Well, I'm still here, and still taking it easy.
My back is doing better. I'm doing anything I can to not aggravate it, but then there's things like grocery shopping and vacuuming/mopping which really make it sore. I'm paying more attention to how I move and trying to correct any non back friendly movements. Sometimes we move in certain ways just out of habit and may not even realize it.
I ran 2 miles yesterday morning. Got the abdominal cramp on my right side again, but it was much less intense than before. It was definitely runnable, nothing like the crippling pain that forced me to stop running and limp 2 miles back to my car just a few weeks ago. Then I did some yoga - skipped over alot of the more intense poses and instead focused on the stretching and back friendly poses. If something hurt I didn't do it or just did another pose instead.
I had another adjustment at the chiro today, and also got a sheet with my official diagnosis. The 2 main things are Sciatica and Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. They sound scary but are actually pretty common. I've read alot of running blogs and articles, and see people mention Sciatica and their SI joints. So I'm relieved to see that it's more common than I originally thought. And I think I've realized that part of the problem might lie in the fact that I haven't focused on abs very much. I kind of think ab exercises are overrated and don't do much for changing your body, despite all the hype surrounding them. I've focused more on running and arm/leg training. Of course I do core work, but not really anything specific to just my abs. Some ab exercises hurt my lower back and make it pop, like the kind where you lie on your back and hover your legs just off the ground. Can't do those without massive back pops, so I just gave up on doing them. Anyway, I have learned that I do need to work on my abs, and I now know what stretches I need to do to strengthen my back.
Also got a bit of bad news today. My husband is in the Army, and thus our souls are bound unto them. The phrase "needs of the Army" is thrown around alot, and basically means that when it comes to your job, your hours, your location - you do whatever they tell you to. For a few weeks now we've known that my husband's schedule would change, and a couple of possible outcomes. We hoped for the best, but alas it did not happen. He got stuck with a Wed-Sat schedule. So this means... he can no longer come to races with me. I now race alone. Basically I don't have many friends, because we're the kind of couple who does everything together - even after 10 years. And the friends I do have are not into fitness. I have never been the kind of person who needs a large social circle for emotional support. I only need that one person. And now he can't be there with me. It sucks, but I suppose it could have been worse. So far he's still on the day shift. And his schedule will change again, it's not like he is stuck with it for the next year. Everyone pays their dues I guess. And above all, he's here in the same house with me. That is not something to be taken lightly when you live this life!
My husband has been so supportive of me and come to all my races, and is still supportive of me even if I go alone. He says he absolutely does not want me to give up. I am not going to stop racing even if it means I do it alone. Several times in the past I tried to "get in shape", then when I lost enough inches to feel good about myself I always stopped, and the weight came back every time. I used to make excuses if I didn't feel like working out. This is different. I started this quest because I was tired of the yo yo. This will be the last time I "get in shape" because I will stay that way from now on. I can't let injuries and schedule changes become excuses for stopping this quest. I am sure that many people out there wouldn't race if it meant they had to do it alone, without any friends or family to be spectators. Sure, I might want someone to take pictures of me or hold my keys, but that's easy - ask someone to take a picture of me real quick, keys in my spi belt. The real challenge is the emotional support. Seeing everyone else out there with their friends and family. But I can do it. This is just another thing that will make me a stronger person.
Depending on how I feel, I might run a 5k this weekend at 7:30 am by myself. I will run a 5k next month, and then go to North Carolina to complete the Warrior Dash by myself. And I have many races I want to sign up for in the fall. My husband's schedule is not a factor that will hold me back anymore. Sure I would love to have him there with me, but I will not back out simply because he can't.
I will not stop being active, even if my back is injured and I have to go it alone. Giving up is not an option.
Running on...
The first thing I asked myself was why.
Why a marathon? Why runners? All we do is run, we don't harm anyone!
But that's just it. The innocence. In these times, everything is a target. People going to work, children going to school, people going out to relax and watch a movie at the theater, and now runners. It's an insanely twisted world we live in.
I looked at the pictures and almost wanted to cry. My heart goes out to the people of Boston... the runners, their families and friends, and the first responders who jumped in to help.
Here's my question to whoever did this - what were you trying to accomplish here? Did you really think that people would stop running marathons because of this? Did you think we'd all just stop going outside out of fear of being blown up? No. If anything, this event has strengthened the running community. I know that runners worldwide will band together and support each other during this time. Today I heard that Boston's Red Cross is saying they have more than enough blood and monetary donations. Through social media I have seen people offer help to those in need, even if they live thousands of miles away. Thousands of runners will be running for the victims - to honor them in spirit and prove that this tragedy has not broken us. If this event has left you feeling lost and hopeless, remember that there are good people out there who are helping, even when they don't have to. There is still hope for humanity.
These are marathon runners. They run 26.2 miles. Just think about that for a second. That's probably more than most people WALK in an entire month! It is a great feat to be able to run that distance. Multiple times over the course of your life. And be part of the world's most prestigious marathon, where you have to qualify to even try to sign up! A 70 some year old man was knocked down by the explosion, got up, and finished the race. Several runners went straight to the hospitals to donate blood - after running 26.2 miles! These are strong people. And I believe that the family and friends of the athletes are strong, for simply being a part of their lives and taking part in their victories.
As soon as I am able, I will run for Boston.
Lastly, I leave you with this great quote I found
A long road
All things considered, I had a pretty good weekend.
On saturday morning, after a week of not exercising, I decided to run an easy 2 miles just to see how things felt. I did this in my new shoes too. At first I noticed a reduced range of motion in my right hip but about halfway through it loosened up and felt normal. I didn't have any pain while running. And this time I didn't get the abdominal cramp 1 mile in like I had been getting lately. However I did feel my right side start to tighten up at the end of my 2 miles, almost like it was about to start cramping up. I was sore after my run but it wasn't anything my ice pack couldn't fix. I just have to take this one day at a time. I have to keep telling myself I can do this, and that I will be back to normal soon.
Saturday afternoon we decided to take the dog out to the trails near our house. We picked up a sandwich from Subway and had a little picnic lunch out there. It was a gorgeous day here in Georgia
I ran this trail ALOT during the winter months, and still do run it on the weekends sometimes as part of my long run. If I run this whole thing 3 times it's about 4.5 miles. Now I'm doing about 6 miles for my long runs, so I may not be running here quite as much. But I still love coming here, especially now that everything is in bloom
Then on saturday night we went to a cookout with some friends. I ate too much bad food this weekend! Today I just did some chores around the house, and now my back is pretty sore. I didn't do my yoga in fear of aggravating it, and will see how I feel next week.
Tomorrow I have another adjustment and I have to go into work early, so no exercise planned for tomorrow. If I'm not horribly sore on tuesday I might lift weights, then run in the AM on wednesday. I'm not quite sure how things will play out. Just gotta wait and see
Funny thing is, I'm kind of glad I missed Warrior Dash this weekend. Apparently the Georgia dash was managed horribly and alot of people are PISSED. Here's the word from Facebook...They made the parking like 10 miles from the venue (and charged you for it!) shuttle lines were 2 hours long for one way, bag check line was 1 hour long, food lines were long and then they ran out of food, no water at the end of the race, not enough trash cans, no changing/washing station, and some people even thought the obstacles were sub par. Holy crap! Sounds like I dodged a bullet there. I know that it is a new venue this year so that must have been the problem. At least the Carolina race is at a venue they have used before and has been successful in the past, so hopefully it'll be good and I won't experience anything like this! Cause that is just ridiculous.
On saturday morning, after a week of not exercising, I decided to run an easy 2 miles just to see how things felt. I did this in my new shoes too. At first I noticed a reduced range of motion in my right hip but about halfway through it loosened up and felt normal. I didn't have any pain while running. And this time I didn't get the abdominal cramp 1 mile in like I had been getting lately. However I did feel my right side start to tighten up at the end of my 2 miles, almost like it was about to start cramping up. I was sore after my run but it wasn't anything my ice pack couldn't fix. I just have to take this one day at a time. I have to keep telling myself I can do this, and that I will be back to normal soon.
Saturday afternoon we decided to take the dog out to the trails near our house. We picked up a sandwich from Subway and had a little picnic lunch out there. It was a gorgeous day here in Georgia
I ran this trail ALOT during the winter months, and still do run it on the weekends sometimes as part of my long run. If I run this whole thing 3 times it's about 4.5 miles. Now I'm doing about 6 miles for my long runs, so I may not be running here quite as much. But I still love coming here, especially now that everything is in bloom
We let our dog play in the creek, but it must have been pretty cold because he didn't seem to like it.
And of course I have some pictures of me just being silly
Then on saturday night we went to a cookout with some friends. I ate too much bad food this weekend! Today I just did some chores around the house, and now my back is pretty sore. I didn't do my yoga in fear of aggravating it, and will see how I feel next week.
Tomorrow I have another adjustment and I have to go into work early, so no exercise planned for tomorrow. If I'm not horribly sore on tuesday I might lift weights, then run in the AM on wednesday. I'm not quite sure how things will play out. Just gotta wait and see
Funny thing is, I'm kind of glad I missed Warrior Dash this weekend. Apparently the Georgia dash was managed horribly and alot of people are PISSED. Here's the word from Facebook...They made the parking like 10 miles from the venue (and charged you for it!) shuttle lines were 2 hours long for one way, bag check line was 1 hour long, food lines were long and then they ran out of food, no water at the end of the race, not enough trash cans, no changing/washing station, and some people even thought the obstacles were sub par. Holy crap! Sounds like I dodged a bullet there. I know that it is a new venue this year so that must have been the problem. At least the Carolina race is at a venue they have used before and has been successful in the past, so hopefully it'll be good and I won't experience anything like this! Cause that is just ridiculous.
Adjusting
Oww.
I've had 2 adjustments to my back so far. So far it seems that I am sore as hell on the day that follows an adjustment. Makes sense I suppose, my body needs to adjust to the new alignment and my muscles are probably strained as a result. Yesterday I asked the chiro about what the plan is for my long term care. He says I need about 10 adjustments. I will start off getting 1-2 a week, then it will taper off to once every 3-4 weeks, then every few months, etc. At first it takes awhile for the adjustments to take effect, but apparently the more I have the faster my body reacts to them. I feel a little bit relieved after them, which the chiro said is a good sign (I guess most people don't feel much of a difference at first) but then I'll be sore during the next 12-24 hours. The chiro said I could exercise on days when I don't have an adjustment... but as long as I'm this sore I don't know if I will want to! I haven't exercised this week, and my plan is to go out for an easy run on saturday morning and see how I do with that. I will probably do some yoga on sunday, just not anything that might aggravate my back.
My strategy here is to definitely listen to my body. I am going to take it easy and gradually ease back into activity. It's been hard enough just getting through daily activities. Right now I have no idea how long it will take to get back to normal, but I'll get there eventually. I've reached a point where I've experienced a few setbacks during my training and missed a couple of races. And I have realized that I can't stress over it and I can't let it get me down. Life happens. I need to take care of those things that are causing me to miss out. I have realized that my progress won't be erased overnight, and that it's far more important to make sure I don't further injure myself than it is to run a few miles.
That being said, something pretty cool still happened despite all this.
I haven't been weighing myself for the last 5-7 days. Hasn't been on my mind at all. I got really frustrated with the past 3 weeks of hovering between 163-161. For a solid week, I busted my ass to work out hard and cut calories. The scale did not budge ONE OUNCE. So I said fine, I won't do the numbers for awhile and see what happens. This morning I weighed myself out of curiosity and ended up being 158.8. I don't understand how I magically went down 5 lbs when before my weight would not budge. All I did was put the scale out of my mind, eat healthy and exercise (before the back issues anyway) and it just happened. I can't believe I am finally under 160. My goal is 155... and I am almost there. And I think now that I am close to where I think I want to be, I am changing my strategy a bit.
I am going to keep eating calories to cut weight (1400 or so) until I feel like I can enter a maintenance phase. I will continue to weigh myself less often, and focus on a variety of exercise. I think my recent increase in strength training has helped considerably. So I'm going to keep making it a priority in an effort to tone everything up and convert my last little bits of pudge into lean muscle.
I also made an interesting discovery yesterday. During my lunch break I was on the phone with my mom and we were talking about my weight loss. She asked how much I weighed now and I told her 163, and that I want to get down about 8 more pounds. I said that considering my large build, 155 would be a good weight for me. Then she said "How tall are you, about 5'8"?" I said no, I'm 5'7". Then I thought about it later that afternoon. Am I? I haven't really been measured in years. Whenever I go to the doctor they just ask how tall I am and don't bother to measure. So just out of curiosity I measured. I am 5'8"! Who knew! Obviously my mom did, I guess. How is it that she hasn't seen me in nearly a year and she knows my height, yet I don't?
The point is, this changes things slightly. Among the goals I have set for myself, reaching a healthy weight, BMI, and body fat % are among them. Being an inch taller than previously thought changes those guidelines. So here is where I stand now:
5'8", 159 lbs
BMI - 24.2 (Normal)
Body fat % - 23.7%
Ok, this kind of contradicts what I said about not focusing on numbers. But numbers are part of the reason I was successful with weight loss this time, and was never successful in the past. You have to set goals for yourself, and numbers need to be part of those goals. The numbers are important for health reasons - if you are within normal ranges then you lower your risk of developing diseases. Just don't obsess over them like I was doing. And now that I am getting to a healthy state, it will be less about numbers and more about maintaining. I want to build up some more muscle. I want to work on those non weight related goals, like how many pullups I can do or a new race PR. The mindset is shifting. If I keep doing things right, I will continue to change in whole new ways.
I've had 2 adjustments to my back so far. So far it seems that I am sore as hell on the day that follows an adjustment. Makes sense I suppose, my body needs to adjust to the new alignment and my muscles are probably strained as a result. Yesterday I asked the chiro about what the plan is for my long term care. He says I need about 10 adjustments. I will start off getting 1-2 a week, then it will taper off to once every 3-4 weeks, then every few months, etc. At first it takes awhile for the adjustments to take effect, but apparently the more I have the faster my body reacts to them. I feel a little bit relieved after them, which the chiro said is a good sign (I guess most people don't feel much of a difference at first) but then I'll be sore during the next 12-24 hours. The chiro said I could exercise on days when I don't have an adjustment... but as long as I'm this sore I don't know if I will want to! I haven't exercised this week, and my plan is to go out for an easy run on saturday morning and see how I do with that. I will probably do some yoga on sunday, just not anything that might aggravate my back.
My strategy here is to definitely listen to my body. I am going to take it easy and gradually ease back into activity. It's been hard enough just getting through daily activities. Right now I have no idea how long it will take to get back to normal, but I'll get there eventually. I've reached a point where I've experienced a few setbacks during my training and missed a couple of races. And I have realized that I can't stress over it and I can't let it get me down. Life happens. I need to take care of those things that are causing me to miss out. I have realized that my progress won't be erased overnight, and that it's far more important to make sure I don't further injure myself than it is to run a few miles.
That being said, something pretty cool still happened despite all this.
I haven't been weighing myself for the last 5-7 days. Hasn't been on my mind at all. I got really frustrated with the past 3 weeks of hovering between 163-161. For a solid week, I busted my ass to work out hard and cut calories. The scale did not budge ONE OUNCE. So I said fine, I won't do the numbers for awhile and see what happens. This morning I weighed myself out of curiosity and ended up being 158.8. I don't understand how I magically went down 5 lbs when before my weight would not budge. All I did was put the scale out of my mind, eat healthy and exercise (before the back issues anyway) and it just happened. I can't believe I am finally under 160. My goal is 155... and I am almost there. And I think now that I am close to where I think I want to be, I am changing my strategy a bit.
I am going to keep eating calories to cut weight (1400 or so) until I feel like I can enter a maintenance phase. I will continue to weigh myself less often, and focus on a variety of exercise. I think my recent increase in strength training has helped considerably. So I'm going to keep making it a priority in an effort to tone everything up and convert my last little bits of pudge into lean muscle.
I also made an interesting discovery yesterday. During my lunch break I was on the phone with my mom and we were talking about my weight loss. She asked how much I weighed now and I told her 163, and that I want to get down about 8 more pounds. I said that considering my large build, 155 would be a good weight for me. Then she said "How tall are you, about 5'8"?" I said no, I'm 5'7". Then I thought about it later that afternoon. Am I? I haven't really been measured in years. Whenever I go to the doctor they just ask how tall I am and don't bother to measure. So just out of curiosity I measured. I am 5'8"! Who knew! Obviously my mom did, I guess. How is it that she hasn't seen me in nearly a year and she knows my height, yet I don't?
The point is, this changes things slightly. Among the goals I have set for myself, reaching a healthy weight, BMI, and body fat % are among them. Being an inch taller than previously thought changes those guidelines. So here is where I stand now:
5'8", 159 lbs
BMI - 24.2 (Normal)
Body fat % - 23.7%
Ok, this kind of contradicts what I said about not focusing on numbers. But numbers are part of the reason I was successful with weight loss this time, and was never successful in the past. You have to set goals for yourself, and numbers need to be part of those goals. The numbers are important for health reasons - if you are within normal ranges then you lower your risk of developing diseases. Just don't obsess over them like I was doing. And now that I am getting to a healthy state, it will be less about numbers and more about maintaining. I want to build up some more muscle. I want to work on those non weight related goals, like how many pullups I can do or a new race PR. The mindset is shifting. If I keep doing things right, I will continue to change in whole new ways.
Life takes a twist
I went to the chiropractor today. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've dealt with back pain for the last 5-6 years, but more recently it has really flared up and become a concern. I've had unusual (and extremely painful) abdominal cramps while running. I couldn't put this off anymore.
So to the chiro I went!
Luckily he could see me today. I was worried this morning. My fear was that running had caused this, and that he would tell me I could no longer run, lift weights, or do anything active. How would I deal with the possibility of being told that all the things that have changed my life over the past 6 months would be out of my reach? Have I worked so hard and come so far for nothing? Just how f'ed was my back, really? This scared me. But I tried my best not to think about it, not to stress over it, and just wait and see what happened. Then freak out, if necessary.
The verdict - my spine, hips, and sacrum have twisted. Really my whole lower back is twisting towards the right side. The X rays give the appearance that my left hip bone is larger, but it's really at an angle. So is my spine. My 5th lumbar is compressing a nerve slightly too. This is causing the pain in my lower back and hip, and the compressed nerve is affecting all the surrounding muscles (the abdominal cramps I've been getting) Now, this has not spread to my leg. But he showed me that it's basically one giant nerve, and that it would eventually spread there. Sounds painful. And it is!
The good news is - this was probably NOT caused by running. He figures this has been progressing for years and simply getting worse with age. Makes sense, as I have had back pain since 20. I always attributed it to my sit down job and never really paid it any mind. He thinks the running may have just agitated it. The problem can be corrected with adjustments and proper care for my back. And I can still run! YAY!
Bad news... is I may not be able to go to Warrior Dash this weekend. Bummer... I go back to the chiro on wednesday for another adjustment and for him to make a recommendation on whether or not I should race. I am expecting a resounding "no" so I am not getting my hopes up, but we'll see. It seems I should be able to transfer my registration to another event for a small fee. So if I can't go this weekend then I will transfer to the North Carolina WD on June 1st. All is not lost! I just really really wanted to do it this weekend! WD seems like a really fun race - maybe not as hardcore as Spartan, but after finishing a Spartan I am longing for more mud! June is too far away!
I'm glad I went and saw the chiro. I feel better already after today's ice/muscle stimulation and the first of (many, I'm sure) adjustments. I feel kind of validated now because it turns out I did have a problem, and I was right to go and get it checked out. I'm also really relieved to learn that it can be fixed and won't interrupt my new lifestyle. On the contrary, maybe exercise will improve my back health over time - once the problem is corrected, that is.
Over the past few months I've dealt with a few different health problems- PCOS, dental issues, back pain, and foot numbness. During this time I have also made several significant changes in my diet and exercise habits in an effort to improve my health. But here's what I have realized while dealing with all this. Getting healthy is about so much more than just diet and exercise. It's about taking care of those little quirks in your body and not just putting them off or taking a pill to make the pain go away. We need to see our doctors when something is wrong, get the corrective care, listen to their advice, and make the necessary lifestyle changes to manage the condition. Health is so much more than the number on the scale or tape, and the reflection in the mirror. It's about how you feel. It's about your bones, joints, organs, everything - functioning properly. And doing your best not to stress about all of it - just take care of it and trust that in time things will improve. I am still working on this one... stress is not my friend!
Anyway. I am going to take it easy for a couple days while I nurse this back issue of mine. Wednesday I hope to do some strength work, followed by a run on Thursday. Warrior Dash... we'll see....
So to the chiro I went!
Luckily he could see me today. I was worried this morning. My fear was that running had caused this, and that he would tell me I could no longer run, lift weights, or do anything active. How would I deal with the possibility of being told that all the things that have changed my life over the past 6 months would be out of my reach? Have I worked so hard and come so far for nothing? Just how f'ed was my back, really? This scared me. But I tried my best not to think about it, not to stress over it, and just wait and see what happened. Then freak out, if necessary.
The verdict - my spine, hips, and sacrum have twisted. Really my whole lower back is twisting towards the right side. The X rays give the appearance that my left hip bone is larger, but it's really at an angle. So is my spine. My 5th lumbar is compressing a nerve slightly too. This is causing the pain in my lower back and hip, and the compressed nerve is affecting all the surrounding muscles (the abdominal cramps I've been getting) Now, this has not spread to my leg. But he showed me that it's basically one giant nerve, and that it would eventually spread there. Sounds painful. And it is!
The good news is - this was probably NOT caused by running. He figures this has been progressing for years and simply getting worse with age. Makes sense, as I have had back pain since 20. I always attributed it to my sit down job and never really paid it any mind. He thinks the running may have just agitated it. The problem can be corrected with adjustments and proper care for my back. And I can still run! YAY!
Bad news... is I may not be able to go to Warrior Dash this weekend. Bummer... I go back to the chiro on wednesday for another adjustment and for him to make a recommendation on whether or not I should race. I am expecting a resounding "no" so I am not getting my hopes up, but we'll see. It seems I should be able to transfer my registration to another event for a small fee. So if I can't go this weekend then I will transfer to the North Carolina WD on June 1st. All is not lost! I just really really wanted to do it this weekend! WD seems like a really fun race - maybe not as hardcore as Spartan, but after finishing a Spartan I am longing for more mud! June is too far away!
I'm glad I went and saw the chiro. I feel better already after today's ice/muscle stimulation and the first of (many, I'm sure) adjustments. I feel kind of validated now because it turns out I did have a problem, and I was right to go and get it checked out. I'm also really relieved to learn that it can be fixed and won't interrupt my new lifestyle. On the contrary, maybe exercise will improve my back health over time - once the problem is corrected, that is.
Over the past few months I've dealt with a few different health problems- PCOS, dental issues, back pain, and foot numbness. During this time I have also made several significant changes in my diet and exercise habits in an effort to improve my health. But here's what I have realized while dealing with all this. Getting healthy is about so much more than just diet and exercise. It's about taking care of those little quirks in your body and not just putting them off or taking a pill to make the pain go away. We need to see our doctors when something is wrong, get the corrective care, listen to their advice, and make the necessary lifestyle changes to manage the condition. Health is so much more than the number on the scale or tape, and the reflection in the mirror. It's about how you feel. It's about your bones, joints, organs, everything - functioning properly. And doing your best not to stress about all of it - just take care of it and trust that in time things will improve. I am still working on this one... stress is not my friend!
Anyway. I am going to take it easy for a couple days while I nurse this back issue of mine. Wednesday I hope to do some strength work, followed by a run on Thursday. Warrior Dash... we'll see....
Pain = good...sometimes
I just put up my new medal display!
I got it here - http://www.runningonthewall.com/
Yeah, I probably could have made this myself, but I don't have the materials lying around nor do I have the crafty skill to make it look good. So convenience wins :)
Love the mantra... it's what I tell myself every day.
Sometimes, however, pain is not good and should not be ignored! Like when it's back pain. Mine has really flared up since last Wednesday and I think it's more than just muscle soreness. Not sure if it's a pinched nerve, an alignment or spinal issue, no idea. I am also wondering if those abdominal cramps I've been getting during running are a result of the back pain. First thing tomorrow I'm going to see if I can make an appointment with a chiropractor. I need to try and get this sorted out - the sooner the better, because Warrior Dash is on Saturday. Hoping they can see me asap and that it's just a quick fix. I've never seen a chiro before so I don't really know how the process goes.
Today I did yoga (with my cat, of course) and depending on how this back issue goes I may try to run 3 miles tomorrow.
I got it here - http://www.runningonthewall.com/
Yeah, I probably could have made this myself, but I don't have the materials lying around nor do I have the crafty skill to make it look good. So convenience wins :)
Love the mantra... it's what I tell myself every day.
Sometimes, however, pain is not good and should not be ignored! Like when it's back pain. Mine has really flared up since last Wednesday and I think it's more than just muscle soreness. Not sure if it's a pinched nerve, an alignment or spinal issue, no idea. I am also wondering if those abdominal cramps I've been getting during running are a result of the back pain. First thing tomorrow I'm going to see if I can make an appointment with a chiropractor. I need to try and get this sorted out - the sooner the better, because Warrior Dash is on Saturday. Hoping they can see me asap and that it's just a quick fix. I've never seen a chiro before so I don't really know how the process goes.
Today I did yoga (with my cat, of course) and depending on how this back issue goes I may try to run 3 miles tomorrow.
New shoes, again!
I'm back again!
We went to Fleet Feet Sports today because they offer shoe fittings. This is something I've wanted to have done for awhile, just to get someone else's opinion on whether or not I should be in a certain type of shoe. Especially since I've had all kinds of problems since I started wearing my Merrell's. I like the Merrells alot, they are comfortable and are a well made shoe. And they're cool looking
I've been running in these for about a month. Right away I noticed a small hot spot on the inner side of my left foot. I think it's where that white stitching is, it seems to press against my foot in that certain area. This week I've begun to notice a numbness in the top/side of my left big toe. This was freaky. It's continued for a few days. I talked to my husband about it and he figures it's the shoes. He has enough running experience with alot of different types of shoes and also has foot problems, so he has done his share of research and trial/error. And yeah, these shoes are pretty small.
Here's the thing. I first started running in barefoot shoes. I bought them last summer at a New Balance outlet store, not even knowing that 2 months later I would take up running and change my life in those very shoes. I learned how to run in them and got used to running in that type of shoe. Then I got my Merrell's - still minimal shoes, but with more bulk than my previous shoes. They are a road and trail shoe which is what I was looking for. Now, I am a mid/front foot striker due to learning to run in barefoot shoes. And I think the Merrell's I have are designed for heel striking. So I've been jamming my toes into these when they're probably not designed for that stype of running... which is probably the cause of all my issues.
So anyhow, I had the assessment done and she said I had pretty normal feet. I walk normal, don't have weird arches, nothing like that. She did say my left foot is slightly bigger than my right foot - and I guess it really shows in a small pair of shoes like the Merrells. I tried on a bunch of shoes and didn't really get the Cinderella Glass Slipper effect from any of them. Then my husband brought over a pair that he found at the clearance rack. Here they are...
Saucony Hattori LC
50% off = 50 bucks!
Out of all the shoes I tried on these were the most comfortable.
So today I learned for sure - I'm a barefoot girl. I like the freedom and the big toe box of these shoes. And the way I figure, the less padding and crap there is, the less there is to possibly cause me problems. I think it's a good theory. I didn't have problems when I ran with my old barefoot shoes. So hopefully these will serve me well, and worst case scenario, they were only $50. I will still use my Merrell's for walking and maybe the occasional light run.
Zero drop :)
We also got some other stuff !
A massager and a hot/cold shin sleeve. It was actually my husband's idea to get these things, but I tell you now, they will be MY best friends!!!
Finding the right running shoe requires alot of trial and error. And alot of shoes. I have learned alot about different types of running shoes and what type of shoes I prefer. I'm sure I will be buying plenty more shoes in the future, but it's just the nature of the beast when it comes to running shoes. You never know what you're gonna like until you run a few miles in them. Sometimes you don't know what you want or what you should be wearing. It's definitely a learning experience!
We went to Fleet Feet Sports today because they offer shoe fittings. This is something I've wanted to have done for awhile, just to get someone else's opinion on whether or not I should be in a certain type of shoe. Especially since I've had all kinds of problems since I started wearing my Merrell's. I like the Merrells alot, they are comfortable and are a well made shoe. And they're cool looking
I've been running in these for about a month. Right away I noticed a small hot spot on the inner side of my left foot. I think it's where that white stitching is, it seems to press against my foot in that certain area. This week I've begun to notice a numbness in the top/side of my left big toe. This was freaky. It's continued for a few days. I talked to my husband about it and he figures it's the shoes. He has enough running experience with alot of different types of shoes and also has foot problems, so he has done his share of research and trial/error. And yeah, these shoes are pretty small.
Here's the thing. I first started running in barefoot shoes. I bought them last summer at a New Balance outlet store, not even knowing that 2 months later I would take up running and change my life in those very shoes. I learned how to run in them and got used to running in that type of shoe. Then I got my Merrell's - still minimal shoes, but with more bulk than my previous shoes. They are a road and trail shoe which is what I was looking for. Now, I am a mid/front foot striker due to learning to run in barefoot shoes. And I think the Merrell's I have are designed for heel striking. So I've been jamming my toes into these when they're probably not designed for that stype of running... which is probably the cause of all my issues.
So anyhow, I had the assessment done and she said I had pretty normal feet. I walk normal, don't have weird arches, nothing like that. She did say my left foot is slightly bigger than my right foot - and I guess it really shows in a small pair of shoes like the Merrells. I tried on a bunch of shoes and didn't really get the Cinderella Glass Slipper effect from any of them. Then my husband brought over a pair that he found at the clearance rack. Here they are...
Saucony Hattori LC
50% off = 50 bucks!
Out of all the shoes I tried on these were the most comfortable.
So today I learned for sure - I'm a barefoot girl. I like the freedom and the big toe box of these shoes. And the way I figure, the less padding and crap there is, the less there is to possibly cause me problems. I think it's a good theory. I didn't have problems when I ran with my old barefoot shoes. So hopefully these will serve me well, and worst case scenario, they were only $50. I will still use my Merrell's for walking and maybe the occasional light run.
Zero drop :)
We also got some other stuff !
A massager and a hot/cold shin sleeve. It was actually my husband's idea to get these things, but I tell you now, they will be MY best friends!!!
Finding the right running shoe requires alot of trial and error. And alot of shoes. I have learned alot about different types of running shoes and what type of shoes I prefer. I'm sure I will be buying plenty more shoes in the future, but it's just the nature of the beast when it comes to running shoes. You never know what you're gonna like until you run a few miles in them. Sometimes you don't know what you want or what you should be wearing. It's definitely a learning experience!
I choose not to feel the pain
Just got back from today's 6 mile run on the Army base. It felt great to get out there and do some longer distance again. I am up to 6-7 miles for my "long" runs and lately it seems like every day I plan to do my long run something comes up and I can't do it. It's been pretty frustrating. Today I went out there determined to run my whole 6 miles and not let anything stop me
That weird abdominal cramp that I had during last week's attempted long run? Yeah, it came back today. Same deal, happened about a mile in. I took a small break for 1-2 minutes to walk/limp it off. Again I was clutching my sides, limping, and even involuntarily groaning from the pain. But I was still determined to keep running. I was like OH NO. I am NOT letting this crap stop me this time! I am going to run this whole f'ing 6 miles no matter what happens! I started to jog lightly again. It still hurt like a mother but I knew I had to keep moving to get past it. Slowly I began to increase my speed. I took slow, deep breaths, in through my nose and out through my mouth, using my belly to breathe. After a few minutes the pain receded, and eventually went away all together. I was back on track. Aside from stopping at my car for a quick water break and to throw my jacket in there, I did not stop running the entire time. No walk breaks. I pushed past my mind's tricky little voice - "We need to take a break!" No! I know your tricks, brain! My body can go on! I really wanted to make up for the time lost dealing with that cramp so I wasted no time. Ended up finishing the 6 miles in 55:36. That was a great run. A little sunny, but I had my sunglasses and there was a breeze to keep me cool. My playlist picked some great songs for me to keep me going. I prefer Death Metal, but I listen to some other stuff too. Running + death metal is pretty awesome.
Tomorrow will be some much needed yoga time. I'm still sore from thursday's workout too, guess I did something right!
In exactly one week I'll be in Douglasville at the Warrior Dash! Can't wait to get my Viking on :)
Today we have to go to Augusta to run some errands. We have to take the Jeep in because it needs a few things done to it. The Jeep dealership is on the busiest road in town. And it's Masters week. In Augusta. Not looking forward to this traffic at all. I'm so oblivious when it comes to sports, I wouldn't even know it was Masters week if I didn't work for a golf car company!
Toodles!
That weird abdominal cramp that I had during last week's attempted long run? Yeah, it came back today. Same deal, happened about a mile in. I took a small break for 1-2 minutes to walk/limp it off. Again I was clutching my sides, limping, and even involuntarily groaning from the pain. But I was still determined to keep running. I was like OH NO. I am NOT letting this crap stop me this time! I am going to run this whole f'ing 6 miles no matter what happens! I started to jog lightly again. It still hurt like a mother but I knew I had to keep moving to get past it. Slowly I began to increase my speed. I took slow, deep breaths, in through my nose and out through my mouth, using my belly to breathe. After a few minutes the pain receded, and eventually went away all together. I was back on track. Aside from stopping at my car for a quick water break and to throw my jacket in there, I did not stop running the entire time. No walk breaks. I pushed past my mind's tricky little voice - "We need to take a break!" No! I know your tricks, brain! My body can go on! I really wanted to make up for the time lost dealing with that cramp so I wasted no time. Ended up finishing the 6 miles in 55:36. That was a great run. A little sunny, but I had my sunglasses and there was a breeze to keep me cool. My playlist picked some great songs for me to keep me going. I prefer Death Metal, but I listen to some other stuff too. Running + death metal is pretty awesome.
Tomorrow will be some much needed yoga time. I'm still sore from thursday's workout too, guess I did something right!
In exactly one week I'll be in Douglasville at the Warrior Dash! Can't wait to get my Viking on :)
Today we have to go to Augusta to run some errands. We have to take the Jeep in because it needs a few things done to it. The Jeep dealership is on the busiest road in town. And it's Masters week. In Augusta. Not looking forward to this traffic at all. I'm so oblivious when it comes to sports, I wouldn't even know it was Masters week if I didn't work for a golf car company!
Toodles!
Stressed
Like most people, I have my good days and my bad days.
Monday's workout was great. I did Plyometric training which is basically jump training and explosive movements. It's an ass kicker, let me tell you. I first did it in 2010 during one of my many half assed attempts to "get in shape". My husband and I did a brief stint of P90X (I am using their Plyo training video) I was about 20 lbs heavier than I am now, had zero cardio endurance, and was just generally not in good shape prior to starting the program. I can safely say that my 2013 attempt at the Plyo workout was much better. I did have to take more breaks than they actually give you, but throughout the whole video they tell you that you will probably have to pause to take breaks, and encourage you to do so. It's a great workout that left me feeling good and covered in sweat.
Yesterday was a rest day/errands day
Today my back has been bothering me alot. I have always had back pain, but I am starting to think that my job, running, or some combination of the two, is causing the right side of my lower back/hip to act up. That area has been bothering me more than normal today. Then towards the afternoon I noticed my abs and core felt really tense. They aren't sore or in pain, just kind of tight and tense. And now as I'm sitting here typing this, my middle and upper back are hurting! WTF is going on! Maybe it's just my body recovering from the Plyo training? I probably did a number on my core since my whole body was moving in ways it's not used to. And I did have that weird abdominal cramp on sunday, but after a few hours I no longer felt any tension or pain from that. I don't know. It's just like I'm carrying alot of tension in my body right now. After I type this I'm going to go relax, maybe do some deep breathing and meditation, take a bath, and hopefully convince my husband to give me a back massage.
Maybe I'm just stressed. My weight has not budged in days. I've been stressing about it and about what I eat. I've felt guilty for eating tiny pieces of candy. I feel like my belly is flabby and huge right now. Simply put I just feel terrible about myself right now.
I need to take a break from the scale for a few days. I know it's going to fluctuate and just plain not move at times. I think I'm approaching that dreaded plateau. My doctor said my weight loss would slow down as my body adjusted to its new weight. She said 155 is a good weight for me and that I might start looking sickly if I weighed 150. And I'm 163 right now, wavering between 163-161 for the past 2 weeks. My diet has not been perfect, but I've been good so far this week and not lost a single ounce! It's so frustrating. But I need to just stop stressing and focus on doing things the right way, and just trust that the rest of my weight loss will happen in due time. And I know it's not healthy to stress this much about my weight. So I'm just going to rest tonight and try to put it all out of my mind. My goal will be just to focus on feeling good and keeping a positive attitude.
Tomorrow I will run in the rain. 100% chance of rain. As long as it's not a total downpour where I'm getting pounded by rain I'll be fine. Friday I might try to do arm work, then long run on Saturday morning.
Now time for a nice relaxing bath !
Monday's workout was great. I did Plyometric training which is basically jump training and explosive movements. It's an ass kicker, let me tell you. I first did it in 2010 during one of my many half assed attempts to "get in shape". My husband and I did a brief stint of P90X (I am using their Plyo training video) I was about 20 lbs heavier than I am now, had zero cardio endurance, and was just generally not in good shape prior to starting the program. I can safely say that my 2013 attempt at the Plyo workout was much better. I did have to take more breaks than they actually give you, but throughout the whole video they tell you that you will probably have to pause to take breaks, and encourage you to do so. It's a great workout that left me feeling good and covered in sweat.
Yesterday was a rest day/errands day
Today my back has been bothering me alot. I have always had back pain, but I am starting to think that my job, running, or some combination of the two, is causing the right side of my lower back/hip to act up. That area has been bothering me more than normal today. Then towards the afternoon I noticed my abs and core felt really tense. They aren't sore or in pain, just kind of tight and tense. And now as I'm sitting here typing this, my middle and upper back are hurting! WTF is going on! Maybe it's just my body recovering from the Plyo training? I probably did a number on my core since my whole body was moving in ways it's not used to. And I did have that weird abdominal cramp on sunday, but after a few hours I no longer felt any tension or pain from that. I don't know. It's just like I'm carrying alot of tension in my body right now. After I type this I'm going to go relax, maybe do some deep breathing and meditation, take a bath, and hopefully convince my husband to give me a back massage.
Maybe I'm just stressed. My weight has not budged in days. I've been stressing about it and about what I eat. I've felt guilty for eating tiny pieces of candy. I feel like my belly is flabby and huge right now. Simply put I just feel terrible about myself right now.
I need to take a break from the scale for a few days. I know it's going to fluctuate and just plain not move at times. I think I'm approaching that dreaded plateau. My doctor said my weight loss would slow down as my body adjusted to its new weight. She said 155 is a good weight for me and that I might start looking sickly if I weighed 150. And I'm 163 right now, wavering between 163-161 for the past 2 weeks. My diet has not been perfect, but I've been good so far this week and not lost a single ounce! It's so frustrating. But I need to just stop stressing and focus on doing things the right way, and just trust that the rest of my weight loss will happen in due time. And I know it's not healthy to stress this much about my weight. So I'm just going to rest tonight and try to put it all out of my mind. My goal will be just to focus on feeling good and keeping a positive attitude.
Tomorrow I will run in the rain. 100% chance of rain. As long as it's not a total downpour where I'm getting pounded by rain I'll be fine. Friday I might try to do arm work, then long run on Saturday morning.
Now time for a nice relaxing bath !
