September: In Which I Confirm I'll Be Out of Commission For Awhile

Pretty dismal month. A whopping total of zero miles logged. And a confirmation that something was actually wrong with me. Started the month knowing that I needed to see my doctor because I wasn't getting any better after three weeks of PT. Initially, my PT thought we should rule out a pelvic stress fracture. 

But alas, the x-ray showed healthy bones. Next up - MRI. It took over a week to get authorization from my insurance company but it finally came through and I made my appointment. In between all this waiting, I sort of disappeared for a bit...But I am here and alive. Just a tad depressed and cranky.

The experience of my first MRI, complete with hip injection of Iodine and MRI contrast solution wasn't super pleasant. And I was pretty apprehensive about whether anything would actually turn up on it. Well that turned out to be a needless worry. A few days later, the results were in.

I have a "superior lateral and posterior acetabular labral tear", which is a fancy medical way of saying that the labrum (the thing that goes around your hip socket that keeps your thigh or femur in place) is torn. But that's not all! Oh no, there is more fun to be had here. I also have "significant tendinopathy at the hamstring attachment"....which is fairly self explanatory. The tendons attach your hamstring to your pelvis, and when they get angry and inflamed, it's called tendonitis or tendiopathy (essentially the same thing)....

I obviously will not be able to run the Portland Marathon this weekend. My doctor gave me the ok to walk until I am in pain...so that won't be very long...anticipating about 5-7 miles, max. My awesome friend Jess coincidentally also has a labral tear so she is walking/jogging as well so at least I'll have company. The rest of the gang will be running still so hopefully I'll be able to watch most or all of them cross the finish line. And we'll have our group dinner Saturday night so I'll get to catch up as well. October is bound to be mile-less -- I'm on at least 4 more weeks rest, then I can possibly start PT again. I will try not to completely disappear.

August: In Which I Start PT and Feel Sorry for Myself

I can hear that 'timberrrr....' sound effect 

from cartoons in my head looking at these stats.

I began the month super excited about switching my focus to full marathon training. I revamped my plan and was getting mentally prepared. I was still running on fairly normal schedule, but was still in a lot of pain. I was also in a great deal of denial.....

I sort of limped through the first week of August; even got in an 11 miler. I celebrated my 1 year Runniversary in style - researching my insurance requirements for PT coverage and finding a good one near my work.

I found a great PT and started seeing her twice a week. I've had 7 visits so far and it was clear after the first that my pelvis wasn't aligned. She's been doing correction techniques at every visit and we've been working on strength - exercises to make the hips, glutes and hamstrings stronger so that it keeps the pelvis in place. I've gone on a few 'runs' to test out how it makes me feel - and see if there is pain. They've been walk/runs - 3 mins alternating and the running has most definitely shifted the pelvis back each time. Walking is ok - things stay in place pretty well and there is minimal pain.

It was a good thing the Olympics were on so I could distract myself from all that non-running and making no progress on my training schedule. At this point, I am still operating under the assumption that I will be doing PDX. Which freaks me out b/c it's going to be painful and I'll likely end up walking a good portion of it. 

The last few weeks have been tough. I am beating myself up on account of not being able to train, I feel like crap - some days I'm in a lot of pain; some days I feel much better. I feel like there are three steps forward followed by two steps back. I am discouraged and bummed that this isn't healing as quickly as I'd have liked.

My last appointment with my PT, she said it's time to bring in my Dr. -- she wants to rule out a pelvic stress fracture so I've got an appointment set up this week. We'll see what comes of it. So I've definitely felt sorry for myself this month. I miss running and it's hard seeing people out there and hearing about friends runs and races. Trying to keep myself busy and distracted. Easy to do right now...we are spending the long weekend getting ready for school to start. My little baby girl is going to be a freshman. And then turn 15 next month. I am so not ready for this! But we are heading into my very favorite season of all....Fall is perfect. It's pretty, the return of boots and sweaters is my absolute favorite, and it's my favorite weather to run in. Hope I can start doing that again soon!

Time to See the Dr.

I saw my super awesome PT yesterday and reported that not only did I not get in the run I was supposed to do, I was in more pain. Sitting at work is getting to be really painful and makes each day feel like it's so very very long. But anyway....she said I should have started to feel better by now and that even though clinically, this is really presenting as a stubborn hamstring issue, we'd better rule out a stress fracture of the pelvis just to be on the safe side.

Which is good...because I had planned to ask her when she thought I should bring my Dr. into this. This stupid hip just feels too pinchy and sore. So I was able to get an apt with one of the other Docs in the clinic since mine is on vacation next week and we'll start with an X-ray. According to Dr. Internet, you can't always see a stress fracture on a x-ray....most of the time it takes an MRI. But since it happened several weeks ago, there is a chance that if there was a stress fracture, there would be some calcification visible.

No running until after the appointment. I'll see my PT the day after so we'll talk then and figure out what our next steps are. More waiting....hummpfff. Good thing there is a ton of political theater going on right now to keep me distracted! RNC over, DNC up next -- which I suspect will not be as entertaining. Unless Mr. Eastwood shows up in NC! Heh.

Shifted pelvis. Or something.

Started the day with my new physical therapist. First visit so there was a lot of talking and diagnosing and such. It turns out that my pelvis on the left side has sort of shifted back and is out of alignment. That in turn is straining the muscles, with a lot of extra pulling there shouldn't be. She said it's hard to say whether the shift happened first and cause the pulled muscle or if the muscles were strained and the subsequent stress (not to mention the continued training) caused the shift. I'm definitely leaning towards the latter.

 Ha-this is exactly the model she showed me-

 left side shifted back....Source.

So the pink stuff in there is muscle. The greater pelvic floor muscles are mostly what you see but at the very bottom, right above the bottom of the pelvis on either side, there is a muscle called the obturator internis. And that is one of the very painful tender spots, along with the greater upper hamstrings that are very aggravated muscles. 

The plan includes rest at first, then I can start up again as I continue to work with her. So hopefully I won't lose too much fitness. I am allowed to walk...but I hate walking! It just doesn't feel efficient to me. But back to the appointment...we did a little bit of treatment...she had me do a couple exercises that I have to do a few times a day, one to strengthen and one to promote blood flow to aid in healing...and then she got out the coolest thing ever. It's this sleeve thing that combines an ice treatment with compression. You put this sleeve around the afflicted part and hook it to this machine. It fills up with ice water (totally lasted 10 minutes on the coldest setting-thank you ice baths!) and air and there's mild pressure like a blood pressure cuff, but not that hard. It.Was.Awesome. I loved it. She said she can do it every time! Yay! It felt that good.

She also did this weird thing to try to shift my pelvic bone back. She also warned me that it really engaged that obturator muscle and that I'd likely feel some pain later on. Totally did. And still do.....very sore. I was also supposed to make sure that I sat and stood completed symmetrical all day- weight evenly on both feet or 'sit bones'. Very hard to do...

We are going to be working on major strengthening of the hip muscles, which are very weak, and my core so that the pelvis is supported and doesn't shift back. Going to be doing this 1-2 times a week for 6-8 weeks. I'll be able to start back up on my training soon....so we'll just take it as we go and see what I can accomplish. Still got 59 days till PDX. Gulp.

Week 11 in Review - 7 Days until MI Half

This week started strong and then life got the better of me. Ended up with super extra special crazy weather, was busy at work, etc etc. Excuses excuses. But I'm ok with it. It's just turned out to be an unlucky season. And that is ok. Next week I taper, officially. Then Race and move into Cycle #3.


Monday - Made it out as planned for an easy 3 miler.
3.46 mi; 34:23; 9:57


Tuesday - Yay. Two days in a row I got it done. Small victories...since the rest of the week was a bust.
3.22 mi; 31:35; 9:49

Wednesday - Woke up to super crazy bad weather. And just couldn't motivate myself to get out there. Planned to make it up after work, but felt like I was going to puke all afternoon for some reason....
8 mi Speed workout
Rest

Thursday - Also planned to do a make up today. Best laid plans....as they say.
3 mi Easy
Rest

Friday - I am so lame. That's all I can say.
Rest

Saturday - Long run. I psyched myself up for my longest long run before the race next weekend. And got all dressed then looked outside. It had started SNOWING. AGAIN. So I decided to wait it out. I had a feeling things would clear up and I needed it to since I wanted to test out my race outfit on a long run. It ended up clearing up within the hour and I added a jacket and headed out. I ended up having to shed the coat about 2 miles in and it was a beautiful afternoon. Sunny and everything! Got that 13 miles in too. Full Stop. No cheating this week either. Small victories, I know. After the week I had, I'll take it. Had a nice ice bath when I got home.
13.03 mi; 2:24:52; 11:07

Sunday - Rest. Plotted out my next cycle- which officially has three half marathons in it while I was waiting out the snow yesterday. Excited to tackle this next cycle in the spring. Light in the mornings and warmer! Yay. I am ready to move on and get my mojo back. About damn time.
Rest

One week from today, I'll be running the perimeter of Mercer Island. Woot woot!

Week 8 in Review - 26 Days Until MI Half

A week on and then, inevitably, an off week. Was just getting that momentum back last week and the first few days of this week started strong. Then I got that crud again....the same one my kid has now had a couple times in the last month. Felt like I was going to die on Wed and Thurs...so forced myself to take another rest day Friday so I could hit it strong on Saturday.

Monday - Started off the week with a easy 5 miler. Nothing crazy. Felt good.
5.09; 50:57; 10:01 min/mile

Tuesday - Kept it going for an easy 3....
3.22; 32:17; 10:01 min/mile

Wednesday - Woke up feeling like death. Felt progressively worse the rest of the day and conked out early.
6 mile Tempo
Sick - Rest 

Thursday - Same. Bleech.
3 mile Easy
Sick - Rest

Friday - Really wanted to get some make-up miles in today but forced myself to take another rest day so hopefully, I'll kick this crud fo' sure.
Rest

Saturday - Long run day. Did my new route - backwards this time. Still very challenging (OMG- running up Madison sucked big time) but a little easier I think...Plus I was wearing my brand new shoes! Woot woot!
10.37; 1:53:13; 10:55

Sunday - Rest. Felt good. Was a little sore but less so than last week! 

Gonna do it this week. Hit every day without excuse and after today- doing it in the morning. Getting my ass up. 4 weeks till the half...gotta 'er done.

Week 6 in Review - 41 Days Until MI Half

                                                                       Sad, right?

This week sucked. Big time. I finally got the sick I was fighting off and ended up being off work for two days. Was so tired and just had no energy. Very lackluster week with a whopping 8.5 miles. Total. For the whole week.

Monday - Ran! Woot woot. I actually got up early even.
4.11 mi; 41:58; 10:12

Tuesday - Rest day...started to feel the crud getting worse. Plus my kid stayed home sick. Awesome. Foreshadowing? Probably.

Wednesday - Felt cruddy when I woke up. I was supposed to do 7 miles of speedwork. And was seriously nervous about it. The longer weekday runs really kill me. And they are always hard workouts. Was going to do it when I got home but ended up leaving work before lunch.
7 Mile Speed workout (3x1600 with 800 jogs in between; warm & cool)

Thursday - Still sick.
4 mi easy

Friday - Rest day. Really wanted to run today but decided one more day of rest was in order.

Saturday - 5K- Valentines Day Dash. Really planned to run the full mileage today...but after the race I was just not feeling it. So I took a nap instead.
10 mi long - 5K plus 7
1.27 mi; 12:10; 9:34 Warm Up
3.12 mi; 28:18; 9:05 Race

Sunday - Rest.

That was a rough one. This week I start adding Tuesday runs until tapering in race week. I feel better and ready to take it on. Got my new shoes coming this week too so I am getting excited!

Snowpacolypse 2012: Just Melt Already...

This week has been a little wack. Got in my runs on Monday and Tuesday then it dumped several inches of snow Wednesday.

It warmed up briefly towards the end of the day and turned into a nice little ice storm on Thursday. Then it started snowing again...few more inches on top of the ice, snow, ice layers. So no running for me. Planned to do yoga but ended up eating doughnuts and sitting on my ass. Terrible. Friday, things warmed up enough to turn to rain and everything finally started melting.

Even more melted this morning so conditions are starting to look more favorable that I'll get my 9 miles in today at some point. May have to wait until afternoon when there will be even less of it left.

Snow is so pretty the first day or so. Then it turns into nasty grey sludge. We had fun though...the Girl spent a grand total of 2.5 hours in school this week...so they'll pretty much be in school until 4th of July probably. But oh well....not much we can really do about it!

As things melt, we'll officially go on Flood Watch 2012. Good times.

             The Girl and a snowman we passed on our walk...

           I love my panoramic camera...kind of why I bought it! So pretty...

            Finally. A picture that I don't look totally ridiculous in...

Snow: Pretty but....

Wreaking havoc on my training schedule. Too chickenshit to run in the snow/ice so yoga it is today....