"If we don't suffer enough we won't remember it."

I spent about 2 hours every day last week digging into the tight spots I have everywhere. I couldn't even walk or bend over without pain most of the week and it slowly improved.  I ran 4 slow miles, stopping every mile to stretch, and it helped me realize where else I need to rub out. 

4 miles and this time I only felt like I needed to stretch half way through.  In a little less pain than yesterday.  Still more stretching and rubbing.  Brent came with me on his bike, which was nice. 

I did some yard work later in the day.  This was the first day my aches and pains felt like they were in the "normal" range walking around and doing regular things later in the day.

4 miles, stretched 1/2 way through.  My right hamstring felt like it was being pulled, just a tiny bit on the run, but more later in the day as I walked around.  I can tell my left quad and hip are tight so when that leg goes back and my right leg is forward my hips are twisting funny.  I think that's part of what's causing the pain in my hamstring.  I guess I need to rub on that more. 

4 miles

4 miles.  My hamstring hurt again.  I stretched a lot and dug into my quad later in the day and that helped, but I walked around in pain most of the day. 

5 miles.  I parked my car where Melanie wanted to finish her run along University Ave and biked 2.5 miles to the mouth of the canyon.  I left my bike there and ran just over a mile up to meet her as she came running down.  I ran the last four miles of her run with her.  I wondered if I would be able to keep up with all the conditioning I've lost.  The 6:20's an 30's felt a little like a tempo, but I did it.  So fun to run down the trail side by side again even if it was for only 4 miles. 

I ran into Lily and Carina on the trail and had a nice chat with them.  They gave me some good tips/reminders of what I can do to get over my hamstring/hip issues.  I went home and pulled out my old papers with exercises and stretches the physical therapist gave me when I had this type of problem four years ago.  I spent a while doing all of them and it seemed to help.  I did several of them a couple of times earlier in the week, but this time I did more. 

I'm happy to report I feel better than I've felt in weeks, which is encouraging especially after a good paced 5 mile run.  It's still sad that 5 miles was my "long" run.