Runner in a Broken Body

My emotional ankle is going on three months now.  I was able to deal with no running while I was stuck in a boot but now I am at the point that it hurts if I don’t run, it hurts if I do BUT my inside hurt if I don’t run but feel better if I do (mind you my “running” lately has been 17 minute pace so it isn’t even really running).  Unfortunately, the personal trainer I have been working with is not comfortable with that answer.  Physical therapy has hit a wall (my ankle keeps getting stuck) so they sent me back to ortho who is ordering an MRI.  As much as I hate to acknowledge setbacks, my physical therapist maybe might have a point and I need to find another method to feeling better on the inside.  One thing he recommended is boxing, which I do quite enjoy.  Today I was supposed to go for a run, but trying to listen to everyone I took my training to the pool.  For the past… week, my pleurisy has been acting up, nothing new, I am used to it and I have learned to deal with it quite well.  I did a gentle warm-up and then for the main part of my workout I used my snorkel without the airflow restrictor on.  I figured it would be a play it by ear swim, no equipment (excluding the snorkel) and just flat out enjoyed the water. 

As much as I hate to admit it, I am well aware of the fact that I must give my body time to heal and with lupus it can take longer than “normal”.  I had planned on running a half marathon every month in 2016 but silly me, I did not clear that plan with my dear friend lupus so that plan has gone out the window.  I might need regular reminders that this is for the best because, knowing me, I am going to fight it every step of the way.  Hopefully once I put the gloves back on I will be able to be distracted long enough to heal. 

I am signed up for two 5ks between now and the end of the year and I will do my very best to walk the course and just enjoy life!

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.

–Thomas Carlyle

To stretch, or not to stretch, that is the question!

Stretching is not really the question, the question is really to stretch before the run or after the run.  Due to my various medical conditions I have to be exceptionally careful in my training or I will end up stuck in bed for a month!  On Monday I figured I would get a few miles in on the treadmill since I was so short last week.  Within the first mile my calves and my back were KILLING me.  I paused the treadmill to try to stretch but it didn’t really do any good.  I managed to get a whole 1.7 miles in before I had to call it quits.  Tuesday, I put on a pair of compression socks and hit the dreamill again.  This time I spent a few minutes of warm-up stretching, more than 3 ½ miles later I was finishing up my time feeling great!  I did the same thing today for my “easy” run and had an incredible run!!!  I figure as long as the warm-up stretching makes my run great I will keep doing it.  I do always warm-up, but I think I need the warm-up stretching.

I have one more short run this week, which is on the calendar for tomorrow and then Saturday is my long run.  I am working on convincing my sister to do a portion of the run with me, it will be nice to see my sister out there on the trail.

Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.

–Swami Sivananda

February

I realize I am three days early, but I am going to say that I rocked February!  My goal for February was to swim on even days and “run” on odd days. I had four off days this month, I didn’t “swim” necessarily each day I was supposed to, there were swim days that I pool walked.  Wednesday ended up being neither swim nor run days because of kickboxing and yoga, but Thursday got both activities (except when it blizzard!). 

This is the third week that I have had boxing/kickboxing on the schedule, unfortunately today boxing was cancelled so I had to be flexible.  I did Week 1, Day 1 of the C25K again (I had it on the wrong workout), then a half hour on the elliptical machine, followed up with 35 minutes of random hills on the treadmill.  I got my hour and a half in, but I didn’t get my boxing.

Tomorrow is an official weigh in for the 90-day challenge at my gym, I will be using tomorrow’s weight as my official end of month weight for February.  January I lost 4.9, this month I am hoping for a bigger number.  But as long as it is going in the right direction I will be happy. 

My official numbers will be posted on Thursday!