TexasLindsey

6 miles on hilly route at 6 pm with Ashley.  Average pace=8:24/m.  Weather=74 degrees, 69% humidity, 13mph wind, sunny. 

Didn't run for a week against all best intentions.  There were various things that got in my way from running:  1) my in-laws visited on Thursday night, 2) I went out of town for a wedding this weekend, 3)my one year old is teething/has fever/crying-non-stop/waking up all night long.

I started running today and it felt like my right femur was hurting.  After I ran for a little while the pain lessened, but then when we stopped at red light and started running again, the pain was really bad.  I still was able to run, but it did not feel good.

This is just the latest of my right leg problems.  Over the last month or so I have had pain in my right leg move to various locations.  First it was the right big toe, then I took some days off... started running again and my right IT band hurts, then I got new shoes and took some rest days... started running again and my right groin muscle felt pulled or hurt in some way, then just now took a whole week off... and now it feels like the pain is on the femur bone itself.  

This is really depressing.  I wonder if I have a leg length discrepancy.  UGH!   I feel defeated at the moment. 

Woke up today and I cannot put any weight on my right leg.  Pain is concentrated in groin... feels like maybe the pelvis and femur joint.  I am going to see a sports doctor today or tomorrow. 

My husband made me feel guilty about going to see this chiropractor/sports injury specialist.  Our insurance doesn't cover it, so it could be very expensive.  However, I think they would diagnose my problem easily... the specialize on running injuries.   My husband just doesn't see my running as a priority.  It's not worth the extra expense.  Sigh.

I'm relunctant to go to my regular doctor because in the past when I've seen him for running related injuries, he sends me to orthopedic doctor who then sends me to physical therapy... no one diagnoses what is wrong, and because I'm just sent around to various different doctors on different days, I have to spend countless babysitting favors and money on co-pays for each doctor that I see.  Waste of time and money.

I will presevere.  I will not give up until I am running again pain-free.  Think of me as Scarlet O'hara with a fist full of Tara dirt in my hand, "As God as my witness"...  Well, maybe that's a little dramatic... but I really do not want to get discouraged.

I looked over this training log and I realized that the precursor to all the problems on my right leg was my big right toe.  That big toe joint was bothering me for months.  I bet I had a stress fracture.  My theory is that I started running differently with my right leg because of the big toe.  This triggered all the IT band issues.  I eventually switched shoes and my groin muscle was injured.  Now everytime I run it feels like my femur is hurting. 

Here's my plan:  A. 2-3 weeks of no running.  B. New orthotics  C. Start running again very slow and not many miles.  If it hurts, more time off.  D. strength training.