Sometimes the best things in life are hard to see.... Good things come to those who wait... Yeah yeah yeah....squinting and waiting... My apoligies for the dealy in posts the past few weeks...you would think the extra time I have had on my hands from not running would have resulted in numerous posts about motivation & school and nutrition..and blah blah blah.... The last few weeks...3 to date...have been absolutley horribly frustrating...a runner who just wants to run..is force to not run...or run with increased pain...all from ...running.. you guessed it..the knee injury (now im calling it the nagging -knee) is still in full effect..3 weeks after running down hill in yaktrax my knee still has many things it likes to do..however and sadly running is not one of them... In the last 3 weeks, I have accumulated ..maybe...and this might be a strecth but 20 miles of running & the elliptical is getting older by the day... I am 85 days away from Boston. I was supposed to run a 10k today.. Instead I did not run a step...and am trying to convince myself that its April that counts...Boston is way more important than a 10k in the foothills of the rocky mountains. I am trying to find the blessing in this curse... In the mean time, I have been able to do a great deal of 'self-education" on proper running mechanics, gait analysis, mobility and flexibilty as well as research on what has worked for others in my similar situation.. I have fallen in love with the work by Dr. Kelly Starrett (a PT and endurance athlete) read his book "Ready to Run" in less than 3 hours, ordered his 'voodoo' floss for mobility and used it daily (along with countless other mobility techniques he has detailed out in his books. I have worked more on the 'little' things like walking form and proper mechanics in daily life. But sadly, each day I can't go out and check off the box for the day on my training log, I grow ever more frustrated and into this unforgiving trench of a slump---but I am putting and end to this..NOW. Today I drove to a race, that I knew I couldnt run to pick up my race packet and the shirt..and was so excited about the park and terrain and race...but had to hold it all in ....[ i felt like a kid who was teased with an ice cream cone & a park from inside a car ---watching all of her friends play and laugh and have the best day] Although I am frustrated beyond belief and starting to worry if the 'sub-3" is still realistic..I am determined to do everything I can in this time of "recovery & reflection" to make that dream a reality... Plan for the week: 1. Compensate training with UE (upper extremity) biking [ aka arm bike- or a runners hell] 2. UE lifting circuits 3. daily core (in the morning before school-- so "i don't get to tired" and actually get it done 4. diet on point- fuel for recovery 5. Get that study on.....gotta use time when you have it right???
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Week 3 of training.... It was the last week before classes started again, my best friend from home was visiting & the snow had melted... I had planned on moving my workouts one day ahead this week to fall into days with better weather (and hopes of ice melt) for workout days. Last sunday...(dun dun dun...) I was trying to do a long run..in the yaktrax again due to ice and on the 650ft. loss of elevation on the way down from the mountains..my knee decided to remind me it was there. I thought it was just achy from the decent and cold, but it continued to remind me of its presence all week. Monday I went to yoga in the morning and it was stiff and sore. I ran after (what was intended to be a 13 miler) 5.25 with pain every step. It wasnt excruitating, but annoying and I felt it with every step. The second hiccup of training was upon me...Injury. Only 3 weeks into training (and none being what I had hoped due to weather) I was now faced with my worst fear. Caught between the inner runner and PT student...I decided to go 'easy' the next day and called it at 4 miles. I felt I had reached a point where rest was going to mean more than mileage. Wednesday...It was terrible. Hurt to walk, bend, sit for a long time..pretty much everything..and I did no activity for the first time in months. Wednesday was hard for me..having the time to run (all day if I really had wanted to) but unable to do so pain free; I was now trying to "listen to my body" and 'train smarter, not harder". I was frustrated. I was angry. I was down right mad. Thursday...a new day..and it was feeling better. RICE Rest..Ice...Compression...Elevation...the basics.. I had done them all, for the last week..and was hopeful today would be the day. I ran 2..with some discomfort and got on the elliptical for some cross training (45 min/5 miles), lifted & did core. Friday..Chantelle..my best friend from college was in COLORADO. interviewing for a running spot in grad school at UCCS..and I so badly wanted to run with her..like old times. The knee was still sore but was okay after the 3 hr. round trip to pick her up. When we got back, I heated and headed out with her..made it 8..feeling pretty good.....shortly after the workout...it was TERRIBLE. My knee hurt..it ached..I was not happy. In the midst of the past week..against the runner in me, I decided no mileage this weekend. I took Saturday totally off..nothing..expcet some foam rolling to losen up the legs. Sunday will be core and sticking to my lifting program (modified for the knee). In hopes of next week being better..I am trying to outsmart the knee so it is ready to tackle the rest of my program, races & the new semester as it starts. Cheers, off & recovering -lo I dont plan on any "revelations" in 2015. Don't take that the wrong way..
While not exaclty a "new years resolution" the last day of break seemed an appropriate time for my list of "things to do in 2015". I already feelI am a relativley healthy person. I make exercise a regular part of each day and enjoy sleep- which can be hard to come by as a student. I try to eat well & keep the adult beverages to a moderate ammount. I won the parental lottery, have the best sister in the world & a boyfriend who means the world to me. I am in the graduate program of my dreams, in COLORADO (where I have always wanted to live), working my way to the job of a lifetime- a Physical Therapist. I have been blessed with all that I need and even more than I could ever want. With all that said..I haven't been enjoying life as much as I feel I should in the last few years( especially my first semester of PT school). I let stress get the best of me and allow small, unsettining situations to ruin a day. I constantly compare who I am now (the runner & student & person) to who I was my last year of college track and XC when I felt like I was on top of the world. "felt" its all about perception...how i "felt" my life was...somewhere in time..that percepption had changed. Now, in a COMPLETLY differnet point in life..I fixate on who I once was while trying to become who I want to be. I dont have one, life changing resolution for 2015, rather many small ones to try and get back into the drive seat of my lifes adventure. With inspriation form my favoirte book " The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin-- I have created The "route" of 2015: plans for each month with a goal in mind: a life of bliss & endless happiness. Each of us, whether we want ot admit it or not, (ahemm...) have certain characteristis we wish to improve on...these is my "resolutions" for the year. Each month has an overall theme I wish to work on and smaller tasks or "goals" I will focus on each week (adding the next to the list as the month progresses), My "Plan" is to try and build on each month (and goals) as the year progresses. As for why I've decided to prusue 2015 in this fashion... - I know there are no 'huge' changes I want to make in my life at this point, however, there are many things in the day-to days that I think I could improve upon in order to become a better human being. January: Health & Fitness
March: MONEY
April: GAME TIME
May: GO GREEN
June: PATIENCE July: WORK harder..
August: ADVENTURE
Sepetember: CAPTURE
October: APPREICATION
November: BE THANKFUL
December: PERSISTANCE
This is my personal list of what I think I need to do to become a happier and better version of my self: the best student, runner, sister, girlfriend, daughter, friend, classmate, and stranger I can be. What are your resolutions for the year? Do you have one? or many? Why did you make that a resolution? --- give each resolution a Why...why is this important enough to you to call it your 'resolution'? Giving your resoultions a meaning, the "why factor" makes them all the more important to you and eaiser to keep...(psych degree emerging). But seriously.. off and running.. xo -lo You can fill in the blank here...I will will choose, 'less than desirable'. Don't get me wrong, I love a fresh dusting of powder as much as anyone, but what I also love are clear sidewalks/running paths within reasonable time post snowfall. Since Christmas, the sidewalks have been treacherous, to say the least...and 50+ miles in the yaktracks is starting to take a toll on my body and mind. The last week has been incredilby frustrating...every run..slip and slide...no good rhythmy and surely no good pace...well not what I had planned for each of my runs. The poor weather has reminded me of an important caveat to being a distance runner..FLEXIBILITY. My weekly workouts had to be re-arranged more than once. - My sunday long run, dropped a mile becasue I fell on ice 9 miles out and tweeked my shoulder. Also didn't lift that day for fear of aggrivating it worse. Tuesday's workout...moved to Wednesday because of heavy snow and no clear roads. I was able to tempo however, just a bit slower (again due to slick pavement). In keeping with a down day between workouts, I moved Thrusdays to Friday. This started off as one of the only good runs of the week, but quickly fell into the slick sucky-ness of a run like the past 7. My first 3 miles were 7:05 and felt GREAT!! Then came the snow and Ice and slowed pace..and trashed legs. By the time I got to start the workout...there was no cement in sight..for miles. I finsihed the 10 miles I had planned (reluctanly) and was glad I did, but again..irritated by just the miles and no workout. Today I was supposed to do my longest run yet..13...and of course, like clockwork- it snowed last night and 4 miles was it. The sidewalks are littered with ice chunks, making safe navigation darn near impossible- and the risk wasnt worth it. TOmorrow is supposed to be 50 degrees...so again- FLEXIBILITY. Its my last week of vacation before semester two starts- so I'm not to worried about all of the changes with my running schedule- because, I mean what else do I really have to do (not studying yet)!! The struggles and frustrations of training the last week were not how I saw the new year starting, but thats just it...its a new year. 2015 has 365 days for us to overcome, and challenge ourselves to reach new goals, try new things, explore, learn and adventure. I'm still working on my new years resolutions...(I know a day late and a dollar short--) but they'll be posted soon. I also plan to get on a posting schedule: workouts, new recipes & DPT tidbits to make other student's lives easier!! (if thats even possible) Stay tuned.... off and running... x0 |
Lauren H. PT, DPTRegis University Archives
January 2017
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