Movin' on UP

Today in PT I actually did a bridge on the ball then pulled the ball in. Then I did it 12 times! Wahoo! I think thats progress.

Damn, I feel like an old geezer. LOL

Today is Today but Tomorrow is a New Day

I kinda remember (since its been a while) when each day of training for a marathon closely resembled the day and the week before (perhaps even the month before if I do back to back training programs); just a new set of numbers on the calander and if I was lucky more good runs than bad.

Now its the opposite. I'm treading water waiting for this injury to be remidied but the doc, the PT and the chiropractor are all waiting for me to heal enough so that I can get out there and not undo the last two months of semi-progress work. I've been doing wall sits on the sly (shhh don't tell my PT), using the bands for resistance, hopefully get my glutes to fire the way they're supposed to.  I'm doing leg lifts and the embaressing clam shell to get my hips back to normal and lots and lots of stretching! I really really really just want to run, so much that its heartbreaking. BUT if I can't run (I can't believe I'm going to say this) I wish I was back at KOR doing my kettlebell routine with KC yelling ... er... telling me I'm doing everything wrong. At least I felt strong. Even when I was weak I could feel those nearly non-existant  muscles working. That made me feel good! Thats what I need. Something that makes me feel strong, 'cause let me tell you, PT ain't it.

When I'm all healed up and get the go ahead, or when I'm too tired of not running to care, I'm looking forward to getting back to running on the dirt, volcanic rock, muddy, hilly, root infested, wild flower lined paths, so I can do some trail races. I'd really like to do some in Mtz or the East Bay (my old stomping grounds), just not to race. I'm looking forward to not worrying about time and running more for enjoyment for whats around me and how I feel, more then how fast I go. I really need a break from the competition, although there are few I compete with other than myself. That sub 4 hour marathon is going to have to wait. I'm looking forward to asking my friends down at Fleet Feet Chico about doing some coaching this summer.... and eek! Looking into a job this week. Not sure if its for me, has to do with sales but I'm going to check into it. It would be nice to have a paycheck again.

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You know what I'm really missing? While I'm on the couch eating Bryer's Rocky Road ice cream, because its the best, and watching Biggest Loser (because really, who doesn't?), I'm having flashbacks to that first half marathon program where it rained and more often than not, poured, EVERY Tuesday night speed workout. We ran in the dark around the out side of the track, because it was closed, through the parking lot with 3 or 4 cars left in it, around the pitch black lot with pot holes you can't see, to the scary bike path that the collage students hated using to get back to their apartments after dark, and back around by the track. The loop was about 3/4 of a mile long. I looked like a total geek wearing my head lamp flash light but people wanted to run with me because I could actually see what was in front of me. A lot of growing took place on those cold, dark, wet, nights outside the track. And oh how I miss those Tuesday nights. I miss the soaking rain, I miss my running pals. I miss Alan, Ed, David or way back when I first started Angela, encouraging me to go a little faster this lap, to push that mole hill before the last turn that felt like a mountain, but mostly to feel my way through the darkness by looking inside myself.

Not running feels like someone elses life. I never ever expected to feel like that. To find something... anything that defined and completed me, other than parenthood, the way that running has. I may not be running... but I'm still a runner.

Successful People Invest Heavily In Themselves

I saw a quote over at Christine's blog and I felt this is undoubtably how I want to live my life.

"Successful people invest heavily in themselves."

I'm actually looking forward to PT tomorrow. Part of that is because I feel like a total slug and part because I hope she tells me I can to to Katies spinning class with Liz and Vicki on Wednesday night. Wahoo. Then more PT on Thursday.

I've been working hard on not compensating on my left foot to make up for the weakness and soreness on my right. Soooo I totally realized how weak and sore my right side actually is. Doh! Stupid me for not realizing this months  before the whole foot thing happened. Well I'm going to PT to get that fixed right?

I'm working on some ideas for when I get back into running. I really would like to start out slow and easy again. I think I'll do some trail runs since it will let me practice being lighter on my feet and not be thinking about speed since I'll be thinking of not falling on my face. Hows that?

I'll also be doing Kettlebell class again as soon as I get the go ahead. (and the tax $) so that I can increase my core strength and help keep my bone mass up. I miss my KOR girls... and K.C. too I guess. He makes me cry though.

After reading about the moms over at http://www.runlikeamotherbook.com/ I've been re-inspired to start from the ground up. I'll be looking forward to building a strong and solid base and getting back to the funamentals of running.

I can't wait for the book to come out! Just 4 days after my birthday. I asked Dimity and Sarah to change it but that dates pretty set in stone darn it. Look for it at Barnes and Noble and Amazon on March 23rd or preorder it so It will get to your door step ASAP. Thats what I did!

Physical "Therapy"

This is not what I call the kind of therapy that keeps me sane but it will make me better so I can funtion like a human instead of a grumpy mama bear all the time.

I've been a bit of a downer and I feel sorry for my family. My PT (we'll call him K) totally kicked my butt yesterday. They made me sit on the bike for 6 minutes to warm up then he did some stretching with me to see check out my strength and flexibility since E had done my eval last week. He sent me to the torture chamber to do some leg press thingies then some where he hooked the contraption to my ankle from above my head and I had to let it pull my leg up until I felt the stretch but before it hurt then push back down again 12 reps x2. It felt fine on my good leg and very difficult and frustrating on the bad side.

1. Then he moved me over to this crazy contraption that is for balance and it vibrates at different levels to make things harder or easier. I had to do lunges on them, stand on one leg for 30 seconds at a time per leg x2 and do squats. DAMN THOSE SQUATS HURT! Once I finished up all my exercises K hooked my foot up to this thing that looked like a battery then left it on my foot for 20 minutes. I swear with the vibrating machine and the battery thing my hair might as well stand on end. LOL

Not sure what the deal is but still no running.

Therapy. I know I'm doing physical therapy but my old physical therapy so I didn't have to spend $ at the head shrink (sorry to anyone who might be one) and it was fun to run. My anxiety was so much better when I run. My sleep was more consistent and my dreams not nearly as nightmarish or freaky as they are when I don't run. My therapy was the social outlet of my friends too. I really miss running with them. So as soon as I get the go ahead I'll start out slow, increase slowly and do it right. Until then, I might be venting to you all for a while. LOL

Looking Up

Sorry to be all doom and gloom. My body and Running are rebelling against eachother but I've been able to do some thinking about how devoted to running I've been and how I really need to add cross training into that regimen. This is a good time to find some other activities that I enjoy doing so I can incorporate them into the schedule once I start training for a race again. I intend to pick my poor PT's mind this week. I don't know how to swim (very well). Maybe time to change that? I enjoy riding on my old lady cruiser and putting in time on the granny seat back and forth to school and running errands would afford me a little extra calorie burn. And of course back to Kettlebells when the tax refund comes in.

I did get some modified stretches from the PT to do this weekend to loosen up this tight right side. I've been doing them but not sure if there has been any improvement since then. I'll keep doing them because it has to be better than doing nothing at all. I'm excited and not so excited to have them work me out on Tuesday. I'm a little worried about the sore muscle fall out but excited to be on the road to recovery. Does that make sense? I guess its a bitter-sweet feeling... I'll think of it like dark Chocolate, really good in moderation, too much and and you'll pay the piper. LOL

Last week the PT did the evaluation on me and an hour and a half later I was so sore from all the bending and twisting. I wish I had a hot tub but a long hot shower had to do. 2x a week for the next 4 weeks then I'll go back to the foot doc to see how I'm doing and get my orthotics in. I have figured out that driving hurts that right foot area that is inflamed so I've adjusted my seat and foot position (when I remember) to keep it from aggravating. Hopefully the PT will give me some direction tomorrow on things to do to stay in shape during this way lay. I'm looking forward to going back to KOR Fitness to get back into "fighting shape" before hard core (he he he, pun totally intended) running training time comes around.

If you are out of the training loop or out injured what kinds of cross training do you do?