Going With The Flow

AM - Elliptical for 30 minutes. I was able to increase the effort enough to make it feel like a real workout - a first in a long time. Pool running for 30 minutes afterwards. 

AM - 30 minutes on the elliptical. Doctor said still no running through the rest of the week. My used-to-be super conservative goal of being healthy by the new year is not looking good. I'm trying my hardest to do everything right and yet I'm pretty much in the same place as I was in August except 100x more out of shape. Breakdown...Gotta get myself thinking more positive now. 

PM - Pool running. Went to Costco - bought a huge stuffed animal and bag of dried mangos that made me feel better :)

AM - 30 minutes on the elliptical. I have a much better mental attitude today :)

AM - 30 minutes on the elliptical. Called the sports doctor this morning and told him the steroid isn't helping more than 10-20%. Back to the drawing board - big test to see what other diagnostic/treatment ideas he has up his sleeve...we're missing something here, I know it. 

PM - 2 miles walking around the track with some running drills mixed in there. 30 minutes of arm weights.

AM - 25 minutes of yoga. Really awkward at work when someone comes into my office and I'm icing and heating my pubic bone/groin. Whatever, I'm not letting this get worse!

PM - 35 minutes of pool running with Jake. 40 minutes of recumbent bike. 

AM - 35 minutes on the recumbent bike. 

PM - 1 mile walk around SH.

Tera Moody's full post about her experience with Olympic Trials standards really hit close to home. It's hard for me to even pick out one section from it. She is a prime reason why we have the OTQ standards and their importance to the development of world class athletes. She is now a 2:30 marathoner and got 5th at the 2008 Olympic Trials. I can't wait to start training again!

"For the next two years qualifying for the trials was something I thought about every single day. It gave me a reason to dream again and I begin to see flashes of my old pre-collegiate self. Having that goal and accomplishing milestones along the way helped bring back my shattered self confidence.  It led to better things not just in running but across the board."

AM - So thankful that Allie was willing to join me for pool running. Made it to an hour today!

Today was the first day in 4 months that I woke up without any pain. The steroid is finally working! Maybe the doctor is right and I just had so much inflammation that I haven't been able to heal. I'm on day 11 of 12 of the prednisone, so I'm really worried that the pain is all going to come back as soon as I'm off it. So I decided to start an anti-inflammatory diet...it's not a lot different from what I currently do, but I'm adding tart cherry juice, salmon, a lot more fruits and vegetables. No candy, ice cream, or refined carbs for a while.