative words being got up) & had severe pain. I was hobbling around like an old lady! We had one good size hill yesterday(but nothing that I have not ran before). My R.B. noticed that my footfalls were really heavy. That may have something to do w/ the pain. Did some icing this a.m. & will be taking some Advil.

I have had fairly tame shin splints before but nothing this bad. Good thing I've got x-training today. Later..

Ankle & retail therapy

Well as it turns out my ankle was fairly quiet on my 5 mile tempo run on Friday. But I was really careful how I placed my feet during the run. Did the whole run in 41:11/pace 8:21. Did my pt exercises,stretched,iced afterwards. Didn't really hear a peep out of it for the rest of the weekend.

I did talk to my PT's assistant & she advised that I may want to lay off running for few days while I am doing pt & my ankle is trying to heal. She did think that because I was doing exercises targeted to the injured area that could be the reason for the flare-up. But I don't want to lay off running & honestly when I ran Mon. night(6miles) & Wed. morning(2miles) & there was no pain the next day. When I did those pt exercises on Thurs(after my x-training),I felt the pain on Friday. I am inclined to think that may be the cause rather than the running. But I will talk w/ the PT as well when I see him this Wed.(he's going to videotape me running). If he flat-out says take a few days off from running & do some other cardio,then I will do it. If not, Ima keep on running!

In other news,did some light retail therapy this weekend & bought this book..

Given the fact that I just turned 35(last Wed.) & still single,I thought it was appropriate. Haven't read it yet but it looks like a fun book. I'll let you know. Had lunch w/ the R.B. on Sat. & she gave me a $25 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card. She said it was to go towards the Garmin fund. Ha Ha. I think she might be disappointed when I use it on running clothes instead.

Wanted to give a shout-out to Donald for stopping by my blog. He actually has a funny Garmin story that's hilarious. I've got a 6miler today followed w/ some core work. Happy Monday y'all!

More pain?

So I did my pt exercises last night after my x-training. My left ankle flared up a little(of course I wasn't in pain before I started). Did the roller massage & icing afterwards. Woke up this morning w/ my left ankle pissed. I'm thinking that maybe since I was doing exercises to target the area that's why I have more pain now. At least that's what I'm hoping & not that my injury is getting worse. But I will confirm w/ the pt to be sure.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. You guys rock! This birthday was very low key. Got a card,taken out for some b-day meals(w/ one coming up next Saturday w/ my mom at California Pizza Kitchen-I heart that place).

Well I've got my 5mile tempo run after work & it looks like I am going to have to be careful when I do it. If I'm still in pain this afternoon,I'll stretch & ice it before I go. Wish me luck.

1st PT appointment & no pedicure

I ended up spending most of my birthday yesterday after my appointment w/ my 1st cousin's 1 year old girl. She is so cute & sweet! So no birthday pedicure but that's ok(really didn't need to spend the $$ anyway).

Is it ok to say that I think my physical therapist is hot? Well even it's not,he sure is! Of course he's married(to another pt no less!). But his wife is really nice & runs marathons. So my pt gives me a bunch stretching exercises to do at home for my tendinitis(inside left ankle) & my sore Achilles tendons(on both ankles). Man I just need new ankles! Anyway he discovered that apparently I must have some stress to my Achilles tendon some time ago because a "bone callous" had grown over both of them. But w/ the exercises hopefully my ankles can be strengthened again. Also he wants to videotape(get your mind outta the gutter) me running to analyze my gait & make recommendations if necessary.

So all in all I feel good about my appointment & the course of treatment. But I have to admit w/ all the exercises he gave me it's almost like I'm doing another workout when I get done w/ my first one!

Speaking of workouts,I've got x-training today. I'm out.

2mile Birthday run

Yup,you read the title right. Today is my birthday. I am the ripe old age of....35. It feel weird saying that I'm that age. It's like when I was kid I imagined myself as a senior citizen wondering what I would be doing & what not. And I have pictured myself as an adult but in my 20's never in my mid-30's. Let's see,35 years on this planet & what do I have to show for it? I graduated high school(went further than my dad did which is an accomplishment itself),sky dived,ran a race(w/o someone paying me or chasing me w/ a gun),traveled to Brazil for high school band trip. While I did take some college classes,I would love to finish.

I woke up today slightly nauseous & hot. I guess I look forward to hot flashes again(I had them in my mid -20's when I was on drugs to reduce a uterine fibroid that I had surgically removed). I thought today's run is going to be a blast. Did my 2 miles w/ a finish time of 17:35/pace 8:44. Slower than what I have ran the distance before but the run was good.

I've got my initial PT consultation today(it was rescheduled from tomorrow due to the PT person needing to take off to take care of his sick dog). I would like to get a pedicure & my mom recommended a really good place that's w/in walking distance from my house.

I hope everyone has a good hump day. This b-day girl is out!

Placing

So M,commented that after tomorrow I'll be in one of the hardest age groups to place in a race. No pressure! I know that even though people(like yourselves & my r.b.) say that I am fairly fast,I don't race to place(hee,hee). I don't do any speedwork beyond my tempo runs & when I race I just want to finish. But it's interesting to know that the pool has gotten a lot bigger.

Speaking of fast,did my 6miler yesterday. Total time 50:23 w/ a 8:21 pace. I thought I was going to be slower considering it was in the 60's(but fairly breezy) & the last time I did this distance it was in the morning & about 20 degrees cooler. Oh well,I'll take it!

Got my usual x-training today. Later!

Acting mature

My R.B. accepted my apology for Friday's outburst. Nice to know that I can lash out like that & she still loves me. Robin,I can laugh about it now. Did nothing except get my hair done & chilled all weekend. Should have been doing my taxes..ughh But didn't. Maybe this weekend.

In other news,on Wed. I will be in the next age bracket for racing. That's right,it's my birthday & I'll be 35. Does this mean that I should officially act mature? I should hope not,given my rant on Friday..lol.. Anyway I had to for the first time get an eye test w/ renewing my license today. NOW I feel old! I have taken off work & have a 2 miler scheduled for that day. I'm thinking of indulging myself a little & get a pedicure. Never had one before,so I am welcomed to suggestions/tips.

I've got a 6miler today all by my lonesome. R.B. is in the process of selling her house & moving(closer in town..yea!) so she won't be able to run w/ me. Have a good(if possible) Monday everyone!

Don't run angry...

Or if you do at least start your @!?#$ watch! Ok..breathe..Let's see, where shall we begin? I know,lets start w/ my R.B. What I thought was going to be a nice & short 3.1miler began w/a comedy of errors. We plan to meet at 4pm. But as I'm driving home from work I get a text stating she's going to be late. I think,ok..no biggie.. I reply back how long? She says she doesn't know. Something going on w/ her cell so she's on the phone w/ Sprint(a whole nuther post entirely). I'm now thinking lights fading,want get out run,don't want to wait.

But I'm the good friend & decide to wait. Meanwhile she's texting me,saying she's still doesn't know how long,can we meet somewhere else. Now to be fair the other place is about 10mins from our original place but I'm frustrated because I WANT TO RUN!! So I start out the house to where she is & then she's texting me AGAIN saying can we meet at the bagel that I just passed on the way to her. I call her(but of course my phone drops the call as I'm telling her stay where she is). Finally she calls me back telling me that can't map a 3.1 route from where she is. And I'm thinking we just ran 4miles here on Monday. Why can't u? But I keep my mouth shut & follow her to the bagel place.

We do our run while she's ranting about Sprint. They can't figure out why her phone is keeping an old text message that she wants to get rid of. But they are giving her the run around. So we're ending our run & I happen to look down & realize..I didn't start my watch(it's my heart rate monitor that I transfer calories burned & finish run times to my running log online).. The R.B. apologizes stating that's it's her fault because we were rushing to get started. I of course was cursing up a storm & stalked off w/o saying goodbye.

I immediately felt bad(& still do) for my behavior. It wasn't really her fault. I should have paid better attention to what I was doing. I did call her & left an apology but I'm just disgusted w/ myself.

Anyway thanks for kudos for on fast 3.1miler on Wed. Don't know my times for today's run due to..well ya know..And Red I never thought that someone would mention me & the words "natural born runner" in the same sentence! Getting the hair done tomorrow & just going to relax for the weekend. I hope everyone has a good one!