Monday, April 28, 2008

Anatomy of an Injury

OK, so I did some "light" reading (not that I hadn't already done this before), but this thing called the IT Band is rather fascinating. The fact that it primarily will only show up in running and cycling makes it a double edged sword for me.

I won't bore anyone with the details, but you can google the hell out of this for treatment, stretching, diagnosis, long term effects, surgery, cortisone treatments, Yoga, whatever you desire.

So what matters here is that today I got shot up with cortisone. I can theoretically run tomorrow, but I may wait another day to let the magic work. Right now my ass is on fire from the shot (to be expected, last time I got a shot in my foot, that burning sensation went halfway up my leg). I know, TMI...

The doctor still seems to think that I could concevably still run Eugene as a training run. My kind of doc, prescribes a 26 mile run for rehab... lol

I'm moving forward with caution. I don't want to be down for a whole month becuause I did something stupid. A week would be acceptable though... ;-)

Friday, April 25, 2008

The other side of the pillow...

When you're hot, you're hot... when you're not... life stinks.

OK, first major negative post of the year. Since the Race for the Roses, I've been battling IT band problems. First 2 days were OK, but very tight. Took a day off and rested, iced, stretched. Got in 2 solid runs and was happy with the progress. Did a 10.5 miler on the following Sunday and the wheels came off the bus. My IT band hurt bad around my knee. Very bad...

Took 3 days off, tried to run 2 miles and couldn't. Saw the doc and we did some manipulations to release the IT band. New shoes. Tried 2 miles on the dreadmill and that was OK, minimal pain. Tried to run the next day (Sunday) and had to stop within the first mile. Another 3 days of rest, ice, rehab and then deep tissue massage on the lower back, hips, and left leg. I felt a noticable difference in my range of motion, so I thought things would be better.

Tried to run again (4.8 miles). It would get tight, I'd walk, stretch, walk, then run again. Repeat as necessary (every mile?). Last night after that run, it was hell. No amount of ice, no position, nothing felt good.

Note: At this point, many runners can become destructive, depressed, or just plain cranky.

Eugene is in 9 days. It's looking extremely bleak to run even the 5k there (the half and full marathon are not looking even remotely possible). I'm taking another day off, I'll try aquajogging tomorrow and Sunday, but I'm about ready to throw in the towel.

Yup, I'm pissed and not in the best of moods for a Friday. I wanted this race badly and managed to screw it all up with an injury that I can't run through. I should be thankful that I can do these things, but it's not easy to see that when it hurts this much.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Race 4 the Roses

Race #2 of the year went off without a hitch. I was skeptical at first that I'd be able to run it, but the week went well and I decided to go for it. I couldn't do my usual pre-race plan since mom was up for the weekend, but I wasn't worried (Oba! = yummy!!!). Sometimes it pays to not be so anal about the pre-race plan.

Got to the start on time, the warm up was nice (jogging from the parking to the Convention Center), and what was even better was having the warm indoor area of the convention center to stretch in. Yes, it was freakin' cold out... 42 F at the start and it had been raining.

The race was perfect. I set my pace to slow down the first mile and adjust for the hills and downhills. I wanted to keep right at 7 min pace and make this an "easy" race. Slightly aggressive going up Front Ave., then relaxing pace going down Broadway. The winds were cold and gusty at times, but never too severe. The sun broke about halfway through the race, and that was nice.

Overall, 1:30:48, pace = 6:56. Right on track for Eugene!