Man oh Man...

I was very excited to pick up my brand spankin' new made for me orthotics today.

Then I was told, wait five days to run. Thud.

I knew I wouldn't be able to run far the first couple days but not run AT ALL... Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?

And, I did what I've been dying to do.... I took out the orthotics this afternoon to do a quick little run around the block to get the edgyness out of me.

2.6 miles and my leg started to hurt. SIGH! BUT I felt good overall and my pace was good.... so that's all good. I was also "on the road" so that could have been part of the deal. Thursday I'll try and hit the trail for a "little run" then on Saturday (the 5th day) I'll go to the trail and step it up a bit further WITH my new orthotics.

They feel good though. So, that's a plus. Need to continue with the cross training and pray that the next two months go smoothly. Please.

Three Things Thursday

1. Today I went to physical therapy and everything felt good and sounded promising. I felt strong today.

2. I leave tomorrow for a weekend of wine tasting. I can't wait to have some peace and quiet and well, wine.

3. Two months and four days til the half marathon.

Sorry that wasn't very exciting but that's all I got right now.

On the bike again...

Did another 14 miles on the mountain bike today. Just trying to keep the ol' body moving. I managed to have a bug fly directly into my mouth and hit the back of it with such force I started choking and nearly puked on the trail. ha! It was quite traumatic for me. After that I tried to keep my mouth closed. Bleach.

So, I'm tired now. This weekend will be filled with wine with a friend of mine for the Spring Barrel tasting, so I will do absolutely nothing resembling cardio... maybe a little strength training with the arms if they fill my glass full enough.

;)

One more week...

That's right, one more week until my brand spankin' new orthotics will be ready. I had them casted this morning and asked for a "rush." They looked at me a little crazy and then I said "I can't not train anymore... how much to rush?"

$25

That's it?

OKAY! Wait 3 weeks or pay $25? UH, I'll pay thank you very much.

So, I was thinking my leg was feeling pretty good this afternoon (and my Athleta.com order arrived) so I had to test it all out.

4.08 miles later and well, I started out with no pain... then it slowly came on. I'd stop and stretch out my calves and I'd feel good then it would start up again. Dang! But I have high hopes. The rest of me felt good so that's a plus. Just need to get the other parts fixed. Funny thing is, I felt SOOOOOOOO good after my run, despite the aches in my leg/foot. It was nice to sweat. I don't sweat as much when I ride my bike so I felt I got some "stuff" out of me. Phew.

I'm hoping it wont rain tomorrow so I can hop on my bike for a quick little jaunt. Need to keep moving.

Bringing the bowflex back...

Upper body workout this evening on the bowflex.... I "thought" about going for another bike ride. I even put my bike back on my bike rack. BUT, I then thought why don't I go back to one day cardio one day strength........ and so it begins.

Ho-Hum...

Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyy? Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Oh Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy me?

Dramatic much?

Being a good lil' girl I went on a bike ride, this time with my 9 year old son. We went ten miles. Once I got home I figured since I was warmed up I'd try out my "legs." That lasted 1.9 miles. Siiigggghhhh.. Grumble grumble.

As much as I complain about running and all that I am realizing how much I enjoy it. I keep thinking that it's the one thing that is "mine." I'm decent at it and I'm learning alot while I'm doing it and now it's been taking away from me. I guess that sounds a little dramatic, too?

So the weekly line up is: Podiatrist on Tuesday, PT on Thursday. Woooo hooo.

I'll probably try a little running again with my compression socks "on the trail." And if it hurts, yes, I'll stop. Of course, I'll be back on the bike. I definitely do not get the satisfaction with my bike rides as I do when I run. But what am I going to do, right?

I've been looking up stress fractures, too. Is it possible I have one and it's not shin splints? I don't even get into the sports medicine doctor until May 4th. GOOD GRIEF, huh? I keep reading how you are not to do too much too fast. So, I was a good girl when I started training and stuck to the "novice" training plan for the 1/2 marathon. AND I even started the training plan six weeks earlier then I needed to "in case" something came up. So, I haven't even gone over the mileage because I was so afraid of injury. Uuugh. I'm really praying I can just get my new orthotics and I'll have the spring back in my step. I'm at the same position I was last year at this time training for the exact same 1/2 marathon. Except last time I think I did too much too fast and didn't follow a plan. So, yeah, great. Isn't this fun?

So, I need to quit being a negative nelly, it's hard, but maybe if I think positively only good things will come? ha ha hah aha ha... Sorry.

On to a new week!!!!

Ride Sally Ride...

Well, the mountain bike and I had a date on the trail this morning. I squeezed in 14.5 miles. Halfway, I got a little bored. The birds chirping weren't exactly making me go any faster. I remembered my iphone had Pandora on it!!!! So, I turned it on in my camelbak and listened to some music on the way back. That made it much more fun and less lonely. My back is stiff now just add that to my complaints but know that will go away sooner then the shin splints which didn't bother me at all during the ride.

So, it was nice to have another option to keep me moving a good distance.

Yeah for bikes!

Uuugh...

Weird things going on with these ol' legs lately. I'm kind of wondering wth the podiatrist was thinking by taking me off my old orthotics, putting me into an over the counter, UNTIL they make my new ones. Not only do I have shin splints but my IT Band is as irritable as EVER. I tried to run yesterday and made it 2.87 miles. I literally had to stop and hobble on home. It was ridiculous. Earlier that day I was at physical therapy and she worked my calf/shin HARD which probably irritated the IT band that we ran out of time to work on. So, today I've been icing and stretching like a mad woman. BUT, I'm going to be good and am NOT attempting to run tomorrow. I am going to hop on my bike and ride instead and head back to PT tomorrow afternoon. Then I'll try to run again on Saturday or Sunday.

I get casted for the new orthotics on Tuesday. They said it would take about 2 weeks to get them back but I'm pretty sure I'm going to buck up the money and do a rush order. We've got to get me back into the normal saddle again, sooner then later.

The foot issue is NOTHING compared to the other aches and pains. But I've also been babying my foot and making sure not to go on my tip toes but if I push on the area it still feels like it's bruised so.....

OH, AND, if you aren't sick of me complaining yet, here's the other thing. In November, I bought a pair of Brooks and have been running in those. BUT now that I don't have the orthotics in them I feel like they do not fit my feet as well anymore. So, I pulled out my Asics that I had before and I feel like my foot is so much more cushioned and supportive. OH, and I've gotten a few blisters wearing both the shoes now, when before, Nothing. WTH? ha! I'm a mess, aren't I?

Obviously, I'm not doing the 1/2 on May 1.

Race Photo

I need to work on poses for the Rock N Roll in June.

Depressing Appointment ....

Umm, so I'm back from the Podiatrist. I'm still a bit teary.

Apparently, I am causing wear on the cartilage of that area of my toe joint. The orthotics that were made for me were doing more harm then good. Which makes me so angry because I kept telling those people there was something off but they kept trying to make adjustments versus just re-doing the entire thing.

SO, he gave me TWO options and I could choose which one I wanted to do.

1. Shut me down, now, and put me in a walking boot, and wait to heal.

2. Remake my orthotics, put me on a no hills soft surface only workout, ice everyday, and then go for steroid injections if these options are not helping.

Well, obviously you all know which option I chose, right? ha!

So, I go back on the 20th (which is depressing because that's 2 weeks out) to get my orthotics remade. THEN it will take another 2 weeks to get them back unless I go for express something which I'll probably do if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to do it.

In the mean time, he said to take the orthotics OUT of my shoes and gave me some other over the counter ones called Spenco PolySorb walker/runner (in case anyone was wondering).

I'm also not to go barefoot or wear heels. Which I do neither one so I am good. He said my Ugg slippers should be okay but again, if there's any pain with them then I need to go for a more supportive slipper.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I am pretty sure the 1/2 Marathon on the 1st might be out. But again, I'm not ruling it out completely because I'm angry and I'm going to keep training as much as I can. The "no hills" is an issue, obviously, because that's where I live. I can't even get out of my neighborhood without running a hill. But I'll do my best to avoid the big ones and just walk up them. The soft turf is difficult but I can do a few runs on the trail. If I want to do a longer run I'll need a biker or another runner with me so I feel safe... so I'll have to get over the running with another person issue I have. If I want flat terrain I'll have to drive to that area. I'm going to email a friend who has connections with the highschool and see how I can get in on the track. (they lock the gate up)

So, that's where I'm at. The thought of not running is extremely depressing and if I'm going to be in a walking boot it will have to wait til Fall or Winter. ha!

I seriously was hoping he'd just say, ehhh, it's a quick fix, lets just shoot up that area and you'll be just fine.

7 Miles on Easter Sunday

Well, actually it was closer to 7.5 miles but I had stopped by watch while I was getting some GU out of my pocket and "thought" I clicked it back on but when I thought to look because I didn't hear the beep I knew... dang it.

So,

mile 1-9:00

mile 2-8:43

mile 3-8:24

mile 4-8:58

mile 5-9:59

mile 6-9:06

mile 7-9:18

average pace- 9:04

I'm actually liking having my water bottle thing. Sure is nice to have something to drink to get you up and moving along the way.

Hope everyone is having a great Easter. My ham finished a little bit ago but I'm not that hungry so we need to wait for ME to be ready. ha!

Tomorrow is my podiatrist appointment so I hope it's a quick and simple fix and I wont have to have too much done to whatever it is that is wrong with me. ha!

Happy Sunday!

Chills....

Am I the only one who is so cold after runs? It takes me FOREVER to warm up. I can't remember if I experienced this during the warmer months or not but then again, I don't really remember running too much last Summer. ha!

So, today's run stats:

mile 1-9:05

mile 2-9:03

mile 3-8:42

mile 4-8:43

last .27-2:10

Total: 4.27 miles with a 8:50 pace.....

I'm still recovering from my cold. But I wasn't going to let it get me down today. I knew I had to get out there and do it. Either Saturday or Sunday (the one day it rains less-ha!) I'll be doing a 6.5 mile run. I might go for 7 depending on my foot. I was pleasantly surprised that my calf didn't cause me much grief. I guess that painful massage the other day worked it's magic.

Tomorrow afternoon we begin Spring Break in these parts. Sadly, we have no plans and it looks like it will rain for many of those days. Doh. I'd rather just send them to school and get out a week earlier in June.

Have a great evening, everyone!