Its been a while I know...I had to take a break, I was just not in the marathon training mood.

First I got differing opinions on my injury or pain in my knee/leg/hip. Did Physical Therapy for a few weeks but things did not get better so I am just going to stretch and hope I can push through the pain.

Then life just got busy and I was not feeling the training and being marathon peppy.

I am back and ready to finish this baby. Only 3 more weeks, 3 more training runs until the BIG DAY. Sunday is our 20 mile run, luckily we got a baby sitter so Tom and I can run together, which I am so happy about since my usual running partner Barrie is going to be running the Marine Corps Marathon...GO BARRIE!!!!!

I am excited to tackle the 20 miler however I feel kind of crappy, sore throat, sinus heachache, but I will get over it before Sunday. I know I can do this and will push through the pain, RIGHT?

What I am a little nervous about it making it through the rest of the day after running for 4 hours. We have a party to go to at noon, do no ice bath - ugh oh! And no rest, I am just hoping we don't fall asleep at the party. I will let you know.

Post more Sunday night so I will let you know how it all goes!

Getting back on track

The last week has been hard, seeing the dr. and hearing what he has to say, trying to digest what he thinks is wrong with my back and then waiting to find out. Then Sunday, having one of the worst runs ever, such severe heartburn that it lasted for almost 48 hours. Still feeling it a little but getting better. I really wanted to throw in the towel on Sunday and just admit that I am not cut out to run a marathon, maybe halves is as good as I get...but I am not accepting that! Maybe I will not be a repeat marathoner, but I will cross that finish line on November 14 come hell or high water. (Of course unless my MRI reveals something crazy today).

So I am having a new renewed spirit and determination.

Today is the first day of the last 7 weeks to race day and I am going to stay motivated...GO ME!

Good News vs Bad News

Saw the dr. yesterday, he is a Sports Medicine Dr. that is associated with the marathon training team, I have heard wonderful things about him. Initially I went in for pain in my left knee and hip that mostly occur when I run the long distances. He ran me through all the regular tests checking both legs and seeing what hurt, nothing really hurt when he did all this of course making me feel silly. Then he had me run up and down the hallway and watch what happens and make comments like "oh look at that" "huh" "well there you go". He had two medical students with him so he was teaching them what to look for, I just kept running.

Finally he took me in the room and said he didn't think there is anything wrong with my knee or hip but my back. Really? My back - funny since I have had lots of back pain since I was in high school mainly when I was a cheerleader. Also my dad has had chronic back pain since I can remember so I just thought I inherited this condition.

Dr. Cutter decided to do x rays on my back. He took me to look at it and said he sees a slight curvature of the spine and then possibly a herniated disc or even a healed cracked back from years ago. I was stunned, didn't really know what to say. He then suggested I get an MRI to get a better look, so I go back next week. He did tell me I could keep training and running unless the pain got too bad. So now I just have to wait and see.

What is the most annoying...now my back hurts, I know I am crazy, my husband already told me that. Oh well guess I will know more next week.

Yuck!

I had been saying for a while the my toenail had fallen off but I was exaggerating a little bit, the toenail was blue and the nail was all loose. Well today it actually fell off, I mean I have no nail and it is so gross. Scary thing is it doesn't hurt. Now whether it will hurt tonight while I run 8 miles that is another story. However my mouth/teeth/face still hurts from 90 minutes of drilling to fill two cavities so I think the toe pain will have to be way bad to trump that.

Bonus is that dinner is done so when we get home from running and take the sitter home we can eat. Ahhh, sometimes planning ahead is so good.

Off to finally see the dr. tomorrow, had to cancel last weeks appt. Fingers crossed it is just my IT band.

Tiredness!!!!

Just 10 miles is what I told myself last week. I only have to run 10 this weekend, no biggie, so not the big deal as 15.5 was.

Alarm goes off on Sunday morning, 6:00am, first time I ever wanted to NOT get up! But I did since I was meeting Barrie at 6:40. When I hopped in her car we both had the same look on our face, let's just go home and go back to bed...but we didn't we headed to our team meeting and started running.

While 10 doesn't seem like a super long run these days you can't underestimate how much effort it still takes and that is still is a long run. We trudged through and complained a little, caught up on not talking for a few days. As soon as Barrie's watch said 10 miles we stopped cold and started walking. Funny thing is, she looked at her watch and we rocked a pretty fast time for 10 miles...guess sometimes it helps to not want to be there...you go faster.

Ok now getting to be TIRED and not just TIRED but TIIIIRRREEDDD!!!! I could totally crawl on the floor of the kitchen and go to sleep but I will not or actually can't. I will however plop myself on the couch to watch House tonight and not feel guilty. The good thing is that I am tired for a good reason but sometimes still so hard to push threw. The ironic thing is what wakes me up, running, I know I am getting addicted...or maybe just my body and mind is.

Date Night with my Hubby

Tom and I are both training for the marathon and will run it together but we cannot train together most of the time. He does the Saturday long runs and I do the Sunday ones with our respective teams. We pretty much are the same pace and always help each other through the hard times and emotional and physical lows.

Tonight we get to run together for our little date night. We have a sitter and will log in our 7 miles together:) It should be fun! Then home to get the kids to bed and finish the housework, oh the joys!

Then up again in the morning to meet my girls for our weekly Wednesday run :)

Its works miracles

So while I was complaining yesterday about the ice bath and concluded last night at bed time when my legs were still aching after taking well over the recommended amount of Motrin that it does not work. BUT this morning as I swung my legs over the side of the bed expecting to wake up the house with a yelp, I felt no pain, yes that is right my legs did not hurt. I could not believe it. So I will gladly suffer through an ice bath after the long runs if I don't have pain the day after. Highly recommend the ice bath...it was brutal but worked a miracle.

Oh and yes Laurie if you are reading this I have an appointment with the dr. on Friday to have my knee checked out.