I got home from the Kara Goucher running retreat one week ago. I came home SO inspired and ready to battle through the last 6 weeks of training. But my hip/groin had been achy for a week. And now it was a hurting hip. I saw my PT on Monday....oh he is a good tool to have in my running toolbox! I explained my recent training and the PT I had done on it. He explained the very grey area of soft tissue stress that can eventually turn into a stress reaction that can turn into a stress fracture. He did a lot of work on it and told me to take off the next 10 days from running. I have to wear an ace bandage around my thigh/stomach to help support the femoral neck. If it feels better, then it was soft tissue...if it doesn't feel better, then it is a stress reaction and requires 6 weeks off (he didn't feel like it was a stress fracture). I came home from the appointment feeling very defeated. I can confidently say that I've taken my vitamins, got enough sleep, lifted weights at least once a week (sometimes more), and been diligent on my stretching and foam rolling. So I went through the anger, depression, guilt, more anger, more depression cycle. I've put in 1.5 years of good, smart training and have had none of the results I've sought after. In my mind, I start to think that maybe my body isn't cut out for qualifying for Boston. Maybe I need to pick a new goal. BUT I DONT WANT to pick a new goal (there goes that vicious cycle again...anger, depression). We went on a family vacation to Moab and that was a good distraction. But my family thinks I am always injured and why am I being so dumb....what am I doing wrong. Blah, blah, blah.... I didn't do any exercising this week except for a hike out to Delicate Arch. It was a good physical and mental break....I got a sinus infection too, so that contributed to the lack of exercising. Hopefully, I will feel better enough to bike and lift tomorrow. School starts too, so I will have more time to cross train. I really hope it is just soft tissue issues. If I can run the marathon in 5 weeks, my only goal is just to finish. | 