Injury Update: So Far So Good

I ran 7 miles yesterday, and I'm pretty excited about it.

I had 10 on the plan for that day before I got hurt last month.  Since then I've reworked my plan.  Those last two miles were tough- my legs felt heavier than they should have.  I cut back on Camp Gladiator workouts in order to give my body time to recover.  My new adjusted plan is to just finish this race.  I don't see myself getting a PR after how yesterday's run felt.  Usually I don't feel that heaviness until mile 10.  I still have three long runs left, though.  I just wish I could be more active (it would help to shed these extra holiday pounds) in order to build up more speed.  I feel like I'm not getting the speed workouts I need now.

After yesterday's 7, I soaked in Epsom salts.  I didn't ice it because it's chilly in my house, but it feels great.  I didn't feel any soreness at work today. 

Now, I have mountain cedar allergies bothering me.  I took the day off of working out because the medicine I take makes me feel so sleepy and dehydrated.  I figured a workout in this state wouldn't be good for me.  We will see how tomorrow goes.  I will probably need a workout since there is another event using our rehearsal space for one act play and I will be confined to my black box.  It's difficult to rehearse this play without our stage. 

I usually bring a 64oz water bottle to work and fill it up again by the end of the school day.  I got down the road this morning and realized I didn't grab it.  I stopped at the gas station near school and found a gallon of electrolyte water so I grabbed it.  I finished half of it, and I'm about to drink more.  How much water do you drink a day?  Does it leave you satisfied or do you feel symptoms of dehydration?

Have a great week!
Cheers,
Kasey

Emotional Stages of an Injured Runner

Slowing down is difficult for many of us runners.  Even when our body is telling us, "Hey!  Take it easy!" we don't want to believe it.  It happened to me a week and a half ago.

I had a GREAT first week of half marathon training.  My long run felt great, I was sprinting faster than usual at Camp Gladiator.  Then I went on a short, easy run around the block and felt a sharp pain in my right shin.  I cut the run short and headed for home, hoping that it was nothing.  But, it was sore for a few days after that.  I thought it could be shin splints, so I taped it up.  Usually that feels better but it made my calf muscles tight and the dull ache was still there.  I foam rolled.  I soaked in epsom salt.  I even AVOIDED running for several days!  Then I went for a test run.  Two miles on our usual route, and still felt a dull ache.  

I made a doctor's appointment.  It's this afternoon.  I know I won't get an immediate answer today because x-rays don't typically show stress fractures so an MRI will need to be scheduled so who knows when that will be.  If I do need an MRI according to this doctor, I will have to defer my entry to the Missions Half Marathon in February.  I'm super bummed because I was in awesome shape when this happened and I was really looking forward to tough workouts and another PR.

My friends try to console me by telling me there are other ways to exercise but I look at them like they are crazy.  (There's nothing else besides running!!)

10 Stages of a (hopefully not) Injured Runner

1. Feel a (slight) pain and pretend it was nothing.  We do have a high tolerance for pain, anyway.

2. Go for another run the next day, feel the pain again, and it's worse, but maybe not?  Maybe I'm just making this up in my head.

3. Ice it anyway.  It will go away tomorrow.

4. Apply KT tape and ice it the next day.  It can't be that bad.  Go for a run.

5. Foam roll with KT tape, then ice it.  It's really not that bad!  Go for a run.

6. Soak in epsom salt, foam roll with KT tape, then ice it.  It's going away! (hopefully)  Go for a run.

7. Take ibuprofen, tell yourself it's better.  It HAS to be with the epsom salts, KT tape, ice, and foam rolling!  I even took a few days off!  Go for a run.

8. Give in and make a doctor's appointment.  Stop running.  Cry myself to sleep.

9. Go to doctor's appointment, play it off like it really doesn't hurt that bad.  Wait impatiently for results.

10.  If results are negative, lace up IMMEDIATELY!  Don't forget the ice later.  If results are positive for an injury, wallow in sorrow, scroll Instagram and feel extreme jealousy that others can run right now.  It's going to be a long recovery!

I'm praying I can lace up again soon!  Until then, take care of yourselves!  Listen to your body and eat your goddamn vegetables.

Cheers,

Kasey

How I Fell in Love With Running

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a runner.  I plan my life around races.  Seriously.  I have a second job to help pay for running gear and races.  (Did you know that half marathons are around $100?? It's nuts.)  However, I didn't know I loved running so much until I actually did it, 9 years ago.

I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, with my parents after not finding a job after graduate school.  Summers in Arizona are scorching hot, so I honestly don't know why I thought this was a good time to start.  But looking back on it, if you are going to do anything that's hard, you might as well do it when it's REALLY hard.  Like in the Arizona summer heat.  I found myself tired of looking at a computer screen applying for jobs, tired of being stuck inside in the air conditioning, so it really was a Forrest Gump moment for me.  I just felt like running!

I bought new tennis shoes (not even RUNNING shoes!) and a new sports bra.  I loaded some songs on my click wheel iPod, and I told myself I would make it to the light post around the block and back.  I did it, and it was HARD, but I did it.  The next day, I told myself I would make it to the light poll two blocks away.  Every day I pushed myself a little bit further.  I did walk, don't get me wrong, but I covered the distance I set out to do every night.

Almost immediately I could feel a difference in my lungs and overall sleep.  I fell asleep faster, felt like my lungs were clearer, and with a new goal to hit every day, I was motivated to do more.

I didn't have a GPS watch, so I used MapMyRun.com to map out a route with a specific distance around our neighborhood.  Pretty soon I was covering a 2.5 mile distance every night and it felt awesome!

I ran my first 5k in October of 2009 after only a few months of running and it wasn't timed, which was for the best!  I felt so awesome being able to cover that distance.  I'm competitive by nature, so I continued to challenge myself to go further and faster.

I'm not going to sugar coat it: running hurts.  Even for someone who is in shape, it hurts.  But those are the runs that make you better.  Learning to push past the minor pain and discomfort makes you a better runner, and makes your body better.

Running isn't everyone's cup of tea, but even if you cover a couple of miles a day you will notice a difference in your overall health.  And who knows; maybe you will find something that gives you your "You time", something you will make time to do just for you.  Because you deserve it!

Cheers!
Kasey