March Recap/Stats

Miles Planned/Ran: 178± M / 58.2± M

Rest Days Planned/Taken: 4 / 12

Highest Mileage Week: 32.2± M

Long Runs Planned/Ran: 4 / 2 (The 20 turned 13 still counts as "long" even if it wasn't the full 20 right?)

Hill Workouts Planned/Ran: 4 / 0

Pace Workouts Planned/Ran: 5 / 1

Xtraining Workouts Planned/Ran: 4 / 15 - Just wait til next month! I am the xtraining queen!

Favorite run: That 18 miler at the beginning of the month where I tackled the "Ghosts of Injury Past" (If only I had known what was to come...)

Least Favorite run: The .4 M run I went on with Fabulous in the midst of all the nerve issues I had with my right leg before I got the stress fracture in my left. I had to make him go back for the car to pick me up because I literally couldn't go another step. I was so embarrassed and became even more so when the pain was so bad I couldn't hold back the tears.

Most hardcore run: See "Favorite Run" above. 18 miles in a cold torrential downpour def rates it in the top three most hard core runs ever.

Current Reads: (Reading) On Agate Hill by Lee Smith; I just started this book and not really sure my feelings about it.
(Finished) Interred with their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carroll; This book was an exciting page turner for any book loving nerd like myself. The adventures the main character has trying to track down a lost manuscript reminded me of National Treasure and The DaVinici Code. I also finished Marathon Woman by Katherine Switzer; If you are a woman that runs you NEED to read this book. The history of woman's running unfolds before your eyes and commentaried by the very fun and sassy "K. Switzer". I read several sections of this book aloud to Spike because there is just so much history (and laugh out loud moments) jam packed between it's covers not to share.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: All the cookies I've been knocking back. FAIL.

Current Obsessions: Spike and I are still on our Dexter kick, we're halfway through season 4!

Current Drink: The usual water and a whole lot more milk. (Calcium for strong bones!)

Current Song: "S&M" Rihanna - Such a great beat!

Current Wish-List: A new set of legs with an extended warranty.

Current Need: To be rid of these crutches ASAP.

Current Triumph: I have not cried about not running in almost three days.

Current Bane of my Existence: The never-ending winter or my stress fracture, decisions, decisions...

Current Goal: To stay positive and focused on active recovery/xtraining so I can hit the ground running sooner rather than later.

Current Indulgence: Cookies. 'Nuff said.

Current Blessings: Life, love, friendship, and especially the generosity and kindness of strangers since getting injured.

Current Excitement: Besides going to see "My Run" tonight? Spectating the Martian races this weekend and our upcoming trip to Boston!!! April is THE month of blogger meetups, spectating races, and vacation getaway fun!

How'd your March shape up?!?!

Running is what you make of it, make it an Adventure!™

3 Things Thursday

1. That's what Friends are for... I have some amazing friends; friends that send me inspiration, that overnight me cookies from Publix because he knows how much I love them, friends that make time amidst an unexpected trip for a family emergency to meet me for dinner, friends that let me sob to them on the bad days, and friends that send me a "secret weapon" to fight off Leg Gremlins;
   
   
   
   Seriously, how awesome is this?
   

   
   

   These are friends that are near and far, friends I know in real life and some only from the blog, but I'm thankful for each and every one of them and am blessed to have them all in my life.

   
   
   
2. Martian Meetup... This weekend is the Martian Invasion of Races and my long planned Martian Blogger Meetup! I've put a lot of time and effort putting together this meeting of running/blogging peeps and I'm so excited that the time has finally arrived to bring them all together. I'd be lying if I said it's not going to hurt my heart a little to be there sidelined instead of racing, but it's more important I am there to support my friends and Spike and not let this injury get the best of me so I'll settle for official blogosphere spectator and paparazzi instead. Besides meeting a bunch of great new peeps and cheering on my friends, I'm also extremely excited to see Marlene again and FINALLY meet the infamous Stephanie!
   
   
   
   
3. Race Swag... If you're injured but have paid for a race, what do you do about the race swag? I'll admit that last September when I wasn't able to run the Capital City River Run I still picked up my swag and kept the shirt for a training shirt. I've never worn it openly, always under a jacket, because I never wanted to lead anyone in to thinking I had actually run it but at the time I was in serious need of long sleeve tech shirts having just moved from Florida and not owning a lick of winter gear. Last night I volunteered over at Running Fit to put together this weekend's race packets and was discussing this with someone there and they said that since I volunteered for the race I should still get/wear my swag. What say you???
   

Wordless Wednesday

The Crutch Life

Day 5 of the Crutch Life and I'm lovin' it!*

*Sarcasm, thy name is Morgan.

Since the running content will be light around here for awhile I thought I'd share with you a few observations I've made while hobbling around these past few days:

• Everyone is going out of their way to help me, gotta love that damsel in distress feeling!
  
  
• Did I mention I'm not very good at asking for help? My stubborn ways are being put to the test with this.
  
  
• My armpits are chafed raw and I am now using more body glide than I ever did when I was running.
  
  
• I can use the handicap stalls in bathrooms and the little switches on building entrances without getting the evil eye. WIN!
  
  
• I have a tendency to get trapped in doorways. (If I weren't me, I'd laugh at me.)
  
  
• My arms are getting a workout with every step I take! Xtraining 24/7!
  
  
• The crutches fall down pretty much every time I lean them up against something unless they are wedged in a corner.
  
  
• I have an excuse for not doing the laundry or anything productive around the house.
  
  
• I feel useless because I can't do anything productive to help out.
  
  
• I have zero coordination and regularly trip myself, including while going up the stairs.
  
  
• Speaking of which, it takes me approximately 5 minutes to navigate the front steps and flight of stairs to get to/from my apartment.
  
  
• Having crutches at the gym and pool brings you way too much unwanted attention and are moderately dangerous in both places...
  
  
• But you are used as an example for trainers to motivate their clients, "If that girl can hit the gym injured you can do 25 more _____."
  
  
• Getting dressed is a nightmare and don't even get me started about going to the bathroom and taking a shower. I wish I worked from home like Katie & Kevin so I could just refrain until I'm walking again.
  
  
• Spike's pet names for me, Draggers, Hobbleton, Hobbles, Crutch-a-lot-a-pus, Gimpy, etc, are becoming less endearing by the minute...
  
  
• Emotionally speaking, I am a train wreck.
  
  

Past/present stress fracture victims, how long did it take you to get coordinated on crutches? Did you notice it bothered you most at night or during the day? How did you handle the emotional aspect of the injury?

The Low Down on the Break Down

There were a lot of questions on today's post and rather than go about answering individually I figured I’d address them all at once by giving you the play-by-play.

First things first, what started off as the initial problem has ceased to exist and a new one formed in it's place. So what started with the right leg, ended with the left.

Remember that pinched nerve issue I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well I haven’t had a single episode in well over two weeks. Mr. Right Leg has been fit as a fiddle, wondering why he’s not being utilized to capacity.

Enter Mr. Left Leg (who clearly was jealous of all the attention Mr. Right Leg was getting); Two weeks ago I ran the 20 miler turned 13 and immediately followed it up by going to the Ingham County Sports Clinic. Once there I filled them in on all the crazy nerve related activity Mr. Right Leg had been having but that it wasn’t the right leg that ruined the run but rather my left. After my lower back started aching way to early in the run my gait broke down going in to Mile 12 and I had been limping from ol' lefty ever since. They pretty much just wrote it off after poking and prodding it a little and focused on the right leg because of all the issues I had been having with it. Since then I have been hobbling around like Quasimodo confused at what the heck happened and while there have been some good days, it seemed like no amount of xtraining/non-running has helped. The two short runs I attempted earlier in the week left me feeling lost in Limboland because I was running; but hobbling around even worse after.

Last night at the Playmakers Injury Clinic I replayed my story to a specialist that had seen me before during the demise of my Grand Rapids cycle. She was perplexed and referred me to THE MSU doc, the one that works on all the college athletes. I regurgitated my story, again, and he got to work poking, prodding, having me gimp around, etc... Then he looked me straight in the eye and told me he suspected a stress fracture. I cried. I informed him that I do not have insurance, was in the process of acquiring some, and he set to work making arrangements to get me x-ray'd to start the process of confirming his suspicions. In the meantime he wanted me off my leg ASAP and I was to revisit him at the MSU Sports Medicine office first thing in the morning for follow-up x-rays. I hobbled out of the store with a broken heart and spirit. I hope you all will forgive me for not discussing it immediately after, but I didn’t want to throw around such a heavy prognosis without having confirmation.

When I arrived at his office this morning I was whisked into x-ray upon arrival and shortly after we were examining them on the computer screen. He warned me that x-rays don’t always show stress fractures but lo and behold there it was on the screen; an abnormality in my tibia, a stress fracture. On the one hand I had an answer, on the other it was one the one no runner ever wants to hear. He then informed me that if I was going to get one, having it on the back side of the tibia was the best place to get it as they heal well, and then he moved on to my recovery plan which is as follows:

• I’m to hobble around on crutches for up to 10 days or until I can walk without pain, during which time I can only swim.
  
  
• After the 10 days and/or walking without pain is up I can give up the crutches and start to xtrain again via elliptical and cycle.
  
  
• Around May, so long as there is still no pain, I can begin running again. No more than 2 miles, every other day, slowly, on soft surfaces only. (i.e. Track/Trail)
  
  
• By June I can add speed and up to a mile a week but not both in the same week and by July I should be able to resume normal running.

So that’s the plan, man.

And for what it’s worth, I’m so glad I’ve been doing all those NTC workouts because otherwise my arms would be shot from hobbling around on these crutches.

These guns can take the pressure even if my leg can’t.
(And yes those ARE plush Angry Birds in the background... Spike's addiction knows no bounds)

3 Things Thursday

1. Winner, Winners... First off, y'all's comments were HILARIOUS about rocking the old school Sony's and all the different ways you've destroyed your iPod's. I was endlessly entertained and wished I had more units to giveaway. Also, talk about lurkers coming out of the wood-work?!?! Holy smokes, I'm going to do my best to get around to everyone's blog who commented... thank you all so much for making this so much fun to host. Now, without further to do the winners of the Sony Walkman W-Series are:
   
   Jamie from Run on Sentence and Jena from Life is Beachy Keen
   
   Please email me at redheadrunning @ gmail with your name and mailing address!
   
   
2. Spring... Did I read my calendar wrong or did it not state that Sunday was the first day of Spring?!?! Will someone please tell me what all this freezing rain and wintry mix is on my effing forecast?!?!? That is not SPRING!!! Can someone please give Mother Nature the memo???
   
   
3. Answers... As most of you know last night I hit up the Playmakers Injury Clinic headed up by the docs that run MSU Sports Medicine hoping to find some answers and I finally got some.
   
   Long story short my training plan has been replaced with a recovery plan as the doc's original prognosis was confirmed this morning with a follow-up visit to the x-ray machine. Those two dreaded words no runner ever wants to hear were spoken and with them my "TO DO" list has now become my "TO SPECTATE" list. I will be crutches bound for up to the next 10 days after which I begin the process of rebuilding.
   
   After a (few) good cries, one fist shaking session with a fellow commiserating peep (wherein I threatened to go on a murderous rampage...), and finally drowning my sorrows with Taco Bell and a chocolate chip cookie, the pity party is over and I have made peace with my situation. Time to forge ahead! I've already decided I will trick out the crutches for Martian and make everyone around me jealous that they don't have a pair to lean on. (They will also come in handy with disciplining Spike and knocking things off high shelves.) Watch out y'all, I'm about to make crutches and xtraining glamorous and you'll all be so jealous you're not injured too!!!
   
   But seriously, thank you again for your overwhelming care and support. I know you were all crossing your fingers, toes, etc... and pulling for me. It seems my ticket out of Limboland has arrived, but unfortunately it's a one-way to Injuryville and all flights to Cleveland have been canceled.
   
   EDIT: Just so we're clear, it's a stress fracture.

Tuesday Trial: Sony Walkman Product Review & Giveaway

About two weeks ago I was contacted about reviewing a new wireless MP3 player called the Sony Walkman W Series Water Resistant MP3 Player. Never one to pass up testing out a new product I happily sent my shipping info on over and was excited to learn that not only would I get to review the product myself but also be given not one, but two extra units to give away to my awesome readers! Double bonus!!!

(Gu included in pic to show how small the unit is in comparison)

Before I get started on my review, here's what Sony has to say about the product:

It's the one-piece music player that's ready for the treadmill, trail or gym. Designed to stay put during vigorous activity, the W Series Walkman® music player is made to move. Better yet, its sweat-resistant² construction is perfect for intense workouts. Add in true-to-life sound and deep bass, and you have a running mate that won't quit.

And here's a quick run-down of all the awesome features: Water-resistant (i.e. if you sweat buckets you're in luck!), quick charge battery, and drag, drop and go music loading. Plays nicely with iTunes, Napster and Rhapsody. Set up time took (Spike) about 15 minutes after which my little bit of tunes barely registered on the up to 11 hours (1.68 GB) of music it holds. Charge times vary but if you can spare 3 minutes you’ll be set for approx 90 minutes of playback. Sweet! Let's test this baby out...

Initial Thoughts: This thing is not going to work for me. I have small ears which almost all ear plugs are too big for so I end up having aching ears canals when I use my iPod and/or talk on my iPhone in the car with the hands free cord. Also, I have a child-sized head so pretty much anything that is supposed to go on my head is too big. At first glance this thing looks all sorts of weird, I was reminded of my best friends husband when he plays online video games with his headset. I thought, there is no way I’m going to like this thing, but I have read so many great reviews on it (of which I hit up some good blog friends who had tried it for their real-offline opinion and they were still giving it the thumbs up). Once Spike had it ready for me to use I put it on and bounced around, it seemed ok but I just felt like there was no way I’d really use this thing… boy was I wrong…

Because of my child sized head and ear canal I can't comfortably wear them the right way but when I switched them around they fit perfect! It just proves how backwards I really am.

Trial: I am a firm believer in testing something multiple times and if possible, in various conditions, before making a final decision. (There have been too many times I have hated something one day and loved it the next and vice versa.) My initial “bounce test” aside I put them in for my 10 mile elliptical endeavor on Saturday and couldn’t believe what great sound they gave. I couldn’t hear a thing outside of my music, not the machine I was using or the people on the treadmills in front of me, and while my machine was bouncing around from my efforts the walkman stayed right in place. An hour and 25 minutes later it was time to take it out for a run. It was a beautiful morning and as soon as I jumped out of the car from the gym I pushed play on my head set and we were off… three short miles later I realized I didn’t spend a second of my run focused on the headset but rather enjoyed the tunes and not having to mess with an ipod cord. I tested out the same combo Monday (elliptical then run and it was sprinkling out) and it was another success story for the walkman. I seriously love this thing and have not been missing my ipod at all! Not having to deal with a cord is probably the single greatest thing about the walkman and that fact that it didn’t bother my ears or bounce around on my little head sealed the deal for me! I big red heart love this thing! Which means...

Giveaway time!!! I will attempt to make this as painless as possible:

To Enter: Leave a Comment; preferably one where you tell me about how you use to use a walkman back in the day, how bad you need one of these puppies, or how many ipods you've destroyed with your sweat...

Bonus Entry: Tweet: “I’ll be in tangles if I don’t win the @Sony Walkman from @RedheadRunning!” (What?!?! I’m having a rough week here, humor my cheese!) and/or link this contest on your social platform of choice. Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did one, the other or both.

The giveaway will be open until noon EST, Thursday, March 24^th at which time I will close the post for comments and will choose a winner via Random.org and announce on “3 Things Thursday.”

Don't want to take your chances on the giveaway and want to buy it now?!?!? Sony also gave me this discount link where you can get it for $48.99 (Regularly $59.99) Buy it HERE!!!

Thanks Sony for letting me review this great product!!! And with that me and my Sony are off to the gym to get our xtrain on...

Disclaimer: Per FTC Guidelines: Sony provided these items at no cost to me for my personal review and the review is entirely of my own opinion. Sony also provided two additional units to be given away to my readers at not cost to me or the winner’s of said giveaway.

Limboland

Two weeks ago I conquered the "Ghosts of Injury Past" by running the greatest 18 miler I have ever run to date. One week later I fell apart during a 20 miler turned 13. Seven days after that going "long" was reduced to 10 miles on an elliptical followed by 3 miles of actual running.

And so goes the deterioration of my training cycle, leaving me stranded in Limboland.


For all intents and purposes my training plan no longer exists. Those seven weeks I spent kicking @ss and taking names? A distant memory. My aspirations of a BQ? Shelved. Those three races on the "To Do" list over there on the right? Pipe dreams at present.

Welcome to Limboland my friends, where nothing is certain and silly things like plans, goals, races, etc... don't matter or exist. Each day residents of Limboland face a levitating bar of uncertainty; never knowing if they'll gyrate their way past or FAIL epically like an uncoordinated sucker on Wipe Out. Xtraining becomes a way of life and when you're not obsessing about your next potential run you are doing your best to avoid The Injured Runner's Sin. If you're asking for travel tips I'd recommend you avoid Limboland at all costs.

8 weeks til Cleveland Marathon. There's still time to make it there, I just gotta find my way out of here first.

3 Things Thursday

1. Thankful... The overwhelming care, concern, support, and motivation y'all bring on the regular is only exceeded on the days when I need it most. I am so unbelievably thankful for each and every one of you and appreciate everything you do for my spirits just by being your wonderful, caring selves.
   
   
   Best. Blog Friends. EVER!
   
   
   
   
2. Xtrain Xtravaganza... I've hit the gym early every single day this week except this morning (Last night I had a DEEP tissue massage and left there feeling like pulverized meat but the good news is things are def starting to feel like they're getting back to normal). I still maintain my previous views on xtraining but I am thankful to be moving at all and I know first hand, from previous experience, just how important retaining my cardio fitness is to making a full recovery. Mother Nature has given us some glimpses of Spring over the last few days and it's been torture not being able to enjoy them, so I continue to anxiously await my first run back on Saturday...
   
   
   
3. Everyone loves an Irish girl... Redhead's Rejoice! Happy St. Patty's Day! Although my days of drunken shenanigans and debauchery to celebrate my heritage are long behind me I thought I'd share a few fun pics of me in my green beer loving days! Salute!
   
   
   
   
   How are you celebrating St. Patty's Day?!?
   

Not #WINNING

*Sigh*

Where to begin? Well long story short, my 20 miler was only 13ish.

12 miles for the win, followed by 1.37 miles of deterioration, followed by a speeding ticket for the FAIL, followed by the priceless looks of absolute confusion by the sports medicine doctors at the hospital that put the icing on the cake. Def not #WINNING over here.

I'm happy for the 12 miles, I'm disappointed for the following 1.37, I'll own the speeding ticket, and I'm beyond words frustrated by the complete lack of identification as to what is causing my Leg Gremlins. (Which shockingly isn't a genuine medical diagnosis.) The tally of bewildered professionals is now up to one certified running coach, one chiropractor, and two sports medicine doctors. Awesome sauce.

Sure he's a freak of nature but at least they know what's wrong with him.

I wonder if he'd borrow me one of those extra legs?

I don't really know what more there is to say on the matter other than I will do as "suggested" and take some time off, replace running with xtraining, and hope that this issue works itself out. I've already given Spike the go ahead to trade me in for a better (younger, prettier, unbroken) model but he lovingly stubbornly refuses. He must love me a whole lot huh? (Or he's taken out a life insurance policy on me... keep an eye on him. Who passes up permission to replace damaged goods?!?!?)

But seriously, thanks for all your support and encouragement with this and hopefully my next post will have some better news on the running front.

In other news, 9 more weeks til Cleveland Marathon!!!

And just so we're clear, I WILL be there.

Foto Friday: A Day in the Life of the Redhead

Happy Friday Peeps!!! I thought I'd have some fun today and take you on a photo tour of a typical day in the life of the Redhead. (All photo's taken on Wednesday)

The alarm goes off about 7ish around here and after the loo it's straight to the foam roller to work out any of the kinks that may have settled in over night and go through my stretching routine...

My calf stretching platform & Mr. Foam Roller

After a quick banana to jump start my morning I make a half-hearted attempt to clean myself up and then hop into Lola for the 45 min/32 M drive in to work...

It was 41 degrees on Wednesday! Bring on Spring!!!

After I get booted up at work and address any immediate tasks I head to the kitchen for my real breakfast and then it's time to get down to business...

Here's where the work happens.

At some point after lunch I touch base with Fabulous, my fabulously gay running co-worker, to see if he wants to run. It was raining cats and dogs on Wednesday so he passed, because he's a wuss, so I had to head out solo.

You know you're a runner when... your office looks like this.

41* = T-shirt weather! Tech-tee from Punk Rock Racing
(Also, you can totally tell I wear a padded bra during the day.)

In the flash of a camera I change from work-dork to runnerd in the rest room. There's only about 3 other women who work here so thankfully I didn't have to worry about anyone walking in on me when I was snapping these. That would've been awkward... as if I'm not the office weirdo already.

After the run I hit the random shower stall we have to rinse off. I love that we have this but it's the most bizarre thing ever.

Don't forget the Recovery Socks under the jeans!

Post-run & rinse I mix up a protein shake and log my run into Dailymile. Then it's back to work for a few more hours.

About 6:30-7ish I call it a day and jump back in to Lola for the commute home. It always takes longer to get home. I hate that part.

Back at home I hit the foam roller again while I wait for my dinner to warm up. Yes I'm that dedicated to the cause as I'm prone to injury.

After dinner, seeing as how Spike was out of town for work, I settled in for the night to watch "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" movie (Swedish Sub-titled Version - I finally finished the series so I was excited to see the movies.), slather on some Biofreeze, R.I.C.E, and snack on some peanut-butter filled pretzel nubs. (Thanks B.o.B for introducing me to this crack at Ragnar!)

It's safe to say Mr. Foam Roller sees more action than Spike does.

And one more time for good measure, I hit up the foam roller again and go through all my stretches before I hit the hay.

So there you have it, a day in the life of the Redhead. Exciting stuff huh?

What's a day in your life look like?!?!?

Also just for sh*ts and giggles, check out this list of keywords used to find my blog:

runners boob loss
redhead boob
BOOBS RUNNING
how to lose boobage
ibtc pics

Apparently when it comes to running + boob loss I'm your girl. LMAO!

Happy weekend peeps! Hopefully I'll catch y'all on the flipside of my 20 miler tomorrow. *Fingers Crossed*

3 Things Thursday

1. You know you're a runner when... you easily get talked into doing the Cupcake Marathon being hosted by Silly Girl Running & CookTrainEatRace because let's face it, running for cupcakes is probably the greatest idea ever and they have some seriously awesome swag lined up for the participants. Have you joined yet?!?!? Just log 13.1 or 26.2 miles between March 14th & March 26th and you'll be entered in to the random drawing for cupcakes!!! (And other awesome stuff but all I care about is the cupcakes.)
   
   
2. Leg/Run Update... I was able to get in my run yesterday, despite the pouring rain, and there weren't any shooting pains post-run to speak of! While encouraging, I'll still be keeping an eye on things until I get a few more runs in just to be safe.
   
   
   
3. NTC... Awhile back my girl Jessie told me about the Nike Training Club app and shortly after I caught Page's write up on it and downloaded it but didn't get around to trying it out until this week. First off, I finally learned the names of some of the things I regularly do but just made up names for and second, these are some tough workouts! I absolutely love that not only do they give you step-by-step instructions but you can also check out a short video of the workout in action to make sure you're doing it right! So far I have only had a chance to do a few of the 15 minute "Get Focused" workouts of which the arm definer had my arms shaking by the last repeat. If you have an iPhone I def recommend this app!
   

Oh, The Nerve!!!

First and foremost I just want to thank you all for your comments on my post: "Dealing with the Ghosts of Injury Past". Your commiseration and encouragement were very much appreciated and hopefully it helped some of you that are dealing with the same thing know that you are not alone. That being said wouldn't you know, after rejoicing over what a great run it was I would end up thinking I had spoke too soon...

Sunday I hit the gym for my recovery run and had a helluva time making the magic happen. I got just over a mile before I had to stop because I was having all sorts of shooting pain. I chalked it up as being all the dreadmill's fault, naturally. Spike and I headed home and he spent about 15 minutes massaging Biofreeze into the areas I was experiencing the shooting pains and within a half hour the pain subsided and I was fine. As in we went grocery shopping. Makes no sense right?

Well then Monday rolls around and when I go to run I make it approximately .1 M before I am doubled over experiencing the most horrible shooting pains I have ever experienced in my life! We're talking white light, blinding pain! I could hardly put any pressure on my leg so I basically hopped back to my office and spent the next hour rocking back and forth in my chair, clenching my jaw through each shooting pain. All sorts of crazy running-career ending thoughts swirled around in my head as I alerted Spike and a few other friends of the situation. I took some ibuprofen and about an hour later the pain subsided a little and about 15 minutes after that it went away completely. You know how you get your blood pressure taken on those machines at the pharmacy? How it tightens up and then releases a little bit before it releases all the way? That’s what happened. The pain subsided to where it was manageable and then it just went away. In fact the tightness in my calf that has been hanging around for weeks finally released too. I didn't have the slightest sign of a limp and I could put all my weight on it again just fine. WTH!?!?

I emailed Coach E about it and he said it sounded like it was nerve related so I made an appointment with the chiro* this morning and after listening to what happened and examining me, he confirmed I had a pinched nerve. He then adjusted my neck, back and fibula (the point of the pinched nerve), and sent me on my way with the green light to run tomorrow. (He also noted that my scoliosis has gotten better since I was last treated as a Phase II patient!) He said that if it happens again to just come back for another adjustment and he’ll show me how to tape it up for running. Easy-peasy.

*Please Note: Consult your primary physician before seeking chiropractic treatment to be sure it is right for you. I am aware some people do not believe in chiropractic care and I ask for your respect regarding my use of it. In dealing with my scoliosis I have found chiropractic treatment to be very helpful in aiding against the degenerative process.

Oh, The (Common Peroneal) Nerve!!!

I am all sorts of relieved, both physically and emotionally, that he was so confident it was as easily treated as a pinched nerve and that it wasn't any season-ending injury. It blows my mind I could go from an epically awesome 18 miler on Saturday to not even capable of running a mile. I am just hoping and praying that's really all it was and that tomorrow's run goes off without a hitch. At present I don't feel a single ache, pain, or tightness in either leg and feel, for the first time in weeks, like I'm functioning at 100% again.

*Fingers Crossed*

Have any of you ever dealt with a pinched nerve like this before? How did you treat it?

Dear Body,

Please get your act together! I am doing my best to take such good care of you. Did you hear what the chiro said? That I was the healthiest person he's seen in months! Please play nice so we can make it through this training cycle and to the Finish line of Cleveland in one piece!!!

Love,

Red

To those of you who picked up that something was wrong yesterday, thanks for your care and concern with the tweets, messages, and emails. I feel so loved, and also a little entertained by the fact that y'all know my run schedule so well that when I didn't post a run you knew something was up! LOL! I am so blessed to have y'all as readers/friends!

Dealing with the Ghosts of Injury Past

For the last two weeks I've been walking mostly limping around assessing every step I've taken and basically waiting for my legs to break off into little pieces from the mayhem of the Leg Gremlins.

If you've ever suffered from and overcame an injury I'm sure you know what I'm talking about; that feeling that looms over you the minute something doesn't feel quite right in the location you suffered a past injury. The "Ghosts of Injury Past" are too fresh in my mind to let me relax, even when I started seeing progress this week I refrained from feeling overly optimistic. Saturday morning I was a mess of emotions as I suited up for my 18 miler. My longest run in over a year. As if the distance weren't daunting enough, throw in there conditions I don't favor (Read: Rain, Rain, Rain!!!), and top it off with Leg Gremlin paranoia. Guess who peed about 30 times before she headed out?

At Spike's recommendation I revisted no-man's land wearing a hat to keep the rain out of my face (my Gasparilla hat for marathon mojo-motivation), a t-shirt under my wind breaking jacket (my Chicago shirt for marathon mojo-motivation), capri's, and some gloves because I have the hands of a corpse 24/7. It was 32*, feels like 26*, pouring rain, and 10-15 mph winds. Lovely huh?

I may have replaced my hill workout this week but I def got some in on the run.

Once again I just ran whatever my legs felt comfortable with as right now my only priority is finishing my long runs in one piece. The first 6 miles were a hilly, curvy, out and back where I quickly realized I was too cold in my capri's and my gloves were soaked through so my poor hands were not long for this world if I didn't get better gloves. Added bonus, my ITB's were screaming from the pitch of the curving-hills combo as I fought the northern wind. Half-way into Mile 7 I came up on a guy walking his dog and asked to use his cell phone (I didn't bring mine because of the rain) and tried to call Spike to bring me better gloves, ibuprofen, and my calf sleeves.

No answer. Crap.

I decided to head straight for home to change it up. I bounded the stairs and quickly peed, took one ibuprofen, changed into my calf sleeves AND pants because my legs were so cold, and grabbed better gloves as fast as possible. I'm guesstimating it took about 5-6 minutes total and quickly headed back out for the remaining 9 miles in town.

Puddle-tastic.
(I went back later to snap this, pretty much captures the day/run)

Puddles, puddles everywhere and water logged socks/shoes were the name of the game as I made my way around. Because I took that extended break to change I made sure to take my remaining fuel while on the run so as not to waste any more time or be out there any longer than necessary. With each mile I sounded like Count Von Count as I announced aloud to no one "5, 5 more miles to go..." "4, 4 more miles to go..." You get the idea. (Clearly I was getting a little loopy.) When the final mile at long last arrived I gave it all I had left with the biggest, most sh*t-eating grin on my face ever.

Wild-eyed, ecstatic, rain-soaked Redhead

Take that Leg Gremlins! I CAN run 18 miles!!! And I did. I've been so scared the "Ghosts of Injury Past" would prevent me from ever running that far again. But I did and in the rain to boot. I killed two birds with one stone; braved the nasty elements and faced my demons. It was exactly the confidence boost I needed to let go and make myself realize I can and WILL do this again. Faith, not fear. (Right Katie?!?!)

Run & Done.

After the run I found this on the bathroom mirror when I went to peel off my rain soaked gear:

Although clearly he can't be trusted for weather appropriate run-dress advice or to be listed as an emergency contact on my Road ID at least he's my #1 supporter. <3

If you've ever been injured, how do you deal with the "Ghosts of Injury Past"? How did you deal with the emotional baggage the injury left behind? What helped you build the confidence to work past the fear of reinjury?

10 more weeks til the Cleveland Marathon!!!

3 Things Thursday

1. You know you're (dating) a runner when... You get emails like this:
   
   Subject: If there is a silver lining...
   
   …it would be this. At least when I come home and tell you it was a bad day at the track, you don’t have to worry about whether the kids can still go to college or not.
   
   Made.my.day.
   
   
2. B.A.A. 5k... I'm confirmed for the B.A.A. 5k on April 17th! Revisiting the site of my current standing 5k PR I have 22 miles on deck to run the day before (Yup, while in Boston! How's that for BQ motivation?!?!) so this year I'll be pacing my girls LPT & Christy to 5k PR glory as we chase after Katie & Emily! I'm so freaking excited!!!
   
   
   
   
3. Build-A-Sign... The awesome people over at Build-A-Sign hooked me up with some Redhead exclusive stickers! Have you been to their site? I know I've seen a ton of bloggers around getting hooked up with stickers but they have so much more on their site, including but not limited to; Personalized License Plates (Can we say custom gift for runner...), Window Clings, Jumbo Cards (as in customize some motivational posters for your next spectating event...), and so much more! That last item has me thinking about upcoming marathons I'm spectating for a special someone... hmmm...
   
   
   So who wants a Redhead sticker?!?!? To get one all you gotta do is let me know you "Like" Build-A-Sign on Facebook and leave me a comment below on how you make running an adventure and/or share an epic running adventure you hadn't planned on having. Spike and I will pic our favs over the weekend and send the winners a Redhead sticker.
   
   The weekend is almost upon us, 18 miles on deck for Saturday (Yikes!), catch y'all on the flipside!!!