Okay, now I know I'll never be the fastest runner around. So my pleasure derives purely from pushing my limits and seeing how fast and far I can go. It's personal. And weirdly happy-making.
On Tuesday, we had what could have been our last spin class, except it looks like it will be extended another four weeks. I'm happy to stay inside. I want it not to be cold before I get outside riding in the early morning. (I know, Nath, I just need to dress better! But I'm a cold-wimp on my bike. Or maybe just a wimp.) Anyway, started Tuesday with spin class.
In the afternoon, I led a little running club of neighbourhood kids (including two of my own) on a 3km training session. The pace was not blistering, but the kids were thrilled to have made it 3km. It took us 20:52 (or thereabouts). I was wearing my GPS watch which greatly added to everyone's pleasure. "How far now?" We also stopped and walked for one minute between kilometres. I must say, the pace was so easy it wasn't really like runinng, for me. But it was super-fun.
And then, about an hour later, I took my daughter to soccer practice. And I got to run again. Again, my GPS watch greatly added to the pleasure. I'm getting rather addicted to it. I decided to run 5km as quickly as I could manage. There was a stiff wind and the loop was hilly, but hey. That meant sometimes the wind was at my back, sometimes in my face; couldn't complain. For the first kilometre, I didn't push too hard. But as I went on, I started to see my /km time on the watch drop, until I was running fairly consistently at 13km/hr. I got it as high as 14 with the downhill, and tried to keep it better than 12 even on the uphills. My goal was to finish 5km in less than 24 minutes. And I did it! The last km was brutal, but I kept my feet turning over as quickly as I could. I even passed two cyclists (admittedly, they weren't going very fast, but they looked pretty surprised). My time was 23:54. And then I ran two more kilometres, just to make it an even 10 on the day, and finished 7km in 34:35. So the pace definitely slowed, but it also felt easy. I used the last 2km as a cool-down.
What I loved about the run was imagining training myself to run comfortably at the 4:40 pace. That would make 5:00 pace feel easy. And then I could conquer the marathon in 3:30! Of course, I was pushing to my limit to keep it going at that pace, but, still. My limit used to be 5/km. It's all in the training. Training myself to accept new normals. And I'll need to add endurance training in too.
The next morning, early, I ran another 7.7km, for a total of nearly 18km in just over twelve hours. See? Happy-making!
But I've neglected my strength exercises. Must add these back in. Start watching TV again? I need to do pair them with something because I find them so boring, it's next to impossible to motivate myself now that my hip feels fine. But I could easily slip backwards, and I know it, if I get neglectful.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
More running
How much have I run this week? I know it's more than I've run since January, and I'm happy about that. None of my runs have been longer than 9km, but that's okay. I'm working my way up slowly to the longer runs. I keep doing the shorter runs at a fast pace -- as fast as I can push it -- and I'm not sure I even remember how to do a long run anymore. I will have to moderate my efforts slightly when I add those back in. Waiting to get an okay from the dr before attempting any.
Meanwhile ...
From Sunday to Saturday: 4.5 + 6 + 9 + 6 + 8 = 33.5km
That's not quite at the 40km/week I was aiming for back at the beginning of the year, but it's getting closer. A few of those runs were done very much against what I was feeling like doing, but I just decided to take opportunities and go. In addition to the running, I also went to one spin class, one spin + kettlebell class, and one kundalini class. So mostly running, really. Running is my favourite thing to do, even though it's really hard. Today, I ran trails during my daughter's soccer practice. I tried to keep my pace at 12km/hour. Uphill my pace would fall off. Downhill it would amp up. I'm still lacking in endurance, but I managed to keep my pace consistent for 8km, which I completed in 40.42 minutes. That's off my hoped-for 10-km race pace by a bit ... but on the other hand, it wasn't a race, and it involved some very big hills. I find myself trying to run virtually every time as if I were in a race. I'm not sure how to turn off that part of myself. I actually enjoyed my Thursday evening run, in a slightly twisted way, because I wasn't in the mood to run so I just set the goal very low: just get out and run, for as long as I could stand it. I felt physically kind of miserable. My GPS watch was not working. So I just ran, without glancing to see my pace. I think that was good for me, mentally. Probably worked less hard, but also kind of enjoyed the laid-back-ness of it, and appreciated myself just for trying.
I've been really tired, however. Never fully felt awake this week. I hope it's a temporary energy lull.
Meanwhile ...
From Sunday to Saturday: 4.5 + 6 + 9 + 6 + 8 = 33.5km
That's not quite at the 40km/week I was aiming for back at the beginning of the year, but it's getting closer. A few of those runs were done very much against what I was feeling like doing, but I just decided to take opportunities and go. In addition to the running, I also went to one spin class, one spin + kettlebell class, and one kundalini class. So mostly running, really. Running is my favourite thing to do, even though it's really hard. Today, I ran trails during my daughter's soccer practice. I tried to keep my pace at 12km/hour. Uphill my pace would fall off. Downhill it would amp up. I'm still lacking in endurance, but I managed to keep my pace consistent for 8km, which I completed in 40.42 minutes. That's off my hoped-for 10-km race pace by a bit ... but on the other hand, it wasn't a race, and it involved some very big hills. I find myself trying to run virtually every time as if I were in a race. I'm not sure how to turn off that part of myself. I actually enjoyed my Thursday evening run, in a slightly twisted way, because I wasn't in the mood to run so I just set the goal very low: just get out and run, for as long as I could stand it. I felt physically kind of miserable. My GPS watch was not working. So I just ran, without glancing to see my pace. I think that was good for me, mentally. Probably worked less hard, but also kind of enjoyed the laid-back-ness of it, and appreciated myself just for trying.
I've been really tired, however. Never fully felt awake this week. I hope it's a temporary energy lull.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Up, Down, Up, Down
Okay, to begin, Friday to Tuesday record of exercise (since I missed posting earlier):
Friday: physio, strength exercises, 6.5km run
Saturday: strength exercises
Sunday: strength exercises, 7km run
Monday: swim 2800m
Tuesday: spin 1 hr, run 7km
Wednesday: run 7.5km, physio and strength exercises
Thursday: spin and kettlebell class, strength exercises
Friday: run 7.5km (34 minutes)
Saturday: played soccer with my kids
Sunday: 25 minute trail running within a 90 minute hike, strength exercises
Monday: NOTHING
Tuesday: spin 1 hr
:::
So here's the physio scoop. When I saw her last week on Wednesday, she gave me a small set of strengthening exercises to continue working on, almost all core exercises with one glute exercise too. And she said she wouldn't need to see me for a few weeks, so I arranged to see her before seeing the sports doctor, which is at the end of this month. She will do a running assessment at that time. When I asked about long, slow runs, she said they would be at a lower cadence. But down the road, as my fitness improves again, I might be running my long slow runs at a pretty fast cadence. It's all relative.
I had an awesome run on Friday afternoon. I kept getting faster with each passing kilometre, and my GPS watch was working. At each kilometre, the watch shows me how fast my pace was for the last kilometre. I did one kilometre lap in 4:38, which is fast for me. I felt no pain, just felt like it was really hard work. Really really hard to keep my feet moving at that quick cadence.
I don't feel in terrific shape. This morning's spin class felt tough, much tougher than it seemed it ought to. I think, however, that I was feeling the after-effects of the trail running I did on the weekend. I rolled my ankle several times on that run, and after the last time it really hurt. I probably should have iced it. It was very stiff yesterday, and is still fairly painful today. I was feeling it during spin, not agonizing pain or anything, just discomfort. But I was also feeling my calves on both legs. I must have been using them on the hike, perhaps more than I should have--seems like my glutes should have been working harder than my calves.
It's a new week, but I've got a kid home sick, and it doesn't feel like a new week yet. And I don't have that it's a new week energy either. Sometimes it's all about hanging in and getting through, and sticking with the plan. Haven't decided whether or not I should run this evening. But I definitely need to do my strength exercises. Definitely. I felt a bit lost without a weekly visit scheduled with my physio--I think that was keeping me honest re the exercises. Now I have to keep myself honest.
Have not been to yoga in way too long. Missed this Monday for an Easter dinner, and last Monday because we had a complicated food pickup. My body is missing that stretching, that's for sure.
Friday: physio, strength exercises, 6.5km run
Saturday: strength exercises
Sunday: strength exercises, 7km run
Monday: swim 2800m
Tuesday: spin 1 hr, run 7km
Wednesday: run 7.5km, physio and strength exercises
Thursday: spin and kettlebell class, strength exercises
Friday: run 7.5km (34 minutes)
Saturday: played soccer with my kids
Sunday: 25 minute trail running within a 90 minute hike, strength exercises
Monday: NOTHING
Tuesday: spin 1 hr
:::
So here's the physio scoop. When I saw her last week on Wednesday, she gave me a small set of strengthening exercises to continue working on, almost all core exercises with one glute exercise too. And she said she wouldn't need to see me for a few weeks, so I arranged to see her before seeing the sports doctor, which is at the end of this month. She will do a running assessment at that time. When I asked about long, slow runs, she said they would be at a lower cadence. But down the road, as my fitness improves again, I might be running my long slow runs at a pretty fast cadence. It's all relative.
I had an awesome run on Friday afternoon. I kept getting faster with each passing kilometre, and my GPS watch was working. At each kilometre, the watch shows me how fast my pace was for the last kilometre. I did one kilometre lap in 4:38, which is fast for me. I felt no pain, just felt like it was really hard work. Really really hard to keep my feet moving at that quick cadence.
I don't feel in terrific shape. This morning's spin class felt tough, much tougher than it seemed it ought to. I think, however, that I was feeling the after-effects of the trail running I did on the weekend. I rolled my ankle several times on that run, and after the last time it really hurt. I probably should have iced it. It was very stiff yesterday, and is still fairly painful today. I was feeling it during spin, not agonizing pain or anything, just discomfort. But I was also feeling my calves on both legs. I must have been using them on the hike, perhaps more than I should have--seems like my glutes should have been working harder than my calves.
It's a new week, but I've got a kid home sick, and it doesn't feel like a new week yet. And I don't have that it's a new week energy either. Sometimes it's all about hanging in and getting through, and sticking with the plan. Haven't decided whether or not I should run this evening. But I definitely need to do my strength exercises. Definitely. I felt a bit lost without a weekly visit scheduled with my physio--I think that was keeping me honest re the exercises. Now I have to keep myself honest.
Have not been to yoga in way too long. Missed this Monday for an Easter dinner, and last Monday because we had a complicated food pickup. My body is missing that stretching, that's for sure.
Friday, March 30, 2012
After this week's physio
First, to sum up my Friday to Friday work-outs:
Friday: physio/strength exercises; run, 30 mins/6km (pain-free!)
Saturday: NOTHING
Sunday: run, 31 mins/6km (pain-free); strength exercises
Monday: (got up early and went to pool only to discover it was temporarily closed due to chlorine issues; so no swim); hot yoga, 90 mins; strength exercises
Tuesday: spin, 1hr
Wednesday: run, 30 mins/5.3km (twinges of pain, so we kept it short); strength exercises (the extended version)
Thursday: spin/kettlebells; strength exercises (the quick version)
Friday: physio, exercises; run, 6.8km
That catches us up. I wish I knew how fast my pace was on today's run, but my GPS watch is unreliable, and this time it refused to work. And in fiddling around with it, I neglected to keep track even of how long I'd been running. It was a bit over thirty minutes, but not by much. I wanted to run because this morning, finally, my physio started working with me on cadence, which should help with my heel strike. Cadence is really beats per minute, and the ideal cadence for the average runner is 180 strides per minute. If you have a metronome (which we do), set it at 180 and practice running on the spot to get an idea of how quickly your feet should be striking the ground and rising up again. Elite marathoners run at closer to 220 or even higher. I found it a challenge today to keep that cadence up, but I also could tell it was forcing me to run differently -- with a more engaged core and glutes. I felt ZERO PAIN. And that's truly good news because today was the first I'd run in three weeks without being taped. And the first run I had with no pain was immediately after she'd taped my SI joint. This would seem to indicate several very positive things. 1. The strength work is paying off. 2. I can train a little harder. (I haven't cleared #2 with my doctor, however).
I need to talk to my physio to understand better how I can keep a 180 cadence on a long, slow training run. It seems counter-intuitive to imagine running more slowly while still striding fast, but perhaps the propulsive power in the stride would simply be reduced. I think those quick legs in spin class (which I generally dislike) are going to pay off. I tend to prefer the grindier, long-distance, slower and more powerful use of my leg muscles. I think this might be a core issue, however. I find the core exercises hard to do, mentally and physically. Clearly, they challenge me for a reason.
You know, it was a nice change today to actually begin to think about training toward longer distances again. Today, I also tried running during the day rather than at night or early in the morning. I'm trying to guage how disruptive that is to my writing cycle ... or whether it actually might help me focus more quickly when I actually sit down.
It's going to be hard to train myself back to the level of endurance I enjoyed before. It's probably a good thing that I have to take it relatively easy as I return to more running. Mentally, it's easier to consider going for a thirty minute run than a sixty minute run (let alone a multiple hour run!). I need to build toward those longer distances slowly -- not just physically, but mentally too. It takes a lot of time and commitment. And I'll admit that this recovery process has left me feeling weaker than I did before -- mentally as much as physically. I had this favourite phrase that would pop into my head on long runs, last year: "Indestructible" I would think to myself. I'm not sure why. It made me feel super-powerful rather than doubtful, even if I was feeling tired. I haven't let myself say that since the injury. I know I'm not indestructible. But the thing is, I knew I wasn't indestructible before either, and that didn't stop me from embracing the powerful feeling, or letting myself imagine my own strength in that way. I'm not sure how to get back to point of confidence. Confidence is a funny thing. It doesn't always relate to reality. I'm hardly weak right now, and I know that, but I don't feel it. I wasn't indestructible before, and I knew that, but I felt it anyway.
Curious, isn't it.
Friday: physio/strength exercises; run, 30 mins/6km (pain-free!)
Saturday: NOTHING
Sunday: run, 31 mins/6km (pain-free); strength exercises
Monday: (got up early and went to pool only to discover it was temporarily closed due to chlorine issues; so no swim); hot yoga, 90 mins; strength exercises
Tuesday: spin, 1hr
Wednesday: run, 30 mins/5.3km (twinges of pain, so we kept it short); strength exercises (the extended version)
Thursday: spin/kettlebells; strength exercises (the quick version)
Friday: physio, exercises; run, 6.8km
That catches us up. I wish I knew how fast my pace was on today's run, but my GPS watch is unreliable, and this time it refused to work. And in fiddling around with it, I neglected to keep track even of how long I'd been running. It was a bit over thirty minutes, but not by much. I wanted to run because this morning, finally, my physio started working with me on cadence, which should help with my heel strike. Cadence is really beats per minute, and the ideal cadence for the average runner is 180 strides per minute. If you have a metronome (which we do), set it at 180 and practice running on the spot to get an idea of how quickly your feet should be striking the ground and rising up again. Elite marathoners run at closer to 220 or even higher. I found it a challenge today to keep that cadence up, but I also could tell it was forcing me to run differently -- with a more engaged core and glutes. I felt ZERO PAIN. And that's truly good news because today was the first I'd run in three weeks without being taped. And the first run I had with no pain was immediately after she'd taped my SI joint. This would seem to indicate several very positive things. 1. The strength work is paying off. 2. I can train a little harder. (I haven't cleared #2 with my doctor, however).
I need to talk to my physio to understand better how I can keep a 180 cadence on a long, slow training run. It seems counter-intuitive to imagine running more slowly while still striding fast, but perhaps the propulsive power in the stride would simply be reduced. I think those quick legs in spin class (which I generally dislike) are going to pay off. I tend to prefer the grindier, long-distance, slower and more powerful use of my leg muscles. I think this might be a core issue, however. I find the core exercises hard to do, mentally and physically. Clearly, they challenge me for a reason.
You know, it was a nice change today to actually begin to think about training toward longer distances again. Today, I also tried running during the day rather than at night or early in the morning. I'm trying to guage how disruptive that is to my writing cycle ... or whether it actually might help me focus more quickly when I actually sit down.
It's going to be hard to train myself back to the level of endurance I enjoyed before. It's probably a good thing that I have to take it relatively easy as I return to more running. Mentally, it's easier to consider going for a thirty minute run than a sixty minute run (let alone a multiple hour run!). I need to build toward those longer distances slowly -- not just physically, but mentally too. It takes a lot of time and commitment. And I'll admit that this recovery process has left me feeling weaker than I did before -- mentally as much as physically. I had this favourite phrase that would pop into my head on long runs, last year: "Indestructible" I would think to myself. I'm not sure why. It made me feel super-powerful rather than doubtful, even if I was feeling tired. I haven't let myself say that since the injury. I know I'm not indestructible. But the thing is, I knew I wasn't indestructible before either, and that didn't stop me from embracing the powerful feeling, or letting myself imagine my own strength in that way. I'm not sure how to get back to point of confidence. Confidence is a funny thing. It doesn't always relate to reality. I'm hardly weak right now, and I know that, but I don't feel it. I wasn't indestructible before, and I knew that, but I felt it anyway.
Curious, isn't it.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Getting better, getting restless
I'm doing physio about once a week now. Today was the day. For the past two weeks, I've had my SI joint taped by the physio, and it's made my running pain-free. No exaggeration. But today she told me this would be the last week I'd have the joint taped. Starting next week, she wants me to run without it, so that my muscles will start doing the work on their own. I'm probably pretty naive, but I sort of thought this taping thing was going pretty well -- why not just tape forever? Apparently that's not how it works.
She worked me hard today, mostly with glute and core work.
I'm getting so much better that it feels like I should be returning to normal training. No, says my physio. Now is probably the time when I'm most at risk of re-injury, feeling just well enough to go too hard and cause quick regression. I must must must force myself to keep at the strengthening exercises, continue to spin/bike and swim, and run only in moderation. Never more than every other day. And not for much longer than 20 minutes at a time.
The arrival of warmth and sunshine does not help my resolve.
On Sunday I will have to post my first-ever DNF at a race I signed up for immediately after the marathon last fall -- a 30km course in nearby Hamilton. If I let myself think about it, it makes me sad, so I'm not letting myself think about it. Truthfully, these strength exercises are crazy hard and take a ton of discipline to do daily. I look as fit as ever, if not fitter, what with the resistance and core training. But I feel out of shape. I wonder whether -- when I get the go-ahead -- I'll have the discipline to train myself back to marathon-running. It took so much hard work to get there. Will I have the patience and resolve to train myself back again? Or will my interests have shifted in the meantime to some other mildly obsessive cause?
Can't remember when I last posted my daily work-outs, so I'll start with last Sunday:
Sunday: run 8km (fast/medium); strength exercises
Monday: swim (2700m); hot yoga, 90 min
Tuesday: spin (1 hour)
Wednesday: strength exercises (40 minutes)
Thursday: spin/weights; strength exercises
Friday: physio, strength/core work (40 minutes)
I plan to run tonight. I wanted to run another 8km, but my physio said no, that really shouldn't happen again, not yet. When I asked why, if I'm running pain-free, she said that was a tough question to answer, but the idea is that I won't know I've pushed too far until it's too late. If I do start to hurt, I've already gone too far. And I'm still running taped. So I'm running with a crutch, essentially, and until I'm running pain-free and on my own strength, with all the core imbalances resolved ... well, stick to short runs, fast is fine -- as long as it doesn't hurt. But short.
Hard advice to take.
She worked me hard today, mostly with glute and core work.
I'm getting so much better that it feels like I should be returning to normal training. No, says my physio. Now is probably the time when I'm most at risk of re-injury, feeling just well enough to go too hard and cause quick regression. I must must must force myself to keep at the strengthening exercises, continue to spin/bike and swim, and run only in moderation. Never more than every other day. And not for much longer than 20 minutes at a time.
The arrival of warmth and sunshine does not help my resolve.
On Sunday I will have to post my first-ever DNF at a race I signed up for immediately after the marathon last fall -- a 30km course in nearby Hamilton. If I let myself think about it, it makes me sad, so I'm not letting myself think about it. Truthfully, these strength exercises are crazy hard and take a ton of discipline to do daily. I look as fit as ever, if not fitter, what with the resistance and core training. But I feel out of shape. I wonder whether -- when I get the go-ahead -- I'll have the discipline to train myself back to marathon-running. It took so much hard work to get there. Will I have the patience and resolve to train myself back again? Or will my interests have shifted in the meantime to some other mildly obsessive cause?
Can't remember when I last posted my daily work-outs, so I'll start with last Sunday:
Sunday: run 8km (fast/medium); strength exercises
Monday: swim (2700m); hot yoga, 90 min
Tuesday: spin (1 hour)
Wednesday: strength exercises (40 minutes)
Thursday: spin/weights; strength exercises
Friday: physio, strength/core work (40 minutes)
I plan to run tonight. I wanted to run another 8km, but my physio said no, that really shouldn't happen again, not yet. When I asked why, if I'm running pain-free, she said that was a tough question to answer, but the idea is that I won't know I've pushed too far until it's too late. If I do start to hurt, I've already gone too far. And I'm still running taped. So I'm running with a crutch, essentially, and until I'm running pain-free and on my own strength, with all the core imbalances resolved ... well, stick to short runs, fast is fine -- as long as it doesn't hurt. But short.
Hard advice to take.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Good good good
Sunday: Run (fast; 6km). Strength exercises.
Monday: Yoga (90 mins). Strength exercises.
Tuesday: Spin (1 hr). Strength exercises.
Wednesday: Run (slow; 40 mins).
Thursday: Spin/weights (45 mins). Strength exercises.
Friday: Physio (1 hr). Run (slow, with daughter, 3.6km). Strength exercises.
Saturday: Yoga (1 hr). Run (5.6km, medium). Half of my strength exercises.
Sunday: Run (7.9km, fast/medium).
My run today (Sunday) was longer than I've done in awhile. And I felt it. But what I didn't feel was injured. My physio has taped my SI joint on my left side, and I haven't had pain in my left leg since. I can also feel my glutes kicking in on my runs. Even my right leg hamstring/IT band pain did not flare today. All that flared was a feeling of being so unfit compared to just a few months ago! It was hard. But maybe I can add on a little more distance and a little more distance and gradually work my way back to real long-distance fitness. Will it be harder or easier to do it, having done it before? There isn't the same sense of discovery as the first time; but then again, there is a sense of yes, I can do this! I was just grateful I didn't hurt myself while running rather further than planned today.
Monday: Yoga (90 mins). Strength exercises.
Tuesday: Spin (1 hr). Strength exercises.
Wednesday: Run (slow; 40 mins).
Thursday: Spin/weights (45 mins). Strength exercises.
Friday: Physio (1 hr). Run (slow, with daughter, 3.6km). Strength exercises.
Saturday: Yoga (1 hr). Run (5.6km, medium). Half of my strength exercises.
Sunday: Run (7.9km, fast/medium).
My run today (Sunday) was longer than I've done in awhile. And I felt it. But what I didn't feel was injured. My physio has taped my SI joint on my left side, and I haven't had pain in my left leg since. I can also feel my glutes kicking in on my runs. Even my right leg hamstring/IT band pain did not flare today. All that flared was a feeling of being so unfit compared to just a few months ago! It was hard. But maybe I can add on a little more distance and a little more distance and gradually work my way back to real long-distance fitness. Will it be harder or easier to do it, having done it before? There isn't the same sense of discovery as the first time; but then again, there is a sense of yes, I can do this! I was just grateful I didn't hurt myself while running rather further than planned today.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Crazy weather, crazy body
I was just folding laundry and saw what a difference a few days makes in terms our crazy winter/spring weather here in Southern Ontario. On Friday night, it was bitterly cold and I wore a double layer of pants for my run. Less than 48 hours later, yesterday afternoon, I ran in cut-off pants and a t-shirt, and I was sweating and hot. And covered in mud by the end of the run.
Yes, I ran three times this past week, and all were "good" runs. Wednesday morning was the toughest slog, but it wasn't half-bad. Friday evening I felt really good despite the cold, and I didn't push the pace too hard, having discussed that problem of mine with my physio and my sports dr just that morning. But yesterday afternoon my legs felt so good that I did push the pace, and pushed and pushed it until I was running 4:30/km for the last two full kilometres. It was exhilerating, and challenging. My daughter rode her bike with me, and luckily she figured out quickly that mom wasn't interested in chatting. I ran 6km in 30 minutes exactly (and that includes the lights I had to wait for ... which really annoyed me). The entire run I kept thinking: I don't feel injured. I'll admit that had I gone much further, the twitch in my right hamstring/IT band would have started to twang much more loudly, but my left leg, which has been the source of all this pain this winter did not trouble me AT ALL. Thrilling! As long as I'm able, I'm going to keep treating these short runs as killer speed challenges. It makes me feel like I'm doing some worthwhile training even while recovering from injury.
This morning I woke up with incredible pain in a nerve in my back -- shoulder blade height, close to the spine. I'm panicking that this is something new and that I need go to back to my chiro, whom I haven't seen for about eight months. I can't afford to go to the chiro as often as he wanted me to, so I gave it up altogether. I hate being lectured. Now I'm wondering .... what to do? If I tried a new chiro, I'd have to pay for the initial assessment before getting treatment. And I already have this VERY EXPENSIVE physio hobby right now. I'll see her on Friday morning. Maybe she'll have thoughts. I don't want to let it go too long because the pain is fairly intense. I'm trying stretching and ice, and will attempt yoga tonight.
Here's what I did last week:
Monday: swim (2500m); physio, strength exercises
Tuesday: spin (1 hr); strength exercises
Wedneday: run (40 mins., slow)
Thursday: strength exercises
Friday: run (30 mins, medium); strength exercises
Saturday: NOTHING! OH NO!
Sunday: run (30 mins, fast); strength exercises, plus some extra yoga @ home to make up for Saturday's slacking off (in my defense, I was distracted by my book being reviewed positively in the Globe and Mail, plus I baked bread, plus my husband and I had the house to ourselves overnight because our children were away on a babysitting exchange ... too much celebrating = no exercise)
Yes, I ran three times this past week, and all were "good" runs. Wednesday morning was the toughest slog, but it wasn't half-bad. Friday evening I felt really good despite the cold, and I didn't push the pace too hard, having discussed that problem of mine with my physio and my sports dr just that morning. But yesterday afternoon my legs felt so good that I did push the pace, and pushed and pushed it until I was running 4:30/km for the last two full kilometres. It was exhilerating, and challenging. My daughter rode her bike with me, and luckily she figured out quickly that mom wasn't interested in chatting. I ran 6km in 30 minutes exactly (and that includes the lights I had to wait for ... which really annoyed me). The entire run I kept thinking: I don't feel injured. I'll admit that had I gone much further, the twitch in my right hamstring/IT band would have started to twang much more loudly, but my left leg, which has been the source of all this pain this winter did not trouble me AT ALL. Thrilling! As long as I'm able, I'm going to keep treating these short runs as killer speed challenges. It makes me feel like I'm doing some worthwhile training even while recovering from injury.
This morning I woke up with incredible pain in a nerve in my back -- shoulder blade height, close to the spine. I'm panicking that this is something new and that I need go to back to my chiro, whom I haven't seen for about eight months. I can't afford to go to the chiro as often as he wanted me to, so I gave it up altogether. I hate being lectured. Now I'm wondering .... what to do? If I tried a new chiro, I'd have to pay for the initial assessment before getting treatment. And I already have this VERY EXPENSIVE physio hobby right now. I'll see her on Friday morning. Maybe she'll have thoughts. I don't want to let it go too long because the pain is fairly intense. I'm trying stretching and ice, and will attempt yoga tonight.
Here's what I did last week:
Monday: swim (2500m); physio, strength exercises
Tuesday: spin (1 hr); strength exercises
Wedneday: run (40 mins., slow)
Thursday: strength exercises
Friday: run (30 mins, medium); strength exercises
Saturday: NOTHING! OH NO!
Sunday: run (30 mins, fast); strength exercises, plus some extra yoga @ home to make up for Saturday's slacking off (in my defense, I was distracted by my book being reviewed positively in the Globe and Mail, plus I baked bread, plus my husband and I had the house to ourselves overnight because our children were away on a babysitting exchange ... too much celebrating = no exercise)
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