A long uphill battle

So I got back into running, slowly. First I was going to the track and doing speedwork, thinking it would make me stronger and less prone to injury. It went well for about a month and a half. Then it was painful and I was on the verge of injury. I backed off, incorporated much more road biking, and took it easier.

About 2 months ago, I began yoga once a week. I have always been opposed to yoga. It's just not fun for me. No sweating. Heart rate low. I did it anyways. It has really seemed to help me with core strength, and of course, flexibility.

Then I started letting myself run once a week. One long, easy run a week.

I tried to add strength training - weights. This I have done about twice a month for a few months. It hasn't stuck yet.

Then I added spin class. This got my heart rate up. It's only an hour, but it maxes my heart, so it's something. I would rather run, but I'll take what I can get. It also makes me push and pull against a large amount of resistance. I feel this is my current strength training.

So I've been doing once a week long, plus every now and then, getting Yonton to do one of the "knobs" of Shut-In with me. I got in Shut-In again this year. Hard to believe it's a month away. I've done a few medium-legnth runs with faster miles around the last three. (7-9 mile runs total.)

I opted out of a long run with friends last weekend, knowing my IT band was super-tight and bothering me. I was proud of my seemingly smart move.

So that's my long uphill battle. Going mountain biking this morning. Did 8 run with speed at end last night. I have skipped spin class this week so far, opting for more sleep. I plan on going friday.

My goal is to run SIRT without injury, and do Tsali Frosty Foot Fest in January.

The day I slowed down

So I am now up to 1.5 mile runs.

For me, apparently this means I can bike for 1-2 hours, then run 1.5 miles, then skip, butt-kick, hop, side-step crossover 1.5 miles.

The biking is pretty normal, but adding my calisthenics made my legs sore. (Suprise) So I had two days of work (no scheduled activities) then yesterday went for my 1.5  mile run. My head is good at justifying a way to get to run more. So yesterday I decided that I could jog slow for the entire 3 miles, and leave out the calisthenics and it'd actually be easier on my legs. So of course, that's what I did.

I was really tight when I started, for at least 1/2 mile. I decided to run naturally for me (less on my toes) and be relaxed. I tried to focus on holding my core tight. Then it got fun. I stayed relatively slow. I heard my garmin alert me to one mile and it had been a while since then. I dreaded looking down to see I had already been my 1.5. Turned out it was 1.42. I finished up my 1.5 and walked 0.2. Then I decided I could just jog slowly. I decided when it started to hurt, I'd walk. I wasn't uncomfortable at all until 2.4 miles had passed. By that point, I was so close to the parking lot, I just slowed down some more.

It was nice to get to "run" the whole time. Today I am biking. I work Saturday so I'll get another run Sunday. Thank you for every chance I get to get to run.

Update

After week one of running, I still feel the same - which is good! My foot doesn't hurt any more than it did without running. This week jumps to 1 mile runs. I did a mile on the treadmill and it felt great. It was hard (sadly) but it did feel great. I was told by a friend (who ran in college) that running on her toes helped her shin splints. So, I am trying that too.

These changes, they're changing me...

Well now, after months of neglect, I have been cleared by my doctor to run 1/2 mile three times a week. I must say... this made my day!

I got a pair of orthotics made that had a high spot in them that caused a foot injury of some kind. After my weight cracking them, I had to take 3.5 months off and heal. (It's hard to stay off your feet as a nurse, and it's impossible not to run down the hall when a bed alarm goes off at night.) Makes the healing process much slower.

Anyways, I am posting to renew the inspiration for myself. I have been mountain biking a lot lately, given the week of spring-like temperatures. It's been awesome, and incredibly inspiring for the spring I get ahead of running.

I have to start slow. (And for anyone that knows me, this is a challenge.) I am allowed 1/2 mile three times a week, never two days in a row. If all goes well, next week it can be a mile, and so on. I can increase milage 1/2 mile per week until 6 weeks. At that point, I can start running 4 times a week. I am determined to stick to this schedule and do my shin-stregnthening exercises. I have missed running too much to stupidly get myself injured again.

I'm excited and look forward to maintaining my blog once again...

In place of a cheesy running quote, I am placing my all-time, most favorite running video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_362jQVXK8k&feature=player_embedded