Well, where did we leave off? Ah yes. The contest. My boyfriend won the contest this month and we haven't begun another one yet. He is having a lovely time gloating. He just bought a new hose and some peat moss for his yard with his winnings. We are still tracking our weight and body fat in-between contests. We reside separately and today I posted the spreadsheet that we will be using to Google Docs so that we could both make changes to it. Loving modern technology.
I haven't exercised at all this week. Partly due to laziness but mostly due to a nagging injury. I don't know why I haven't mentioned it before, I suppose because I thought it would just go away. A couple of months ago, I started experiencing pain in my right hip. I read up on it and decided it was the result of a weak core. Took some core classes and it went away.
Since then, my running has sort have taken over. I've fallen in love with it. Not sure when this happened really. I used to abhor running. I only began doing it because I needed to improve my aerobic capability and lose weight so that I could eventually get into mountain biking, my goal at that time. My real joy was strength training then.
My longest run to date was six miles. It was the Monday before last early in the morning before work. I even ran up some little inclines at the end of my run and felt great... except for the hip. It had begun bothering me again when I bumped my runs from 3 to 4 a week and violated the 10% rule. I think I went from 11 miles a week to 16. Now some people can get away with this. Apparently, I am not one of them. Before the six mile run, my boyfriend, who has run a couple of marathons himself, advised me to run through the pain, which I did. A few days later, I was in the doctors office getting very different advice. I was advised it was simply over training and to cycle for 2 to 2 1/2 weeks, no running (IT band inflammation).
One thing I think I have to be thankful for is that I had already developed enthusiasm for running by the time I was injured so I am not worried about falling out of the habit. However, now I sort of want to run everywhere all of the time. A strange thing has happened. With visions of mountain biking and triathlon in my head, I've somewhere along the way become a RUNNER. Not really interested in doing anything else at the moment. So instead of sticking to this weird version of what I used to want to do I am following my joy. The ultimate goal is a happier and healthier life style, so why not go where your passion takes you on that journey?
Now, my goal is to complete my first race (a 5.4 mile leg in the Pittsburgh Marathon relay) in under an hour. Next is to have lots of fun with my friends at Warrior Dash (5k obstacle course, Ohio course) in June, and then later, a 30 mile adventure race in Pittsburgh (Oyster Race Series, Pittsburgh course) which consists of a foot and bicycle race. Finally topping out the summer with my first half marathon, The Kathryn M. Freeman Race for Ovarian Cancer in Williamsport, PA, where my grandmother lives and where my Dad can join me by running the 5k! I live four hours from them so this will be a great way to race and visit my family while supporting a good cause.
I am babying this hip and vowing to stretch after my runs from now on. My doctor insists the pain has nothing to do with core weakness or hip flexor weakness (this guy is a doctor for the Steelers), but to be on the safe side I think I will begin strength training again as well.
This injury has been disheartening to say the least. I should be running a seven mile run tomorrow. Instead, I am lying around watching movies with my boyfriend. I should be cycling, but I am not. Hopefully I will get out there for an hour or so tomorrow on my bike, which will make up for the lost run. Either way, my main goal right now is to heal this hip so I can run some more. The thought of hurting myself to the point where I would have to take an extended period off brings tears to my eyes, so slow and easy is what I am going to do.
Next week, I plan on talking about testing the running waters after the injury and maybe discuss he benefits of stretching.
Peace, love and well-being.
