TE14: Won't be running outside any time soon

This is the road I live on.  See the dude in the middle who was unfortunate enough to try to drive in last night's blizzard?  His car is now a permanent part of the road as it was on top of a drift and then plowed around, further blocking it in.  Sorry man. 

We got roughly 15 inches and it is bitterly cold.  I was very content to pound out the 3.5 inside this afternoon.  I really didn't have that much in me, but I did it.

PT Update

So the weird numbness isn't 100% better, but it is less frequent and it actually seems better with exercise than without.  The PT's stance is, if it doesn't make it worse, go for it.  I am going to attempt to start adding some real runs just so I can see what happens.  I don't want to be deemed "better" then I go out and it starts right back up after run one.  I am thinking I need to ask about the orthotics thing too.

One great thing is that my foot/ankle flexibility has markedly improved.  She said guestimating without measuring, I am now at about 10-12, from a +2 (no flexibility whatsoever)  so that really is good news.  My posture has improved immensely, I am much stronger core-wise, I just wish the numb thing would go away!

TE13: Perspective change

Last night, with a good glass of wine, (we train to drink right?) I picked up the book a dear friend sent me.  It is called Run Like A Mother.  I managed to tear up before I was through the introduction.  I am already in love with what you would call characters if it were fiction, but they are real women, real mothers, and I am identifying with so many of their thoughts...maybe because I am that too.  In short, the book is amazing. 

Right before I jumped on the elliptical this morning, I read how one of the moms managed to fracture her heel while training for a marathon.  She trained the majority of the time for that marathon on a bike.  I have been mentally beating myself up because I have had to be on an elliptical for the last 2 weeks instead of running.  This morning instead of apologizing to myself for not running and beating myself up about it, I owned it and pushed myself harder than I have previously because I was mentally defeating the idea of training on an elliptical for a running event.

So, I will not let myslef do this any more.  I also am noting that all of my PT work is paying off.  I am doing extra stretches and exercises in hopes that I will be able to be released and heal as fast as I can.

So, the 4 that I banged out this morning was quite cathartic.  The 4 yesterday, that was revenge on the scale, which told me the 2 glasses of wine and pizza the night before wasn't the best dining choice...lol

TE12: Thank goodness for endorphins

Tonight I HAD to workout.  There was no way around it.  I was in a po'd mood from work and had stress to my eyeballs.  I needed that workout high (not to mention the 2 glasses of wine that I rehydrated with) but the workout helped immediately...the wine I at least could justify because I worked out.

I knocked out a needed 3 on the elliptical and then chased it with wine instead of water.  lol

PT Update...

So today, I had another session of PT.  Some things are getting better others are still appearing.

My back, much more flexible.  My knee is where the wierd numbness is now, which I am told is a sign of improvement, they say that it is supposed to move up and go back into the spine where it is coming from.  So, though I don't understand, it is getting better.

However, the new problem that has surfaced is the super tight calves and lack of flexion in my ankles, which is necessary (like 15 degrees or something) to run.  I am like at +2, which means they do NOT FLEX AT ALL.  So, between the messed up core (weak as can be), hip rotation/slipping, and ankles that don't flex, I am basically not fit to run. Who would have thought someone who appears of average weight/build is so messed up.

So any miles I am doing are being logged on an elliptical...but I may try a few short jogs just to try to keep in it a little.  Very bummed about this messed up body I have.

TR11/CT or 2: I choose 2

So yesterday I bought my new shoes.  I am the proud owner of these:

Attractive?  Not so much.  Comfortable?  AMAZING.  Not to mention that I actually felt them working on my problem.  I wanted the pink ones, as they would have matched my pink heart running laces...but as I learned, functionality over style.  So now I will be mismatching, but who cares.

So I spent about 1.5 miles doing my homework.  My homework was to determine my cadence (number of foot strikes per minute which in "good form running" they set the goal of 180) and then shoot for 10-15% more.  My short little legs produced a cadence of about 160.  When I bumped it to 180, I seriously felt like I was running lightly as opposed to pounding.  (if you google this, it would suggest that meant I was runing at 8.8 mph....not so, nice and steady at 5mph, but short quick strides that make it harder to overpronate and heel strike)  So it was quite the eye-opening expereince.  Also noted was that you can search for songs by cadence (thanks google) so that you can keep on track easier than counting footstrikes like I did.   Note to self, I will be adding some Nickleback to my playlists...

So, the running report, cautiously optimistic.  I need to do some stretching...



TE10: Ode to the Elliptical

At about $2000, a huge expense (remember, this was before kids and the million dollar baby) at the time, but I can say I think I have logged over 2000 miles on it over the last seven years and it has definitely paid for itself in my mental health.

It was as close to serenity as I could get this morning, 5:30 am, coffee in my system, and sweating out my training regimine for today....music blasting (headphones) baby monitor on.  So I sit here now, in a very relaxed state knowing my "workout" is done, already showered (without kid interruption), sipping coffee, coaxed into yet another episode of Dinosaur Train by my oldest, who is snuggled in my chair.  Not a bad place to be.

I haven't been real "proud" of recent progress, but I can say this:  This morning I am actually noting that I am making progress on the elliptical too.  I pushed out 45 minutes at about 180+ strides per minute, making it to 7420 strides by the end of my workout.  I have struggled with this pace before and today it was very do-able.

So, my "4" is done.