Insoles return...and so do the walk breaks...

Well....I finally got my custom insoles. Still having a tiny bit of knee pain, but it is usually after my runs...I think it's a bit of IT band stuff, but maybe I need my insoles adapted? I wanted to wear them for a week to see how they felt, since there seems to be a short adjustment period whenever I get new shoes or insoles. I'm still trying to tell if they are going to work for me. Thankfully, the guys at New Balance will adjust them as needed, but it is a bit frustrating trying to pinpoint exactly what the "not right" feeling is and telling them in a way that they can make the needed adjustments. We'll see about that...

I have returned to my foam rolling for my IT band and am continuing to do my hip exercises. I read on another blog that a girl who was having problem with her IT Band was told to do "quad sets" by her PT. I was thinking "What are those?"....basically they are similar to a leg extensions, but probably without weight, the whole point being to strengthen the quads and contract the muscles. Then I remembered that a muscle imbalance can cause IT Band issues. I haven't been doing leg extensions because they used to bother my hip flexor, but I hadn't tried them since I had been going to PT. So, last time I went to the gym, I did 3 sets of 20 leg extensions with 35 lbs. I could tell IMMEDIATELY that it helped!! So, needless to say, I have worked these back into my strengthening routine.

I have tried not to overdo the whole cross-training thing, while trying to get back into running. I really have been abusing my poor body and hating on it because I've been so frustrated at how all these injuries have been plaguing me...and how slowly my recovery has been. In fact, I have probably been slowing my own recovery, pushing myself too hard...trying to "get back to where I was"...Truth is...you can't come back from almost 5 months of no running and resume like nothing ever happened....Well, maybe some people can, but not this Sheila....I think I've internalized my anger about that and taken it out on myself. It's not getting me anywhere! It's hard feeling like a newbie...I almost feel like I don't know what the hell I'm doing and I'm having to relearn my limits all over again.

I am able to run 20 minutes at a time before having to take a walk break now..I think that is mostly due to overdoing my cross training and then having a sore hip..But yesterday I just let myself do the Galloway method...doing a 5 minute walk at the beginning, and then doing a 5:1 ratio of running/walking and at the end...I felt great! I am afraid that if I get into the habit of doing this, that I won't be able to build up my endurance to run longer periods of time, but right now...Getting my runs in without injury is more important. I'm tired of being plagued by fears that every run will result in pain. So...Galloway here I come! I'm actually looking forward to feeling better at the end of my long runs. I'm even curious to see in an upcoming half marathon, how it works for me. There are several "goal time" schedules in the Galloway book and they usually call for a few speed work days that I probably won't be able to do, but it's an experiment I'm willing to try! Tomorrow is my 7 miler, so I'll see how it goes.

A torturous 7 miler...destined to injury?

I finally did order a pair of insoles (inside tears)...and I was wishing i had them this morning for sure...

Today was the Maumelle route...I'm not opposed, pretty flat, although out and back...which I usually do not favor. My hip was kind of sore last night, so I was slightly apprehensive about today's run..not to mention, 7 miles on the schedule. I did some of my hip exercises in bed before getting up and it seemed to help some. I left my house a little early this morning so I could start my walking warm up. I usually start the routes with 5 minutes of walking and ease into a pace, but wanted to try to run a little with Cheryl and Kim this morning, so I was hoping to get it out of the way. That way, by the time they caught up with me, I would be running. Didn't go as planned, as the group started late due to Tom's "rambling on" (hehe)...I somehow started out way too fast and ended up paying for it the second half of the run....plus, I had some technical difficulties..issues with my shoes, my fuel belt, etc...At one point I had to loosen my laces because I felt that all-to-familiar feeling of pressure on the top of my foot...I thought "Oh no!" because this same issue during my last marathon kept me "running-free" (as in , NO running) for about 8 weeks afterward...

Loosening the laces seemed to help, but I felt like I was compensating for the looser shoe by flexing my foot upward, therefore...getting a cramp in my toes...Then....a long lost enemy showed up...IT Band pain... GEEZ!! That's what I get for going too fast! I wasn't sure if it was my IT Band at first, maybe my hip flexor...but I stopped to stretch and it got better, so I knew my nemesis was back....Sigh...Am I destined for injury? Seriously...

I came home and did a bit of foam rolling and my hip exercises, and I do feel somewhat better. I also applied an ice pack to my foot, hoping to fend off that issue ASAP. Ibuprofen is my friend today...

My insoles are supposed to be ready in about 10 days and I am counting down...