I am a success story!

My PT is writing a book about running through injury.  He asked me to tell my story since I a "success story"  I had fun writing it and because I like to overshare..her it is:

After running distance in High School, I took a hiatus from running.  I would do it to break through a fitness plateau, but didn’t do it regularly.  I fell into this pattern again during the summer of 2010.  But with two kids in tow, running became an endorphin escape.  In short, I got addicted; the endorphin rush made me more patient, tolerant and a better mom.  Work got hectic, I missed some runs and took some time off.

When a friend of mine began training for a fundraising half marathon, I got motivated.  We shared the passion of the March of Dimes, as we both had babies born too soon.  So the run for dimes fundraising effort put running back in my life.  So in essence, after taking years off from running, running half of a summer and then taking a few months off again, I was ready to become a virtual training partner for a half marathon.

Things were going great until about 2 weeks into actual training my right leg went numb and stayed numb.  This was disturbing to me as I was mentally committed. I saw a doc, an avid runner himself, who made my day with the advice "don't stop running."  He prescribed physical therapy and a gait evaluation at Agility Physical Therapy and Sports Performance.  When it came to getting runners back in the game that was where I wanted to be. He told me everyone there is great, but initially you need to see Scott. He can do an assessment and gait evaluation.  Best advice I ever got.

I had been told that I had "good form" which meant I don't run like a girl. However, the gait evaluation showed differently.  I had some issues that could be helped with good shoes and some with technique.  Scott gave me some tips that would really help with actual good form and got me into some good shoes. I continued to run intermittently, doing most of my training on the elliptical.  When I ran, I concentrated on my form. 

I felt like I had been physically sidelined and it was beginning to affect my mental state.  I began to doubt if I could actually do this.  Between the positive mentoring I was getting from my training partner and the PTA’s at Agility and a book, Run Like a Mother, which is written by mothers who run (and contribute to Runner’s World), I began to get out of that self-doubt slump and get back on track.

I also was given exercises to strengthen my core, glutes and hamstrings.  Ironically, the reason I was running (to raise money to fight prematurity) was the reason I was having issues.  The weeks I spent on bedrest and then being too busy to strength train had atrophied my muscles so much that I was overcompensating and causing the numbing issues.  As my strength increased my symptoms decreased and I was running more and more.  I started cautiously, but added more distance and times per week with the progress ok’d by Scott.  I spent about a month alternating running and elliptical use, religiously doing my prescribed exercises.  The techniques Scott gave me also helped to not exasperate the condition. 

Eventually, I felt comfortable with running according to the training program.  Scott re-evaluated my gait which confirmed how I felt:  I completely changed my running form and my core, glute, and hamstring strength made me feel like a different person.  In short, the doc was right.  Everyone at Agility is great.  I fully credit them for getting me back on the road.

TR38: Mom Run

All women have general things they think about when running, I imagine, maybe something like this (or maybe these are things I think):

holy hell, can I finish this?
That dog I hear barking, is it getting closer, or is it tied up?
Holy hell, can I finish this?
How many miles have I ran?
Oh, I need to go read a specific girl-related chapter in RLAM

Before I get to the thoughts of a mother runner, namely me, I have to mention the run itself, in order to happen, must be when she can do it, not when she wants to.  For example, it will be 38* (high for the day) around 2, at 9:30am it is a balmy (read sarcasm) 19* and a delightful 10mph NE wind.  But this is when the hubby, kids, momma stars (kinda) align and I can go (by myself, without a jog stroller).  So suck it up I do, and get out there because I can.

But the concerns of a mom on the run (at least me) are more like:

Is hubby handling the kids?  (he surely didn't seem like it when I left)
Is my two time puker, making a speedy recovery or is he puking again?
Will there be another case of explosive diarreha? (that I will certainly hear about when I get home)
Should I be running considering all of the above?

Yep, self-induced guilt...not so good for the running mojo, but par for the mother runner course.

All those deep thoughts aside, it was a "girl thing" not really a mom thing that stalled me a little shorter than I hoped, but I was so glad to get out and run, despite the cold weather and deep thoughts of guilt.  I would rather run outside any day of the week than hit the mill. :)

And of course, runkeeper's gps is giving me headaches, and I tried to plot my almost (so close) 9 mile run, but ended up with 10.10 some odd how...oh well, you get the idea!

http://runkeeper.com/edit/activity?tripId=29766676

Run stress

This week has been a struggle.  Time, weather, sick kids, all have hampered my running ability and desire to run.  I have been very busy and my time very consumed by work, MOD, kiddos, family...the list goes on.  All not good timing considering we are in the final days before the big dance.  Doesn't do wonders for one's ego or self confidence when the biggest and longest run is very close to being here. 

I have a new playlist that am syncing now...maybe it can help me break this funk.  About to hit it...

Running in Michigan

You know you are a Michigan runner when you are up at 6 am looking at the hourly forecast from weather.com to determine the best time over the next 36 hours to run....lol.  I am scoping out weather wise which is the best choice, Saturday or Sunday.  Then, as a mom, I also calculate in nap times and other required tasks, like grocery shopping and laundry...ugh.  Eats up the available hours of the day...

My adventures in shopping

Today my hobby got a little expensive.  My husband jokingly calls me the spawn of "Charlie Cheap @$$" so this was something unique. 

My new socks, which I am geeked about, they cost more than the two 10 packs (for 1 pair) that I just bought my husband.  And I won't even go into the tights I bought, but honestly, I really think they will help prevent injury, and from a gal who managed to score the entry into PT less than a month into running, it's a good investment.  I could actually feel them supporting my muscles.ght

Speaking of muscles...women don't compliment women often.  However, while I was trying on said tights, (that are really really tight) and manage to not hide thing, I was asking the uberhappy and supportive running guy (who literally pranced when I told him I was a newbie) if they fit right, an unsolicited comment from another female shopper made my day, in a wierd way.  I have thighs, not really fat thighs, but big thighs.  Always have, always will.  (Ask them how I can loose over 17 lbs in 5 weeks while pregnant, on bed rest, eating over 3000 calories a day...easy I am a freak of nature who has a lot of natural muscle.  Not using it, well then it atrophies, apparently really quickly) 

But cute, thin, has to be a runner girl (to be in said specialty store) says to me, "those look amazing on you...wow, look at your muscles"  This has to be the first time someone has commented on my legs (looking big) and me be like, wow, muscle is kinda cool.  Let's not talk about the fact that it makes the scale look worse than it should, but that was definitely a unqiue situation.

A random thought on snow.  Snow stinks, I hate it, even more, I hate running in it.  But the one very amazing thing about snow is that it shows footprints.  So even if you feel really alone on a very quiet road, you can see that someone was there before you.  Running, in expensive running shoes, often with a dog, and sometimes there is more than one set.  I can tell by the stride,  I am not as fast and probably didn't go as far....but I left mine.  And as you leave yours, you also make someone else not feel so alone.  Yes, random thought indeed.