I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Kick-boxing and Ab's class.....

I'm DONE today!!! Stupid people and those who think they have more important things to do than their jobs (that I'M paying them to do) ANNOY ME!!!! 

Yoga and biking to and from the gym.

Okay, I'm letting this cat out of the bag...so to speak. A few hours after the race Saturday I got a deep aching mid-thigh pain that wouldn't go away and that hurts bad enough that I 'limp' on my leg. I searched and searched for what the problem could be and I kept getting thrown back to 'stress fracture' option. Called and went to the PT on Monday and she had an orthopedic doc look at me, he was suspicious enough that he sent me to get an MRI. I was also told to not do any running or impact until they knew the results - thus the goose eggs this week. Never heard from them, but called yesterday and found they'd had the results since Tuesday afternoon and hadn't called (thus my annoyance yesterday!!). Finally heard from him just a few minutes ago....Good and bad news; Good news: no stress fracture, the MRI showed everything including muscle tissue normal (This indicates I'm a hypochondriac and make up pain :) ) Bad news: the doc said that sometimes the pain is referred from other areas of the body, namely in this point the hip. So, he wants me to come in for an x-ray and discussion of such on Monday to check and see if there are any developmental abnormalities in my hip that could be referring pain to the thigh/knee. The reason he's going this direction and not to muscle is that when my PT examined me on Monday she couldn't reproduce the pain with any tests muscular wise.  The other explanation he gave me was to consider this a 'freak' overuse pain and to just limit activity until the pain went away, obviously he liked that explanation as much as I did! So....I guess we're waiting now until Monday.

The one good piece of news that I liked was that he told me I could do what I wanted as long as it didn't cause pain. If its only pain I can push through that :)  So, I guess I'll be running tonight and tomorrow, the pain usually is just at the beginning and then it goes away (or at least that's how its been before when I've felt the 'twinges' of pain the past few weeks). A lot of rambling, but y'all seemed so interested :)

Took a little test run today, didn't bring the garmin, I guess it's been too long since I've run. Every stride was painful/annoying, on a scale I'd say it was a 2/10 or so - it really started to hurt when I stopped and walked just from the mailbox to the house. It seems to get worse after I stop; however, it was buggin' during the run as well. Funny, but I've just decided I'm a hypochondriac and am making it all up - it doesn't  really hurt because there is nothing wrong with my leg, so I'll run and do whatever I want because there is nothing wrong - it's all in my head! 

Got home and took the family out on a bike ride, fun easy ride - but took my Garmin for fun.  There was one point I was going easy on a flat and looked at my pace, I was going slower than Walter runs a marathon - gave me a good chuckle that I can't even ride a bike faster than he can run! Total of 6 miles with 400 ft total elevation gain and an AP of 6:41, fastest pace was 1:27 - YEE-HAW! :) If anyone knows how to switch the Garmin to 'bike mode' I'd appreciate some help on that! Leg felt a little achy on the 'push' of the pedaling, but it was a TON better than the run. Now that I've stopped it again seems to be getting worse - if there was any REAL pain and I wasn't just making it all up that is.

Decided at about midnight to give it a go. I wish I would've been at group this week, because I would've come to help out with the volunteering early as well...I guess that's what I get for being lazy. Anyway, lots of people to chat with at the beginning and I got to start with Julie and Michelle which was GREAT because I had someone to chat with and pace with; however, at times they got too speedy for me and I had to drop back.

Leg pain was there, but minimal (2/10). It was a fun course with rolling hills and a few good uphills, I hate to admit it but I really am starting to like the short uphill pushes in races, because I feel strong to push up them - as long as I can get a break at the top :) I hit a GREAT stride around mile 3, it felt freeing, the pace felt good, I was able to push past people, and just hit a good groove (yes, still pain, but you get used to it after a while).

Then, my wheels finally fell off around mile 4.5 (top of Lover's Lane), the thigh pain moved down and surrounded my left knee. I was pushing the pace with 2 guys and I had finally pulled ahead on the hill, but after about another .25 fell off their pace as well. I think they finished a good minute or more ahead of me, I was just doing what I could - I didn't want to push any harder than I needed to. Only 2 other people passed me on this stretch, so my good groove was well spent :)

 AP: 7:55, splits: 7:44, 7:35, 7:50, 7:52, 8:14, 8:12, 8:13 (last .17 recorded on Garmin)

Nothing...that's the story of today, nothing. I've now been referred to another PT that works exclusively with runners - MRI and x-ray were fine, so now we're on to something else? As I was talking just momentarily with the PT he kept jumping back to SF as well...like I said it's all just in my head and I'm crazy :) I think I may swim tonight with Lauren, or maybe a jaunt around the hood. Meet with the PT Friday and he said to not run through pain, but that he wouldn't be too upset if it was aggravated when I saw him Friday (since we know there is no structural problem...or are assuming). 

You know some people HATE to exercise, they dread it with every inch of their being and complain the whole time they are going and doing then when they're done complain about how much they hurt. I am the exact opposite! It felt so stinkin' good to get out and get a good workout in today I am like on cloud 9!!! I seriously had a nice depression working on me last week from NOT being able to exercise like I was used to doing. Pain still there, was worst when I stopped then had to get going again, I think after a little running I get used to the pain - then it gets tight when I stop and I have to get used to it again when I start again. I was very happy though that it never transferred down to the knee like it did at the race. We'll see how it's feeling later tonight and tomorrow, I'm doing my best to 'aggravate' it for my appoinment Friday :)

Met BBK's for the lovely Parkway Palisade hills, nice warm up then hit the hills at tempo. I wasn't feeling it like I usually do, leg and not running for a week can do that to you! However, I pushed what I could and actually always felt strong on the uphill going East (last of 3 GOOD up-hills). I was surprised at the end when we were to do a 'sprint to the finish' for about 100 yds and I still had a good kick left, hit a low of 5:37mm - maybe for only a few seconds, but it was there! Finished with a good mile of cool-down. AP: 8:37 splits: 9:08, 8:37, 8;59, 8:43, 8;22, 8:44, 8;01, 8:53, 7:40, 9:04.

Biked with the baby to the gym, did a 'total body' conditioning class, then finished with my ITB exercises, first time I've done my new ones! Then I biked home, but was feeling so good I took the long way - finished with 6.31 miles of biking (Thanks MrsFit for the tip on changing the Garmin!). My AP was 4:45 mile, funny I can't even bike faster than Olympians can run! Someday...Someday :)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU  to Kelli this morning!! I've been out of the morning run too long and knew I wouldn't get up and go if someone wasn't waiting for me, so I called Kelli last night and asked if I could tag along on her run. She was nice enough to let me slow her down this morning. I went to start my Garmin and the battery was dead - hmmm, that's the bad part about waiting until it's dead to charge it. No idea AP or splits, I'll have to wait until Kelli posts them; however, they were so slow she might not :) I had a great hill run, although my quads were very sore from all of yesterday's activities and I could feel it this morning!!

Went home, caught some sleep...overslept and ran to kick-boxing, but missed the first 1/2 of class. I probably should've just skipped it or done something else, but it's my favorite class - so I shoved my way in and tried my best to catch on. Stayed for Ab's then headed home (I drove this morning...too late to bike!) A nice morning and I honestly feel better since I got that nap, I may be able to function all day today now!

Now onto the 'injury': I could hardly feel my leg pain this morning, how does running 10 miles make it better? I don't know. Once we started running I could definitley feel it though! Walking and daily activities are better today, but running and some of kick-boxing was still making it ache.

Nice easy run with the BBK's today. Did the warm-up and went on an accidental detour so it ended up at 3.65. Then I was chatting when we were supposed to be doing a tempo run so I still went easy. Lauren had a swim camp early, so I had to leave after just a couple miles of the workout. Came home, caught a nap then went to yoga...ahhhh, the best part of the week! Leg was pretty sore when we started the run this morning, but is feeling better now. Tomorrow I go to the PT and hopefully get some answers. AP for the run was 9:21 (nice and slow).

HE FOUND IT!!! YEA!!! I finally have some resolution to my 'injury'! Okay, so now I've decided running really is the craziest sport around. Joel (PT) checked with an ultrasound for a SF still suspecting it and found nothing, but after a more indepth exam of the deep quad muscles he found a tear/sprain of one of the deep quad muscles just on top of the femur. VERY VERY glad there is NO SF; however, he said that this injury is one that if not taken care of properly WILL come back worse and worse. So, the question came "how did I do this?" after discussion it was thought that the increased usage on my quads from my ITB and balancing exercises must have pushed the muscle to a point where more tearing down than building up was experienced and it finally gave. THIS is why I think running is so crazy! You do one thing to fix one problem and create another. Well, at least now I'm on a distinct path to finally recovering. Running is allowed, but I need to limit downhill - he said hill training was okay, but don't run any straight downhills.  I was really happy when he had me run on a treadmill to watch and correct my form and he said he really liked my form and to just work on pulling back elbows and standing tall when I run. It was nice to feel like something was right - especially after he was blown away by my INflexibility :) Since all my gym time this morning was 'wasted' at the pt appt I guess I'm taking a rest day and working out in the laundry room and bathrooms today - scrub on happy runner, scrub on!!

Went to step class this morning...was up to late to think about a long run this morning! Step started a little late and ended a little early, so I hit the TM for a quick 7mm mile. Felt great to just run out one fast mile. Did my quad repair exercises then did the last 20 min of Ab's class. I'm ready for a new week, resolved to get back at it and get life in order and organized!!! Here we go, let's not waste another Monday!!

Sleep is a very important part of a training schedule, and I'm not getting it in! Drag, drag, drag...the theme of today's run. Every step felt hard and speed - well, there wasn't any in me today! 3 mile warm-up 9:20, 8:35, 8:56. Hit the track for speed work; however, I had told myself I needed to take it easy - the quad isn't feeling so nice! 800M push, 400M recovery - then hit the road for a 2 mile tempo, finally a 1 mile loop on the track pushing the last lap, one lap recovery. I didn't lap the miles and I don't even know where I really started/ended all of it so my splits are just miles today. AP: 8:30 splits 4-10: 8:12, 8:21, 8:15, 8:27, 8:00, 8:44, 8:10.

Went home and crashed in bed, got woken up by a lovely 'drama' phone call from my husband - gave me the energy I needed to go to the gym and do the total body class. Afterward stretched and did quad repair stuff, it's a achin' now! I'll roll it and stretch it today; hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!

Did kickboxing this morning, I usually try an easy morning run; however, with the lack of sleep I've been going through I bagged it.  During the circuit part of the class she had us do cardio sprints in the parking lot - 5/mile. So, that's how I got my mile :) 

Had to leave 5 min early to get home and ready to go to my shift at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was a fun afternoon, I just wish I would've eaten first! Can't wait for Suncrest tomorrow - it will be an achievement!

So, a new adventure! The group met at the base of Suncrest, 2.5 miles of warm-up that was enough uphill right there! However, we grabbed the others at the church and set off on a hike. I was actually rather impressed with myself, slow and steady was the name of my game - I knew with my quad and everything else I didn't want any more damage, so I just kept plodding along. I only walked once for about 100 M and the rest of the way I ran. It was amazing to get to the top and feel GREAT! The downhill was fun as well, and I concentrated more on my form (leaning down, heels up) so that I wouldn't get that darn IT yelling at me, and I never felt it once! YEA! Finished up with about .7 cool-down around the church parking lot to get to an even 10. It was a great run, and honestly I think I'd do it again...crazy, but worth it!

Came home ready to party for my 5 yr old's b-day and he's already made his dad mad enough to want to cancel his party....so, we'll see if we get to do anything today :(  I guess I should just be glad I wasn't here to clean up the gallon+ of water that he decided to pour on the carpet for fun, then I'D be the one cancelling the party!

AP: 9:44, splits: 10:12, 9:03, 10:15, 11:36, 12:55, 11:30, 7:51, 7:38, 7:30, 8:50 Garmin recorded 1233 ft of elevation gain up Suncrest and 1887 total for the run! YEE-HAW!

Had a doctor's appt for my little dude's 5th b-day this morning, so I got minimal time at the gym (I again wasn't waking up early!). Did the bike for 10 miles/40 minutes with intervals. Good workout, especially with feeling so sore from yesterday and looking forward to 14 tomorrow!

Thank you Becca! I don't think I would've run at all today if it wasn't for you!!! My poor legs are just trashed from that Suncrest run and NO yoga! I need to stretch, roll, stretch and roll some more. Lead legs would be an understatement for this run, poor Becca had to go slow for me the whole run. Decent pace for how I was feeling though. It was a nice cool (but stinky) morning on the Lehi JRP, and getting a few minutes with Smooth was amazing as well! I'm glad we started early, but we'll see if my eyes can stay open till bedtime :)

Definately need some new shoes (both pair over 400 miles now! and balls of my feet and ankles were sore at the end of the run), so I'm off to explore some options - I need a stability shoe, anyone have any good suggestions? I always go and get fitted for what the store thinks is good for me, haven't found one I'm in love with yet. Well, I always love new shoes and I've never had a BAD one, just not one I want to repeat buy...I guess I'm just exploring all my options before I settle down :)

AP:  8:52 splits: 9:10, 9:02, 8:51, 9:16, 9:24, 8:35, 8:39, 8:36, 8:36, 8:54, 8:50, 8:43, 8:58, 8:40

Another big THANK YOU goes to Becca!!! I went and got some new shoes, I'll take them on a trial run tomorrow and confirm or deny my love for them.

 I went to step class this morning, then feeling like I wanted a few extra miles this week (I'd like to see myself back in the 40's) I skipped Ab's and went to the TM. When it's 80 degrees outside I'll take the death trap over the heat! Ran a 8:30 pace till the last .75 miles then I was done and kept bumping it up till I finished the last .2 at a 7mm pace.

Met BBK's and boy were they fast this morning. I wasn't trying to push it all out, my quad was a little sensitive this morning, but I thought I was going pretty slow because I was so far behind then noticed I was at a 7:20 pace - YIKES, the speed of the group has increased exponentially these past couple weeks!

Did some speed intervals then I had to head back to the car for my PT appointment. Mix up on the appt (what my card said vs. what it really was) so I just went to meet my husband at his work and switch cars. I now had 45 minutes to burn, so I ran another 4 around his business park/work. I got some pretty strange looks from commuters, confusion about where I'd come from...no houses nearby :) Descent, but not great pace - didn't lap the intervals so I have no idea how fast they were.

Good news/bad news with the shoes, I love the stability and cushioning, but there is something that pinches the outside ball of my foot (right at the base of the pinky toe) don't feel it too much when running, but when I stop and walk in them it gets uncomfortable. Maybe I just need a wider version of the shoe.

AP  8:39 splits: 9:47, 8:55, 8:51, 8:19,  8:02, 8:10, 8:27, 8:53, 8:40, 9:00, 8:35

PT went well, but I could tell I was compensating for the pain as I start and my shin/hip on the R is starting to bug, so he checked it out and could see what was wrong. He cautioned me that I shouldn't be changing my form to compensate and that if I can't run with good form I shouldn't be running - STINK! So, I'm going to try and see what I can do Thursday at group with my form.

Kickboxing class and quad/ITB exercises. No running today, trying to give it a day so I can keep good form with little pain tomorrow. I'm excited to have my sister here! I can't wait to get out on a run with her.

Stayed up TOO late getting ready to go jetskiing at Jordanelle today. Got up early for running group...wanted my sister to see the torture I go through each week! :) Finished 8 easy miles (I'll put in pace and splits later at home) with the 'Quiet Pirate' running up 11400 S from I-15 to 1300 East. Took it easy so I wouldn't burn out before tomorrow's race. Went home finished getting ready for the lake started up, but then needed to stop to sign up a couple more young 'uns for the 5K tomorrow. Had a nice treat running into Teena, Paul and Walter, always nice to have a face to face conversation with bloggers! Spent the rest of the afternoon trying to throw my husband off the jetski :) My arms will be sore...it's hard to hang on when you're driving like a crazy bat! Sun and fun then home for bed...must...sleep...soon. Hubby and kids are off camping with my in-laws so I'm alone, I guess I'll clean the house - what else do you do when no one is home?

Can't wait for the race!!! YEA!! So many fun bloggers will be there, and I'm actually getting marathon remorse, I know I'm not ready for one but I sure am missing the marathon monster! :) 

WOW! What a race. It was so fun to hang with so many bloggers and Becca really helped me out today!! I felt good the entire race, but I thought it was interesting how many people kept passing me on the downhill, but after 3 miles then I started passing....funny how I hate hills, but those BBKers have kicked my butt into knowing how to push the flat/uphill and not just coast the downhill and die when it flattens out. I was really irritated by the lack of a 1st aid station, but I was fine. I just kept looking for it and waiting so it made those miles longer than they should've been. I ran back and  ran in my sister 'The Quiet Pirate' and then my neices nephews and other sister runing the 5K, I don't know for sure how long that was, but I'm giving myself an ever 7.5 for the day. What a fun morning!

Then I got to hang with the bloggers (Julie, Teena, Smooth, Michelle, Bec and some other runners) waiting for Allie to come in. I hope she could hear us yelling like a crazy woman for her! I went over and talked to her after her interview and was so impressed with her! I then had to run off to get my car and get home, I could feel the 3 hrs of sleep catching up with me and I needed to drive home while I was still able to! Missed some of the marathon finishers I would've liked to see, next time for sure!

Thanks to all you wonderful bloggers and the fun people I got to meet and hang out with today! A wonderful PR and great friends - THIS is why I run! :)

AP: 7:09; splits: 6:39, 6:51, 7:24, 7:11, 7:11, 7:40 (last .22) I didn't think I had anything to sprint to the finish with, but last year the start pad didn't work for the chips so I had to go off of gun time. This year I saw my 44 min goal slipping as I approached the finish and kicked in to make sure that even if I didn't get a chip time I could still say I did 44 min. Didn't seem like much of a kick at the time, but the Garmin put me at my fastest pace for the whole race: a 5:01 (for like .1 miles or less). WOW, how did I do that?

Sleep, magical sleep. I'm still tired.... 

No miles today, maybe I'll get out a little after the sun has gone down, its TOO hot right now!

Ran the Herriman hills this morning, slow pace and the quad wasn't warming-up or cooperating until about mile 6 (evident by my pace!) It was a good thing I kept it slow though...the BBK's will be torturing us with speed tomorrow :)

AP:  9:32 splits: 10:03, 10:18, 10:11, 9:04, 9:00, 9:14, 8:50

Okay, I'm really ornery this morning! The stinky alarm clock fairy must have visited our house last night and turned off BOTH alarm clocks. I woke up at 6:30 and realized I missed group, I guess I should've gotten out on my own, but I was mad so I went back to bed. Then my husband woke me up at 8:50! His alarm clock didn't go off either!!! How does that work? DANG!! Now it's hot and I'm not getting any miles in :( 

Friends are amazing things!! After my whining yesterday Bec agreed to humor me, get up at the crack of dawn and meet me in Lehi for a 10 miler this morning at a good pace...so my alarm clock went off and I got up and went to run. I nearly peed my pants laughing so hard at the first of the run! Becca said the only thing she didn't want to see so early in the morning was a skunk "claw me, bite me kill me I don't care...just NO skunks!" So about 50 yard into the run I see a black cat on the side of the trail...then it turns and I see the white stripe. I grab Becca's arm "that's a skunk!" We immediately stoped then it stopped in the middle of the trail and looked at us, we turned around and started running like two teenage girls screaming down the trail. Then I couldn't help it anymore, I just stopped and had to laugh! Becca kept running for another 20 feet until a female biker just starting stopped at the gate to get through. She questioned us about the excitement and she was brave enough to go first, so we followed her down the trail and never saw our little friend again. Made for some good adrenaline to get the run started!! :)

So, we ran the 5 miles out and 5 back on the Lehi JRP with no more excitement. Pulling up the hills was fun today (yes, I just said the hills were fun...enjoy it while you can, it may never happen again!) Becca's legs were dead tired after all she put them through yesterday, but I still could hardly keep up with her! I thought "man, when my legs are tired I just drag along...but this chick knows how to push out the miles!!!" Gotta love wonderful friends that keep you up and motivated. Got home and sent hubby off to work, then laid down for a 30 min nap while kids were still sleeping. 

Got up and hit my favorite kick-boxing class, it lived up to it's butt-kicking reputation again today! Did my ITB and quad exercises with some shoulder weights then headed home. I've got a full day today, I'm acutally spending the day getting stuff done and not hanging out with my sisters! (one flew home, other has lunch date with other friends) - sounds crazy but I've only been spending like 45 minutes of waking time at home every day the last couple weeks! UUGGHHH!! Trust me, it leaves A LOT to do!

AP: 8:24; splits: 8:36, 8:21, 8:25, 9:04 (the hills!); 8:48, 8:15, 8:16, 8:06, 8:06, 8:03 -best pace was 6:41 and I held it under 7mm for .25 or so! yes, the downhill helped, but still... :)

My legs were not ready for running this morning. I took too much out of them yesterday. However, I went to meet the BBK's for a hill run knowing what my Friday looked like and needing the miles this week. Started out nice and slow, definitely a Kenyan this morning! 3 mile warm up then a marathon tempo run up 9800S 3.5 miles - 2 almost 800's at 10K pace at the top - 1/2 marathon tempo back. I didn't hit any of my paces, except I was proud of myself for pushing the 800's and keeping them at or below 7:30's the whole time (that WAS a push this morning!) 

Got home showered and rushed out the door to meet my sister at Snowbird. We and our kids took the tram to the top then did a 5 mile hike down, I of course had my 25 pound baby water and food on my back! Well, okay he's 2, but he's still my baby.  Then we rode the chair lift up to the tunnel walked through, let the kids play in the snow rode down. Dinner and swimming wrapped up the evening and I didn't get home until 11:00! I was so tired I didn't even unpack it all, I just plopped in bed!

AP: 9:03 splits: 9:58, 9:35, 9:20, 10:04, 9:44, 9:31, 8:19, 8:09, 8:12, 8:07, 8:01 (last .5)

In the run I finally started feeling good about mile 5.5, which is completley evident from my splits. Plus it helps that the last 4 splits were all downhill :)

The quad didn't like the downhill hiking too much, but survived nicely - well, better than I expected after the first mile.

I cannot move! I got up to get ready to go to the gym and do resistance and maybe a few miles or the bike, but I cannot move. Seriously, I'm walking like an 80 year old!!! And NOT an active one :) I've got another full day - Dr appt about removing my son's tonsils, shots for me, and standing at the Oquirrh Mtn temple all day volunteering outside. So, hopefully I'll be able to get my 16 in tomorrow, quicker than walking speed anyway :)