Friday, September 24, 2010

It's business time... Almost..

HAH! I'm still here.

After a diagnosis of an inflamed medial (hmm is that right? I think so) shin splint and a clear X-ray (yay!) I still had quite a bit of pain for a week or so.

Then, just as I was about to get out the old running shoes again I shipped off to a big Regional Final in my "real" sport. Which went quite well, thank you very much.

I managed to sneak in one nice, easy run while off at my competition and it was GREAT. No pain for the first time since mid August which was a nice and welcome change.

The Huz and I am embarking on a big vacation this weekend which will include zero running from this old lady. Unless I'm running towards something I want to do/eat/drink that is..

When I get back it's business time. I have my eye on a number of fall races and plan to get back into shape as quickly and painlessly as possible!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Trash Talk

I have found that running around my town has made me appreciate many things about it. It is quiet (for the most part) has beautiful views, pretty lakes, quaint little towns and that good old fashioned small village feel.

Other things I notice while running, not to include the crumbling shoulders of most of the roads in town....

-The usual trash on the roadside. Dunkin Donuts cups, Bud cans, cigarette cartons. It makes me want to drag a little cart along with me and clean up after the slobs. Like a Small town Sherpa, cleaning up our little Mt. Everest!

-Now the more interesting.... Ladies Underwear. Several pairs!! WTF??

-One condom. Sweet Baby Geezees, I wasn't getting within 10 feet of THAT thing!! (sadly, I already was. Almost stepped on the slippery little sucker. Bllllergh!)

-While walking yesterday I noticed a discarded used pregnancy test. I assume from the same person who first lost their knickers on the roadside and then flung the condom from the window?? I chose not to investigate the results of this test. Disgusting.

It seems as though my hood is a hot, steamy place where people take their affairs to the streets and limited shoulders of our poor town. I'm sure they think that their left behind items will go unnoticed.... Evidently they had not counted on the keen eyes of certain middleaged runners?

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

To the Doctor we go, we go....

My leg and I will be taking a trip to see my Doctor tomorrow, much to my dismay.

I was very patient (not so much) and gave the stupid shin FIVE days off. No running what so ever. I didn't even run inside for snacks/lunch/beer like I have been known to do. I walked around in a most sedate and VERY slow manner. Downright ladylike if you ask me.

I took the leg out again last night for a walk/run/tranter/hiphoppidy of doom.

Since the leg (I need to just give it a name, it has caused me enough annoyance to deserve a name of its own. Suggestions welcome.) Anyway, since the leg has been feeling mildly better I was downright offended when after an EPIC warmup a HALF MILE of walking- all this after lots of stretching- it still kicked up a big old fit when I started to run (run is so generous. it was pathetic.)

I sucked it up and ran close to a mile- it did relax a bit but not enough to make me happy.

My sister (world famous massage therapist) does not notice anything odd going on in the muscles.

Which brings up the question: What the HELL is going on??? 23 days and counting.... and only about 21 miles run in that time (awful!!)

Race plans for Sunday are OFF. BOOO.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

"Sneakers are for feet. Gloves are for hands"

You know, if you want to run barefoot go right ahead. You are crazy!! (but good for you. the world is full of choices and this is yours, but not mine Mo' Fo's!! I likes mah shoes!)

On facebook the other evening I noticed a status update from my BFF's Hubs that was most disturbing. To paraphrase it said something to the effect of this "I'm gonna get some Vibram 5 fingers and OMG I'm so excited!" Or a more manly version of the same....

Rolling my eyes I immediately sent a message to put the kibosh on this silly toe-separation madness. "HEY!" I cyber shouted "If you get those I'm going to tease you and call you a sally-Mary!!" (or something close to that....) Many other people responded and except for a few misinformed supporters it was all out warfare of BFF's Hubs and his bad, bad choices. Some extra special mud slinging between the two of us (Which he has to take, I have been his wife's BEST friend for 20+ years. Henceforth, he doesn't stand a chance.)

Some examples:
-What's Vibram Five Fingers???? Sounds obscene!

-Geek. Sneakers are for feet. Gloves are for hands. Don't be confused.

-If I ever see you wearing those things I'm going to slap you. (from yours truly)

-I did get them. For half of the retail price. Bring it on MA-Runner. I ain't scared!!!! (from BFF's Hubs)

-OMG. Dork. Go ahead and run in them. Imagine the way that I'll beat you while you flip around with all your toes separated. Creep-O! (from me!)

-Oh now its on. Why don't you go ride a horse or something and wear a top hat while you're at it. ha ha (To me, from BFF's Hubs)

-HUBS!!!! i want to see u both run around in top hats! (from my BFF)

-when and where is this taking place?

-Dear BFF's Hubs. It's on. You, me, the stupid frog shoes, top hats and oh, say 5 miles or so. ASAP. (or as soon as I'm officially off the DL. BUT with those stupid shoes you love so much I could still beat you broken and all...)

So, the gauntlet has been thrown. At a yet undisclosed place and time BFF Hubs and I are going to don Top Hats (?) running shoes (me) frog flippers( him) and duke it out in a battle for the ages.
I declared a 5 mile run because I don't stand a chance in a sprint but feel that I can beat him in a longer run, especially since his feet will fall off by then. BWA-HAHAHAHA! HAH!

Stay tuned for developments on this battle of shoes VS barefoot. We shall see who reigns victorious!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Musings of a Middleaged Runner

On top of coping with my shin agony of hellacious doom, this week has also been a flashback to July of the Oh-Ten. Meaning? Hotter than the hinges of Hell. Quite dreadful, really and most uncomfortable to do much of anything in (oh wait. I have an outdoor job! one that requires feats of athleticism all the while dressed in the warmest clothing one can imagine. Unfair! I declare shenanigans.... on myself...) I digress.

I had a glorious, albeit painful on the front end 5 miler last Saturday. I did a very beautiful loop around one of the many lakes that my town is so proud of (and that our property taxes reflect, ahem.) No problem with that, which will lead me to my next post (to follow next week) about my final decision regarding a 10K in the Oh-Ten.

On Monday it was hot like WHAT so I retreated to the basement to pound out some elliptical training time. This was bad and not fun. I hate how that machine spreads my legs in ways that they/I protest about (perhaps I need to ask the Huz to post a guest blog on this subject?? Kidding, kidding....!) I found that despite the "low impact" of this activity my leg was more sore than it had been- most bothersome not to mention confusing!

I did another 3 miles on Wednesday morning as the sun attempted to rise around the smog, haze, whatever you want to call the stagnant layer of humidity that we are currently immersed in. I gimped pathetically for the first .5 mile or so and then fell into a pretty decent rhythm as my ass hat leg gave it up. No worse for it afterwards. I had my Sister do a bit of work on the leg the next day and the results were inconclusive- no obvious appalling muscle problem, she applied a lot of pressure to my various leg bones with only moderate yelps of pain from myself, and she declared a tentative diagnosis of a bone bruise. Hmmmm.

The past two days have brought more heat and unbearable humidity but the threat of a hurricane, much shin aggravation (which for whatever reason has faded to a dull background noise this morning) and a flare up from my ruptured toe tendon. I am giving the old bod a break until Monday morning when I will emerge from the ashes of my disabled list fire, and take on the world ready to kick some serious booty! (or. just not go totally lame again.)

Friday, September 3, 2010

Shin S**T

I am rapidly growing weary of my shin issue. Can't quite put my finger on what the problem is because it is strange, to say the least.

In short:
-It is always much worse in the morning
-It is always worse the day after I DON'T run (like 48 hours)
-As I run, it gets better. But hurts at first.
-It does not feel like a shin splint in the least.
-It is located on the inside of my right shin-bone area. But there is no one place of "intense" pain. Seeming to rule out a hairline fracture.
-I can fully rotate my ankle and flex my foot up and down with zero pain. Further ruling out a hairline fracture.
-I am annoyed by this. Very much.

AND I have a 5K in 9 days. Which I had fully intended to set an epic personal record in. Hopefully I make a full recovery very soon.