Long time no blog...or run..

Man, it's been soooo long since my last post! I can't believe that it was before the Bass Pro Half last year that I posted last! We had an awesome time...it was Sheryl and Cami's first half, and they did an awesome job. I went on to do the Hobbitom Challenge in March, which is a half marathon on Saturday and the Little Rock Marathon on Sunday. I was hurting by the end of marathon day, but I did PR on the marathon course.

My running has had lots of ups and downs this year...will not so many downs..but more like some "non-running"..After the marathon, I was happy to take a break from running. I don't think I ran more than twice the month after the race. After that, it was pretty sporadic. I had some mild Achilles issues and have had to try out some different shoes. I was wearing the New Balance 1224's, but I had exhausted all avenues to find any more in my size, since they are out of stock everywhere! I found a pretty similar shoe in the New Balance 940's, but alas, these shoes won't last long either.

My longest run since the marathon in March has been 10 miles, and I'm pretty sure that was at least 2 months ago. Last weekend, I did 8, which might not have been too bad, but I did Charla's Mix-it-Up Boot camp-type class the day before...Ugh, the next day I felt crippled! All this to say...I am doing the White River Christmas Half Marathon tomorrow! EEK...Probably not the best decision I ever made, but I couldn't resist a road trip/race with the girls after SO long! We did this race last year and it was the HILLIEST race I have ever done. I will most definitely have to do my walk/run thing. If you ever get the opportunity to do this race I highly recommend it. It is a small, but well supported race, organized by Fellowship Bible Church in Batesville. There is no race fee, but donations are accepted and almost all proceeds go to needy families for Christmas. The race shirt is so cute, the medal doubles as a Christmas Ornament, and the post-race food is abundant and AWESOME. These people put on a great event and they don't scrimp...we even got really nice goodie bags! I'm a tad nervous and it IS supposed to be one of the coldest day we've had so far this winter..Oh well, at least it's not going to rain!

I'll fill you in on the race after!!

The verdict is in...

The verdict was in: Patellar Tendinitis



And I was NOT HAPPY...



I left my Podiatrist's office thinking..."what the heck?" and wondering if he really was a quack....I was so convinced that all my knee issues had been because of my insoles, that I was just plain irritated when he said they weren't the culprit...



Turns out: HE WAS RIGHT...Podiatrist 1 :Tammy 0

He put me back on Meloxicam, and said I could try a Patellar strap to see if it helped. I immediately went to have my prescription refilled and headed to Sporty Runner to get my strap. When I got home, I googled PT exercises for patellar tendinitis. Did it work?

YES!!!!!! The strap and exercises helped immediately, and the meds really helped the soreness I already had over several days. I have been doing wall sits/squats, squeezing a ball or my foam roller between my legs, for 30-45 seconds at a time. The recommended amount is to do these exercises 5-10 reps, at least twice a day for 2 weeks, to have 90% relief. I can't say I was that consistent, but it has been a significant improvement. I am continuing to take the Meloxicam and do the exercises and the last 3 runs, I have not had to use my strap!

Most of my runs lately have been pretty awesome. Last week the humidity came back in full force and it was hard all over again, but for the most part, they have been wonderful. Today was my 12 miler. I was nervous because it was the longest run I have done since I got injured last year. I started out slow, with a 5 minute warm-up walk, and 3:1 (running:walking) for the first 6 miles or so. The last 6 miles, I took a 1 minute walk break every 10 minutes. I was a tad sore at the end, but nothing unbearable. Did a lot of stretching, prescribed PT hip exercises, and foam rolling when I got home. My foam roller is my frienemy...

I have decided to forgo doing the Soaring Wings Half Marathon in October and instead, will be doing the Maynard Cohick Bass Pro Half Marathon in November. Cheryl and Kim decided about 1-2 weeks ago to do it, because Cheryl's friend, another Sheryl, missed the deadline to sign up for the Maemphis Half. I was invited to join them. It's been so long since I've done a race with the girls! I won't be running with them, I'm sure, but the road trip should be fun and it will give us all a chance to catch up. I'm coming to terms with my slowness..at least for now. It's just going to hurt me in the long run to punish my body for something I just can't do right now. These days..a successful run is one that leaves me feeling good at the end and without injury!

A brief intermission...

Not too much has changed on the running front....I had 3 very good runs and the knee pain returned. I now have an appointment with my Podiatrist for Monday and I am hoping that he can help me with the insoles. Beyond that, I don't know what to do...so prayers are being prayed and good thoughts are being thunk (yeah, I said that)....fingers crossed....

Those 3 runs were a taste of bliss...they were virtually pain free and it has been so long since I experienced that, it was almost like a high...I started getting so excited about running again!!! I really want to be able to enjoy fall running the next few months, it is my favorite time of year. I haven't given up on the Soaring Wings Half yet, but the deadline before the rate goes up is August 24th...

Has anyone ever been sidelined by an injury so long that you don't even think of yourself as a runner anymore? Sometimes I feel like an impostor or something....trying to live on the "glory days" .....

SUCK week...

Ugh...............

It is never-ending...the insole drama continues. Needless to say, I think I'm going to have to have the dang things adjusted again. Last week's 7 miler was brutal on the knees. I took the insoles to be adjusted on Monday and tried them again on Wednesday's run. Aside from giving myself heat stroke running outside in 106 degree weather, my knees and feet bothered me afterwards. This week I have also had the unfortunate pleasure of my hip pain returning, so basically....SUCK!! I'm skipping running today and not even sure if my 7 miler will even happen tomorrow. Is being able to run without pain too much to ask? I'm so tired of hurting all the time, the fleeting thought of giving up running all-together crossed my mind yesterday.....But I don't want to live with that. I know that running is not my whole identity, but it really does feel like a huge part of me. I LOVE it...if I didn't, I would have given up long ago. Now I'm wondering if I need to give up on the upcoming Soaring Wings Half Marathon in October. I haven't actually registered yet, but now I'm scared to. Not sure if I will be ready in time with all the set backs....

I continue with my exercises for the hip, and I'm really hoping that I don't have to go back to PT. I could really use some ART right now to loosen me up. I think that once I can pinpoint why my insoles aren't working for me, the knee pain will get better. I considered a patellar strap, but I think that's just treating something that is, ultimately being caused by the insole/shoe issue. NUTS!

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...

It had to be something...

It had to be something...this week, my knees...geez...

My knees have really been bothering me this week, somewhat during my runs, but especially afterwards. Usually when this happens, it is because I need new shoes or new insoles. I'm positive it's not my shoes, since I just started breaking in a new pair 2 weeks ago...so, insoles it is! My insoles were custom made at the Foot Solutions lab in Little Rock...and they cost me a pretty penny when I got them...I was kind of freaking out, thinking that I might need new ones, because I could definitely could do without the expense right now. I took them to the store today and showed them to Eric, the on-site Podorthist, who made them for me. He thinks the need a new foot pad and told me to bring them back on Monday and he would try to tweak them, so I don't have to buy another pair! YES! Now the catch: I have to leave them with him for several days, up to a week, if necessary....UGH!

I'm hoping the knees hold up for tomorrow's "long" run, and it looks like a no-running week for me, if my shoes are going to be in Little Rock without me. So, I guess I will be doing other cardio this week instead. Maybe this will be a good opportunity to get back on my spin bike! I hope that it dosen't bother the hip, it has been a little tight this week...but I am doing my exercises every other day, like I should!