Thursdays sure come along much faster when you have a random snow day on Tuesday! I always feel like days off in the middle of the week make the week fly by. However, the winter still drags on. I just avoid looking at the 10 day forecast now because it’s too depressing. So let’s talk about what’s been going on this week, with as little weather talk as possible.
1. I woke up Monday feeling like I was getting a cold. But I had signed up to take a 6am Pure Barre class which I really didn’t want to miss. Besides, I didn’t feel like I couldn’t work out- I just felt more run-down and tired. But class was good and I was glad I went. I feel alot of the same muscles working that I’ve been focusing on in PT!
2. Since there was no school on Monday I went to my office to do paperwork. I swear it took almost 40 minutes for my computer to start up. I hate wasting time like that! And I was the only one in my office so there was no one to complain to. Luckily my coworkers who had taken the day off happened to text me about something else, which distracted me for a bit plus I got to vent about it.
3. The PT clinic was kind of crazy on Monday because everyone was trying to get in and out before the snow came. I feel like we are slowly piecing together this puzzle that my body has given me very, very slowly. I described how on Friday I didn’t run but my low-back/piriformis was tight, and that when I woke up on Saturday and started warming up something “popped” and everything felt really good on my run. This would go along with my PT’s theory that my SI joint is contributing to my problems. He said I looked level when he checked me before I ran…and then when he checked after my run I looked a little off. He explained SI joint issues to me in a way that I finally understood.
4. Lately I have been feeling a renewed sense of optimism about my running. I always stay pretty positive about getting back to running and racing but after feeling like I have faced the same issues over and over again it can be really disheartening. But as I get some different answers (not that others were wrong, just that I think there is more to it than we had been focusing on) I feel like I am moving in the right direction. I think dealing with this has taught me alot, now that I am starting to piece it all together.
5. Something really strange happened on Sunday with my right foot. Like really, I don’t have enough running issues that my foot has to start feeling weird? It was a rest day and I noticed a really slight pain on the top/side of my foot. When I went to PT on Monday it started hurting after about 3 miles on the alter-g so I cut my run short. My PT was just as confused by this as I was. The only explanation I could think of was that it was hurting in the same spot where I dropped a shower door on my foot 2 years ago. Everyone probably thinks that all of these running ailments are in my head because that is definitely how it seems. It has felt fine since Monday.
6. A snow-day/sick-day was just what I needed this week. I hate taking sick days and wouldn’t have called out but I really needed the rest and to stay inside where it was warm. I had signed up for a Rev Cycle class for Tuesday morning but cancelled my reservation due to the forecast and how I felt (the class ended up canceled anyway). So instead of running (which I told my PT I wouldn’t do because of my foot) or taking a class I just did some strength work and PT exercises at home. Sometimes I need to be forced to take break or I never will.
7. I realized I have just over 3 weeks until my half-marathon. I haven’t been training and I feel like I have barely been running! This is the least prepared I have ever been going into a race. I have no idea if I will keep building my up my long run over the next week or two, but this weekend’s weather is supposed to be brutal (sorry, I know I said I wouldn’t talk about weather) so not sure if it’s worth torturing myself in 0 degrees or on the treadmill. I guess I will just have to do this race for fun and figure out a goal half for later in the year!
8. Did you celebrate?
Sorry if those thoughts were a bit all over the place, but sometimes that happens when you’re thinking out loud! Thanks to Amanda as usual!
Have you ever done a half-marathon (or any race) completely unprepared?
Have you ever had random pains that don’t make any sense? Ever feel like your pain is “in your head”?
Do you still work out if you don’t feel well?
Every day is drink wine day for me! Well lately, it has been more like every other day.
I am glad to hear you are feeling optimistic in your running. The more I read about your issues, the more I see we are kind of in the same boat- not where we want to be, dealing with the same problem/not knowing how to deal with it properly. But I too am feeling optimistic! I have been easing back into running and even lifting lower body and so far so good. Not PERFECT. But a lot better than before.
Our day is coming!!!!
I definitely don’t need a holiday to drink wine:)
I think we are pretty lucky in that we aren’t truly “injured” to the point where we can’t run. Its so much better to be able to address the problems before they become a full blown injury. It’s always nice to be able to see that what you are doing is actually helping!
I hate when my computer randomly decides to do updates. It’s the worst! I don’t get sick often (knock on wood!) but I wouldn’t push myself if I truly didn’t feel well. I am glad you went to Pure Barre! Oh, and as for the half marathon thing – as long as you are feeling good, I think you are ready for it without truly training. You can so go out there and run 13.1 miles which is a great thing to know and be capable of!
I keep telling myself that, and I’m sure my body will be fine with covering the distance but I’m sure it will hurt and I won’t love my time. So I am really trying to get in the mindset to just have fun!
I think I could really get addicted to these Pure Barre classes. The studio is further away from where I am moving so it really won’t be an option once ClassPass is over but Im so glad I got to try it and will hopefully continue doing it at home with the DVDs!
Oh no, I hope your foot feels better! Your overall fitness from the fall/winter will carry over and you might just surprise yourself at your half 🙂
It’s been fine since Monday…a totally random pain but it was really the last thing I needed to deal with!
First of all I can’t believe I didn’t know it was National Drink Wine Day until late last night and I was out.of.wine. So incredibly tragic. I have been dealing with SI joint issues for 3 years now. I feel like it’s getting a little better, but it’s still always an issue and probably the cause of my chronic lower back pain! As for the foot…that is weird, but you know what? I experience something like that every once in a while too. I freak out for a few days thinking it’s a fracture and then it’s gone never to be heard from again. So weird!
No! You will have to make up for National Drink Wine Day today:)
I have had weird foot things like this before…and the only thing I notice is my calves are a little tighter? Im so glad they never turn into a real problem and this time I really couldn’t imagine there was any way I could have gotten a stress fracture from running 20 miles per week…with half of them on the alter-g! So Im calling it a fluke and just hoping the pain doesn’t come back:)
Definitely often have little things that are totally just in my head. It’s part of being a runner, and also you body just working out its own kinks. It is when it persists for several days that you need to be worried, so don’t be worried just yet! I’m glad that you feel that you are making progress with PT and running, even if you do feel so unprepared for the upcoming half. Just make the best decision you can going up to it! If you think that it is going to set you back with regards to your PT… well then you know the answer to that.
I need to respond to your E-mail! And I will fill you in more when I do, but yes I’m so glad to finally have some answers. As for the foot, it has felt totally fine since Monday. Really weird, and annoying…because with everything else I definitely didnt need a new body part to worry about!
This weekend’s weather is annoying me too! Freezing one day then rain the next. Good to finally have some insight into what could be underlying your piriformis problem. Hopefully with more PT things will start falling into place! I am with you on the wasting time thing, I’ve been trying to be more flexible with a “these things happen’ attitude but it’s tough when dumb things waste time!
Yes I would definitely say watching my computer update was a “dumb thing” that was a total waste of time! I don’t know what I would do without internet on my phone because whenever I am waiting for my work computer to start up I am checking E-mails on my phone instead.
Let’s hope the weather this weekend isn’t too bad…although tonight its supposed to feel like -20 so that can’t be good.
I get the little things that are just in my head sometimes but they always go away in a day or so. You’re making such great progress in PT! If your PT clears you, all your fall/winter endurance should get you through the race.
That’s what I am hoping! As long as I don’t feel any worse I’ll be cleared to do the race. The weird part about what I am dealing with is one day everything will be fine and the next things will feel “off” so its kind of up to chance how I feel on race day. Although now that we are figuring out that my SI joint gets out of alignment that seems to the the cause of some of this random on and off discomfort.
I hope the SI joint/explanation is a breakthrough for you. I’ve tolerated piriformis pain so long I just muddle through. Gosh my patience is wearing thin with this weather. We’re minus 10 now with -35 wind chill and they don’t even close school anymore. It’s just too much.
I felt the same way for awhile about my piriformis. I had pain there for almost 2 years and went to so many medical professionals who couldn’t help. This time is different because it doesn’t feel like its the muscle thats actually the problem. I think that my piriformis starts working extra hard to balance my SI joint, so when thats in place the pifiromis feels totally fine. We are supposed to get to a wind chill of -20 tonight and I am dreading it! Today and tomorrow will be bitterly cold.
I’m the -worst- when it come sot overanalyzing random little pains. Or having them be all in my head. And it’s probably the worst when it comes to my stomach. I’m constantly trying to figure out how a certain food made me feel, or why I’m feeling bloated, or if something feels off. Blah. I think that dealing with a lifetime of stomach issues has just made me paranoid 😆
I feel like it can be so hard to figure out the cause of stomach issues! There can be a million different factors involved. Just when you think you figured out the source of the problem something different pops up- so annoying!
I love that you reminded me it was National Wine Day yesterday. I didn’t celebrate but will be sure to when I am in Florida with my mom 🙂 I am saving all my wine servings for next week in Florida. Because when you are on vacation you have to enjoy a glass of wine. Right?!
Sorry to hear about your foot. If it isn’t one thing it is another. For us it is everything with our lower half and running. Love your optimism!
That definitely makes sense to save lots of wine drinking for Florida! What a great time of year to get away:)
I feel like some of my best races are actually the ones I’m completely unprepared for! I think you’ll surprise yourself 🙂 I’m sorry your foot is bothering you but I’m glad you’re getting answers, working on your PT exercises (I am terrible about keeping up with those!), and taking the rest your body needs. That’s the important part and if you’re listening to what your body needs, you’ll surprise yourself come race day. I know it 🙂
Hopefully I will surprise myself! I think I will be pretty happy if I have a pain free race so right now that is my #1 goal.
I have my first half marathon of the season in 4 weeks and I feel unprepared too! I’m still in recovery mode and while I think I’ll be ready to finish my 13.1 miles, I doubt I’ll be at my best by that time. I guess the best thing to do is to just have fun with it?
I’m sorry about the foot pain, but glad it went away. I’ve been experiencing little tweaks and twinges here and there all over my body too since starting PT so it may just be your body adjusting to going through new exercises…
That could definitely be part of it…and maybe my form slightly changed with some of the exercises Im doing. Oh well, hopefully its gone for good!
I don’t need an excuse to drink wine ;-P After last week though, I needed some. It carried over into this week so I sure could’ve used a snow day. Dallas doesn’t get snow though, we get ice, that sticks around for days.
Ugh ice is the worst! Maybe if you get ice you will get a day off for that? And I don’t need an excuse to drink wine either:)
I still workout when I don’t feel well but nothing extreme- like I would do pilates or yoga, or light strength training, but not run. I have another half coming up in a few weeks and I feel unprepared. Maybe because it’s been too cold to run outside? I don’t know. Maybe because I’m sick right now so I feel unprepared for everything? lol.
Yea I think for me it depends on how sick I am…I will still run if its just cold but the flu or a stomach virus I don’t workout through. Being sick and this weather definitely hasn’t helped with my preparation for this race!
WOW, 3 weeks until your half? Time is flying by! It’s crazy that it came so quickly because I feel like your full was just a month ago!!
The foot pain is so bizarre.. I’ve had random things like that happen to me before. Hopefully it stays away! 🙂
I agree!! I felt like I had so long before another race and now its almost here!
I swear, I think we have the exact same hip issue! Lately, when I do my dynamic warm-up and do the knee to chest walking stretch, my joint pops. So strange, but everything feels great afterwards, so I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing…I hope! And I totally get the injuries maybe or maybe not being in your head too! I’ll have things like that pop up, mostly foot related issues, because apparently they just like to be super sensitive, but then they’re gone before I know it, so I’m not sure if it wasn’t even an issue at all ha. I can definitely relate though, despite feeling crazy at times as well :).
That’s so weird that you also get some popping! Well if you figure out any secrets to managing your hip please let me know know:)
I think I have random pains in my arm two or three times a year. I never did anything to my arm to injure it but sometimes it just starts hurting… I wonder if I build up tension there. I wonder if that question even makes sense. Can tension build up in your arm? haha
I’m glad your foot pain went away and hasn’t come back! That’s pretty much what happens with my stupid arm!
Hmm I have no idea about arm pain- not sure if its tension related- maybe so if its in the shoulders? I feel like stuff that like responds to acupuncture but who knows!
I totally knew it was National Drink Wine day yesterday and I didn’t have any. I felt a little like a failure, but the last thing I want to do after a hot yoga class is have drinks other than water. 🙂 I’m sorry you were feeling under the weather and had to take that sick day, but I hope it helped. I generally still work out sick and I know that that’s not necessarily a good thing. (I ran that marathon sick last year and had bronchitis symptoms for like months afterward. So not awesome.)
I’m so glad you got to a barre class and that you liked it! Pure Barre is kind of hard for me to get to, but I really want to check it out!
I never feel like drinking after hot yoga either! For me it depends on the type of sickness I have that determines if I will workout…and how bad I feel. This week it was easy to take some extra days off since the weather was so bad!
National Wine Day! I didn’t know this, thanks for giving me “permission” to enjoy some later! 🙂 Bummer about your foot. I had something similar with my foot a couple years ago while training for Zooma and it had been determined it was something to do me rolling my foot on the side when my right foot hit the pavement, however, there was a more professional term for it. Hope it gets better!
Glad that you now know about national wine day! I first learned about it last year. That’s interesting about your foot. I guess my form could have maybe changed slightly from the PT exercises I’ve been doing? Who knows, but I’m glad that it doesn’t hurt anymore!
I didn’t celebrate National Wine day.. I’m doing a clean eating challenge so no wine!! Maybe Saturday 🙂 I hope you had one for me!!
I think you can celebrate national drink wine day on whatever day works for you! But don’t worry, I had ya covered:)
What national wine day? How did I not know about this? Sorry to hear you are still dealing with some issues. I haven’t ran any long distance since marathon wkend and I am back for Princess half this wkend and I haven’t really been training. I took some time off due to IT issues. But luckily I have been feeling much better lately. Hope u feel better soon!
I hope that you are feeling better for your race! Maybe you just needed some time off. Either way I hope you have a fun trip!
I thought I was coming down with a cold Monday too, but so far so good! I drank some Emergen-C…who knows if that works or if it’s just mental, but I feel better anyway.
Glad you feel better! I have been drinking alot of green smoothies with OJ and matcha powder and it seems to have done the trick:)
I had no idea it was National Wine Day! Oooh I dread Windows updates. Sometimes I work out when I am not feeling well…usually a yoga class or stretching but I do not mind the extra days in bed 🙂
I’ve been getting better about taking random rest days when I feel under the weather. The extra time in bed in definitely nice!
I’m always getting random aches and pains – I think it’s because I’m getting older! But it freaks me out. I always feel like I’m just recovered from one injury when something else happens. I’m glad you’re feeling positive and have a handle on what’ going on. I have a half marathon scheduled for March 21st which I am completely unprepared for and still debating whether I should run…
I guess part of it could be age! I don’t like to think that it will keep getting worse though:) I am hoping to just do my half for fun…although once I get started in a race my competitive side usually takes over!
Oh I totally get you with feeling like the pain is all in your head. I’ve been having horrible circulation issues lately (with non-stop pain, veins swelling, feet going red etc etc) but doctors haven’t been able to find out ANYTHING through blood tests/ECGs etc. Even though the doctors definitely believe that there’s something going on, I can’t help but feel like I’m going crazy at times!
As for exercising when sick, I usually apply the “below the neck rule” – if you’re sick with something that’s “below the neck” (think: stomach bug with nausea/upset stomach or a chest infection) don’t exercise but otherwise you’re good to go! I find when I have the flu I usually feel much better exercising as it clears my sinuses (though I do tend to do less than what I would normally if I’m not feeling fab – you just have to do what you can)
Wow I am sorry to hear that you are having those issues and no one seems to know whats going on! I’ve been frustrated because while I haven’t been in severe pain, I just haven’t felt like things are right and I worried that as I ramped up my training I would really become injured. Its tough to go to a doctor when you’re not actually injured and try to explain what the problem is!
The “below the neck” rule is a good one. The only problem with a head cold is trying to breathe properly while running!
I totally celebrated National Drink Wine Day, and I actually thought of you while doing it! haha!
I’m sorry your feeling blah with your cold and your injuries. Take care of yourself and don’t stress about not training. It will come and you will get through it. You don’t want to end up with more injuries!
Yay for national drink wine day!
Thank you! I definitely got some rest this week and am feeling better! And the foot thing must have been a fluke because its felt totally fine since last Monday:)