Week in Review

0 Miles

7 days off

1 Weight Lifting Session

2 Ab sessions

18 miles hiked

0 Cross Training

3 days in Phoenix

Garrett couldn’t have arrived at a better time, right when I really needed a PT to look me over and tell me and to do. Unfortunately, Garrett said we need tools that he doesn't have - like dry needling and patches and laser. So instead, I joined the YMCA so that I can start water running in January when I get back.  By Thursday, we made our way from California to Phoenix so that I could celebrate my birthday with my family and friends Matt, Nick, Allie, Merry and Michelle.  It was a great weekend, even if I had to stay back at the house when all the girls set off for a long run on Saturday.   We hiked on Saturday morning and went out to dinner, with high hopes of going out dancing later.  Instead, we stayed in a did a puzzle of cows doing yoga.  Yes, that's right, I started my 30s by doing a puzzle.  Sounds perfect to me.  Tomorrow Garrett and I fly back to Durham and I'm really excited to have some time where I don't have to be anywhere and I don't have to do anything, besides try to see some medical professionals. :

Week in Review

2.6 Miles

6 days off

1 Massage

2 Weight lifting sessions

1 MBA

At the beginning of this week, I truly thought that I was on the road to recovery.  For the first time in three weeks, I couldn't even feel my achilles during my normal day-to-day activities.  As I read through my daily running log, the positivity is almost contagious and I smile thinking about how I was really trying to use positive energy to nip this injury in the bud.    Things were going so well that I actually thought I could try for a run.  Well, that didn't work out quite as I had hoped.  After 1.3 miles of pure bliss and no feeling in the achilles, all went to hell.  The tightness came back and I resorted to running a tiny bit more before walking. 

At this point, all my positivity had run its course and now I was just wondering what the hell to do next.  I made several appointments with my PT in Durham and my chiro in Charlotte.  I bought a boot.  I walked 10 miles in San Francisco.  I still am not cross training.  Most people think that I'm crazy for not doing any cross training, but I had a similar injury in 2005 back at Wake Forest, and I cross trained my ass off, but my achilles stayed swollen for those 8 weeks.  Finally, the trainer shut me down completely, put me in a boot and we waited it out.  After another 4-5 weeks, I was finally ready to start my comeback to running, albeit very slowly.  I decided not to cross train in hopes that it would fast-track my healing so I would only be out for like  4-5 weeks instead of 12-13.  At this rate, I don't know when I'll  be back running.

Other noteworthy news this week include that I officially finished my MBA(!!!!!!!).  The injury, combined with the fact that I didn't even get to give my classmates a high five in person, made me feel really sad about everything.  First world problems, I know.  But it was so anti-climatic to finish the Duke Cross Continent MBA program without my classmates close by to be like, damn we did it.  After 18 months, 5 countries, 16 classes, 50,000 miles flown, 100 new friends, I should feel like I really accomplished something, but instead it just feels like I literally just put down a book I really liked.  I feel like a part of my identity is gone.  What to do with my extra time?  I can't run, so I should I start doing Pure Barre?  Where should I volunteer my time?  Should I learn Spanish?  Should I just start working overtime, because, well, why not?  Who am I?  Who do I want to be?   How do I make friends in California?  These are all the thoughts running through my head, and I hope I get some clarity in 2016.

(Still Injured) Week in Review

0 runs
7 days off
2 Lift Days
10M Bike Ride in 39 minutes

...So I'm still injured.  I hate tendon injuries, and somehow that's the only injury that likes to haunt me.  I hate tendon injuries because you just never know when they will heal.  Bone injuries are much more predictable and formulaic:  stress fracture? Take 4-6 weeks off and you're 99% going to be healed at the end.  Fortunately, I've only been injured three times in my 16-year running career, which is pretty damn good if you ask me.

I'll admit that I'm doing my best to keep a positive outlook.  The thing that's bugging me the most though is just that I know there are so many friends and family members coming to the Trials.  And because of that, I want to be able to run for them.  They've supported me since I had the goal to run at the Trials back in 2010, and I don't want to let them down.  And I know this is silly, because each and every one of my supporters would completely understand if I couldn't run.  Obviously, that's worse case scenario, and I don't think it will get to that.  My hope is that I can start running again on December 15th, which would be about 4 weeks off at that point.  Completely off, no cross training, unless I pick that up next week.

Speaking of cross training, I finally had this burning desire to get my heart rate going again - you know, to actually use my heart for exercise - so I hopped on my new Specialized Ariel Sport Disc and pushed through 10 miles around Baylands.  It was a beautiful, sunny day with temps in the low 60s and I just felt freed - to feel the air in my lungs and to hear my steady, labored breaths as I pedaled.  It was fantastic!  This is why I love exercise - it makes you feel euphoric and you completely forget whatever the hell happened in the day that pissed you off. But after the ride, I could tell my achilles responded negatively to the effort and I was bummed out because I really was hoping to be able to run this weekend.  So that's when I made my new goal - to start running on December 15th!  Baby steps....the ultimate goal is that I can run a decent time at the Trials. :)