I'm sick of hurting!!

Tried to get out and see how my leg was doing.. I could feel it was still sore this morning. I wasnt going to do anything but then I decided to go get on my elliptical. I got a good warm up on that for about .6 miles then decided to go run outside. It was really warm thismorning.. It was 63 when I left on my run.. I didnt get to far about a mile and it started raining so I shortened my run today which was good because my leg and knee was still not good. I just feel like I am running with stumps for legs. they are so not working together and feeling very good.. I just havnt felt very good with my running lately.. I feel more winded and tired and my legs wont cooperate.. Tis the season I guess.. Hope it improves... Owell I came in and finished up another .6 miles on the elliptical then rode my bike for a mile.. Its all I had time for today..
Total miles running 3.34 and 1 mile on bike

Just recapping my past week.. I have been able to increase my mileage slightly.. I am now up in the 4 mile area but still struggeling a little. My first run for the week I figured I would time myself for a 5k and see what I was doing it in. I just didnt have it that day.. I dont know if its the cold or just me but it took forever to feel like I was warmed up and I even hopped on my elliptical before heading out to give me a warm up. My legs just felt cold and stiff and I just couldnt run faster then what I was running. I got the 5k done in 26:45 2 minutes slower then my race time back in May when I ran the 5k. I was pretty dissapointed.. But it also makes a big diffrence I think when it is warmer outside and you have alot of adrenaline pumping and you have many runners around you.. It pushes you to run faster and push yourself to beat the other person ahead of you.. Owell..
Fridays run was ok other then my knee hurt the whole time.. Nothing to bad but nagging and sore.. It also took my leg 2 miles to finally warm up and not hurt.
Today now my leg is not good at all I dont think it was from the running but it seems when I bend down on it at times it pulls it somehow or aggravates it then its sore for like 2-3 days and it just kills to go up and down my stairs... I just dont understand what it wrong with it.. I am just going to have to go have the MRI done to see if we can figure it out... There's days when I dont have any problems at all so I dont pay much mind to it but then I somehow bend on it just right and pull it or something then Im huting for a few days.. I am wondering if I will ever be able to run pain free with no problems or injurys. I thinking I may never gt a half or full marathon in.. Maybe I just wasnt meant to be a runner and this is my bodys way of telling me I dont know!!!

Owell I am gonna give my leg another day or two and see how it does then try running again mid week and see how I do.....

Just a recap on my last couple runs.. I cant remember if I ran more then just on monday or not.. If I did I forgot to log the miles but I did get out on Sat and it was so dang cold.. I had the hats and gloves and hoodie on with a long sleeve underneath and I thought I was going to freeze to death.. We had such a bitter cold wind on sat. It felt like I was running agaist it most the time. Thee were leaves blowing everywhere and my nose would run and I would have to cover my mouth and nose with my glove to breath every once in a while it was nasty.. I only did just the 3 mile route that day due to the cold and my leg pain. I aggrevated the area where I had my stress fracture and it just wont go away.. It's not bad enough to not try and keep running but painful enough that I feel mostly the whole run. I may have to go have an MRI done to see if they can see whats going on with it...

I did get out today and the weather was pretty good. Started out a little cold but once I got running I kept pretty warm. I even had to shed the jacket on my cool down walk home. Still had problems with my leg hurting and my knee aching a bit but other then that it was a really good run. My body really seems to be aching alot lately. The days I run I have leg and back aches by night time and my tail bone is really hurting tonight.. Even though I am stretching really good after my runs I still managed to pull my ITband up in my quad. Maybe that is why my knee is aching so bad. I am wondering if maybe I am out of alignment or something and need to go see a chiropractor.. Probably wouldnt hurt..
I was able to get in 4.25 miles today.

Feeling Good!

I finally went back to P.T last night after 2 months of inactivity.. To my surprise I only had to drop down a half a pound on my leg extensions and curls due to some loss of muscles in my knee and legs but I stayed the same on everything else.. Plus I wasn't even sore this morning so I was quite happy. I had a pretty good run today. No knee pain and very little leg pain.. I decided not to stretch before my run today.. I have heard it many times not to stretch before a run but rather do a good pre run or walk warm up then do a really good stretch after your run. So I decided I would see how it worked.
I fast walked/jogged for the first .45 miles then did a few quick stretches then ran 3.05 miles then ended with another .43 miles of walking then did some good stretching and i was amazed at how good my legs felt.. I didnt have any pain in my leg that I thought I would due to how it was feeling before my run. I aggrevated it on mondays run and it was hurting a bit but today after my run it felt great.
I dont know if I can chalk it all to not stretching before my run but I will definently try it again and see how it goes..

Total distance today 3.92 Miles

I'm Finally Free

Ok Ok I know I have been really bad lately with my running.. I knew I would be when school started and I had Logan at home with me until november when she would finally go back to preschool. I just cant stand running on the treadmill and my nights are to busy to try and get my runs in then so I have really been slacking.. My body has definently went to pot.. I have gained all my weight back that I had lost and I have lost all the muscle definition in my legs. I am so depressed.. But today Logan started back up in preschool.. YEAH!!!!! so now I can start running out side again.. I have 1 1/2 hrs of freedom all to myself every morning now to do all my exercising or whatever i want to do.. I am so excited. I am determined to get back into shape and get back into running like I was.. I still managed to get 1 run a week in at about 3-4 miles but I really want to get back up to doing 6-8 miles a day...I have had such a hard time with injurys since I took up running. If its not my knees it's my leg(stress fracture, or deep inner shin splint along the side that took almost 3 months to heal). So I worry about increasing to fast to quick and running into the same problems again.. Hopefully I will be a little smarter this time around. I really wish I had some kind of running partner/friend to do this with and keep me motivated. I am hoping to loose 10 pounds before christmas but it is so extremely difficult with the holidays here to not eat all the sweets.. It takes so much dicipline. AAARRGGHH

Anyways I did get out this morning and it felt so great.. It was about 46 degres when I left and sunny.. A little windy and nippy but after the first mile I finally started feeling the blood get back into my fingers.. I was a little worried because I have had some knee pain going up and down my stairs. I dont know if I have done something or if it is just from the inactivity lately. It did hurt today but it was tolerable.. hopefully it will get better... I did however have some chest pain today about a mile into my run and it kept hurting the whole time.. Nothing real serious but it made me a little uncomfortable... I never used to have any problems with running and my heart. I have recently went through a series of tests for my heart because I have had bouts of palpatations and they found out that my heart throws in several extra beats that it shouldnt but that it was fairly common and that everyones heart does it at times.. They put me on magnesium to see if that would calm things down a little and so far I think it has helped but now the last few times I have ran I have been getting some chest pains so I am not sure what to think about it..

Anyways I was able to get my run in before I had to pick up Logan and I felt great other then my chest. I am glad I got it in when I did because now it has turned off gray and overcast outside and has dropped a few degrees and the wind has picked up.. I was able to get in some upper body strengthining today and plan to get back into the P.T tomorrow to start getting back some muscle building in my legs.

It was crazy because of all the trees here the leaves are just everywhere. It was like running in a snow storm except instead of snowflakes it was leaves blowing and falling everywhere. I was afraid of opening my mouth for fear of sucking in leaves. The streets are just covered in them so I had to constantly dodge big piles of them but it was really beautiful I cant complain...





This is what my yard looks like right now.. Except they are in bright reds and orange.

Autumn wonderland

It was the perfect day for running today.. It was a BEAutiful day about 46 degrees nice sunny.. At first I thought it would be too cold but it was perfect. There was a nice little wind which kept me cool, a little hard to run against but it was nice.. all the tree's are changing and there were just bright red and orange leaves everywhere on the streets it was like running in an autumn wonderland. Just beautiful.. I used today as my long run. I was a bit winded in the beginning but I just kept pushing through and I finally eased into it.. I didnt evn need to stop and walk at all. I even got a couple miles at 8 mins so I was feeling pretty good.. I wasnt gliding and it wasnt exactly pain free but a really good run anyways.. My knee was bothering me some.. But it seemed if I stopped and took 2 min to stretch it really helped and that is when I would get an 8 minute mile so I think it really helped.. I wish I could have had my camera to take some picts it was amazing... I love this time of year....
Total miles 5.93 in 62 mins

Yeah I finally got outside for my run today... Except that I didnt get out until 2:30 this afternoon and I dont know if I just didnt have the energy like I do in the mornings or if it was the crazy high humidity we were having or just what but I had a hard time today. I just didnt feel like I had any energy and after each mile I had to stop and walk for 2-3 min. It was so much nicer to be outside even if it was hot.. I managed to get in 3.83 total miles in 42 min.

Time to get back my body!!

Oh my gosh.. These last few weeks have just killed me.. Since I have stopped running constantly and stopped lifting weights my body has gone to pot... It's amazing how fast it can do that.. I have definently put on some inches and pounds and i have been so depressed about it so today I decided I am going to get back into a routine and some kind of diet.. the last one I was on worked but it is so hard to stay on so i need to find some kind of happy medium.. Anyone got any tips or tricks any advice or diets they have tried that works that is doable?
I did get on the treadmill this morning.. It was a good run other then of course it was on the treadmill.. Have I mentioned I HATE running on treadmills. Between walking and running I got in 3.25 miles in 42.30 mins and then I jumped on the elliptical and did 1.3 miles in 15 min giving me a total of 4.55 Miles..
Ok now I was able to get in 1.3 miles on the elliptical in 15 mins going at a medium to slower pace yet it takes me about 15-20 mins to speed walk a mile. There is something wrong with this picture.. I can do a mile quicker on the elliptical then I can run it on the treadmill.. Doesnt seem quite right.. Anyways I was able to get some ab work in and my upper body I was hoping to get into physical therapy tonight to do my legs but didnt happen..
I only have a few more weeks before logan is in school so I just hope the weather stays good. I am so missing running in this beautiful 75 degree weather.. It's just gorgeous here.. I think I may set up a schedule with a friend of swapping kids a couple times a week so I can do my running and she can go to the gym.. hopefully it will work out.. It felt great to run today.. Hope it wont take to long to get back into my miles and my old body.....

Yeah with the kids having school off today I finally got an outside run in.. The weather was so perfect.. Nice and cool and it smelled good out side and the scenery was gorgeous.. The tree's out here are just starting to turn so it was really pretty. In a few more weeks it will be awesome the colors and all the tree's its like an autumn wonderland here.. I got some advice about running with straps for your knees and that they actually weaken the muscles in your knee so I have been running the last few times without them and have been doing fairly well. Today my knee started to ache the last 1/2 mile or so but nothing to bad.. It seemed that the faster I ran the more it hurt.. So as long as I kept a nice even pace it was good. I decided to sprinth the last half block or so and thats when I really felt it.

Today I proved my theory that there is definently something off with the calibrations in the treadmill or its just being outside. When I ran last and barely got my mile in at 10 min 20 secs and I felt like I was sprinting but today I went farther in less time so it proves I either run faster outside and just dont realize it because it honestly feels like I am running a slow pace or the calibrations are off on the treadmill. I was able to run 3.84 miles in 40 mins 45 secs. and that was with walking the first .6 miles and the last .4 miles. However I usually stop to stretch after mile 2 but today I didnt I just kept going so I know that shaved a couple mins off but I still think I was a couple mins faster overall.. I so wish I could get out more to do my running. The time went by so much faster then being on the treadmill. And so much COOLER!! I cant wait until November so I can start back up....

slacking

I have really been slacking lately.. I only ran once this week (Mon). I ran 3.4 miles in 43 min. It is just so hard to get on the treadmill and do it..I dont know what it is if the calibration is slightly off but outside I usually run my miles somewhere between 8 1/2 - 9 1/2 min. I felt like I was almost sprinting on the treadmill and finished my mile in 10 min 20 secs. I just couldnt believe it.. It felt like I was really running to get it done that fast. I swear the calibration has to be off..

Without having the breeze against me or the sceenery it is just so hard.. It makes a huge diffrence.. Since school has started I have been so busy lately with appt for this and that and with logan being home all day until she starts preschool in nov I just havnt had much time to get my running in.. And now is the perfect time for running out side.. The weather has cooled down alot and the leaves are starting to change and it is just beautiful... Im so bummed. By the time Nov comes and I can start running out side it will be cold and yucky.. Owell it better then the treadmill.

The last couple times I have run I was able to do it without any straps or braces on my knee so that was good. My leg problem has been up and down but seems to be ok as long as I keep my miles down. But with all this inactivity I really feel my body getting out of shape.. I really need to get back into some routine and start building back up to where I was...

Anyways Im hoping this next week is better and I can get a least 2-3 runs in and get back to my weight lifting...

Treadmill Run

I got on my treadmill today and got in 3.52 miles. I was even able to run without any straps or bands on my knee which was really nice.. I dont know if running on the treadmill makes a diffrence then running on the road but i had no pain in my knees today running without the straps.. My leg did well too.. It was still really hard to run on the treadmill and it seemed like it took forever so I am glad i am running shorter distances right now.. Also by keeping my miles low I was able to work on my speed today which felt really good. all in all a pretty good run..

I'm melting

I finally got out today after almost 2 weeks of resting because of my leg.. I have had the same pain in my inner shin since my last run. the last 2 days it has felt alot better with only twinges here and there so I thought I would give it a try today and see how it felt.. Other then I got way to late a start and it was 80 degrees when I finished and so very humid making it feel like 90 degrees Other then that I felt really pretty good. No pain in my knees or my leg.. Thank goodness. I was really worried about my leg and having to go another 12 weeks of healing but I think the 1 3/4 week of rest really helped. I kept my mileage short I didnt want to press my luck and I plan to make sure I rest in between each run and keep my mileage down for a while.. I think I may have started increasing to gast again.. My book (The complete book of running for women) reccomended staying at the same mileage for 2 weeks then slowly increasing it by like a half-3/4 a mile after that and keeping it there for another 2-3 weeks alternating the lower mileage and the new increased mileage. So guess we will give it a try.. It's just so hard to have the patience to not run further exspecially when your feeling good and you have ran farther before. But if it helps keep me injury free its worth it.. I just hope that by tonight my leg will stiff be feeling good.. This coming week I will try and get back to my weight lifting. I had stopped that to just incase it was aggravating my leg too. So hopefully it will still be ok.
It felt really great to get out other then I was dripping everywhere it was so hot and humid. It felt like I was melting. ..It felt like it was forever since I had ran last and I am so thankful I was able to run without pain.. I was even abe to run the last 1/2 mile without my IT strap and my knee did really good.. I still had my lower knee strap on but eliminating one was nice.. I can tell they are aching a little now and I should probably go get some ice on them.. I just wanted to log my miles before I forgot.. I think I will also try foam rolling again today and see how it goes.

Not Another One

Looks like I may be out for a while with the running.. On tuesdays run I could feel my leg hurting where I had the stress fracture or the deep inner shin splint what ever it was and I couldnt get it to loosen up much and by tues night I was in alot of pain again.. I cant believe it.. I have been trying to slowly increase my mileage sorta and I stretch real good during my runs and I have been doing so good that I cant believe its happening again.. My celebrex ran out so I was without it for a couple days and I dont know if that makes a diffrence but I tell ya I sure was in pain and aches tues night. It doesnt really hurt to walk on it yet so I am gonna rest it the rest of this week and depending on how it feels maybe try running again on monday and see what happens.... I so dont want to go through this again and have to take another 12 weeks to heal. When i was foam rolling I could feel some of the pain radiating from some of the spots in my calfs and some spots in my glutes.. Dont know if these spots are whats causing it but I will try and keep working them with the roller and see if it helps any. Arrrggh I am so frustrated and nervous.. I wish there was a way we could tell just what is is causing the pains and problems with our bodys and what we can do to fix it or avoid them... The only thing I can think that I did diffrent was I usually rest a day in between my runs and this week I ran both mon and tues so I dont know if that was too much or what. It shouldnt be but I dont know.. If anyone has any ideas or advise please feel free to share....

Labor Day

I didnt get my long run in on Sat. All I can say is it was pure laziness. Being the holiday weekend and all and staying up to late on Friday I just didnt get up early like I was planning so I ended up not going.. So i thought I better at least get out and do something today, however it was not a great run.. my body was just not in tune today with running.. My knees were sore today and I just felt like my muscles were not working together so I felt awkward running. I was getting in 9 min or more miles so I definently didnt have the speed today. I wonder if eating played a part in it.. I woke up early this morning we had a breakfast party we were going to so I had to get out early if I was going to get my run in today. So anyways I ate about 3/4 a bananna and left. I didnt feel too bad but my body just wasnt as strong feeling and as with it as I normally do so I wonder if it has to do with eating before my run.. I would love to hear how other runners do it if they eat first or if they run first.
I absolutely loved getting out that early in the morning though.. it was about 6:30 and the sun was just starting to come up so I got to see the sunrise sorta.. We dont have mountains here so you kinda get to watch it come up above the trees out here but it was beautiful and there were hardly any cars out so I was basically all alone out on the roads it was a great, peacefull feeling. It was pretty cool this morning I was almost wishing I had a jacket for the first 10 min while I was walking for my warm up but once I got running it was nice... I love those kinda runs when your not so dripping by the time you get done.. I think it was 68 when I got back so it must have been around 65 or so when I left. Perfect running weather I just wish I would have felt better.. I tried running a mile without the IT strap but it just made my knee feel worse so I ended up putting it back on.. I hope to get where I can run without any bands or straps on my knee. I think I need to try some baby powder to see if it will help keep the IT strap up on my leg better. Even my toes were sore today.. I am in the process of loosing the middle and pinky toenails again... There black right now and look disgusting. Owell at least I got out today.. I didnt get in as long as I was hoping but I will probably get more distance tomorrow. All in all not to bad of a day. I loved getting done early and having the whole day to get stuff done.. I will have to try and get more early runs in. Well scratch that my kids start school this week so I wont be able to do that unless I leave at 4:30 to get them in because I have to be here at 6:00 for my oldest to get ready for school. she has to be gone by 7:15 so I dont think I am going to go that early. And whats a real bummer is I used to when school was in I would go why logan was in preschool but she doesnt start school until Nov. So now I will have her home so I wont be able to go outside running at all unless I go at night otherwise I will have to start going on the treadmill until november.. Oh what a bummer.. I hate running on the treadmill. It just seems so much more tiresome and longer then running out side... hmmmmmm Guess I will have to see how evening running works.. Im usually so busy in the evenings running kids around that evenings might not work either. BLAHHHHHHH

Total miles 5.44 in 65 mins

My First Ice Bath

I actually could walk today with minimal pain after my foam rolling experience. I was still sore but I was able to go running this morning. My knees and legs did really pretty well. About mile 4 I started feeling an ache in my knee and thought as the further I went the pain would increase but it never really did until the last 1/4 mile when I decided to start sprinting, then I could feel the pain on the lower outside of my knee. I figure it was my IT band. But all in all not to bad... my physical therapist was not in again today so I stayed home and did all my arm, abs and leg weights. I decided to try the foam roller again today with much apprehention.. I was so sore yesterday that I would be walking along and I would all of a sudden get a burning and pinching sensation in my IT bands where I had rolled on some knots and trigger points. I so did not want to experience the pain again but I thought if it would help my running and knee pain it was worth it. I was actually able to roll today and I even was able to get 3 sets of 10 in on all my muscle groups. I was so amazed.. I still had alot of pain with the IT bands and my lower quads but still manageable with only minor screaming this time.. I really tried to go slow and put alot of pressure on the real sore spots that had lots of knots on them to try and hopefully break them up and get rid of them...

My friend Tall Girl Running suggested after rolling this time to take an ice bath afterwards to help with any inflammation and that it would probably make me less sore tomorrow so I did and to my surprise it was not as bad as I was thinking it was going to be.. I put straight cold water in (our water is not really cold cold more like cool cold) and then hopped in and added my ice bin from the freezer. I was able to spend 20 min in there then took my hot shower.. It actually felt pretty good. As of tonight I am sore I think mainly from the weight lifting and a little sore to the touch as if my IT bands were bruised but not as bad as I was last time so hopefully it helped.. I will see how I feel tomorrow. I was so happy I was at least able to roll this time around so I know the rolling is helping and breaking up all the knots. Thanks Angie and Jen for the idea...

Total miles 6.85 in 72 mins

Oh My Gosh Pain!!!!!!

So after my long run and crazy wokout on friday I took the weekend off to recover. Sat I was a little sore but nothing to crazy. I was just really wiped out.. Sunday I think I was a little more sore but the weird thing was is Monday morning I woke up and my back was hurting on one side and shooting pains down into my glute and leg and it just hurt to do any bending as well as my upper back and neck was tight too.. I dont know if I slept on it wrong or if I had done something from lifting weights on friday. My knee was still hurting as well as my inner calf too so I decided not to run monday..

Today I was still a bit sore in my back but thought I would go running and hopefully it would loosen things up.. Other then my knee aching most of the time I did pretty good.. My calf was pretty tight to start but eventually loosened up. By the last mile my knee started feeling somewhat better although I still had to keep stopping and adjusting the IT strap because of it sliding.. I also had to stop and walk about a block today to give my knee a rest and it seemed to help alot with the pain.. It didnt hurt much after walking it for a couple mins. I was even able to get a 8 min mile in. I did a lighter run today knowing i was going to do all my weights again today. Little did I know the worst was yet to come.

When I got home I noticed my foam roller finally came so I couldnt wait to go in and try it out..I started with my calfs and I did ok I did 3 sets of 10 rolling pretty fast I think the hardest part was how sore my arms were getting from holding me up to roll. My calfs were pretty sore.. I didnt realize theyt were that sore until I began rolling. Then i moved up to my hams.. I was able to do 3- 10s as well those were pretty good. Then I moved to my lower back and I seriously thought I was going to die. I couldnt even roll at all. The pain was so horrible I seriously thought I could pass out from the pain... All I could do was lay against the roller with my weight and hold my breath and grit my teeth. I have never felt so much pain...HOLY CRAP!!!! I would just lay there then roll like 1/4 " then repeat the gritting and breath holding. I then did my quads and did ok I was able to do a few but the slower I went the more painful it was. Next my IT Bands Oh my gosh pain!!!!! It hurt so bad.

The slower I went the worse it was so I knew I really needed to get in there and break those knots up so I started down close to the knee which was wear it was the worse and I just layed there in the spot with my weight and held it there for 10 seconds. I could literally feel the pain radiate all the way through to the other side of my knee. It took everything I had not to scream... Then I would roll it up just a tiny bit then hold it for 10 and eventually made it up my leg to my hips then I tried to start over again.. I was only able to do it twice before I had had enough. I then went and did my calfs over doing the real slow movement again really getting in and kneading the areas.. I really didnt think I was this tight and had that many knots in me but boy was I wrong.. The pain is like this burning stabbing sensation.. At first on my back I thought I was doing it wrong and pinching my skin but then realized I wasn't pinching it, it was the little trigger point knots that I was rolling over and causing immense pain and burning from them.. Geeze louize.... Hopefully as I do these more and more I can get where I can actually roll over them without crying.. I am sure as they break up and loosen the pain in my knees and legs will improve greatly.. As soon as I tried to get up and walk I was so dang sore everywhere.. I hope I can walk by toninght.. I thought I would try and do some more rolling tonight to try and loosen them up again if I can bear the pain.. I dont know if theres too much of doing this or not but I am sure it couldnt hurt..

Total miles 5.92

Dont Reccomend This

Yes...........I think I'm back.... I had a pretty good run today.. I decided to do my long run today since I am leaving early in the morning for the Philadelphia Zoo. Once again got a little bit of a later start then I wanted.. I left about 10:00 and it was pretty warm today but it could have been alot worse.. I think it was around 70 or 75 so not real bad... I tried to run as much as I could in the shady spots.. My oldest daughter came along with me today on her bike.. Even though I dont talk to her because I usually cant talk without getting more winded it was still nice knowing she was there.. She carried a bag with my water in it in case I needed some.. The plan was to go 8.5 miles. My knees felt really pretty good today as well as my legs. Only until about mile 7 did I feel my ITBand start to tighten up and ache.. I kept having problems with my IT band strap. It always starts to slide down my leg as my leg gets sweaty so I have to keep stopping and take it off and try to dry it and put it back on. I swear I wrapped it so tight it was cutting off the blood supply to my leg.. At one point I took it off but then my knee started hurting on the lower inside which was strange because I didnt think the IT band strap had anything to do with the lower and inner part of the knee but as soon as I put it back on the pain eased back up so I just had to deal with stopping evey half mile or so to readjust it.

I think i stopped maybe 4 times to take a drink of water and stretch my legs and knee a little and readjust the strap and that was it. Even with my knee starting to ache just a little towards the last mile or so it was still bearable so I decided to go around the block one more time since I was feeling so good and to my amazement I got in 9..26 Miles today.. I feel like I am finally back to where I was before my leg injury.. Now if I can just get to where these miles are my normal runs and my long ones are more like 12-14 miles.. I just am scared of pushing it to much to fast and getting another injury.. I felt really great afterwards, but then I think I did something not so bright... Ya I know shocker!!! I did my upper and lower weight workouts as well and I think I just about killed myself.. After completing my upper workout I was so shaky and exhausted. I felt sick to my stomach almost.. I thought maybe eating would help and it did some but not alot.. And I knew I had to get in my P.T lower body workout still since I wouldnt be able to go in tomorrow and my week was already thrown off from them not being in the office. I really didnt think I would make it but I did it... Barely!!!

I am just glad I get 2 days of rest so my body can recoop.... Other then all the walking around I will be doing tomorrow at the zoo... I just feel so exhausted and horrible tonight.. Not like real bad but just wiped out I think that was a little more then my body could handle all in one day.. I think you shouldnt do weights on the day of your long run. I definently wouldnt reccomend it.. Other then my left knee feeling a little sore and my legs stiffening up a little I dont feel to bad but I am sure I am really going to feel it tomorrow.... But hey I am still really hiped up about my distance today.. A great run!!!!

Much Cooler

Today was so much cooler. I got out an hour earlier and a cold front had moved in last night so it was really nice today. I wish it could have been this cool yesterday.. I still wasnt quite in my element today.. My knee was hurting just a little before my run but seemed to do fine most of the way until the last half mile or so.. I'm not sure I could have done much more distance today so I am glad I was only doing a light short run. I went my normal route today but backwards and I didnt realize how much of a slope was in the roads until I tried to do it backwards and found I was running up steeper inclines.. I cant complain it's still pretty flat but you definently notice it in your legs and knees when your running up steeper inclines.. There was alot of shade today so with the cooler temps it was so nice. I still didnt feel quite like I wanted to, I guess those effortless gliding days are few and far between but it was a pretty good run all in all.. I'm hoping my P.T is in today so I can get my lower body workout done.

Total Miles 5.17 (R) 3.16 (W) 2.01

Dragging

I didnt get out monday like I was planning. I was having some twinges going on in my inner shins so I thought I better not chance it and rest so I could run today.. I am glad I did because today they felt great and I had no pain in my knees either.

Once again I got way to late of a start. I didnt get out until 10:30 and it was pretty hot and humid.. I mapped out a new route today so I was excited to run it. It was part of my old route going backwards then I added a new loop of the park that we usually go ride our bikes around. I'v always wanted to come run the trails but have waited until my distances increased. The only thing I dont like about running the trails is on map my run the park and trails dont show up on there so I try and map it out from memory of the trails hoping I come pretty close, so I am not sure how accurate my miles were today. While waiting for my breakfast to digest I decided to do my upper body weights to help pass the time until I could run... I am not sure if that was a good idea or not. Todays run I seemed to really be dragging my feet and felt worn out.. Finally by mile 4 0r 5 i kinda started getting that tingle of your leg muscles all working together and its kinda that good feeling so my legs were like robotic plugging away but it felt like I was dragging my upper body. I'm not sure if it was just the heat and humidity wiping me out or if it was from lifting weights.

The route I did today didn't provide much shade so I was in full sun and it was tough.... It was a nice change of pace though to run this new route and it even provided a potty break at the park about half way through so that was nice but unfortunatly the drinking fountain was not working which is so dumb and made me mad.. Here this is a sports park and they dont have the drinking fountain working.... So I had to slurp some up out of the bathroom sink faucet.. Hey whatever works i guess. My legs felt like they could have kept going but the rest of me was dead shortly after beginning.. I made it though and I am glad I did and my knees felt great today as well as my legs so all in all it was a good run. Almost perfect if I would have left earlier this morning.. I was planning on doing my leg weights at P.T tonight but I guess they closed today and didnt bother to mention it to me so I guess I will do them tomorrow but it kinda throws my sched off a bit.. Owell I think I will do a light run tomorrow then do my P.T weights.

Total miles I think 6.85 (W) 1.43 (R) 5.42

Out of my Groove

I was kinda dissapointed in what was supposed to be my long run today.. I got a really late start since I went to bed really late or should I say early this morning. I had a pretty big breakfast and I dont think I waited long enough afterwards.... Seems like everything was throwing my groove off today.. I took a water bottle with me thinking that since it was my long run I would need it around mile 5 or 6. I was planning on going around 7 today.. I'm not positive how long your long run should be compared to your normal runs but I thought that would be a good distance but nothing cooperated with me today. It was really throwing me off trying to run with a water bottle plus my cho strap i had above my knee kept sliding down my knee as I would run because of my leg getting sweaty so I had to keep stopping and pulling it up and tightening it. Finally after 2 1/2 mile I decided to swing past my house and drop the water bottle off and the strap and do a quick potty break. I headed back out but soon felt that I was not going to be able to make a long run. I think my body was not happy with my breakfast. I thought I would try and just go my normal distance and then do a long run on tues. so I kept plugging away hoping I would make it without having to turn around and run for home. By mile 5 I was feeling a little better but I still couldnt get my groove on.. My ipod headphones shorted out on one side so I had to stop and attempt to fix it but didnt have any such luck. It's weird but when I run everything has to be working together so when you have something like sound coming out of only 1 side of your headphones or a strap falling down you leg or trying to carry something as you run it just really throws off your groove if you know what I mean.... Shortly after mile 5 My hubby and my youngest caught up with me on their bike and decided to ride along side of me. My youngest is only 4 so she had to keep stopping to take a break.. So I would have to stop and run in place with her cuz she didnt want me to leave and get ahead of her.. I finally convinced her she was tired and asked if she wanted to go home so my hubby took her home and I finished my last mile. My knee was not coopertating with me either despite my stopping every couple of miles to stretch so I knew I better call it quits.. If it had been feeling better I think I could have gotten in 1 more mile to get my long run in. I did get a little more distance in then my normal runs but not what I wanted.. Owell I will shoot for next week sometime.. Maybe thursday because Sat we are going to go to the zoo early in the morning.
All in all not to thrilled with todays run..

Total miles 6.78 (W).99 (R)5.79

Sore Toes

Oh my piggys hurt so bad... On tuesdays run my baby toe on my left foot rubbed the whole time on my shoe making it bruise and swell up a little and it was so sore and on my right foot my middle toe got the biggest of all big blisters on it and so I tried lubing them up today with some glide stick and wearing some extra thick socks which seemed to help some but my blister was still really big today and my pinky toe was still really sore.. I hope they are feeling better by Saturdays long run.. My distance now is just about doing them in.. I remember when I was running these distances before I had some mild blistering and bruising but not quite this bad.. I dont know what the diffrence is.. Maybe its my shoes I dont know..... All I know is oweeeeee right now.. Its so funny because I lost my pinky and my middle toenails so I had to polish my skin where the nails used to be so it didnt look to dumb.. And now the nails are starting to grow back but they are coming in thicker then the rest of my toes so it looks funny and it bugs me cuz it feels like i have 2 inch thick nails growing and i have to cut some of it off to look normal.. Makes me wonder if i will ever have normal toenails again on those toes....

Anyways had another good run today. Knee pain was very minimal so I cant complain. My only complaint would be I got out to late today and it was pretty hot and humid with the storm coming in so it seemed to take alot more effort today and I was really tired and hot.. Oh did I mention it was really HOT!!!!!! I got in about the same distance today as last time.. Walked .45 for warm up, .38 for cool down and ran 5.09 in 71 mins... My son came with the first 2 miles so I spent alot of time running in place or really slow.. He complained again of knee pain so I told him he better stick with running around the block or waiting until he can run without knee pain..
I also did my weight workout today and P.T lifting and then came home and did a few more.. Seems like I was doing exercising a good half of the day by the time I get everything done... My upper body was still pretty sore from tuesdays weights so it was really hard to do them today.. I'm hoping I wont be as sore tomorrow...

All in all a very good workout day..

Shocked!!

Today was a great day.. I had taken monday off because it was raining all morning and then by the time the sun finally came out I had already gotten ready for the day and didnt feel much like running.. Today was a beautiful day. A little on the warm side when I finally got out but still a good day. I had some leg pain in my right leg down in the inner shin which scared me a little but after a few mins it went away.. That was a relief. I stopped and stretched after mile 2 which is 1 1/2 running since I walked the first half mile and decided to just see how long it would take to run the next mile to kinda see where I was. I figured I was right around 10 min miles since i was trying to take it easy but to my surprise I ran it in 8 mins 5 secs I couldn't believe it.. I wasnt even trying to be speedy.. What a shock.....Of course the next mile was closer to 10 so i slowed down a bit.. I stopped and streched again after mile 4 because i started feeling some pain in my knee just a little and it was amazing because the stopping and stretching every couple miles really helped with my knee today. I was able to run another 8 min mile with no pain at all. Of course this time I was paying a little more attention to my speed so I think I ran faster but still it wasn't like I felt like I was pushing myself for speed. I slowed my pace a bit though the last mile and I was feeling so good today not having any knee pain that I went farther then I had planned but I figured as long as I felt good why not??? As I am sure you have all found out I am not the brightest when it has come to running... I matched my running distance of what I had done for my long run on Sat... My knee only started hurting the last block so maybe I should have stopped a little sooner when I wasnt having any pain but you dont know until you feel it how far you can actually go..

All in all I think it was a great run.. It wasn't effortless today like I have had before but I will take a day of no pain running over an effortless run anyday... I did all my strength training today and went to P.T to do my weights and I have noticed that I have gotten alot stronger in my legs and was able to increase the weight on most all my exercises so that is good... I am excited.... I will probably be stiff and sore tomorrow but for now I feel great.. I dont think it will take me long at all to get back up to where I was before my leg injury if I can keep having days like today... as long as I dont increase to fast I should be ok.. I think that is what may have caused my leg injury, going up in miles a little to fast and often... So we will see... I'm not sure what they say about how frequently you can increase your mileage without causing problems. I will have to go back to my book and research unless anyone out there can let me know.. Anyways an awesome run today......

Total miles 5.9 (R) 5.20 (W).70 65 mins with stretches

Long Run

I went down to the track at the highschool this morning and did my long run.. Well as long as I could for trying to come back slow... I was a little scared that my legs would hurt because i felt some twinges in them before I left. But everything was good. I had no pain with running other then my knee but even that didnt start until mile 2 so that was better then it has been, I was able to run 5 miles with a 1/2 mile warm up and 1/2 mile cool down giving me 6 total in 70 min and that was with stopping and doing some stretching after running a mile. So not bad for my first long run coming back..I think it was a mile more then what I ran on thursday so that was good.. I was a little worried because I was still really sore from doing weights on thursday. I am glad friday was not a run day.. After running I thought I would go run the bleachers since I was there. I started out pretty strong for as tired as I felt but I pooped out quickly.. I was only able to do 5 sets of 1/1... I am pretty surprised that tonight I dont feel more sore in my legs.. It's been a long time since I have ran bleachers... It kicked me....... It was still really hard to get my miles in on the track.. Its just so boring and hotter then running through the neighborhoods, but I'm sure my knees and legs appreciated it..

I had a friend call me today from our ward that told me about some races that she has done.. I'm kinda excited.. There is a half marathon in delaware called the trail dogs. which is kinda hilly and one in Baltimore that is a trail run which actually has you running through a river twice.. She said it's was really great and beautiful. You get to run around a lake and she said it was so diffrent then running on flat pavement. Its one of those that you just run to run it and dont worry about time and how you are doing.. I might have to look more into them. I think one is in october and one is in march... We will have to see.

Best Run in 12 Weeks

I have really slacked lately with my running.. I was still having some small pain with my leg and knee plus I'v been so busy I havnt ran for a week.. Today I finally got out and went running. My son accompanied me the first 2 1/2 miles. We only ran about 1 1/4 miles of it and walked or I ran in place as he walked the rest of the way. He said his knees was hurting him.. I wonder if he had done something yeaterday in karate because he has never complained of his knees before.. Maybe he will suffer from our family predisposition of arthritis in the knees.. i hope not.. So anyways I dropped him off home and took a potty break and decided to head out again. I ran an additional 2.79 miles giving me a total of running 4.04 miles and walking 1.54 miles. I think that has been my farthest dinstance in a while and the best part about it was I had no pain what so ever in my leg so I think that my stress fracture or deep shin splint has FINALLY after almost 12 weeks healed...This was the first time running that I didnt feel at least a little twinge or ache or had some pain 6 hrs later, but tonight the leg is feeling wonderful.. HOORAY!!! My knees however are not so hot... My knee that has had the surgeries started hurting as soon as I started running and kept it up the whole time but it was at least manageable and I was able to run with it.. I did my P.T exercises and weights today as well so its a bit sore tonight. I'v iced it 3 times today hoping it would help..

I'm really hoping now I can get back on track and get to where I had left off before the injury. If I can just get my knees to cooperate things will be bliss... I think it has alot to do with keeping my muscles loose and stretched. I havnt been doing so good on that lately so I think thats why my knee has been hurting as much as it has. I could feel my IT band was tight today. So anyways I am really excited now and am anxiously waiting to get things going again.. Now if I can just keep it up with no more injurys.

The plan is to bike tomorrow and then run on Sat. I think Jen's idea to run and lift on the same day and then rest or cross train on the day in between is a better plan. Thanks Jen.....

Totoal Miles 5.58 70 mins

Effort

Yesterday I got a good Bike ride workout in.. I went 10 1/2 miles then later went with my kids another 1 3/4 mile so good workout..

My son decided he wanted to go running with me today on my route.. We decided not to go to the track today and just stay around home. I was going during the hour that I have to wait before I can eat so I didnt have the fuel I think I needed. Austin however had just barely gotten done eating so I wasnt sure how he was going to do either.. It was alot more humid today so it felt really warm and sticky outside. We should have left earlier. We warmed up by walking the first almost half a mile then we started running we made it about 1 1/4 miles and decided to stop and stretch. I knew he was getting really tired and struggeling a little. We were only able to go about another almost 1/4 mile and he said his side was hurting and had to stop and walk so we walked a while then picked back up to running but wasnt able to go about a block then had to stop and walk. He decided to head back home and I decided to keep going a little longer. So I ran the rest of my planned route once I dropped him off at our street. Today there was no gliding it was all effort.. My leg was a little sore I think from doing weights yesterday. I think it irritated it a little plus my knee was a little sore as well as my outer hill on my foot.. It was weird I had never felt pain in my side of hill like that. Other then my knee by the time it was time to quit I had most of my aches and pains loosened up but I knew I needed to quit if I was going to be able to walk tonight.. And now I'm having a little bit of pain in my right leg just under my knee on the inner side where I had my injury on the other leg. So now I am getting a little worried. I am wearing ice packs right now because I didnt do it earlier when I got home from my run and maybe thats why but I am hoping it will stop the pain and whatever may be going on with it.. Thats all I need is another bad shin splint or stress fracture in the other leg.. There's no way I can go another 2 months without running. guess I will watch and see.. It kinda makes me wonder why I am having such a hard time with injurys right now.. It seems when I first started all i had was problems with my knees which was a given with my 2 surgerys on my knee and the really tight muscles i have but since going to physical therapy and trying to strengthen them up now I am getting injurys everywhere else.. What is up with that???? I bought new shoes and my muscles have gotten alot more flexible but for some reason I'm having probs.. Aaarrghh this is so frustrating. there was one point where I had felt like my knees were much better and my legs were great and I was running anywhere's from 6-10 miles now I run half that and have pains..

Owell maybe I am making more out of it then it is.. Maybe my legs are just a little worn out from the weights I did yesterday on them and I should have not ran today but instead rested.. I went back to where I was doing physical therapy yesterday and used their weights to do the exercises I was doing when I was doing P.T that I am supposed to be continuing to do but havn't with my parents visiting and all the vacationing we were doing and the leg injury. Maybe being my first day back to doing all the weights was a little hard on them and I should have rested.
So I have a question to you experts out there....... If I am doing weights on tues and thurs. Do I run the same days before or do i run the day after. Does my rest days mean no running and maybe just biking or how should I do it????? I thought when I was reading my book it said run like every other day with cross training in between like biking and weights but maybe I misunderstood... Maybe its better to run, do weights then bike the next day or rest with no activity..
Any tips????
Anyways it was really fun to have my buddy with me today. Makes running funner.. Hope he continues to want to go with me.


Total miles today 4.33 (W) 1.14 (R) 3.19

A New Running Buddy

I havn't had a chance for a while to get out and run so today I couldnt wait to get out there.. I havn't had any pain in my leg for a couple of days so I thought it was time to get out there. Of course upon waking this morning I could feel it a little.. I swear it's psychological.. Its like my mind knew it was going to run today so it started feeling the pain. Owell I paid no attention and decided to take all my kids and head to the highschool to run around the track while they played. I should have left alot earlier then I did. When I woke up it was still overcast some and it was still wet from lastnights rain and cool so it was perfect running temp, but by the time I got all my kids fed and ready and got the heating pad on my leg for a while it was already 9:00 and had warmed up alot and the sun came out.. I have a hard time getting a good schedule.. I have a medication that has to be taken on an empty stomach 1 hr before a meal so I try and take it as soon as I get up then have breakfast an hour later.. I should have gone running during that hour I was waiting but because my kids were not ready and I had to heat my leg for a while that by the time I was ready to go it had been an hour and was time to eat. I didnt want to go running without eating so I had to eat some then of course you dont want to run immediatly after eating so it is really hard to get a decent schedule out of all this...


Anyways I did leave as soon as I ate and figured I would have a few mins anyways to gather my water and I pod and load the kids up and drive there and that would have to be long enough.. I walked 1/2 mile for warm up and ran another 1/2 mile then did some stretching and continued my run.. My kids tried running a little ways with me but ended up pooping out shortly into it and found it was much better to play and ride their scooters. Logan however ran 1/2 mile with me I couldnt believe it she is only 4.. I couldnt believe she did that then towards the end my son decided to join me and he ran 1 1/2 mile with me staying right with me at my pace. He was awesome.. I think I found a new running buddy.. I told him if he kept coming out with me and building up he could come do my routes with me and we could run in a 5k together. He was pretty hiped up about it all and came home and ran 1 more mile around the block. I think I got some naturals in the family.... Of course his karate training has him really conditioned so he kinda had an advantage... But the 1 1/2 miles he ran with me made the time go so much quicker for me I would love for him to build up his distance and come with me on my runs.. It's great having a partner.. Its 4:20 pm He just asked if he could go run around the block again... I told him he should wait and gradually ease into this running stuff so he's not to sore tonight, but he said its just so fun.. So he's off again.. LOL


I however did not like running on the track as well.. Yes the ground was softer and less impact for my leg and knees which is what I need on my recovery back from my injury but it was so boring and the scenery never changed and there were no shadey trees to run under like my routes on the road.. It made the time drag out alot longer. Plus it was alot hotter too with the black track and no shade. My little logan she is so fair skinned and her face was bright red and she was just sweating. She has a hard time in the sun. She gets really red and sweats more then most kids do.. My leg did do much better though today and I came home and iced it and I have no pain what so ever right now so we will see what tonight brings but I think it will be good so maybe for now I will have to put up with the track.. Maybe I can alternate every couple of days.


It felt so good to get out and run today.. I didnt think so at first.. The first 2 miles I was kinda out of breath and not feeling as good as I hoped. Probably running on a full stomach without the energy absorbtion..... This not running very often is taking a tole on me, but by mile 3 I'm not sure what happened whether my breakfast energy kicked in or the energy water I had drank right before something but all of a sudden I had this tingling through my body. A really good tingling feeling. It would be hard to imagine or describe unless your a runner and have experienced this before but its like all the muscles in your body all of a sudden become one and they all work together giving you this rhythem. Instead of it being an effort to run there is no effort at all and you feel great and instead of feeling like you are running you feel like you are gliding. It's effortless and it feels so good.. I knew my body was finally warmed up and going good and had a great rhythm going on, but I was having some pain in my knee and I knew I had to stop and call it quits to make sure my leg heals and I dont push it to much to fast. The dr. told me to gradually build back up to where I had left off which was around 6-8 miles a day so I decided to stop. But it was amazing it felt great and I havn't felt that good running in a long time.. I walked a lap around for a cool down and headed home.

My plan is to run Mon, Weds and Fri with biking and weights on tues and thurs. Schedule pemitting. Hoping this will get me back into things.

So for totals today with my warm up and cool down I walked total 1 mile and ran 3 1/2 miles for a total distance of 4 1/2 miles.. Not to bad...

I finally got back to the Dr's yesterday. I have stopped my physical therapy now due to insurance so I have kinda fallen off the wagon as far as my exercises go for my knees and legs.. Once my parents came out and we went on vacation my excercises that i'v been doing for therapy went down the drain.. I was short on time yesterday so I only got in 2.3 miles on the treadmill. My leg has still been bothering me a bit. After talking to the Dr. again we are kinda thinking it may not be a shin splint after all because of the time its taking to heal.. He wants me to kinda watch it a little longer because Im just starting to notice some slight improvement so he said even if its slow its good so as far as running is concerned I am just supposed to start out as if I have never ran before and only do it a couple times a week and short distances and slowly build back up to where I was.. He also wants me to run on a track or grass for a while so I think I will start maybe going down to the track at the highschool.. It's kinda out of the way for me and more of a burden but if it will help for a while I guess its worth a try.. He said if I dont notice it getting better or if it starts getting worse that it's probably a stress fracture that is not good because it can lead into an actual fracture which I would not be able to walk on at all.. so he said if this is the case I will have to take off 2-3 months from running and do something else until it heals.... gosh it has been so hard with the 6 weeks of doing very little running now that I cant imagine taking off 2-3 months doing absolutley no running..

He also said there is a spot just under the knee that is the size of a silver dollar that can get bursitis in it and if that is what is going on they can give me some cortizone shots in it to help and I still would have to rest the leg.. Either way this is no fun and I am not down with the stop running idea!!! I am just praying that it is just taking a real long time to heal what ever it is but that I am on my way up and will start to be able to build back up and get to where i was when all this happened.. You know it was bad enough when I was batteling with my knee but now my leg too.. It almost makes me wonder if I am not supposed to be running.. I'm just hoping that maybe I was just a little haste in my training and was jumping the gun a bit to much running the distances I was to soon. But I cant imagine now after finding out how good it makes me feel and that I can actually do it and be pretty good at it that quitting is an option. Maybe a setback for a while but I will keep trying.. Anyways I am supposed to give it a little more time then if it still isnt getting better I have to go get a MRI done.. So for now I will keep doing what I am doing and run every couple of days low miles and maybe start heading to the track and will just have to watch it..

So Hot

Yesterday my leg was still hurting a little and I had so many things going on that i didnt get anything in for excercising. So I got up early to take steve to the train station and thought i would get my run in before it got to hot.. I came home and decided to put a heating pad around my leg hoping it would help loosen it up because it was still twinging a little. so by the time I finally left to run it was already 8:00 and very warm outside.. Thank heavens we have alot of trees here to make the roads shady.. I speed walked almost a mile then started doing an easy run. I stoped about 1 1/2 miles into it to try stretching a little and see if I could get my leg to loosen more.. I had my bands on my knee so it was doing ok, a little sore but not to bad and my leg was twinging a little but nothing i couldnt handle and nothing like it used to when I would try and run on it, so I think its improving as long as I dont over do it. I am seriously thinking I might have had a stress fracture.. I was reading my book about the diffrence between a shin splint and a stress fracture in the same area and my symptoms sound a little more like the fracture given the time that it has taken to heal.

There was one spot today I had to stop and walk about a half a block but was able to run the rest and then walked the last .25 miles for a cool down. So not to bad today. I got in a total 4.64 miles with walking about 1.25 of it. I came home and iced the knee and leg and will then heat them up hoping it will help. We will see what tonight brings... I think I need to get an earlier start if I am going to continue running outside. It was so hot so early. By the time I finished I was just dripping wet. YUCK!!!
I think I will try and get some biking in tonight after it cools down a little..

Great Workout

I woke up and got out of bed and started walking and I thought oh ouch.. my leg was pretty sore. I thought crap I just made it worse.. However I went and did my biking this morning and got in 9 miles and came home and decided to but my heating pad on it and see if that would help. at first it felt just as bad but then it started feeling ok.. Like it had loosened up and wasnt to bad to walk on.. So I'm not sure if I should run tomorrow or not.. Its definently better then it was when I tried running before I just dont want to go back to that point. I guess I will see how it feels tomorrow and judge then. Maybe another day of biking then run on thursday... I wish I had an expert telling me just what I should be doing.. I go back into the Dr Next week so guess i will see what he thinks..

It felt really good to bike today.. My legs were even a little sore today so I know they got a good workout. I ride on the hardest gears the bike will go in no matter if I'm going up or down a hill. So I have to really stand up and dig in on the hills which about kills me but its a great feeling. Plus the hills around here are not to huge and often. I get a good work out though.. Maybe someday I'll be able to keep up with my dad.. LOL Your quite the biking stud dad!!!!

Coming Back

Well I decided to run today. I just couldnt stand it anymore.. I thought I would start out really slow and try to work my way back. I put a heating pad on my leg today hoping it would loosen it up a bit and I didnt do any stretches before hoping that what I have read on not stretching until the middle or end of your run actually worked. I hopped on the treadmill and speed walked a half a mile then started a slow run for another half mile. Then I stopped and did some stretching hoping that it would be enough. I was really worried about my leg but the last couple days it has felt pretty good so I thought i would give it a shot. I headed out and started out real slow, Just a real light run. I could feel my leg a little bit but not too bad. I figured I should keep things real slow for a while and not worry about distance or time for a while and just worry on wether or not i could even run without causing more problems. I had a little bit of pain in the bottom of my knee but i also wasnt wearing any of my bands so not to bad considering. I ran another 2.59 miles and decided to call it quits.. I felt a little twinging in my leg and in my knee so when I got home i got ice on both of them hoping that would work. I figured by tonight i would know if I was again to premature on running on my leg.

Well tonight my leg is a little sore but not like it has been in the past with running on it.. So I am hoping that it is finally healing and i didnt make anything worse.. Its definently been long enough.. I'v had it now for about 1 1/2 months. It should have been healed by now and probably would have had i not tried running on it every 2 weeks.. so I am really hoping that it will only get better from here on out. I figure if I start all over so to say with keeping my miles down for a while and just run at an easy pace maybe i can work my way back to where I was.. I plan tomorrow to just bike and let it rest then i will try running again on Weds.. Oh I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It has been so hard not to be out there.... Physically I think I did good. I was able to run the whole time and I felt good and wasnt out of breath so even though I have only ran twice in a months time physically Im still doing ok. It's just my body that went to pot after this month + of no running and no dieting with my parents here. I definently have my work cut out for me...

So here's to a new start. Praying everything goes smoothly. It felt so good to get out and run again.

Total miles 3.59 1 mile warm up 15 mins... 2.59 run 25 min

Still Waiting

Well i still havn't been able to do much running.. I tried running back on the 17th and still my leg wasnt doing to hot and then i tried it again while I was at the cayman island it felt pretty good running but by that night i could hardly walk. I give up... I dont think this is a shin splint or if it is it is really taking a long long time to heal. I am getting so frustrated. I so want to be back out there running. My body really misses the feeling, and the uphoria of it.. I have been biking though.. My dad has been visiting and he is a big biker so we have been pedaling it and he has been kicking my butt at it.. It has been good for me.. Although I hate to have my dad show me up...I meet with the Dr. again on the 22nd and hope to come up with some more awnsers to this leg problem. I dont know how much longer i can take of not being able to run.. My body has lost its stamina and iv started putting the pounds back on.. Of course it didnt help being off the diet while my parents have been visiting. Hopefully I'll get back on my routines and hopefully soon I will be able to start running again..

The hoyt's

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Back in the saddle again...

Well I decided to try running this morning fter 2 weeks of nothing. I may have jumped the gun a little to soon.. It was kinda painful the whole way. The first couple miles it was pretty bad. I was kinda doing a limp run i'm sure I looked funny the way I was running. After a couple miles into running it loosened up some but it still hurt a bit. It feels as though the shin splint has spread throughout the whole bottom part of my leg. It kinda hurts all over.. I had to stop a couple times and walk for about a half of a block to let my knee and leg rest.. After walking a couple mins my knee would feel better but not the leg. I managed to get in 4.34 miles walking about 1-1 1/2 miles of it so not to bad. I came home and decided to hop on my bike and me and my dad decided to go hit some trails. I think we ended up going about 9-10 miles. My legs were burning but it was a good ride. And it didnt hurt my leg or knee to much to do it. I think i will just bike tomorrow and maybe try running again sat and just try going only 3-4 miles again.. maybe I can slowly get back into it until my knee and leg feel better.

Well I still have not been running. My leg is still not better. The doctor told me it was a deep inner shin splint in other technical medical terminology. And that it will just take time to heal and said by mid July i should be good. I was thinking are you serious I am not waiting until July to start running again.. I definently hope it wont take that long to heal.. I can feel its doing a little better but sometimes after doing my physical thereapy or stretching it gets more aggravated. so I dont know... Its very frstrating... I want to be out running already. I have been trying to do my bike this past week and now that my parents will be here for the next 3 weeks I will probably be doing more bike riding.. My dad is a big bicycler. But I am really hoping to be running along instead hopefully by the end of this week.. I just dont want to do it then end up right back where i started with it.. Its just so hard once you start doing something like this then have to stop for a while. Your body just feels like it needs to be out there doing it.. Kinda strange to explain but you would just have to be a runner to understand.


So anyways Im really hoping it is feeling better by the end of this week. We will see I guess... I doubt I will be doing the half marathon in august now since I have had this injury. It just wont give me enough time to train so I will have to try again next year. Maybe there will be a 10K sometime in the fall that I can find and do.. I would like to go back to utah and hit the SLC and Ogden races. We will see.!!!

Owie

Got a late start today.. I was trying to upload the treadmill trainer program to my ipod and was having technical difficulties so I ended up just having to finally get up and leave or else I would have had no time to run. So I got a real late start today.. I did a real easy run today. I averaged about 9-10 min miles. I was able to run the whole time which was good. However this new pain in my lower leg that runs along the inner side of my shin bone is so sore and the more i run on it the more it seems to get irritated no matter how well I tried to stretch it. When I started out this morning it felt like I was running with a block in my leg. I could feel its tightness on the side and after about a mile or two I was able to finally stop running with a limp. I must have looked kinda retarded..i was hoping running would maybe loosen it up but I think it just did more damage. However after all the squats and lunges yesterday I was pretty sore this morning in those areas but I think the running really helped with those areas. Anyways I think I am going to forgo the long run tomorrow and give it a few days to recoop and maybe the P.T can reccomend something tomorrow. I hate having injuries that put you out of commission like this. But right now it hurts to walk on it.. Plus my knees started really aching after the run today so maybe its best I rest for a few days...

Anyways I managed to get in 5.44 total miles in 55 min and 45 secs

Race Time In

So they finally posted the times for the 5K i ran last saturday. My time was 24:47 I was 14th place in all the women and 28th place over all. There were 195 total runners. But only 7 female runners in my age category. So I guess 1st place out of 7 is not too bad. Plus 28th place overall out of 195 is pretty good. I was surprised that only 7 of my age category raced. Thats not many...Owell

I didnt run yesterday due to it raining plus for the last couple days my lower leg on the side has been hurting. I talked to the P.T. and he said it could be a number of things a muscle or the sheathe around the muscles and to keep stretching. I wasnt going to go today either we had a downpour last night and things were still really wet and overcasted plus my leg still hurting so I just threw some sweats on but after walking my kids to bus stop this morning I decided why not so threw some shorts on and got logan off and came home and stretched real good and left. I got a little later start but made really good time today. I was still kinda tired today so I ended up walking a little more today but still made awesome time. I got in 3 intervals of 3:1 ratios then pooped out so had to walk a few mins then started running slow for a bit did another interval walked a min or two then just did a easy run most of the rest of the way with just little increases here and there. even with the little walking I had time left over after completing my normal route so i went a little further and went around my block. I had to walk half of it due to my knee starting to hurt but did pretty good.. I then came home and did a bunch of strength exercises with weights, some lunges and squats and my knees did alot better then I thought they would. So now my arms and legs are pretty jiggly and shaky. I will probably feel the soreness tomorrow. After all that I'm feeling that sorenedd in my lower leg alot more. It really hurts after I'v been sitting a while and I get up and go to take my first couple of steps. It's kind of to the inner side of my leg in between the shin bone and the calf and it feels deep inside.. Anyone know what it might be?? I kinda thought maybe it had something to do with my foot arch because it was a little sore last night as my calf a little so who knows maybe its all connected together.
Anyways I will do just an easy steady pace tomorrow and see how I feel.. Im thinking of doing this treadmill training program and wondering if I can do it outside.. Guess I'll find out... Man all the rain last night brought all the critters of newjersey out I never saw so many diffrent animals. I felt like snow white in the forrest. To hear more check out my other blog..

Total miles 7.12 Miles in 72 min walked about 1.8 of it.

I didnt get yesterdays run blogged so wanted to take a sec and catch up.. I walked my mile for warm up. Did my route. I ran a real easy steady pace today which I thought was just a good average run but it ended up being alot slower then I thought. My miles were coming in at anywheres between 9-10 min miles. So as I started thinking about it, It is no wonder I felt like I couldnt increase my speed on Sat during the 5k.. It was because I was already running at 90% of my max at this point.. Thats how I was able to get 8 min miles... It must have been all the adrenalin and the trying to keep up with the other runners that pushed me to go faster. So what felt like going slow to me was actually my faster running.. Its hard when your with other runners verses being by yourself. Its hard to judge how fast you are really running. I am glad to have had the adrenalin and the feeling of trying to keep up because that pushed me to run harder i guess but I also wish or wonder how I would have done had I started out a little slower which is my normal pace for me as a warm up so to say then picked it up. Would I have been able to get a faster time in and not felt so exhausted? hmmm Well I got my book finally on running so hopefully I will find my awnsers to alot of my questions.

Anyways I was able to run most of my route today other then my warm up mile so that was good. Its good to see the change on how I have progressed from a month or so ago when I couldnt even run a mile without hurting and having to stop and walk. So I am glad Im this far and hope to continually get even better. I'm looking onto some mp3 training programs for the treadmill. Training for a half marathon. Think I will give it a try and see how it goes. I guess you just download it off the computer onto your ipod and there you go jump on the treadmill and do what it says to do.. Sounds pretty easy.

My last mile I was starting to hurt a little with the knees so I think it will kinda be like 2 steps forward 1 step back. I'll just have to kinda baby them a while and try to listen to my body and hope to keep progressing. Im amazed i have come this far with them.. A month ago I didnt think I would be running at all.. So I took today off and rested and I plan to go out tomorrow.

Total miles 6.42 in 67 min

BitterSweet

Today was a bittersweet day for me.. first I will start with the bitter...



Last night I got about 4-4 1/2 hrs of sleep. That wasnt the plan but my husband decided the dog needed to have a haircut and bath so we stayed up until midnight doing that then he decided that we needed to put away the 4 loads of laundry on our bed since I didnt do it earlier in the day so that kept us up until just about 1:00 Am. I was definently not happy with him. Anyways the plan was to get up at 5:50 AM to have about 1 hr to get ready, eat, stretch real good and get on the treadmill and warm up before I had to be there at 7:00. About half way into my sched my darling husband said I better get my girls up and get there hair done so they could go to the church activity this morning. I was like are you serious.. So this threw me off my sched big time.. By the time I got their hair done I barely had time to inhale my breakfast as I was stretching at the same time. Forget my warmup!!! And I was off about 10 to 7. Geeze if I would have only known..............







I was like the 5th ot 6th person there and had to sit around for 1 1/2 hrs by myself just watching people... I wish I would have stayed home to stretch and warm up some.. I tried stretching some while I was there, and there were some who was running around the school building for warm up which i should have done but I didnt really want to do it by myself and I heard someone say that if they go warm up before they loose all their energy. So I just paced back and forth the whole time.... I really did not feel prepared for this run. I was just to tired and not mentally where I was hoping to be.. But some good news the weather was holding off for us and it was just overcast with a slight breeze. No rain so this was an awnsered prayer. I didnt have my camera with me for not wanting to carry it with me on the run so I didnt get any pre race picts other then the ones my hubby took just as he got there just as we were lining up to get ready to go.











I was right up front with only a couple people in front of me. The gun went off and we were on our way about 10 yrds into it my ipod went flying off my shorts and landed on the ground so I had to stop and go back and pick it up and try to dodge the runners trying to run around me... HOW EMBARASSING!!!!! Then i got myself hooked back up and I was back in the crowd. I had already wasted precious seconds... Oh was I so glad this was only a 5k. As soon as I got running I was already out of breath and felt exhausted. I then began to get scared and I kept saying I am never going to make it I am going to have to walk some of this. Should I just stop now and turn back..It kinda kept going through my head as I was breathing really hard.. I just couldnt mentally get to where I needed to be.. So I just said to myself slow down a little try and regulate your breathing and DONT STOP running.





Finally after the first mile I started feeling a little better as far as my breathing was going but I just could not pick my speed up. I just had to keep the same pace the whole way for fear if I tried and push it I wouldnt be able to keep running. and I hated not knowing the route because I wanted to be able to speed up a little the last little bit but I had no idea where the finish line even was. Well I was able to run the whole way. My knees did really well. I was worried a little before the race because my left knee was still aching some and I could still feel some of the pain in my right IT band, but as soon as I started running I didnt feel them at all so I think the resting yesterday really helped.





Ireally dont think I could have done more then a 5k today. When i finally saw the clock and finish line I tried to pick it up a little but i dont think it was soon enough to help much. I was trying to remember my time I did the 5k earlier in the week to compare and I thought my time had been 24 min 45 sec and when i saw the clock I thought oh crap Im mot going to make that time hurry run!!! I am not positive what time I got officially. They have not posted it yet on the site but steve took a picture as I crossed the finish line and the clock said 24 mins 47 secs but as I look at the pict it looks as though I am past the finish line a bit at that sec. So i am guessing I might be around 24:45 Come to find out that was actually 1 min faster then my run on weds. So that made me feel better. Although I think if I wouldnt have been so tired and mentally where I should have been I think I would have done even better. I wish I could know what my time would have been had i been just where I wanted to be. Owell!!








Now the sweetness......... They gave finishing medals to the first 250 finishers and then gave trophys to the first 3 in all the categorys. I knew I wasnt going to get anything more then my medal so I was really debating wether or not to stay around for the after party awards ceremony. But I thought since this was all new to me why not!! The fastest female was a 14 yr old. and Most of the fastest males were all teenagers as well. There was even this cute little 10 yr old that took third place in fastest female...





When they got to the 30-34 yr old category they said first place goes to Raigon Hoyt. I sat there for a sec and thought did I just hear them right... No way. But when no one went up I was like holy crap its me...... I couldn't believe it.... I dont know how many there were in my age category and maybe there wasnt many and that is why but I still am pretty proud of myself. I couldnt believe it. My family had left by then so I just couldnt wait to get home and show them the trophy.. I still cant wait to go in and find out how many women in my age category raced. but all in all I was pretty surprised... It ended up being a great race after all...





And not to long afterward just as we were getting to Austins game it opened up and dumped. Lightning, thunder, wind, hard rain.. I was so thankful not to have had to run in that or I know I would have pooped out... We even had a tornado warning come across the radio......










I can now say I have officially done a certified 5K race.. I never would have thought I would be doing this and I cant wait to do more. I'm hoping to do a half marathon come august so we will see...

What a bittersweet day!!!!!