Week ? : Stalled

I've been recovering from my IT Band injury for a few weeks now and I think that I am getting better! It hurts less and less each day. I purchased a foam roller and it is doing wonders! It hurts SO BAD when I first start using it but the pain lessens each time & each day I get on it! On Saturday, I walked in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk which was a 5K. I ran when I could with the jogging stroller and my leg didnt hurt. Afterwards, I was a little gimpy getting out of the car so I went right to my foam roller and did a few sets. Ta - da!  No more pain! I have felt great ever since!

Tonight, I am going to try some interval training... 1:1 and see how I feel.

Week 5: Over & Injured

I haven't run again since Tuesday. My hip is just not right. I'm going to reevaluate on this upcoming Tuesday. What really sucks is that I have a race on Saturday. A Mud Run at that... not just a simple 5K along the street. <Insert large sigh here>

I was thinking about my injury this morning. A few months ago, I noticed that if I was standing and rotate around to walk, my hip would pop. I think I looked that up and it was just one of those getting old things. I wonder now if it was the start of whatever this is.

Explanation of whats bothering me.. lets see.. the side and the back of my left hip. It hurts when pressure is applied as I walk. Also, the front outside of my left shin is bothering me too. Its tender to touch and gives a good pull when I point my toes. I've tried rolling it out but nothing seems to be helping that either.

I'm pretty depressed about all this.

Week 5: Weak hips

Today was my first day back after that long run on Sunday. I was supposed to run yesterday but I pooped out. I felt like poopin out today but I forced myself to get out there.

About half way through the run, my hips started to bother me again. Not really in the same spot though...more like the joints. Here is what I read from Cool Running.com:

Pain at the side of the hip
Description:Pain in the side of your hip, usually at the joint of your hip and thigh but sometimes a bit higher toward the hip bone.
Likely causes:A basic overuse injury. You've inflamed the fascia in your hips, the flexible fibers in the joint. The specific reasons for this pain vary for different runners. The culprit may be weak back muscles, the type of surface on which you run, the shoes you wear, or the length of your running stride. One of the remedies below will likely work for you, but it's difficult to predict which it will be. However, if you have pain in only one of your hips, you probably have either an uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths. See the section above on lower back pain for details on treating this.
Remedy:As mentioned, hip pain can come about for a variety of reasons. Try these remedies; one of them (or a combination) should get rid of the pain, albeit with a bit of persistence. Try shortening your stride when you run. Try switching running surfaces (if you've been running on a hard surface, try a softer one or vice versa). Reconsider your running shoes; your feet may demand a different style or fit. Finally, try some abdominal and lower back exercises to strengthen those muscles.


So, what am I going to do? I'm not sure. I dont think my shoes are that old. I just bought them in April I think and I dont put that much mileage on them. I think I'm just going to take some Motrin and remind myself to take it easy.

Week 4: End with 5 miles and an ass kicking

This week was kind of slack. I was only able to run for about 17 mins on Tuesday and my Thursday run got "tech supported out". Meaning, I was on the phone with AT&T trying to get my computer to start working again for over an hour. By the time I got off of the phone it was after 9pm and I was just burnt out.

So, today I ran 5 miles as scheduled per my Jeff Galloway training program. I met up with a local group of chicks that run around the JCP at 6am. In other words, I smoke too much crack and make crazy decisions to hang out with other nuts. These ladies are wicked  nice but they are so much more advanced than myself. I felt like a loser. Well, maybe not a loser but I didnt want to hold anyone back. My friend "M" stayed with me which I think was cool with her because she was a bit hung over and probably welcomed the excuse..er well.. break.
"M" did push me and kept me going. Towards the middle my hips started to hurt and we switched to a run/walk method. She said that she noticed that I was running faster once we started that method. Hmmm, maybe thats something to concentrate on during my long runs. I just don't want to be that girl that says OH its been 3 mins I have to stop running now.

Overall, it was a good run. I think it took somewhere between an hour and 5 mins and an hour and 10 mins. Not sure because I was too clouded to start my watch when we took off. "M" offered me some good advice and it was nice to be broken out of my own pace for a change. 

Week 4: (Off Day) Race Times

Race                           Distance                     Time                Pace

Jax Sym                       4mi                               45:39               11:24

NeverQuit                    3.1mi                            38:53               12:32

MemDay                      3.1mi                            34:50               11:14

Celebration                   3.1mi                            43:07               13:54

NeverQuit                    3.1mi                            43:52               14:09

Stadium Chall               3.1mi                            43:10               13:55

BelieveinHeroes            4.97mi                          1:03:09           12:42

My pace is improving! The Memorial Day 5K was a race that I was training in a running class for. I think that is why I did so well. The Florida Striders are an AWESOME group. Shortly after that, I hurt my knee & I got pregnant. The Celebration 5K was my last race due to those reasons. As you can see, the Never Quit was my first race back after the pregnancy. It was pretty tough and wicked hot!! I didn’t do so well, but it felt good to be back. Looking at these numbers, it looks like I’m getting better. My next race is the Jax Mud Fest and I don’t think it will be helping my numbers any! I am debating on signing up for the Evergreen Pumpkin 5K at the end of October. I would do the 10mi but according to my training log – its an easy week!

Reviewing the numbers though, I guess I have a 13 min pace which has me finishing the ½ Marathon at around 2 hours and 50 mins. My goal is 2:45. I think its doable!

What has been your best time?

Week 4: Splat Splat Splat

Its very very hard to make a noise like that...


I only ran for 17 mins tonight instead of my required 30mins. The lightening was getting crazy and I was scared that I was going to die. So, my plan is to run another 15 mins tomorrow to make up for it.

Week 3: Completed

Today's run was an easy 2 miles. I finished in 22:55 with one itty walk break. I wanted to run the whole 2 miles without a break but I pooped out. I have the hardest time not focusing on what I am doing so then I just start thinking too much about being tired. I do so much better when I have something else on my mind or someone to talk to.

Next weeks long run is 5 miles. I hope to run it with some friends but they are faster than I am so I am a little intimidated. I'm sure they would hang with me but I don't want to hold them back. We'll see.

On to the next....