Week 11 of 18: Training for the Flint Hill's 50 Low and slow

 I entered this week with hope that a return to some sort of running would be possible.  I also was being very realistic in that this return may not look the way I want it to look and that any hope of following a training plan, even if it was half mileage would be foolish.  I had to run what my body thought capable based on any pain/soreness I might encounter.  In writing this on Monday, my left leg still felt stiff and tight with random soreness in my IT band, some on that inner adductor, and then some in the back of the leg, not my hamstring per se, but something back there. 

I thought I would try spacing out my runs and only running 4 runs a week.  If I went to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and then Sunday, this strategy might work.  Not sure about a true long run this week.  I told my running partner that if I had pain, I would just turn around and head back, but we were able to do 4 miles without pain for me.  Again, super slow, not going to push it. I had some soreness and I know that sound weird to not call that pain, but it was more soreness from healing than acute pain from injury if that makes sense. I also feel very stiff and tight, which is odd because I am stretching and doing rehab exercises like they are going out of style.  I also have this weird feeling that I will have to somehow articulate to my chiro.  So here goes.  I just got new shoes, not new style or upgrade, same Altras, same release, just new to me.  I bought them off of amazon since the new release has changes that others do not like.  Anyway, as always, I put in them the inserts that I have been using to mitigate some of the zero drop, since my calf muscles still to this date do not like running in 0 drop.  The inserts don't add much, but they do make my calf muscles happy so I continue to use them.  This sounds weird and I have no way to figure this out other than buy a new pair of shoes or run in my old worn out shoes, BUT my right shoe feels more cushioned than my left.  I guess I just need to try a run in my older altras and see if I have the same soreness and or pain than with my new to me shoes.  I really don't think this is my imagination, i do feel like it is real, but when you pay 150 for a pair of shoes, it's really hard to abandon them. 

I also ran on Wednesday with some soreness.  I think sitting all day at my desk gets me kind of sore and tight as I have been doing most of my rehab exercises at home post work instead of throughout the day, like I use to. I guess i need to get a new mat for the shop and try and do some exercises during the day to mitigate this.  Anyway, we did 5 miles but I was a little defeated that i am still sore and still having to take advil daily.  I just feel weak/out of shape and I shudder to think this is from only 2 weeks of rest.  

I had planned on lifting Monday and Thursday.  Monday's session went really well. Still just working with form and the bar, no added weights.  I did 4 rounds of 10 back squats, 10 deadlifts (alternating regular and sumo), 10 good mornings, 10 of ab work including dead bug and tabletop core work, and 10 of hammy work including step ups and kettle bell work.  I gave myself 1 minute between each exercise for recovery and I think it took me about 40 minutes to get through everything.  On Thursday, I was super sore all day and just didn't feel like lifting was a great idea.  During my chiro session Wednesday, I did a ton of work on the reformer for adductor strengthening and did several new to me exercises with kettle bells and balancing.  I love that my chiro is always continuing her education and continuing to evolve what she gives to her clients. She is also going to start me working on some foot strengthening issues with some cowboy sits, which should also help the whole leg and chain.  

Of course I also have to post about picture day.  This kiddo cracks me up so much.  He said this was his model look.  I posted on insta and FB and had several comments that with his red hair and blue eyes that I should think about him going into modeling.  He laughed about it and said sure, let's do it but I don't think he truly understands what that entails.  My mom had a boss whose kids did modeling and it was tough but they did make quite a bit of money for college  by doing so since any money kids make from these endeavors is basically put into trusts that the parents can't blow.  Of course as a mom I am super biased that he is super cute as any mom should be:)

Ran Friday with both dogs, kind of a mistake. My injury is not fond of dogs pulling sideways and while I want both dogs to go and get exercise, I may just have a period of time where I am force to run with just one dog.  I still feel very clumsy, very out of sorts.  I was going to lift post running but instead enjoyed the fact that the boys were out and at the movies and watched a new amazon original show I am digging.   It's called Flack and while it is not safe for any little eyes and has very adult themed issues, I totally enjoyed it thoroughly and enjoyed seeing Anna Paquin back in a good role.  I have missed her since her playing Sookie in True Blood.

Saturday was super busy starting out with me lifting.  I did 4 rounds of 10 back squats, 10 deadlifts, 10 dead bugs (Both arms and legs),  3 x 5 second adductor holds, and 10 kettle bell swings.  I did put my plates on the bar just to again work on form and quickly figured out I need a portable squat rack asap.  I can front rack and get over my head to start, but I don't have enough room to drop it off my back so hubby had to be my unracker LOL.  Next I headed to Topeka for a meeting about quarter midget stuff.  The plan was to have the boys come with and watch a fellow racer race his RC car at slick track nationals and then head back to the shop to work on the racecars that need to be built.  Instead the boys stayed at home and post me getting back from Topeka, we spent the afternoon cleaning the shop out and letting the cars get some vitamin D.  I kid, but we had SO much cleaning and organizing to do before we could even get to the cars, and then once the cars were outside, we had multiple people drive up and ask questions.  One guy easily stayed for an hour just talking.  57 days to race day, EEEEKKKK!!!!! 

Later we had wine and played games.  Let me back up though.  I have gotten in the habit of drinking a cup of coffee at night, decaf of course.  I for some bone head reason didn't grab a decaf K cup, but instead a regular K cup.  I didn't realize this till I had probably drank half the cup.  Uh OH.   I needed a good night's sleep so I could do a longish run the next day.  I decided rather than melatonin, I would try a glass of wine and it sort of did the trick.  I was still awake till past midnight, which is WAY past my bed time, but I blame it more on starting on yet another great amazon show.  

Since I didn't get as much sleep as I normally get, I sent Rockin Robin a very early morning message that I would need to sleep a little more and go out a little later.  She is always up early, so she got it and headed out before I got up and going.  I had decided 8 was the number and while I surprisingly felt really, really good during my run, I didn't let myself go more than that.  Honestly this was the first run I felt mostly normal again.  My leg cooperated, I had little to no soreness, and overall I just felt great.  The wind was a bit much gusting out of the west and north, but I was seeing my normal easy run time without me sucking wind big time.  I did a few things different for this run.  Same shoes, but my first five minute interval was done at a fast walk and I only took Stella, which meant less pulling.  I may not be able to walk later, but it felt wonderful during the run and I hope the lifting, especially with some weight on now, will help heal this whatever it is.  

Have a great week y'all!  While  this training cycle will not go the way I had planned it, I am hoping we can salvage it and get both races done. I am starting to have a little bit of hope that I can do this.  Plus Girls on the Run starts next week and I am SUPER pumped I get to coach this year and get to see my girls again!!!!

Week 10 of 18: New hope?

 This is going to be a bit long on words and a bit short on pictures.  I am entering week 2 of no running, high stress thanks to the weather, and obligations upon obligations.  Please forgive me for laying it all out there and I totally understand if you don't want to read my word diarrhea since no running is involved till the end of the week.  

The week started out with a bang.  The kids were off for president's day, which was a good thing due to the cold and the snow.  School canceled for Tuesday because of predictions of  -35 degree wind chills.  I decided to work from the house both days due to our pipes freezing up that feed our washing machine. We have been dripping water and having the heat on much higher than we normally have it set at for over a week to combat this and yet this still didn't work.  On the positive side, at least the pipes on the north facing wall didn't freeze up for more than a day?  AND nothing has burst as of yet?

I had a plan to rest all last week and then get back to it this week with some half of the distance I needed run runs.  Anything is better than nothing right?  I eagerly awaited Tuesday to get back onto satan's sidewalk since our roads were covered in ice and snow.  I knew almost immediately it was a bad idea and I should stop.  But stupid me kept going till I hit about .6 of a mile.  My leg was not only saying no, it was saying HELL NO.  I got off of the treadmill very defeated and very much headed into a downward spiral.  If you are reading this and are a runner you get it.  Yes, running is not my total identity, but it is a HUGE part of me and what I do and it's my stress relief.  Owning your own business is hugely stressful.  Being a mom to an atypical child is very stressful.  Being on the board in three of the organizations you are a  part of is very stressful.  We all have stress and I am not saying I am any different.  It's just right now I have most certainly bitten off more than I can chew, and I am at the top of the level of stress I can take before totally breaking.  Taking away my ability to run it off is a blow.  I knew this was potentially something that would take me out for more than one week, but I had hope.  I had hope that resting and being a bum would certainly help get me back on the road.  I was wrong and I knew I would probably be last week.  When you can't even walk, it's kind of a sign. 

I decided the best plan of action is to make a list and start checking things off.  My brain likes that and it helps me keep my head above water and in control.  I quickly checked my bank account and ordered  a women's bar for lifting.  I am back at 0 right now anyway with lifting, so a bar and maybe a pair of 10 lb bumpers is all I need.  I got my protein shakes out and made a bunch for breakfast and dinner making it where I had no excuse to get my butt back on a good plan for nutrition.  I texted my chiro and let her know we were dealing with a full blown injury that was going to require her and I to do research and figure this out.  I also talked to several ultra runners who have dealt with this injury or similar to manage my expectations.  The good news is my friends are awesome and all said that I would be fine running both races even if I had  few weeks off.  They are right, it won't be pretty, but I am taking the summer off from any serious training to enjoy my kiddo racing and be a board member, so I will have a lot of time for recovery and then gentle base building.  God I love running friends.  I also changed my mindset for dealing with this and went from full on rest to active rest. I  had been doing my rehab exercises on and off, but not enough and I vowed to get back to it and be serious.  Yes, I hate that it takes an injury to get serious, but I want to get this last 50 miler so badly I can taste it.  Once I had plans in place and some advil on board, I felt so much clarity and done with the hopelessness.  

Thursday was chiro day.  After listening to my symptoms and already having had my texts to set her up, we went to work. I don't do needles, so no needling, but we did do some pretty painful cupping.  She did not only sliding cupping but also some stationary cupping with some range of motion exercises.  Lots of adjustments and lots of massage gun on some oh so tender areas. I am still not use to the whole, oh this hurts?  Let's smack it, poke it, rub it, mess with it till it doesn't hurt anymore plan of action.  It seems to always work, so okay, I am on board.  I walked out of her office with more exercises and an appointment next week.  She also wanted me to try running this weekend for a couple of miles outside.  I am very nervous but also I need something, some bit of hope.  

I did come home to a super surprise Friday.  My bar from Rogue came in already as well as my collars for my weights!!! I didn't even get an email that it had shipped so this was so nice to see already.  Tony and I made a little circuit to remind my body about form with just the bar including front squats, back squats, deadlifts (regular, sumo, and negative), and squat presses.  I made it through 4 rounds of 10 of each with a substitute of shoulder presses with my kettle bell for squat presses.  I plan on getting some foam squares for my bedroom for my weights and I have ordered one set of 10 lbs bumpers, but they are coming from Texas so it may be a while.  

I tried one run this week.  I honestly thought I would not even got half a mile.  I was pleasantly surprised, even though I was huffing and puffing like I had never run that I had little to no pain in my leg.  Now i will be honest in that other areas seem to be sore from maybe compensation and I was a little sore from lifting, but other than that, I was good to go!!!!!  I am still keeping up my heating pad any time I am sitting down on both the back and front of my legs, advil x 2 a day, and my daily tumeric.  

Also on Saturday we met some of our track family for a lunch, some beers, some dinner, and some fun time for the kiddos.  Their son Hank is 11 and did the rookie training with Andrew 2 years ago.  They both love the same video games, so even though there is an age gap, they speak the same language.  We were able to snag a place in the back at our local brewery and have fun trying new beers, playing card and dice games, and just having a great time talking.  It's hard to find and make adult friends and I feel blessed we have had so many thanks to the track.  They live in KC and I can't wait to head their way and check out their favorite tasting rooms.  I am also super excited for racing season as they have bought a new bigger trailer that can haul both their cars and Andrew's cars.  

I am hopeful again.  I hope that I can be smart and play it safe and get to both start lines. I think hearing that even if I have to be off for 6 weeks that I will still be fine helped my mind set.  I just have to think of it as the longest taper ever. I am going to try and get back to half mileage next week and see how it goes.  Maybe just 4 runs instead of 5 for this week and taking time off between runs.  I may just play it by ear. Who am I???  I am super excited to get back at it, no matter how small the mileage is. I need my stress relief back!!!!  Have a great week y'all!

Week 9 of 18: A bust

I had hoped I was back on the 2 year plan for injuries post the hammy injury last year.  I also had hoped this injury wasn't a long term thing, but I am super worried it might be. I just want one more 50 miler and then I am DONE with that distance.  I want ONE belt buckle dang it! That niggling pain in my pubic area/left groin area started really bothering me during my 10 miler and by Sunday, I could barley walk.  I had to take some Advil due to headaches and needing to work our home wrestling tournament, which took the pain away all day Sunday, but masking the pain is not what I am about.  

I guess if I was going to have to pick a week to be out, this was a good one to pick.  The wind chills were predicted to be super low all week.  School was canceled Monday for freezing drizzle, and we had a 2 hour delay Friday due to wind chill being below -25.    

I spent my rest week working on puzzles. I forgot how much I LOVED doing jigsaw puzzles.  There is something about having something to do with my hands while listening to podcasts or music that just makes me so happy.  As a kid and young adult, I use to sit and watch TV and do cross stitch and that just activates such a happy place in my brain.  

Andrew got a super early Valentine's Day present.  Perry the Platypus was a big hit and 0 calories LOL!  We are trying to watch our intake of sweets and junk since we aren't wrestling now.  I feel like he is a lot like me, would pack on the pounds if left to his own devices.  

These two did NOT enjoy the lay off.  Stella was extra special naughty getting into the pie safe and eating 2 different bags of chips and some girl scout cookies.  She also got into the laundry room and ate the rest of the cat food out of the bag, which wasn't much, but still.  Little did they know, even if I was running this week, I would NOT have been running outside more than likely.  I don't mind running in negative wind chills during the daylight, but not at night in the dark.  

These two crack me up.  This cat lets him do whatever.  They were watching Thomas videos together.  All of the sudden Andrew is going back to watching Thomas and reading Thomas and all things Thomas.  Thank goodness my mom never got his Thomas super station and trains sold because he wants all things Thomas right now.  

Happy Valentines day!  We bought some chocolate covered strawberries and some themed sugar cookies to celebrate, but that was it.  Other than the Perry I couldn't wait to give him, we decided not to do much for Valentines day.  I did love looking at all the pretty roses at HyVee and the fun cakes, but there is no need to spend a ton of money on that stuff this year.  

Over the week whatever this is got better, but by Sunday it was still a dull roar.  I may have to take yet another week off, but not decided till my Tuesday run is due. I had decided to run half the distance all week and then hop back in the week post that.  Have a great week and stay tuned!!!!

Week 8 of 18: CUT BACK week and SUPERBOWL!

 Y'all, all of this pavement running is about to kill me.  I know, I know, we have been super spoiled this year with a very mild winter, but dang it, I need my gravel!

Stella got a much needed adjustment from Dr. A.  I don't even have to hold her anymore, she knows the good feeling is coming so she just lays there and takes the good and the bad.  I feel her, I am willing to go through some pain to know I will feel much much better post adjustment.  Case in point, my pubic bone being out of what.  HOLY MOLY that hurt SO bad to be adjusted but the pain I thought was a stress fracture is no more.  I will take it.  

We also headed to KC this week to meet with lawyers about estate planning.  Our new business insurance agent had set this whole thing up and I am SO glad he did.  While the questions were hard to think about, I am so glad we have a plan in place to protect our assets, our kiddo, and our livelihood if anything were to happen to Tony or I.  

The sunrises and sunsets have been glorious lately.  This was during our 8 miler on Wednesday night.  We shuffled runs around because Thursday was suppose to bring us snow and ice.  I really wish our iphone cameras could have really captured the glory that was this sunset.  

Thursday night's sunset wasn't near as pretty but I am loving running in the sun post work.  I had to pick an East/West route because of gusty cold North winds.  It's almost 3 miles from my house to the airport and I am happy to have that option.  

I had plans to run Friday as well since we have our one and only wrestling tournament Sunday in Wamego.  I am battling another niggle which made my decision easier to just take a rest day.  I am having this weird pain that starts in my groin and goes down to a spot in my quad. I can't palpate it so whatever muscle I have pissed off is super deep.  

Saturday was our longer run day of only 10 miles.  My hubby always laughs when I say ONLY anything.  He wishes he could run ONLY ten miles.  The weatherman had predicted snow but the timing kept moving back.  I don't like getting up super early on the weekends, but my body was ready to get up at 7 am and fuel.  The run was great other than we were heading due North and the snow was blowing into my eyeballs.  If I wore glasses, I couldn't see due to them fogging up but when I didn't, I had cold flakes to the eyeball.  My groin started acting up at the half way point and my fuel froze.  When we hit pavement, there was a thin layer of snow making for me pavement very slick so ended up walking much of the last mile. I did hit my pace pretty dead on until then, keeping myself at 11:30 miles on my runs and under 20 on my walks.  I am really trying hard to nail my race pace during my long runs and while I have to slow myself down some times, for the most part I am seeing lots of 11:30s on my watch and that makes me so happy!  This 50 miler is going to be a battle of pacing for me as i don't want to gas out early adn have to walk more later.  I HAVE to keep it under 15 minute miles to be under the cut off so the more I can train my brain and my body to stay at a certain pace, the better.  

Sunday was a bust for running.  We had our only wrestling tournament for the year.  Andrew had two matches and a real shot at 2nd place as one of his matches was his wrestling partner from practice.  Unfortunately as wrestling has gone for us for years now, it just wasn't Andrew's day and he was beat on points 17-1 in his first match and called for a pin when his shoulders were not on the ground AND the ref was not down low at all to really see.  We have had this call a few time before and what is sad is I have video proving his shoulders were not on the ground at all.  Both coaches coaching our boys said he was not pinned but what do you do?  He has had a hard but great season practicing.  We are so proud of his growth this year and will have to wait and see what he wants to do next year.  When we got done, I was exhausted and the super bowl was staring.  I decided since my groin/leg was bothering me, an extra rest day wouldn't hurt.  

Have a great week y'all!  It's going to be a seriously cold week with temps being below 0 and wind chills below that.  School is even talking about letting out for wind chills.