No More Races for Me This Year

It appears my running days are done--for 2008, at least. I'm scheduled for surgery next week to lengthen the tendon in my left leg. I'm told I have the best doc around and that I should notice less pain in my foot almost immediately...we'll hope so! Physical therapy has helped with regaining strength (that I hadn't even realized I'd lost!), but it hasn't done anything for the pain I go through every day.

Thankfully, I got in three fun races for the year, but I am bummed to miss out on the great fall running weather and fun races ahead. The cooler weather is my favorite--autumn in Michigan cannot be beat in my book! In fact today is rainy and cold...and I am wishing I could go outside and run! Is there such a thing as REVERSE seasonal affective disorder? ; )

So through January, I will be there at the races still, but cheering on my Sole Sisters and complete strangers, as well. I know how great a little sideline support can be toward the end of a long race. Some runs are better than others, so when someone shouts out "You're doing an awesome job!" when I'm ready to throw out a curse word or two, I know it makes a difference in my mojo!

Triathlons and Marathon training don't really go hand in hand.

Let's see, since June I have done a duathlon, 2 triathlons, and have been maintining my mileage for the GR Marathon. It was tough and confusing at times. But I think I am in pretty good shape right now to do just about anything. . .even wear my bikini! However, I will have to say that cross-training is only good to a point. Substituting a triathlon race is NOT a replacement for long runs 10 miles and up. At some point, the body just needs those long runs and a two hour workout of swim, bike, run doesn't cut it for a 13 mile run! I ran 13 miles last weekend after alternating tris and long runs for about a month. It wasn't the best long run I ever had except that it was flat and gorgeous scenery. I felt like my body hadn't done that in a while and it was like, hello---what are you doing??!! So, what I am learning is cross training is good to a point and running is still by far the best overall fitness one can get. It is good to use the others in recovery from an injury or to maintain fitness during off seasons, but it is NOT a replacement in times of tough training, i.e. a marathon. So, although I really, really, really want to do the last triathlon for this season in our area next month, I think I will just need to stick to the plan of an 18 miler that day.

PT, DXA, and MRI, Oh, my!

Well, I'm still on the mend...kinda starting to get me into a funk. My orthopaedic doctor doesn't think I have a "normal" case of plantar fasciitis. Fan-stinkin-tastic. So I got to have an MRI done of my foot to rule out the possibility of stress fractures still, got to have a bone density scan (I AM WAY TOO YOUNG FOR THAT!) to rule out early osteoporosis (and should all that milk guzzling and ice cream eating I have done for all my years keep my bones strong?), and now am in physical therapy to help strengthen the entire foot.

My therapist, Pam, is a hoot--thank goodness. Otherwise I think I would be giving her some stink-eye upon entering the office building twice a week. I end up leaving in more pain than what I had 24 hours prior, which I suppose means I am working the tendons and muscles that have so weakened over these past few months. I miss running so much, but I cannot imagine being able to get back out there. Hopefully I'm wrong!

In the meantime, I get to attempt biking for 5-10 minutes at a time, three times a day, on top of my other therapy. We will see. If anyone else is in the Injury Boat--know you are not alone, and that feeling in a funk about it is normal!

Just practicing my swing

In reference to my last post about the golf analogy, I am just practicing my swing at the driving range these days. Every run I am concentrating solely on moving in just the right way (i.e. heels doing this, core doing that, knees going like this, etc.) in order to reduce the possiblity of knee pain post-run. So far it has been working. However, I do miss just being able to go out and get lost in my thoughts during a run. I notice that if I let my mind wander that I start to jog instead of run, and that's when I get knee pain, so for now, I have to fully concentrate on the run until that style becomes routine enough that I can begin to enjoy running again. Ergo, I'm just at the driving range, but maybe I should call it the running range. : )

Getting It

I'm STILL not running, but this week I'm feeling almost hopeful with slightly less pain. My teammates are all keeping up on their running though--two just did a 10K race a couple of weeks ago, but I'll let them give the race report. One is training for her first marathon, and the other is getting back into the swing of things after having her second baby--surely they will all tell you about their past few weeks soon. :) Water running and swimming are still my only options right now. I'm bummed to be letting all my cute summer running gear be going to waste! I'm a running skirt addict, I think. Yes, I know I can wear them around the house, but I WANT TO RUN.

My husband recently purchased a used sailboat. We went out for our maiden voyage this past Sunday, unaware of just how big a 26' boat is when it's in the water and with a lot of wind (it looked SO much smaller in the storage lot!). Dear heavens-to-betsy--what an experience! Sailing is a passion of his, apparently discovered when he owned a little 14' Sunfish as a teenager. Well, running is a passion of mine--so after we got the mast down and were ready to head back home, I smiled and said to him, "I can't wait 'til my foot is better so you can come running with me." His response? "Huh? Running would kill me." So I retorted, "Yeah, I thought the purpose here today was for us to learn to share our passions with each other--did you not see my face as we nearly capsized on our return sail? That coulda killed me, too. My poor heart..." I walked toward the car, clutching my heart, but all the while laughing.

I think he gets it now.

Anyone Know of a Water Running Race?

I am still officially on the DL with my foot injury. Grrr. I almost think it's worse now than it was 2 weeks ago. Storm Trooper Boot is off, but I've developed peroneal tendonitis (on the outside of the foot and up the outside of the ankle) and the heel still hurts, even after a cortisone injection. Biking is starting to bother it. I walk with a limp. I have several experts "guessing" as to why I have recurring problems on the left side...one says it is due to a former car accident injury (neck damage)...one says there is possibly a leg length discrepancy...then there are the naysayers who say it's my body's way of saying I shouldn't run. Huh? It hurt like hell to have my first baby come out, too--that didn't mean I was quitting and never having more. People say some really dumb things sometimes. No one seems to have any solutions thus far. Anyone ever try accupuncture? That's about where I am right now--willing to go non-traditional.

In the meantime I am able to do some deep water running. I can swim laps, too, but can only do that when I don't have to also watch the kiddos--not really smart to swim while making sure they stay safe. It only hurts when I have to get back out of the pool and actually walk again.

I still miss running.

My First Triathlon!

I did it. I just signed up for my first triathlon. . .Grand Haven Triathlon on July 13th. . . . only after having done a rehearsal of one this past weekend. I went to the gym and did a 1/2 mile swim, hour bike and 3.1 mile run. The run on the tm was my fastest yet on the tm! I seem to run faster after a bike. Those legs just want to keep on truckin'! It all felt really good and I had no soreness at all. It was kind of easy. I know it won't be so easy in Lake Michigan, on a road and running in the heat, but I was pleasantly surprised that distance running has kept me in pretty good shape! Now all I need is a wet suit and a road bike. . .minor details! I am prepared to brave the cold waters in just a swim suit and use my mountain bike, but hope I can find equipment that won't make my look too much like a novice!!!