Training for a Belt Buckle

OK - Time for pity is behind me.  Time to refocus is ahead of me.

This next week I am taking off of running.  I might do some walking, but I think I need to let my IT Band cool down.  I will be taking anti-inflammatories, icing, rolling it on the styrofoam roller and stretching.  My original plan was to take the week off after finishing 50 miles and it seems logical now.

I really think that the compression shorts were the cause of the injury.  I had worn them in trial runs up to about 10 miles and did feel like they were using my muscles a little differently - but nothing that concerned me. On the bright side - they worked good for my hernia situation. 

I have also let myself slide physically since I had surgery in 2008. Prior to that time, I was weight lifting 3-4 times a week and had lost a lot of weight with a trainer. Post surgery, I then moved, went to Italy and the started a new focus on actually becoming a runner.  Time to get back to what worked.  I will go back to the gym and get into a workout schedule with weights. Some adaptation  may need to be done around the hernia - but that is easily enough done.

I am also getting rid of the junk food and going to learn to eat healthy again. I am going to compile my recipes as I try new things to make me a quick and easy cookbook for single runners.

I am also going to get into yoga, pilates, plyometrics and the dreaded intervals.  I need to push myself more on my runs  2-3 times a week with a plan in mind (ie intervals, tempo runs) and not have junk miles unless they are mental destressing days.

The last Saturday in October is the OV (Ogden Valley) 50 miler.  It is all on roads, so easily accessible.  Leslie and I invite all our friends who want to pace us on different sections to put that on your calendars now. 

Forgive me for posting walking mileage this week.  I vowed before the Buffalo Run 50 that I would take an entire week off without running a single step.

.25 miles walking this morning with Twilight.  1.0+ miles after work walking with Twilight.

Did my first Yoga video ever - The Gift of Yoga.  A little hard focusing at times when moving from upward facing dog to downward facing dog because I was coping with little dog standing on back at the same time.  Felt some good stretches.

One of the books I am going to read this week is Core Performance Endurance by Mark Verstegen.  It focuses a lot on learning proper balance and form and I know that curing my lousy posture and getting better running balance will help me a lot as I strive to improve in the future.  Plus, he has several great exercises using the styrofoam roller and tennis balls for releasing and massaging muscles.  I will be doing those all this week since I won't be running.

Only a little tightness in the hamstrings today.  None in the quads.  This leads me to believe that my training was good enough for the race - it was just not in the cards.  The left knee is a bit tender on stairs - but  not when I get up from sitting or when walking - so those are good signs.

I have made healthy food choices all day.  The sun is out.  As long as I keep busy I don't focus on those three awful letters.

1/4 mile in the morning with Twilight.

2 miles walking the dog after work.  It was her longest walk ever.  I was able to walk about 17 minute miles without the knee doing more than occasional twinge.  

Resisted the urge to cook fattening foods after reading Marion's blog. It was very tempting.

Tonight I will be doing self massage to help work on injured spots. Might as well get everything healing this week.

I went over to Leslie's tonight and had an absolutely awesome massage.  She really worked my legs (and everything else) over good. It was pretty obvious when she hit the IT band on the left leg. She also did some great flexibilty and movement exercises.  Thank you so much, Les!  I feel like a new woman and am so relaxed.  Human touch is such a wonderful thing.

Walked the dog for 1/4 mile and then walked 2.25 to work.  Not speed walking - but probably 15 minute miles.  The leg is healing well.

Finished Twilight in Italian last night - finally!

Leslie picked me up this morning and we met Marion, Smooth, Luz, and Rachel at the Jordan River Parkway Trail in Lehi.  Snow was coming down pretty hard.

I ran 7 slow miles with Marion and Leslie until the first sign of pain in the knee. At that point I stopped and walked the remaining 2 miles back to the car.  Did some backwards running, scissors steps, skipping, etc. as cross training.

We had a party in Les' car afterwards getting warm and eating.  Thanks to everyone for bringing treats and cheerful moods.

PM - after Leslie dropped me off I went to the gym and did 1 3/4 hours weight lifting - getting in the entire body.  Now I'm ready for some good protein and listening to conference in Italian.