Back in the Saddle...

That would be a more appropriate title if I were back to biking – thank goodness that pain is over. Biking was definitely not my thing. I may never to destine to do triathlons. I took two test runs this week and I’m feeling pretty good. I’m not allowed to run full out yet, but I’m steadily working my way back. On the first run I started with a nice 10 minute warm up and then ran ½ mile and alternated with ½ mile walk for 3 miles. On the second run I was up to a ¾ mile run and a ¼ mile walk after my warm up for 3 miles. This week my goal is to be running a full mile with no walking. Then I have to try to catch up with Tracy and her Kick Butt 12-minute miles!

Double Time!

Yesterday as I ran, I was smiling and thinking about my glory days of high school track. Then my mind wandered over to the fact that my birthday is this week. I decided to do a little practical math. You can imagine my shock when I realized that I am running a mile in double the time from when I was half my age. I had to laugh! Now follow my logic, when I was seventeen I ran two miles in a little over twelve minutes. Now at double that age I am running twelve minute single miles on a regular basis during training runs. Boy is that ever a kick in the butt to start moving a little faster. Right now, I am setting the goal of reaching ten minute miles for this next year. No more casual jog in the parks for me, after all this isn't supposed to be a cake walk! (Pun intended.)

Pretty in Pink...

I had good news today and had to celbrate with a little pedi! I think anyones toes look good in pink! I've been cleared to start walking for exercise up to 3 miles. When I can walk 3 miles without pain I can start adding back in 5 minute intervals of running. I'm very excited to be back on the road! The plan is to add a 1/2 mile each time I exercise in order to build slowly and not reinjure my leg. Then slowly add in the running. Unfortunately, this puts the 1/2 marathon I wanted to do at the end of September out of the plan. However, I will be able to run one later in the fall. I've promised myself I won't pick a race until I'm back to running 3 miles. We'll see if I can wait that long!

This Week's Work.

Holy Cow! This summer is absolutely flying by. I'm really finding myself less and less inclined to be inside on the Internet. I just want to be outside playing with the kids all day everyday. Our summers are so short and often so wet around here that I can't stand to waste a single minute.

In order to get my running in I've started setting my alarm to be up by 5:30am. This gives me enough time to get my workout finished before the kids are up. The other obvious bonus of starting early is beating the heat.

My current running week starts on Monday with a quick two mile run and one mile walk. On Tuesday and Thursday I make an effort to take the kids somewhere energetic and I call it cross-training. My mileage on Wednesday is a three mile run and one mile walk. For my final run on Friday I do four miles with the one mile walk. Saturdays and Sundays are spent enjoying the summer with my family.

Hopefully as things start to settle into fall the posts will once again become less sporadic. Until the time I'll keep logging the miles and planning my races!

Movin' Movin'

I've been in a bit of a funk lately and was trying to think of some songs that make me feel like moving. The one that came to mind right away was the song from Madagascar. If your kids love that movie as much as mine, you know exactly what I'm talking about! Here's a few other songs that keep me moving when I'm feeling a little less than motivated.

Faith by George Michael

I like to Move it by Bang Gang ( my girls love this song - makes me smile to think of them doing their "Move it" dance)

Hips don't Lie by Shakira (good hips!!!!)

Maniac by Michael Sembello (steel town girl - I could be her)

Walk this Way by Aerosmith (reminds me of highschool - maybe good, maybe bad)

Can't get you out of my head by Kylie Minogue

Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson (I just like her)

Rehab Plan...

After a trip to the physical therapist I’ve learned what I’m doing right and wrong and how I’m going to get back to running – hopefully. The diagnosis was a lack of flexibility in my left leg (that part I knew) caused by a slight underpronation of my foot. This all caused excessive strain on the tibialis anterior resulting in my shin splint like pain. The right leg still has some issues and we’re going to treat it at the same time as the left – might as well right? The hope is with proper rehab, flexibility training and strengthening I’ll be able to return to running in 2 to 3 more weeks. Very slowly….

Right now I’m trying out the Superfeet insoles. I had tried them at the height of my pain and decided they didn’t work. Ned – my physical therapist – suggested trying them again. I walked 5 minutes without and then 5 minutes with to see what the difference was. The pain was notably better though not gone. This was a good sign that corrective measures will work. In addition I’ve been instructed to heat, massage, stretch and ice my shin area 2 times a day. This sounds easy until you try it with kids. In the middle of icing I’m getting up to get sippy cups and Barbie clothes.

I return to Ned to show all my great progress on Friday. He’s promised more exercises! Can’t wait!

Hello Old Friend...

I'm finally back from time at my parents with the girls. Much like the above picture that has nothing to do with running neither did I the last two weeks. I made jam with my Mom, hiked with my Dad, met friends at a water park (in my swimsuit), played tag with the kids and generally relaxed. It was great, but boy was I ever itching to put my shoes on and go for a run. I finally got on my treadmill this morning and put in a couple of miles. Movement felt really good.

From all of the reading I've been doing it has been reported that you can take a couple of weeks off from training and bounce back. More then three weeks off and generally the recommendation is to start back a few weeks on the schedule. Rest at regular intervals is also highly recommended. I took advantage of that school of thought and fully enjoyed myself. Now will be a real test as to what I have lost and how soon I can jump back into the training schedule.