I can do it!

I'M BACK!!!  Maybe.  I spent almost all of last week flat on my back in bed with that horrible lower back pain - YUCK!  By Friday afternoon, it had finally begun to improve, so that Saturday I was able to get up and out of the house for the first time in seven days.  Today, since I could drive again, I went to the gym with the intention of giving the elliptical a try.  I did my 20 minute HIIT, then thought I'd walk on the treadmill a bit.  After a few minutes, I decided to run - but only a mile.  I started out nice and slow, at 5 MPH, and gradually added speed every tenth of a mile.  That mile turned into two, then a final half mile sprint!  It felt SO GOOD to run again - I almost cried!  Now hopefully I haven't jumped the gun.  I have to go see my doctor at 2:00 to get the results of last week's MRI.  I sure hope we can nail down exactly what is happening here - this is the fourth or fifth "episode" in ten months.  I'm beginning to feel a little hypo-chondriacal.  :D

Yesterday I went in to the doctor to get the results of my MRI.  I guess I'm not a hypochondriac after all, since they found a very large disk extrusion in my lumbar spine.  No wonder I've been so "uncomfortable."  I left his office and had a good, hard-but-short cry on the way home.  I thought about all the goals that I had set that may or may not be possible now.    And then I got over it, because I really don't like being sad - happy is so much more fun!  Now that I've had time to do a little more research, I'm thinking that there may be more I can do for myself than I originally thought.  So bring on the spinal decompression!  I'm ready to go!

I began my day by doing an abbreviated version of my P90X back routine, carefully avoiding those exercises that might strain the back.  I was going to do ab-ripperX, but I ran out of time, and figured it might be too soon.  I still am experiencing some pain, but it's not unbearable.  This evening I went to the gym and did more treadmill work.  I walked 2 tenths of a mile, then started running at 5MPH, gradually increasing to 9 MPH.  I finished it off with a 1/10th mile walk, for a total of 3.1 miles.  It felt great!  I may try the street tomorrow.  I just want to be careful not to let this back/nerve thing flare up again.

I ran with my daughter this morning.  We did five miles in 54:55.  I feel frustrated that I can't do more.

This evening I went to the rec center and did a little something.  I tried to warm up on the elliptical (without arms) but it drove me crazy, so I switched to the treadmill and did the same run as I did on Tuesday.  Then I followed it up with a little more elliptical, some stationary biking, an ab workout, and some stretching.  Ben went running with my Physical Therapist this morning, and he told Ben that he should be very concerned about my "condition," and get some treatment going right away before I kill the nerves and cause serious damage or something.  Hmmmm....I wonder where I'm going to get the money and the time to take care of it.  Mostly the money.  Bad timing.  :(

I tried to do P90X Core Synergistics today, but after some alterations, I only got in about 30 minutes. Hmmm....

I went running with some friends and family this morning.  I stayed with Britnee and Elijah, and we did 9.15 miles in 1:35:36.  Nice and easy.  My PT was there, and we discussed options for my treatment.  He told me that if I wanted to continue running for the rest of my life, I needed to deal with this now, and will have to take 6 weeks off from running and most other forms of exercise.  Such a major bummer!  So I will have to cancel my 1/2 marathon next month, and will be WAY behind on my training goals for the Ogden Marathon in May.  Ah, well.  Such is life.  Better to take it easy today and get to play later than to play now and pay for the rest of my life.  I just might sneak another run or two in before I begin my decompression treatment, though!  Shhhh.....  :D