Shaking it off

2/17: NTC, To The Core, 15 min.
         NTC Full Stretch Guide, 15 min

2/18-2/21: NOTHING REST

2/22: Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown, 30 min
         NTC, Ab Burner, 15 min.

2/23: Rest?

This week has been filled with so much flapping and dramatics.

And I'm sorry.

I woke up Monday with mildly sore hip and the pain continued to spread as the week went on. I fretted over whether or not to run, but I decided to let my mind body win this particular fight, and stayed off my feet all week. As some of you can read in my previous post, it wasn't pretty and I was kiiind of ridiculous.

Saturday, I decided to (sadly) skip my long run with my friend, and instead did the hottest workout among the injured set.

YOGA

*Yawns*

Luckily, anything with the words "Jillian Michaels" in the title always proves to be the opposite of boring, and I was able to get a pretty good workout during the 30 minute session. I ended with 15 minutes of NTC abs, and came to the very obvious conclusion that I need a lot of work on my mushy kangaroo pouch core.

Also, proof that the JM Yoga was an ass kicker - my shoulders are s-o-r-e from all the chaturanga.

Taking today off again, as my hip is not feeling 100%, but I am chalking some of it up to using muscles that had previous been in hibernation. Again, another reason to XT/Strength train AND  run, not one or the other. Or just the other (run).

I am pretty sure I'm confusing my muscles (Sore butt! Sore. Butt)  but I've actually heard muscle confusion is a good thing, right?

Learnings from this week: 

Listen to my body. No, really. LISTEN.
Rest is good for your body. Embrace the rest sans the flapping.
Strength and cross training is a MUST.
So is stretching.
Food is fuel, and my friend. Time to stop eating all the things my feelings.

And with that?

Namaste'

Doing it all wrong

Well.

This week has royally sucked donkey balls. 

My speech, it is eloquent. 

Anyways, I had a great first training week and was excited for week 2. However, my body had other plans. Monday's rest/xt session consisted of two 15 min NTC workouts, which meant I was thoroughly stretched and ab'd for the next few days. Also, three days post workout? 

Still sore.

*whine alert*

{Prepare the ice packs for your eyes, for the spraining of the retina will soon likely occur}

I woke up on Sunday morning and squeezed in four easy miles on good ol' Barry. During the first mile or so I started to feel a little tight in my left hip but figured i I was just sore from the previous days run. My hip continued to mildly nag the rest of the day, so I was glad to have the Monday rest day to give my body some time to forgive me. 

Monday, the pain continued to be just irritating  enough that I started become more concerned, concocting all sorts of what-ifs in my head;

What if:

It's ITBS!

It's bursitis!

It's broken! My hip is broken! 

It's my body's my body doesn't work!

I need a hip replacement! I'm too young! God, do you hear? Too young! 

I will never be able to run. Ever. Again.

Waht. Wahhhhh

After a self CLAM DOWN moment, I decided to do what every level headed runner/athlete does when facing possible injury.

GTS.

I Googled That Shit.

After much detailed research googling, I determined... *Bursitis! Because I have always had this weird hip click issue when I walk and I had remembered that my former workout queen coworker had mentioned it a few times in the past, and if she suffered from it, it was real! And therefore, it must apply to me too!

Someone, get me a medical license and a white jacket.

I spent most of Tuesday lamenting over my running woes - I had missed my Tuesday run, which was 7 miles, 4 of those at 10k pace, so a tempo run of sorts. I had strangely been looking forward to it, but know I made the best decision to sleep in rest/skip. But this meant spending most of my Tuesday hand flapping over the lost weekly miles. Such rationale. So much flappy-ness. 

Wednesdays are always rest/opt 3 miles, and while I was tempted to squeeze in 3 easy, I decided it was probably a better idea to make dinner for my children instead. 

The sacrifices I make.

So here we are, Thursday. 0 miles run for this week. In the grand scheme of things, I know Elizabeth talked me off the ledge with her wise medical knowledge/ injury prevention and necessary strong arming I am making the smartest choice to stay off the roads/''mill and let my body figure itself out. 

In the meantime, I've just whined for an entire post about it, and maybe some of you lasted long enough to read to the end. 

I am sorry. 

I know it's just a minor thing, and realize without being smart and listening to the internet... other people my body, this injury had/has the potential to get worse. 

So.

I rest.

*tucks hands under armpits to resist the flapping*

*probably not bursitis. I don't know exactly what it is but I have an ice pack with me to keep at my desk today. Hoping the trip of ice/roll/rest will do the trick. That, and whining. 

TCM Training Week 1 Recap

2/10: Rest

2/11: 4 miles + 4x20 strides (Total: 4.5 miles, 40min. 8:52 pace)

2/12: Rest

2/13: 6 Miles ttl (2mi wu, 3@GHMP, 1mi cd) - 54+min (9:05 pace)

2/14: Rest

2/15: 8 Miles ttl (1mi TM - 9:18 pace). Easy 7 Mi outside, 1:12 

2/16: 4 Miles + 4x20 strides (Ttl: 37 min. 8:45 pace)


Week 1 Total : 4 Days Run, 22 Miles. 3 days Rest

Weeks. 1 down, 11 more to go! 

I was not so secretly dreading this week, because by now everyone knows what training time means.

Training = 4AM.

OOF.

It's been months since I've woken up regularly to do anything other than pee and go back to bed. But when the alarm went off on Tuesday, I was exhausted ready. I figure I could ease into the training with 4 easy miles, right? Right.

Sure.

I made it through the four miles, and then felt justifiably smug the rest of the day. *I* had already gotten my sweat on and my endorphins flowing before some people's alarm had even gone off.

Wednesday's plan was to rest or run 3 miles, and I had every intention of running, and yet... the temptation to rest, it is always so strong!

Thursday's early wake up was a little harder than Tuesday, but I chalk that up to an eternal work week and my MIL general home busy-ness. 

Friday was Valentine's Day, so I rested!

That's not true. I just like resting.

Saturday was exciting and new because I finally stopped being weird about running with my fit, athletic neighbor friend and just did it. And you know what? 

It was fantastic!

I can't believe I waited so long to accept her many invitations to run together. Admittedly, I have been very intimidated to run with anyone other than JB, and have been especially nervous about running with D, since she is a seasoned runner with a full marathon already under her belt, and she works out regularly and played college basketball, so I know she is in very good shape. We kept the pace very easy, and just chatted and chatted for 7 easy miles. The time flew by faster than any other time I've run with anyone, even with JB. My plan called for 8 miles and hers for 7 (she's training for the same race!) so I ran 1 warm up mile on the treadmill before I picked her up. 

We started off reaaal slow and steady. And kept it slow and steady. Reaaaal slow. Reaaal steady.  I think neither of us cared about pace, but focused on keeping moving and mostly, catching up on life!

I think my Garmin was confused because it's been a very long time since my miles have been that slow but like I said, I didn't care. There is something to be said about just taking your time and enjoying the miles. And that we certainly did. We already made plans to run together for our long runs next Saturday, and I can't wait!

So, week 1, I"m done with you. Tomorrow is a Rest: XT or Core day and I definitely think I'll keep it light. My left hip is feeling a little tight, so I'm typing this right now while sitting with an ice pack wedged under my butt.  Multitasking at its finest. 

That wasn't so bad...

2/8: 6 miles, TM. 52min, 8:43 pace

2/9: Rest

Official training week 1:

2/10: Rest

2/11: 4 miles + 4x20 strides (Total: 4.5 miles, 40min. 8:52 pace)

It's always a good sign when your very first day of training starts with a rest day. 

On my new training plan, Mondays are rest days with optional strength and core. I might try and squeeze those in when I can, but if you haven't noticed in the last couple of months, I excel at the resting.

So.

Always nice to be greeted by name. Thanks, Barry, my smooth talkin' treadmill.

4am. It's definitely been a while. Since today was only 4 miles, I let myself sleep in an extra 15 glorious minutes. When it's dark o'clock and you had a long, busy Monday, those 15 can feel like pure magic, I tell you. 

Today's plan was 4 miles and strides. This is going to sound odd but I tend to struggle with the shorter mileage, only because it takes me so long to get into the groove. That, and I swear the treadmill is programmed to make the first two miles an ETERNITY. 

I kept the pace pretty easy for most of the run. Trying to ease back into running training after quite a bit of ... How should i say, down time?. And I'd like to avoid injury, please. Everyone, please knock on all the things!

Finished 4 mile and then threw in some 20-30 second strides and ended at exactly 40 minutes. Nice and sweaty but without feeling like wanting to die. However, post workout I was alarmingly sweaty and red faced. And so shiny! 

Ew. 

Sign of a solid workout.

Now, on to the rest of the day. Hoping the endorphin high lasts at least part of the day, as to make work, and my attitude, slightly more bearable. 

Although, it's 6:45 am and my tights are attempting to eat me alive. I make no promises about today. 

Look at me, guys! A weekday runner once more!

***

Tuesday randoms:

Wearing a lace top and biker boots. Gotta love a good juxtaposition.  

Bad news is that the shirt is chambray, and we all know what that means... 

Really into vegan/GF blogs lately. Weird. And so interesting!

Easing back into eating more foods after last week's elimination diet attempt. Definitely more aware of what foods trigger me to feel like shit - tons of sugar and carbs. And dairy. Am genius. Sign me up for Mensa. 

So far, still feeling pretty good. I can almost see my faux (fl)ab muscles. Either that, or it's the imprint on my skin left from my tights....

So.. where were we?

*Updated to add:
Was a week off. Training officially starts on 2/10! I am not behind after all. 
I just finished typing my training into my Google calendar and holy shitballs, batman! I have no idea why I thought this training plan would be a good idea! 

Somebody.. HOLD ME.

***

1/27 - 1/31: REST
2/1: 7 Miles, TM. 1:02 (8:51 pace)
2/2 - 2/7: Training, Week 1. REST
2/8: 6 Miles, TM. 52:21 (8:43 pace)

Now then. Where we we again, anyone remember?
Oh yes I was supposed to start training on Monday.

Guess what I did instead?

Did not eat a lot of delicious things and was grumpy and evil about it. I decided to try this elimination diet t to see if I could get to the root of my ongoing digestive woes. I didn't think it would be the best idea to cut out a bunch of foods while trying to start training, so I decided to delay my start date to Monday the 10th. I've learned a lot in the last week, about my digestion, and about how loaded the topic of food is in general. I'll write another post about it when I have more time and less noise (shrieking children, anyone?) in the background. But the one thing I have learned, that is probably clearly evident to anyone who has met me even for 2 minutes?

I love coffee. Cannot/Will not give it up. I shall marry you, coffee. You shall me MINE.

However, I did skip the coffee for one day and I didn't maim anyone in the process. WINNER.

In the meantime, just using the weekends to keep my legs moving.

Apparently I am only a weekend runner right now? But all of that will change soon.

4AM. We shall meet again very soon...