My own plan....

Soooo this whole staying off my leg doesn't seem to be working for me! I was so depressed yesterday when I got home from work I went to bed! Then I decided the only thing that would help would be to run, so I decided I would run 1 mile no matter how much pain I was in. Oh my gosh it felt so good mentally, physically not so good! I was in so much pain afterwards I wanted to cry so I sat with ice on my leg. I have decided it didn't help to stay off my leg so why not run! I am not in any more pain today than I was before I ran so I'm going to run again tomorrow & just keep slowly increasing my time. I am going to run this half marathon in June!

Results from my appointment.......

Went to my appointment on Thursday. The doctor had me get an xray & thought he might see a stress fracture in my femur up by my hip. He put me on cruches & had me go get an MRI to know for sure what the problem was. I was very happy to find out it was only a tear in the soft tissue that surrounds my hip socket. He told me no running for at least another week & come back & see him in a week.
I still couldn't run if I wanted to which is very frustrating. All the progress I made & now I'm going to have to basically start over! At least it should be soon since it's only a tear.
I can't wait to run again, I really miss it!

Doctor's Appointment

I don't think this pain in my leg is ever going to go away.....did some research online & made a doctors appointment for this Thursday. I probably should have done it sooner but I don't have very good luck with doctors & figured it would be a waste of time. It has been over 2 weeks since I first experienced this pain & I still can't put full pressure on my leg when I walk. I have stayed off it as much as I can & have been putting ice & heat on it every chance I get so I feel like I've done everything I know to do. Hopefully a doctor will give me some more ideas on what to do & tell me exactly what is wrong. I'm very tired of being in pain, I wish my appointment was sooner!

I am thankful for......

I've been whining alot lately so I'm going to remind myself of things to be thankful for!
My trainer, Meridith who always adapts my work out to my needs or should I say injuries!
My husband that supports me going to a trainer
My amazing friend Kristin who is always there to cheer me up with an encouraging text or email!
I can still work out my core & arms
I can ride my bike
And this little bump in the road to my half marathon will eventually be over & I will run again!!!

Things could be worse.......

I know things could be worse.....this is the mantra I repeat over & over to myself as I lay awake last night because of the pain in my leg.
I just don't know what to do? It has been over a week & just when I think things are getting better the pain seems to come back. At this point I still can't walk correctly, I can hardly put any pressure on my leg. I took Advil, put some kindof muscle pain relief cream on my leg & tried to run on the treadmill last night......I couldn't even walk for 5 minutes. I was in tears after this because of the pain & frustration. I did ride my bike which I am at least able to do, but I'm wondering if that caused me to be in so much pain last night???
I am just going to have to take this day by day & not let the fact I can't run ruin my whole day. So today I know I can not run but I can go to the gym & do upper body & core exercises so I will be happy with that.
I have a hard time not focusing on the pain. Do I just take Advil constantly? Do I just deal with the pain?
I will run again, just not today.......

To run or not to run.......

It is Wednesday & I haven't ran since Saturday & I really want to run today. I'm trying to learn from my mistakes & not over do it and have my leg pain get worse, but...... my leg feels a little better still just a constant ache and I haven't taken any Advil & the pain is managable so I know it is getting better. I'm supposed to run in a 5K this weekend so I really want to run tonight & Friday. I'm absolutely stressed out about running in this 5K (more so than the Shamrock 5K) because it is in my hometown & I know I'm not going to be at my best & I don't want to see anyone I know when I'm limping down the road! ARGHHH, why this week??? I think I will try to run tonight at least 20 minutes & go from there........

"Patience & perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear & obstacles vanish" -John Quincy Adams

Just plain down & I can't seem to shake it.....

Feeling really down, frustrated, just plain sad......
Went to run Saturday in Vancouver the pain in my thigh was too much to bear & I could not run the 5 miles.
I could barely walk on Sunday...took lots of Advil to try & manage.
It is Tuesday & I'm not feeling any better, in fact I barely got any sleep last night because of the constant ache in my thigh.
Running is hard enough why is it being made so much harder for me with whatever is going on with my leg??? First my calves (which seem like nothing now, I'm wondering what I was thinking about complaining about them) now my leg.
I just want to get through this & still be running & not start from square one!!!!

Sometimes running with pain really is mind over matter...

After my last painful run I was really hesitant to run tonight. I was really trying to talk myself out of it & the way my evening was going it looked like I was going to succeed!

We got home from dinner & in the back of my mind I kept thinking about a text I got earlier from KB & just knew I could run my scheduled 40 minutes.

I ran, my legs hurt but they would have hurt anyways so I would be saying, "I didn't run & my legs hurt".....it's much better to say "I ran."

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?"

- Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner



I chose to be strong today!

Note to self....

Next time I want to run the day after my long run of the week & better yet try & run the day after that (after working out at the gym too) DO NOT do it! I always have to learn the hard way!!! I wish I could remember exactly how that pain in my calves felt tonight on my treadmill after running 2 miles...my goal was to do at least 3 miles, first time ever I actually had to stop before reaching my goal!
This makes me sad.....just need to remember tomorrow is a new day!
If I learn from this mistake the pain will have been worth it!

Why I started running, this quote says it all!

"Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run." -Monte Davis

Weekend running

My friend Kristin from Vancouver drove here Saturday morning so we could do our 4mile run. I was feeling pretty nervous I stayed up late on Friday and ate more than I should. I found myself thinking maybe she won't want to drive out & change her mind....but I knew she would never do that! It was so good to see her, I am so glad she drove here! We parked at the dog pound & ran the trail to Columbia City & then through the neightborhood streets & up across the highway down another trail. We lucked out no rain...just a little bit of wind at times. It was a really great run for me! We ran all the hills except the last really long one, but we are kicking ourselves for not just doing it. Like Kristin said "next time that hill is ours!" We ran 4.59miles which included lots of hills & took us 48min.
Secret to a good run....5 Advil, 3 Catalyst, & some goo chomps....I felt so good & pretty strong that run so maybe that helped???
We went to Dick's to get Hailee's catching gear....oh how I love that store they have the best running outfits! I bought what I plan to wear to the 1/2 marathon, I just couldn't pass it up! I can not go shoping there very often too dangerous for me!!!
Sunday....Easter, breakfast with Tommy' side of the family, then came home & did the whole egg thing and I decided I was tired so I took a nap...which isn't usual for me but I must have needed it. I wasn't going to run today...supposed to rest according to schedule but I just wanted to get out and run so I did I ran around my house it was a 4.65 loop & I did it in 45 minutes. It was tough the wind was blowing head on which sucked but that only makes you a better runner! I have ran a total of a little over 15 miles this week! Who would of thought! I'm telling ya the cute clothes are a huge motivator!!! Need to remember if I start feeling discouraged to go to Dicks & hang out in the running dept! Oh boy I'm off again for another week of running!! This week I will shoot for 20 miles total. I will check with Kylie to see if that sounds reasonable!
Side note:
Kori you better not be running with Jim! He is my running partner not yours! lol! I guess it's ok just not more that 3 miles.......

Feeling positive again......

So I met with my new trainer at the gym (my current one is going out on maternity leave soon) and I'm really excited! He ran 6 marathons is 2 years! He is my hero! He has alot of knowledge & is going to help me learn to run more effeciently. I love to learn & he knows so much about running I just can't wait to train with him! He even knows about chi running & has taken a seminar on it...I've been reading the book on my kindle & really like the ideas so I'm glad he can help me with that too! He used to have calf pain & doesn't anymore so that gives me hope mine will go away eventually. Last night when I was running I tried really hard to think of the pain as a positive thing......I finished my run but it still really sucks!
Things might be crumbling around me right now but knowing I have something that makes me happy & healthy to focus on allows me to cope with all the bad without getting depressed & turning to unhealthy ways to deal with my stress.

As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other, it is about our lifestyle & who we are.
-Joan Benoit Samuelson