Friday, January 30, 2009

Recouperation and Something Really Gross

So how's that for a title?

I took the baby jogger with little N to go get Maya from school. I'm sorry to report to my East Coast friends that it was about 70 degrees and sunny yesterday here. I made a very careful foray into running and it was a good, but small success. There was some soreness and I did take it VERY easy, you could hardly call it a run. But I was out there and the leg did not seize up and stop me in my tracks. I just have to learn to be careful with my aging self.

During the day I noticed a lot of flies in the house. This did not bode well. I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. I couldn't smell anything bad....

At about 7 in the evening the stench began. Something was dead somewhere and it seemed to be emanating from the fireplace. I made the Hub check it out. There was fur sticking out from above the damper. Some poor squirrel met his untimely demise up there. There was no way that this was waiting until morning because the Creeping Death smell was slowly making it's way to the bedrooms. There was no way I was going to sleep thinking about that thing in there and how hideous the house was going to smell in the morning. So we spent the evening riding ourselves of a stinking carcass....well mostly the Hub did all the work because I did NOT want to get a good look at that thing. So much for our usual Thursday pizza night, at least The Office was a rerun so we didn't miss anything.

I'm just very thankful that there is nothing dead in the house today left for me to deal with.

I'll be heading out in the California sunshine in a few minutes for my run and Maya pickup. Wish me luck with the leg...I'm hoping that things go smoothly.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Happy B-Day to Me

And just to make me feel like I'm 40, last night at track my hammie decided to tighten on the last 400. I'll take full blame for it tho....I couldn't keep myself controlled and I probably pushed it a wittle too much. I'm 40 but I'm still dumb like 16.

It's not TOO bad. I'm being very good to it today, RICE, some heat, ibuprofen - the whole nine yards. But now I will NOT do track for at least three weeks to a month....just to make sure that it's all better. Plus I'll be doing all the stretching and strengthening rehab for it and I'll go see Angelique again. I'm keeping her in biz fo' shore.

So what's up for tonight? A little family B-day with the 'rents and rugrats, some sushi (my fav) and some nice authentic Teutonic cake. Rock on.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Track Tonight...B-Day Tomorrow



Tuesday is a day filled with running around. Maya has a science class in the afternoon and THEN they both have a dance class right afterwards. Then I go to track. Tuesday got overscheduled, unfortunately. But that was the only day that their dance class was offered. I hate running around like this, I don't dig the idea of overscheduling, it's so yuppie.



Here's the workout for tonight - check it out on the blog that I keep for our Tuesday night workout group. I'll be vewwy careful on the hammy and run these a bit slower and smoother.



Playing with the bubble factory.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Back on Track

I took the hamstring out for a spin yesterday...and all systems were go. The rest and the ART did the trick no doubt. Not even a glimmer of the problem. That's not to say that I'm not going to be extra careful (especially at track) for the next week or so. Dr. Angelique suggests continued stretching and strengthening to repair the damage and keep it from happening again.

But I'm oh so happy! The freedom of running is mine again. I was so afraid that this was going to be a nagging problem...but with care and maintanence I'm free to run again. I guess I'm extra worried about it because the big 4 OH birthday is THIS WEEK. I'm really not so worried about being forty, it doesn't really bother me, except the fear of nagging injuries and the old bod not responding to my commands as it used to. Other than that, being forty is just a number.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Art of ART



So I had an ART treatment today from Angelique at Health Logic. ART is not a nice relaxing massage but it sure works. Halfway through the treatment today I noticed that the golf ball at the back of my leg had dissappeared. Angelique believes that what had happend was that my IT band and my biceps femoris came to some dissaggreement on the curve of my last 200 and the BF solved the situation by siezing up. My IT band was probably a bit tight and there was friction between the biceps femoris and it.

So now we're trying to work things out. There will be lots of stretching, foam rollering and icing.

Maybe a little bit of running on the weekend. And then back to Angelique on Monday. HOPEFULLY, that will do it.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Resting Is Okay Too. I Guess

So it's Tuesday evening and the sky hasn't fallen in and I haven't gone completely insane yet. My hamstring feels relatively normal, although I have done zero testing of it. I'll stick to the the week off plan and NOT do any running (thanks Stuart, I'm taking your advice!).

I have an appointment for an ART treatment tomorrow morning. I'm all about fixing any and all problems when they crop up. I can't just sit around and wait for it to go away. Or hope for it to go away. I have to do something about it.

I spent the day carting kids to and fro, doing dishes, cooking, some cleaning (tho definitely not enough). All to the background of the inauguaration. I love this new beginning. I have hope for our collective futures. And I'm ready to get to work. Hamstring or not!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

A Glorious Workout...then...Sidelined

So my marvelous track workout was just that. Marvelous! I was 15 seconds faster on my 400 than just a few weeks ago. I felt the old joy of speedy running, of whipping around the track. Then it happened. Some tightness in the back of my left thigh in the final 200. My run home was hobbling.

I've tried to run in fits and starts all week long, thinking that it was getting better. What to do? Hubby suggested a full week's rest. I'm grumpy and pissed off. Why does this have to happen JUST when things start getting smooth?

But I'm also afraid that this is the beginning of bad things. Is this the start of a nagging injury that won't quit? Hubby again says that this will heal and go away. Ugh, I hope so.

Now for a week of ice, ibuprofen, rest and stretching. To be continued....

Monday, January 12, 2009

What Up?

It's 72 degrees outside in my backyard. Fabulous. I'm really, really, really sorry for my midwest/eastern/Canadian friends, I know it's craphola cold where you are. But I have to admit that I'm-a likin' this weather.

I stuck to my 5k training schedule last week even though I was suffering from some wierd exhaustion. I felt better yesterday, but all in all I mostly felt like I was out of gas. I'm adding some more carbs into my diet and I think it's starting to help. I know, I'm the only person who actually has to add carbs into my diet. I'm not a big sweets or bread person. You could throw me a raw steak and I'd be happy. Seriously. I'm wierd like that.

Today is a rest day. Tomorrow will be speed work. My favorite. Short intervals. 600-400-400-200 repeat. I really DO love short intervals, I'm not being catty I love tearing it up fast and furious (or in my dreams fast and furious). I like the short intense pain, and then it's all over with sort of feeling. Plus they really get the endorphins going!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

The New Schedule

Ouch. 4 x 800's on Tuesday night (plus warm up and cool down) nearly killed me. A few weeks off of intervals is deadly. Wednesday's easy 4-6 mile run turned out to be a painful, tired, huffy-puffy 3.5 mile. Yikes. it felt like 7 miles, but was ONLY 3.5. I'm just hoping that all of the quality work plus adequate rest will translate (quickly) into some decent speed and fitness.

So tonight will be pace intervals.... 2 x 1200m with maybe a 400 at the end and warm-up and cool down of course. I wish I could've done it this morning but the Hubby had to leave for work early in order to get his cycling in. It's all about teamwork if the two of us are going to keep in shape and get to our fitness goals!

Tomorrow will be another rest day (happy happy, joy joy).