There are good days and there are bad days!

Yes, it's true, and today was one of the bad days at least related to my morning run. I was very excited to get out and run on the trails but realized once I got there, that I was really fatigued and decided to cut the "run" that was now mostly a walk, short. I'm not sure if it was caused by getting a deep leg massage yesterday, doing my resistance training for my legs (tons of squats and lunges) or all the candy that I ate last night at the pre-Jimmy V golf tournament get together. Probably a little of all of the above. I did notice this morning that I felt kind of "drugged" (that was the sugar I'm sure) and my heart rate was elevated which was a real good sign of my tired state but I ignored all those signs and headed out for my run. Live and learn. It wasn't' all bad though, as at least NOTHING hurt! I know I'm not quite 100% yet but I am finally getting there. I won't be able to run again until Monday as we're working at the golf tournament tomorrow and that will be all day. Hopefully by Monday, My leg muscles will have recovered and I'll have a good run. I did get a 7 mile run on the treadmill the other day and that was great so I know it's possible. I'll let the weather decide if I run inside or outside.
I think I'll go take a nap. I'm tired!

So far so good

So far it does seem that the Rolfing work has already helped. I ran 7 miles yesterday morning on the treadmill, pretty much painfree although my low back was killing me after I stopped, and then I swam for 1 mile non-stop which I haven't done for years. (maybe over a decade if ever) I think I was able to do it because I'm able to breathe better, it almost seems effortless. Needless to say I'm very excited about this whole Rolfing thing and am looking forward to future sessions. I go again next Tuesday and can't wait. Thanks Mary, should have listened to you sooner!
I am going to Southern Pines today for my massage and then I have to give a massage here later this afternoon. Hopefully my clients will continue to grow although it does take time. Word of mouth is the best and slowly it is happening.
Better get ready for my massage. Don't want to be late for that!

Rolfing session

I had my first Rolfing session today and I must say that so far I'm very impressed. I wasn't sure what to expect and was a little disappointed that he wanted to start with my lungs/rib area instead of just going for the butt/hamstring issue but he's the expert. The theory is that you start with the ribs/lung to allow better breathing and breath is life. In my case, with having had lung surgery it was even more important to get in there and release the fascia in the area. I was amazed with the results he was able to achieve. I can actually breathe without feeling like someone is squeezing on my chest. Can't wait to run. I bet it'll be a lot easier with more air!!!! He worked on my ribs/lungs/ back and hips and I must admit I feel really great. My low back was really killing me when I got there and the pain was released once he got to my low back. I'm very excited to continue with the sessions and really think that they will help a lot and I will be back to running and just being much more comfortable with movement in general. Yay!!!!

It's so hot here today that I don't even want to venture out. Hopefully it will cool down before the Celebrity Golf Tournament this weekend. We're working hole 17 on Pinehurst #2 and will be there all day. We're really looking forward to seeing some celebs being star watchers although I'm not sure who we'll see golfing out there but it will probably be mostly sports celebs, not so much fun for me. They treat the volunteers really great so we'll be getting lots of goodies and food. They are having pre and post tournament parties so it will be a lot of fun. We got shirts, and visors (had to pay for those but they're really nice) and will be treated like celebs ourselves. It'll be interesting to see another extreme sport in action. I'm sure it will be as opposite to ultra running as you can get but fun none the less and it does after all benefit, a great cause, Cancer.

Since I've been injured I've started reading quite a bit. I've never been much to read novels but after reading a non-fiction book by Nicholas Sparks, called Three Weeks with My Brother that Erin loaned me, I've read a couple of his novels and then other novels. Now I'm enjoying reading novels and have read 5 in 3 months, probably more than I've read in the past 5 years! I think I'll add a book review to my blog list. Kind of fun! Right now I'm reading another Spark novel called Dear John. A review to follow soon!

Gotta Run!

Run a little, swim a little!

I went to the club this morning and ran 5 miles on the treadmill. I've decided that running on the treadmill is probably best for me to get my endurane back as I'm able to run at an even pace and heartrate and spend much less time walking. I think I really need to work on not walking so much. I felt pretty good although my low back did start to hurt towards the end of the workout. (hence the end of the workout! funny how that works) Anyway, I then went to the pool and did laps for about 45 minutes. That felt great although I could really feel my back tightening up. I sat in the hot tub after and I think that helped a little although it's still tender. After I got home I decided to do my upper body weights as I have a client tomorrow morning and that way my arms won't be tired from working out right before she gets here and she'll get a better massage. It's a new client that one of my "regulars" referred. I will do my lower body tomorrow though as I really need to get that strengthened if I'm ever going to get back to running the trails. I go to see the Rolfer this week and I really think that will help. It's about the only thing I haven't tried yet but the fact that this issue has probably been in the works for some time, it makes sense to try to undo some of the wear and tear that's happened over the years.
Frank is on his way home from the Cactoctin 50K. (the party's over!) I think I'm glad I didn't make it there. It sounds almost as much fun as the Promise Land 50K. Yikes, one of those was enough. At least I think it is actually a 50K and not a 50K ++! Hilly, Hot and Humid plus LONG! Sounds like fun?
I hope to get some biking in this week. I'll certainly do some spinning at the club if I don't get outside but I am hoping to get outside. I'll be doing a 40 mile bike ride the following weekend. I have to admit that biking a 50K sure is a lot easier than running a 50K. Who knows, maybe this whole injury thing will turn out to be a blessing in disguise as it's gotten me back on the bike and swimming which I hadn't done for years as well as starting my weight lifting program. The jury is still out as to which method will help me be more fit. I do think I'll continue with cross-training even after I'm back to running ultras. I'll just need to make time to fit everything in. Good thing I don't have a real job!
Better run!

Another bike rider!

 
Here's Ada on her birthday bike. She is such a beautiful little girl and is certainly growing up way too fast. Ride on Ada!

Adalyn all grown up!

 
Here's a picture of Adalyn in her new outfit that we bought her for summer fun! Isn't she just too cute. Be sure to check out her shoes. It just amazes me how fast they grow up. Soon she'll be a big sister. I'll be going out to visit them shortly after the birth of the new baby and can't wait to see everyone! Ada will be a great big sister!

If you can't run, ride!

 
I just got back from a 40K bike ride and it was a lot of fun. That's two weeks in a row that I've been biking and I'm really enjoying it. I forgot how much I loved biking as we've been concentrating on running for so long. I guess that's a positive outcome of being injured and not being able to run very much. I met Chris a year ago at a trail run and we've been talking about biking together since then and we are finally doing it. Now that I'm getting more comfortable on my bike, I'll be doing more of it. I met Susan at the reservoir a couple of weeks ago and we seem to have a lot in common, including biking and running. It was fun getting to know both of them better and it felt like we were old friends getting together for a bike ride.

I went to the Physical Therapist yesterday and he thinks that my "issue" is really coming from my low back. He made a couple of adjustments and it really did the relieve the pressure and my back felt better and the weakness in my hamstring seemed to go away as well. Now I just have to work on keeping it that way. He gave me some exercises to strenghten that whole area so hopefully all will be well soon. The biking doesn't seem to affect it at all so I'm very happy about that.

Frank is in MD this weekend to run the Catoctin 50K. I'm a little jealous that I wasn't able to run it but considering how hot, humid and hilly it is there, it's probably just as well. Another good thing about biking is that it doesn't feel as hot as running cause you always get a breeze! I do miss being to able to just go out and run and not think about injuries or how much it hurts and hopefully I"ll be back there soon. I am going to go to a Rolfer next week and I think that will help as well. It seems as if I've tried everything and although it is better, I know that I would not be able to get back to running ultra distances without doing something to correct my muscle inbalances. Stay tuned for those updates!

I've been taking a class on organizing digital photos so I think I'll spend some time doing my homework on that. I really need to get them under control and organized in a way that I can use them more effectively. It's really hot out today and staying inside does seem like a good idea although this weekend is tax free weekend so I may have to go out and do a little shopping later! I did get out and bought a few things yesterday but I may just have to take advantage of this great once a year event!