Saturday, May 9, 2009

Navigating uncharted waters

I am focusing now on gaining as much information as possible about healing my injury while safely maintaining as much function as I can in terms of flexibility, range of motion, etc.

I found this website, Runner's Remedy (http://www.ualberta.ca/~alester/conditions/home2.html) which seems to offer up a very methodical approach to a variety of injuries that often plague runners. It's written by runners for injured runners who want to return to the sport in a safe and efficient manner.

I've not been using my online Workout Log (see toolbar on right) because there's been so little to write, but I realize this too is part of my journey. I can't only record the good parts, but the less interesting ones too, so I'm back on that.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

More lyrics...coincidence?

Here's another example of a song that caught my ear and when I searched for the lyrics, here's what I found. WOW.

While I'm Waiting - John Waller

I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Reflections on a year of training with JRP

Today marks the one-year anniversary of working with JRP at the gym. (See http://unblob.blogspot.com/2008/05/met-with-trainer.html) His methods, approach, and personality are such a good match for me and I remain humbly grateful for all he has helped me learn and accomplish. I appreciate that he's very detailed, methodical, and research-oriented, basing his decisions on evidence. He's open to new ideas and suggestions, reserving judgement until he's checked things out. He pushes and challenges me and keeps the workouts creative and fresh. We work toward multiple goals in a focused and planned-out way and he really invests himself in achieving those goals. And in my case it helps that he has experience with injuries and rehab (and he's gaining experience in counseling the injured athlete too :-). I have a lot of confidence knowing that in my busy schedule, my gym time and splits are optimized and I can leave the planning to him.

This is a good time to do some reflecting on the last year. It's been a full and rewarding journey that's far from over. I have not yet begun to peak!
  • Ran about 1000 miles (48 weeks x 20 miles/week)
  • Did over 50,000 (that’s FIFTY THOUSAND) reps at the gym*
  • Bought 6 pairs of tennis shoes (Nike, Asics [2], Brooks, Mizunos, New Balance)
  • Completed seven races (2-5ks, 10k, 10 miler, 2-Half Marathons, 15 mile trail race)
  • Competed in a bench press competition (benched my weight 120 lbs)
  • Lost 25 pounds
  • Met lots of cool new people through running and the gym
  • Worked through injuries (IT bands, foot, piriformis, torn ligaments, stress fracture)
  • Learned a lot of stretches, how to use a foam roller, and best ways to ice
  • Bought two cases of peanut butter from the farmer’s market
  • Acquired a taste for a good steak (filet actually)
  • Bought (and fit in) pants in size 2 (and have a closet full of clothes that don’t fit)
  • Learned that I like running in the cold weather, in the dark, and very early in the morning!
  • Watched lots of running movies and read lots of running books
  • Met my goal of 8 pull-ups
  • Got really picky about the socks I wear
  • Added 3 people to the group of those keeping me in one piece (in addition to chiropractor -massage therapist, physical therapist, orthopedic doc)
  • Ran a 5-K with Spencer
  • Referred to as “an athlete” (who, me??)
  • Learned to eat like an athlete and recognized connection between food and how I feel
  • Became a morning person, up before 6 am regularly
  • Got a cool GPS running watch to obsess over numbers
  • Worked up to swimming a mile
  • Learned about (and did) speedwork and intervals. Love/hate relationship with it!!
* 52 weeks/year x 3.5 workouts/week x 8 exercises/workout x 3 sets/exercise x 12 reps/set = 52,416 reps/year

So what's ahead this year? Who knows, but here are some ideas:
  • Summer -135 bench, 6-minute mile, swim for BCC swim team
  • Fall - triathlon, marathon
  • Winter - bench press/powerlifting
  • Spring - Pittsburgh Marathon! (and of course I can hope for Boston)
Regardless, it's about the journey not the destination. Do I regret training for the Pittsburgh Marathon? Absolutely not. Those efforts gave me confidence and mental readiness that remains with me.

What a year it has been -- looking forward to the next one!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Disaster averted

Yesterday I was tired and clearly distracted. Rushing around the house to get ready for our 12:30 class, I managed to trip down half a flight of our hardwood steps landing on my hip and back. That was a total loss-of-control accident like I have not experienced in adulthood. I landed hard on my right hip/bum and have a lovely bruise that made sleeping on that side untenable. Fortunately, it doesn't affect walking or sitting. Again, a reminder that I need to be careful or I'll have more than just a bum leg to deal with.

Come to think of it, yesterday was strange all the way around. While doing tricep pressdowns with my knee/leg propped up on a bench, I pulled an ab muscle. I could feel exactly where it was and it seemed to interfere with low ab things (knee raises) but not upper ab things (crunches). I also found that my shoulders were telling me that bench dips were a bad idea and I thought it best not to ignore that.

Just a few more days as a tripod. I'm starting to get a little nervous about how things will be on Thursday morning for the big unveiling. I'm hoping to be pretty close to pain free at that point. I can move things around enough to know that I'm not there yet.