I Can Do Hard Things

April 29, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

American Fork,UT,

Member Since:

Nov 27, 2009

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

St George Marathon

2011 - 4:11:52

2017. -4:01:17

2021 - 4:03:05

Salt Lake City Full Marathon

2013 - 4:23:03

Ogden Marathon

2012 - 3:58:35

2013 - 4:17:20

2014 - 4:02:51

2017 - 3:55:22**

2023 - 3:57:09

Utah Valley Marathon

2019 - 4:05:37

Top of Utah Marathon

2014 - 4:09:27

Mt Charleston Marathon

2019 - 4:05:33

West Mountain Marathon

2015 - 4:42:34

St George Half Marathon

2012 - 1:55:00

2013 - 2:03:00

2014 - 1:46:00

2015 - 1:48:00

2022- 1:42:45**

Salt Lake City Half Marathon

2012 - 1:51:00

2014 - 1:44:01

Hobble Creek Half Marathon

2001 - 1:40:00**

2011 - 1:45:00

2012 - 1:43:00

2013 - 1:43:00

2022 - 1:48:53

American Fork Half Marathon

2013 - 1:48:24

2014- 1:53:23 (pacing Tim)

2017 - 1:47:54

2018 - 1:48:12

2019 - 1:47:50

Timp Half Marathon

2012 - 1:47:18

2022 - 1:49:40 (AF Cancer course)

Utah Valley Half Marathon

2011 - 1:55:00

Top of Utah Half Marathon

2010 - 1:48:20

The Haunted Half Provo

2018 - 1:51:28

Goblin Valley 50K

2014 - 5:58

Red Mountain 55K

2018 - 7:31:37

Antelope Island Fall Classic 50K

2017 - 6:14:23

Antelope Island 50 Mile

2015 - 10:10:00

Antelope Island 100 Mile

2018 - 26:53

**Personal Best

Short-Term Running Goals:

Long-Term Running Goals:

To qualify for Boston

Personal:

Married for 23 years. I have 18 year old triplets and a 15 year old. I love to sew, garden, and run!

Favorite Running Quotes:

"Sooner or later the serious runner goes through a special, very personal experience that is unknown to most people.

Some call it euphoria. Others say it's a new kind of mystical experience that propels you into a elevated state of consciousness, a flash of joy.

A sense of floating as you run. This experience is unique to each of us, but when it happens, you break through a barrier that separates you from casual runners. Forever. And from that point on, there is no finish line. You run for your life. You begin to be addicted to what running gives you."

~Nike Poster

2. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

- Lao-Tzu

You’ve no doubt heard this. And you’ve probably recited it in your mind on a run or at the gym when you’re just beginning to get in shape. You have a goal in sight and this quote brings you back to the current moment.

But the problem is that many runners forget all of the steps between the first one and the goal. If your goal is to run under two hours for the half marathon then you need to be honest about all of the little steps to get to that goal.

…and what I’d rather see you do is to get the goal out of mind completely, but rather focus on the process, not the outcome. -Jay Johnson Process orientation, not outcome orientation.

You should have goals, but you should take it one step at a time. And you should be honest about the fact that you don’t know how many steps it will take to get there. ~ Vernon Gambetta

3. Human beings are made up of flesh, blood and a miracle fiber called COURAGE! ~ George Patton

4. Find the courage to be patient.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	120.07	Year:	503.44
2014 - Minutes Lifetime Miles:						28605.00

Thu, Dec 04, 2014

Slow miles	Fast miles	Total Distance
5.00	0.00	5.00

5 very slow miles on the home TM

I really had to keep my heart rate down. But my stitches and graft felt alright in my mouth.

3x10

walking lunges

single leg hamstring lifts

ball squats

side to side lunges

3x15

overhead press

butterfly

skull crusher

row

Stretch and foam roll

Back in August I had some major right groin/left hamstring (at the insertion point). I've been able to manage it by keeping my running slow. BUT any time I pick up speed or go longer, it totally flares up (I've kept it on the down-low here on FRB because no one likes a whiner). I did PT back in August/September. I went to my sports medicine doctor back at the end of October.

He went into great detail of tendonitis vs tendonosis:

tendonitis - short term inflammation, can be controlled by physical therapy, steriod, and massage.

tendonosis - long term inflammation, treated by surgery, dry needling and PRP

At my first appointment in October, doc gave me a steriod pack (as I had already done a lot of PT). So we decided to do PRP (platelet rich plasma)/dry needling. (We have hit our insurance deductible, so I took advantage).

They took a 60 cc blood sample and spun it down to the good rich plasma. While the blood was spinning for 15 minutes, I had to ice the tendons. Then, they inject Lidocaine into the tendon. They used an ultrasound and injected the plasma into the mad tendon and quirt a small amount of the plasma. Then move to another spot in the tendon...squirt more plasma. Hence the dry needling part of the procedure. During the ultrasound, the doctor mentioned the right hip tendon/left hamstring looked degenerative.

What I didn't realize how invasive the procedure is (they didn't tell me during the last appointment and there is not a lot of internet information). They gave me super Tylenol (and a Lortab....no thanks!!) for the pain. They suggested I don't run for a few weeks (at least a few days)....WHAT!!!! That is a minor detail to forget (I had in my mind this was going to be like a flu shot and I would be running my 10 miles tomorrow). He said I had to determine "return to exercise" regime on my pain level.

This procedure what not what I expected. It is still new and they don't have a lot of research. BUT I really like the idea of using my own blood to to help my recovery (not drugs). It only cost $100 where most places outside of Utah charge $500-$1500 for one injection (and I got 2). I really don't know if it will work. I guess I'm willing to try some "witch craft".

So here is my "poor me" rant.....I feel like I can't train to my potential because I'm always getting injured. I feel like I've been super conservative with increasing my mileage and been diligent with my strength training and stretching. I realize there are "growing pains". I will have run 1700ish miles for 2014 which is almost 250-300 more miles than 2013, Yet I only have 1 half marathong PR. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong with my training.

The end

2014 - Minutes Miles: 85.00

Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Smooth on Sun, Dec 07, 2014 at 14:05:29 from 71.35.222.22

Oh,Toby!!! I am so sorry to hear of your struggle with injuries. It is so frustrating and down right heart breaking when our bodies don't cooperate and betray us. You're not a whiner. This is the right place to vent! As fellow runners, we understand (or at least have empathy for) each other, we know the pain as well as the joy this sport and the journey it takes us.

I've heard of PRP in treating tendonsis. I know of another FRBer, a sub-3 marathoner, had severe achilles tendonosis (eventually ruptured/torn) 2 or 3 years ago, and received PRP (3 sessions, I think). We can hope that the intervention is done early enough that your tendons will regenerate and heal with the aid of your own plasma. We won't know unless we try. I'm so proud of your determination and tenacity...never give up...yes, you can and are doing HARD things. You have trained so hard and done all the necessary cross training and strength training exercises and put in all the recovery maintenance work, all these amidst a busy family life. I know you will prevail and overcome this difficult challenge. Keep hanging on, my dear friend! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Speedy and complete healing to you along with heaps of love and hugs!

From Toby on Mon, Dec 08, 2014 at 18:51:02 from 74.81.235.87

Thanks for the loves! Sometimes running is really hard on my body😃

From RAD on Thu, Dec 11, 2014 at 23:07:09 from 67.177.62.160

Oh man...I get back and get way more than I thought I would. STINK! Plus, no worries about venting. This is FRB :) the place to vent about crud like this, at least this is where I do all my venting so you're in good company.

I hope the procedure is treating you nicely now and that things are healing up well. Your oral surgery and the PRP.

I wish I could help with your dilemma on training. I wish I had answers. Maybe if I did I wouldn't struggle myself so much with the same crap. Just keep plugging along and you'll get there. Remember it is about the journey and not the finish line.

Toby, you are an incredible woman that I admire. I know you'll make it through this and come out stronger on the other side. You always do the hard things that keep me in awe.

From Smooth on Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 12:05:55 from 67.2.120.164

How ya feeling, my dear friend? Enjoying skiing with your cute family?

From allie on Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 13:18:06 from 24.30.41.119

wow. interesting stuff. i think andrea has tried something similar (or the same thing?) as this but i'm not sure. i'm sorry the procedure was more invasive than expected and i hope your recovery is going well.

re: your "poor me" rant -- let us hear it! as smooth said, this is the place to vent about injuries and all other ailments that affect our running lives. you are talking to the right crowd here and you never know when someone is going to pop out of the FRB shadows and say: "hey, i've done ----- or ---- and it worked for me." that's the beautiful part about this blog -- the ability to collaborate and help each other out.

i'm sorry about the injury frustrations, but i agree with you that you have been smart and patient about the way you have increased your mileage and intensity. i really don't think you are doing anything wrong. it's just a long process.

running really is just a whole lot of trial and error. there is so much information out there, and we have to narrow it down and sort through what makes sense for us. finding that "perfect fit" is hard and takes time.

the frustrations and low points i've experienced with running *far* outweigh the successful times.

i know you have already heard this, but i think with continued patience and experimentation, you will find your sweet spot. keep at it. you'll hit those big PRs and you'll have those dream races where it all comes together (you will!).

take care, toby. i hope to see you at macey's again someday. :)

From Toby on Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 20:21:47 from 74.81.235.87

Smooth - Tim and I went up to Park City last weekend and the snow stunk!! But it sure was fun to get away and enjoy the beauty. We sure had a lot of talks about retiring up there.....ski Canyons in the morning...take a nap...then ski Park City in the afternoon....that would be a great retirement 'eh?

Allie - Thanks for the kind words and advice. You were spot on with "what to do with all the information". Running IS so much trial and error....I realize that more and more every week. Our running "highs" must be amazing enough for us to equal our "lows"....why would we do it otherwise. Again, thanks for keeping it real! You always have such good advice!

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