Clock Ticks Away as I Move Closer to this Unplanned Physical Experiment

I reached the peak of my illness last night/this morning.  Though I'm still ill, I am improving.  Continuing the hip exercises and foam roll.  I'm experiencing absolutely no pain in the hip doing ordinary things.  Some pain when I stretch, but usually just some stiffness.  No pain whatsoever with the foam roller. 

At this point, it's all about getting well and stengthening that hip.  I'm looking at Calico now as one big experiment -- can I do it, with having run a mere 3.75 miles over the two weeks leading up to it?  And can I do it, happily, joyfully, playfully?  That's my plan anyway. : )

Miles logged:  0

Updating Still . . .

For those of you just joining me in this saga, I am quick approaching the Calico 30k Trail run, my favorite race of the year, the whole reason I began trail running back in June of 2008.  Calico beat me up pretty good that first time, but I finished.  I finished with the promise to return.

After a full year of training, with merely days remaining, I am sick.  Not only am I sick, but I am recovering from some kind of repetitive injury to my hip.  I haven't run in about a week, nor do I think I will be able to run tomorrow, or cross train for that matter in the final days leading up to Calico.

And thus the update for today, Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

I am sicker than I was yesterday.

My hip took a step backward after yesterday's swim. 

I am continuing my "Fast Track to Recovery" plan and trying not to do too much in a day, as far as chores, etc.  I'm just at the point now of seeing what I can do come Sunday, I have no real goals.  I don't really care to get out there and run or cross train until then, because if I'm sick, I fear I'll get sicker.  And if my hip does get increasingly better -- I want to keep it that way til the big day.

As a side note:  I accidentally took double the dose of glucoscomine today.  What the heck is that going to do?  Who knows.  How did I do this?  I took my supplement (1,500 mg) and then later in the day drank one of those joint jucie waters -- which upon close inspection, noticed that it too contained 1,500 mg : )

Here's the good thing about right now:

It's a good thing that I'm sick now and not at the end of the week.  Everyone's been sick in my house, it was only a matter of time.

Being sick also guarantees that I'm not gonna go out there and injure myself further.  I do foolish things like that. : )

Miles logged:  0

Update (or maybe just an excuse to complain?)

After a restless night of waking again and again, I finally woke with MUCH improvement to the hip.  But . . . I gotta laugh at this -- I also woke with a sore throat and overall aches.  (I guess it's better to catch this cold, or whatever it is, now instead of later.)

I packed lunches, got the kids off to school, all without a limp.  I took my supplements, did some stretching, and with the sore throat still lingering, I headed off to the gym anyhow, about 10 AM.  Now, at forty-four years old (soon to be 45!), you'd think that I'd have more sense.  But I don't.  I really don't.  So desperate am I to get in some cardio, I did my swim.  I cut it slightly short though.  Swam 2,000 yards, an easy easy work-out really.  Best thing was, I experienced no pain what-so-ever (aside from that nagging sore throat).

(I'm just going crazy here!!!  I needed to do something).

Back home, I rushed about doing chores afraid to admit that my hip was worse off this afternoon than when I woke!  The way it looks right now, a Tuesday run is out of the question.

Boo Hoo.

There is plenty, more than plenty to be thankful for.  But this!  I am not very happy about it TO SAY THE LEAST.

Miles logged: 0

ps.  here's the kicker that I've neglected to mention -- exactly one week after Calico, I'm scheduled to run the rain post-poned Xterra. LOL

Cheers!

Fast Track to Recovery?

Seven days have now elapsed since my last run -- and that one, I cut short due to my hip.  I was starting to  "freak out" about this.  I maintained my composure and all (sorta), but inside, I've been bummed, REALLY BUMMED.  First off, this injury came on the end of December, and I kept on running.  I should have layed off back then.  (How many times do I have to learn this?)  Secondly, I'm stressing, wondering, will I be able to run Calico, my most favorite race of the year?????  It may be two weeks off from running when I hit the trail out in Yermo.  Can I do it? 

I'll take back right now something I recently blogged, and that is that it was a "given" that I'd finish Calico.  Now . . . maybe not.  Heck.  That's okay.  Still, I'm resolved to get over this before the race.

My fast track plan to recovery (hoping for a run this Tuesday)

1.  Stengthening excercises specifically aimed at treating Bursitis -- daily

2.  Foam Roll -- a few times a day

3.  Stretching -- several times a day

4.  1500 mg glucosamine, 1200 mg chondroitin

5.  Anti-inflammatories

6.  Core strengthing exercises

7.  NO RUNNING, no cycling, no hiking (except for walking around Disneyland all day), no Elliptical

It looked like I wasn't getting much improvement as of yesterday.  But today!!!  I woke with no pain (the pain is usually at its worse upon waking).   Most importantly, pain is minimal when I stretch.  : )  Happy girl here!  Tomorrow, I swim, and then maybe, just maybe I run Tuesday. 

Miles logged this morning:  0

Bursitis or IT Band?

So the left hip now is acting up (as oppossed to the usual right hip, which is perfectly fine.)  Took Monday off from any kind of workout (my usual day off anyway), then Tuesday, I WENT HIKING with my husband (Caps because I'm thinking that was not a bright thing to do).  This morning, I drove down to the marina in order to avoid any hill running.  I ran an empty wharf and marina, crossed over to the island and about half way through the island, thought to myself, "Okay, I need to cut this thing short."

I'm freaking out here -- the hip pain is not going away after well more than a week!  I've been using the foam roller to no avail, except for once today.  After an extra long session, the pain subsided for about fifteen minutes.  Then I read an article that made me wonder:  is this problem really the IT band, or is it Bursitis?  My pain stays with me when I don't run = bursitis.  I don't have a typical bursitis gait, that is foot lunge in front of the body, mainly heal strike = IT Band (I have more a mid-foot and on hills a forefoot strike, definitely not out in front of the body). 

What do you think? 

I got to researching, and learned that while the foam roller helps for both, glucoscomine helps tremendously for bursitis.  Here's where I'm kicking myself.  I never replaced my glocoscomine when I ran out about SIX MONTHS AGO!  You can guess where I'm off to now.  The Drugstore!

Miles logged this morning:  3.75

Nice N' Easy (But I still have lots of gray)

Yesterday's recovery was a little tough.  After about an hour of leg and foot cramps, I thought it would be a good idea to take some Eurolytes.  Cramps?  They disappearred shortly after.  (Note to self:  pack lots and lots of eurolytes for Calico race).

I wished I could have made the group run scheduled for today.  I woke after 8AM, tired and stiff.  And I don't mean to be complaining, but I've got that dang IT band problem again -- but on the opposite side.

About 2:30 this afternoon, I took a nice n' easy run down to the harbor.  The skies were cloudy and it felt like a cold front was coming in.  The sidewalks were crowded, the restaurants too.  Saw some old neighbors, chatted for a few minutes, and I was off again, through the wharf, in and about the crowds of walkers. 

Back home before I knew it, I took extra care stretching in the backyard.  The foam roller is out for some over-time. 

Now is the time to cut back mileage and work on psyching out the mind.     : ) 

Miles logged today:  5.35