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

My neck is killing me! Surfing was really fun on Saturday, but I think I got whiplash, because it hurts to move my neck and I'm all stiff and sore there as well. Man alive! It was worth it though - well, maybe :) I never got to stand up on my own, but it was still a fun time and I will definitely be going again. My legs feel great, but my neck and shoulders are VERY sore.

Well, I'm experimenting with my quad again this week, because I think it may be the x-training that is causing more of the pain (lunges, squats etc) than the running. So, this week I will run more and cut the x-training and see how my leg likes that. Since I wanted to sleep in this morning I hit the TM at the gym.

When I started out my neck wasn't happy, but after just a few minutes it loosened up enough that I could at least look up and to the side enough to watch the TV. I could even shift my head from side to side after a while to watch different TVs :) I kept the pace slower to start and just did a nice easy progressive run.

2 miles @ 8:57; 2@8:49, 2@8:41, 2@8:34, 1@8:27, last one broken up to .5 @ 8:00, .25 @ 7:30, .25 @ 6:58. I felt really good at the end of the run and felt like I could've probably hit the 6:58 for the whole last mile. I usually underestimate myself like that. (all at 1% incline) AP for the run was 8:36.

Finished off with 15 min on the bike nice and easy to cool down. Wonderful day running and honestly 10 on the TM wasn't so bad. You won't hear ME say that too often.

Back with the BBK's!!! I got ditched by Sandra again this morning. She forgot until last night to tell me she was out of town (she works for jetblue and can jet off easily), so I was fed up and ready to run with someone. I sucked it up and woke up at 4:30 to meet the BBK's and I am SO happy I did. I forgot how much I love to run with them! I couldn't do the workout, because I think speed increases issues with my quad, but I tried to just keep an even, steady pace during their on/offs. It was great to see everyone again and have a great running morning.

Warm-up was 3 miles looping around the neighborhood we were going to do our workout on, I even got to run the last bit with Nancy! We then regrouped at the chruch, did another mile or so warm-up for the late comers then they did speed work on 400's and 800's. A final couple miles of recovery (including a hill climb with Kris afterward) and  I was done. Two 10's in a row, I'm hoping to keep this up until Thursday - we'll see!

Since I'm trying to cut out x-training I'm skipping boot camp this morning. I might catch a nap while baby sleeps :)

AP: 9:03 splits: 9:38, 9:34, 10:02, 9:11, 7:55, 8:37, 8:40, 8:51, 8:57, 9:05

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Update after the PT appointment.

Well, it was a mixed bag. The quad issue is actually 'shin splints' but on the femur where the adductors connect (inner/upper to mid femur). So, good news is I can run, but to really get over it I have to half my mileage, which means I'm pretty much done for the week today. We'll see how it goes...

icing, stretching and strengthening exercises that will hopefully help me overcome being a 'shuffler' and pick up my feet are the plan. Also, just as shin splints have a tendency to turn to SF I need to watch it closely, because there were a couple things already concerning him in that direction. I am NOT playing that game this year! So I am heeding doctors warnings.

I figure I've done a lot of mileage work, have 1 20-miler, 2 19-milers, almost 3 18-milers and a few 17's under my belt already. Taking a couple weeks to heal this up and not end up with further damage is going to do me more good than trying to push through and up miles for Ogden/UVM. I KNOW x-training will keep my cardio up and I can still run 20-30 miles in a week, which spread correctly over to week I can still get a good medium-long or even long run in and not over do things. It is just not worth a stress fracture - not worth it! Two weeks versus 8 or more? yeah, uh huh...I'll mind my P's and Q's until the pain subsides and things are under control.

So, I will be back to the grind and taking extra calcium. Although the body can only absorb it at a certain rate, I found I need to increase my supplement intake 3-fold. This will also help my body get more calcium and not have to pull FROM me while nursing as well. Oh, the things we should be doing all along that come back to bite us when we are staring injury in the face :(

I was having a poor pity me party yesterday and almost bagged the gym this morning because of it. I am SO glad I just did it and went anyway, because I feel about 100X better now. Honestly, after doing some strengthening and stretching the quad feels better than it has the last couple days (I guess the running wasn't so good).

I did the ARC trainer at L50, Resistance 50 for 60 minutes. It said 2.28 miles - I don't know exactly how they track that, but I at least have a point to start from now. 

Then I hit the bike hard at L15 resistance for 15 minutes and was just shy of 4 miles. My goal was to keep the cadence high with a good resistance, and I felt strong during the push.

I finished up with my PT stuff to help glutes & hammys. Clipboard slides, walking resistance band squats, clam shell planks and bridges on the ball. Then I stretched out (I learned a new stretch I just LOVE) and made sure the quads and hip flexors got some attention too.

I feel like things are going well and I'm on my way to a good recovery! Yesterday I think the pain in my brain made the leg pain worse and I thought for sure I was a cripple, but today I feel strong and ready to run another10 miles :)

Running off of yesterday's high I went early to the gym for spin class. A good interval workout. She would have us do 2 min@ AT (anaerobic threshold - feels like MP tempo to me), then you would do a 1 min sprint/high intensity afterward, 2 min cool down/recovery. We repeated this 9X and we were supposed to leave 'nothing in the tank' after 9 repeats. I think my problem as an endurance runner is that with a good recovery (especially on the bike) I can be ready to go again. I tried my best to push and I was pretty pooped after 9X, but I still felt like I could do more. I would alternate the intervals either push hills/resistance or cadence to  get my HR up. Good times and a GREAT class, worth the 4:40 alarm!

Afterward I hit the ARC trainer for 30 min @ 50 - 1.10 miles, so about the same effort as yesterday's hour. Nice and sweaty workout!

Stretched well both the hips/glutes/hammys and quads/hip flexors. Then headed on home.

Good side of being on the 'x-training' list: I didn't have to feel like a pansy for not running outside in the wind, cold, rain, and snow.

Bad side of being on the 'x-training' list: I have to drive to the gym (10 miles away) TWICE for a morning workout and then for my mandatory Thursday yoga class. Oh well, it's worth it.

Another great spin class. I really do love spin class! It felt like a tempo run for the hour. She had us pushing cadence or hills nearly the whole time with just a few recoveries. One thing I like about this teacher is that she doesn't let you sit up  (hands off handle bars) or get out of the saddle (for the first 30 min). It really helps you push. She also is a good motivator "it's not CAN you do this, it's WILL you?" Keeps my head focused on pushing when I could be slacking.

I stayed for her 20 min stretch class, then did 20 min on the ARC trainer which is something else I'm learning to enjoy. Helps me remind myself to push off my toes and use more calves. I pushed the pace here as well. I figured 20 min I should do over .75 to beat my Wed effort, so I did and I finished up at .79 (which is a lot more work on the ARC trainer than the TM) on resistance 50. 

I pushed through a quick 3X set of PT work and stretches then got to the child care just in the nick of time to not be late. Whew! A full 2 hour push for sure!

I'm honestly a little bummed about missing the SLC 1/2 tomorrow. It is my 'anniversary' half and I love to run it every year! It was my first half 3 years ago - this would be my 4th running. I know I COULD do it (maybe not race it), but the $ I'd have to pay is pushing me toward the cautious side. Always good to emotionally detach from THINGS and move on...right?

Crazy morning, so it might just be a good thing that I couldn't run long today. Easter Egg hunt at one church at 8AM - fun time for the kids! They served donuts after, so I grabbed a chocolate dunford donut knowing full well the 480 calories it would give me. I just couldn't pass it up :)

 I ran the mile+ over to the stake center as a nice warm-up for the run. I am always excited to see who will show up, and I always hope that no one faster than me will challenge me for my title of Women's Champion on the stake (yeah, I know - we're all slow!). I didn't know how much my quad would let me push, but I was shooting for under 22.

I started out fast, too fast I think, but I was keeping pace with the lead guy; however, he lost me on the uphill, but only by maybe 20 seconds. About 1.3 or so miles in 2 more guys passed me, they caught up with the leader and they all stayed together about 20-30 sec in front of me the whole time. I thought that when the downhill hit I could pick it up and feel good (I mean, really...I haven't run since Tuesday so I should be nice and tapered!), but I was just pushing to reel in the guys in front of me - which wasn't happening. The last .25 or so they took off and spread out nicely into 1, 2, 3 and I came trailing in behind them. I ended up just 40 seconds behind the lead guy, which wasn't too bad (the guys always beat me), except that they make it look easy!

After I caught my breath and got my name written down for my award (HA! a 2009 medal, always good times at the free races), I went back to run my friend Laura in. I had told her on the run over that she could break 30 minutes and that I was going to come drag her in and push her to finish under 30 and I kept my word! I pushed and pulled and encouraged her in and as she crossed they said 29:59! YEAH!!! I was SO excited that she had done it. She didn't think she could, but I knew from running the warm-up over there with her that she could get it done! She even took home a medal for her AG as well (like I said, we're all slow). This was her first race and she did a great job!

Afterward I ran 2 miles with my 'trainee' Kathy. She asked me to help her train for TOU marathon, so today was her long run of 5 miles. She had to walk some of the way (especially the uphill), but she did a great job and I'm excited to see her grow and achieve her goals.

I then ran home from the stake center, which rounded out my miles to 7.5 for the day. I didn't think it was too bad or too much until later that afternoon when I could hardly walk. I felt like I needed a cane - I hate getting old! This morning was about the same, but now that I've been on my feet for a while it is getting better - about where it was last week. Man, I'm really tired of this. I thought a few easy miles wouldn't be too bad and that since I'd been good to stay off of it for 5 days I wouldn't have a problem. This is quite discouraging to me - especially with Ogden just 4 weeks away...

1 mile wu: 9:08

5K AP: 7:17 (yup...slower than my 10K spectrum pace). Splits: 7:19, 7:36, 6:57, 6:57 (last .1)