Hi from Montana

We're over at Nancy's house this afternoon (Friday) so I am checking email and trying to catch up on a few things from here.  Good for you on the hills, dance class, and gym.  You are too busy!  I would love a dance class like that!

I walked 1 mile yesterday morning and ran and walked 2 miles today.  I still feel this pinch in my groin and left heel but I'm tired of waiting for it to go away.  I won't overdo it though but plan to do something each morning and see how it goes.  It's like starting all over though after 2 months of doing nothing.  I'm so out of shape.

Whoo Sore!

I didn't even sleep well last night. Why? Hot and sore! I should have turned on the AC but I will tonight. Anyway, I woke up really early and decided to go to the gym. And I did the usual gym things. I drank approximately a million cups of coffee today. And it is almost 11 and I'm wide awake. So right now I'm watching Beverly Hills Cop. I'm working from home tomorrow - my car is in the garage. Nothing new is wrong. I just have a couple of outstanding issues I want to get resolved before it gets way too hot. Figure I can drive my car for 5 more years?

Something New!

I did something new tonight and it was nerve wracking but fun and I'm glad I did it! I went to a dance class! I will tell you, I can't dance at all. And won't. But I have been thinking that I'd like to get some general coordination going on. I've been thinking on this for a couple years but just started looking for a class a few months ago. And, dang, I couldn't find one. But I mentioned it to Jessica (she does dance) and she said, "OH, there totally is a class for that!" Here it is: http://stage7.com/schedule/class-descriptions/adult-pre-ballet/ It's right over in North Park (on 30th) and the class is only 9 dollars! And the best part is that I don't have to sign up. So if I cannot make it due to work, I'm not out any money. I just can show up when I can. This class is on Wednesday and on Saturday. So I went tonight and, wow, I'm sore. We did a lot of bar work and very little actual dancing type stuff. Which I'm thrilled about since I have no skills.....yet. I can really feel that I've done something different in my back and shoulders. I did run today, too. Three miles. Very slow.

Sit down before reading!

I ran hills today! How long has it been? Well, just checked my labels and the last time I labeled a post with "Hills" was 5/23/12. Wow, that's a long time. Anyway, I did run hills at lunch today and it was so beautiful out. I'm so glad I did it. I left at 4 to take lunch (aka: run hills) and was really starting to think, "Oh, it's too late....I have too much to do....I can do it another time." And then I thought, no, just do it. So I did. And I'm so glad I did. I also went to the gym this am. Did the usual but I did a new ab thing. I stood with 10 lb weights at my sides and then leaned to one side, came back up. Leaned to the side, came back up. It's hard to describe. Do you know what I mean? Anyway, I can feel it in my obliques but also in my back. In a good way. This looks fun: http://chargers5k.competitor.com/event-details.html But why does it have to start at 7 am? That's insane!

Short Run

I really lagged today. Got up at the usual time but I just couldn't get myself out the door. But I finally did go and did a 3 mile run. All I had time for! Nice morning around here. Tonight I'm just hanging out at home and anticipating bed already! I had lunch out today. That's rare for me. It was good - Little Sheep Hot Pot! I hear your trip is going well thus far. I'm so glad to know that. How was pool running? I bet that's really challenging!

Miss You Already!

I hope you have a great trip, but I'll be sad and lonely without you! It'll just be me and my smoothies....... I ran yesterday, but I felt really weird. I just had zero energy. I almost walked! And I was tired the rest of the day. I took today off. I did go to the FM and then Bart had me over for dinner. And Mike and Cindy! He made us steaks. Very good and fun!

Quick Run

I did over 3 but under 4 today. I way slept in! Until 7:20. But I was awake a lot of last night, worrying about work. Which is very unusual for me. But there we have it! So I ran. Slowly. Next week I must start hills. July is almost here but I can't slack on the hills if I think I'm going to be any good for the NWM in October! I don't know if I'll run or do the gym tomorrow. One or the other. I had a very healthy food day. Great smoothie! Chard, 1/2 banana, strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 golden beet. YUM. But the red beets sure make a smoothie look prettier.

Doctor Appointment Today

Today I had an appointment with Dr. McDonough in SCF.  He is a sports medicine specialist.  I found him to be willing to listen to my whole tale of woe and he gave me what I thought was a very thorough exam.  He spent 25 minutes with me.  The only thing he didn't do was order an MRI which I chose not to do.  Without the MRI he is 99.9% certain that I do have a slight case of Achilles tendonitis in the left heel and a pulled muscle in the right groin.  And, yes, he does think the one thing (the hell pain) led to the other (the groin pain).  He is certain I do not have any broken or cracked or fractured bones anywhere nor do I have any signs of arthritis that might cause any of this.  Since both conditions are getting better with time he wants me to do some exercises they taught me today (a physical therapist spent another 20 minutes with me), cross train by riding my bike, walking, and running in a pool (Ah, we need a pool!  Mom will be thrilled.), taking Ibuprofen or Aleve as needed, and having patience.  I can do all of that except the last thing.  He gave me some heel lifts to wear in my shoes (both feet) which should help with the Achilles pain and wants me to wear them in all my shoes for a while and see what happens there.  They feel pretty good actually.  He thinks I should hold off on getting new orthotics for now at least.  So, I will go on vacation and read books.  I don't  know what else to do at the moment.

Taking it slow

I've had the same conversation with myself yesterday and today. Take it slow. I don't need to brutalize myself right out of the gate. After the gate? Sure! Yesterday I was thinking I would run 6 miles but I talked myself into 4. And today I went to the gym and I did cardio and lifted weights, but I didn't overdo and I feel sore but not broken. I'm going to try and ease into things a bit. So today I did a mix of cardio. I did the elliptical for 5 minutes, walked at a 15% incline for 5 minutes, then I did The Stairway to Hell for 10 minutes. I was hot and sweaty when I was done! Then I did some upper and lower weights. I can really tell I've been a gym slacker. It is so easy to lose the strength that is so hard to build! And then I did some ab stuff, too. More lunges today. Hopefully I can walk tomorrow. I did them in moderation, I promise! I think I did anyway......

Hello From San Diego!

Always nice to go and always nice to come back! I had a nice sleep in my very own bed! And I'm excited to climb in again tonight. I had a short run today, about 4 miles. Geesh, I'm so slow. I really think it is because I've not been running hills at all. I need to get that back in my mix. Tomorrow: gym!

Saw Doctor, Took a Walk

I saw Dr. Berg yesterday.  She thinks I have Achilles tendonitis in my right heel and need PT for that and a new pair of orthotics.  Current ones are two years old and need to be replaced according to her.  Of course, she didn't look at them or ask to.  I found an exercise in Runners World for the tendonitis and started doing that last night.  Can't get into PT until July 11th and can't get an appointment for the orthotics until July 12th. So, it all continues to be very frustrating.

I did go for a 2 mile walk this morning but I could feel the discomfort in both the heel and the groin. Not pain, but discomfort and certainly not right yet.

Fitnatics 5K

Well, we did it yesterday! A day late because of huge rain and thunder storms on Thursday morning but it was a beautiful day yesterday.  It all went well but it will be my last run again for a while because I was hurting the rest of the day.  It did certainly confirm that there is no way I could be running Grandma's Marathon today.

I'm sore!!

Yesterday I did a million lunges in liu of running. Wow. The pain! Guess I need to do them more.

Happy Fitnatics 5k day!

Wisconsin Running!

I had a pretty good run today - except when the neighbor's dog freaked me out! Seemed like a nice dog and it walked up to me with it's tail wagging like crazy. I walked because I have read that you should walk and not look at them. Anyway, I finally realized the dang thing really was going to come up to me so I bent down to let it sniff my hand and it looked terrified and ran away! Weird! Anyway, I went up the big hills and turned around. Way less windy than the last time I ran up there!

I Did It!

I actually ran two whole miles this morning.  Some people would call it more of a jog than a run because it was pretty slow but it wasn't walking.  Slight ache in the groin but certainly not the pain I felt even last Saturday when I tried to run.  Do you think?  Do you suppose?  Maybe?  I hope.....  I iced it anyway when I got home and have taken an Aleve now just to ward off problems but it feels fine right now.

Run

I did a 4 mile run this morning. It was....ok. My right hamstring is so tight, though. I really need to stretch it more. Back. I took the opportunity to stretch!

Another Walk

I walked 2 miles this morning.  Can still feel a pull in the groin and something is also going on with my left heel.  I'm a mess I tell ya.  But what a gorgeous morning.  65 and sunny.  No wind.  Just perfect.  We've ordered some of these for next week, too.

Weekend Roundup

I can't believe I forgot to post! Because I actually did do stuff! I ran both Saturday and Sunday. 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. By the time I hit the road on Sunday, it was very late and it was cool but humid. So I didn't really feel like going further. I will say that my right foot has been aching a lot this weekend. I may look into some running arch supports. I have to go to work really early today and I may go to the gym after work, but I doubt it. In other health news, I am going to the dentist at 10:30 am. No problems to report, just a checkup. I need to make an appointment with my eye doctor, too. I've been getting a lot of headaches. They are not crazy intense but I wonder if my eyes are changing a bit. Or if staring at a computer screen is finally taking it's toll. A new thing I have been doing is drinking smoothies! My best concoction thus far was chard, beet (raw), pineapple, strawberries, and coconut water (just a bit). It is no chocolate milkshake, but they have been pretty tasty! I just got to thinking that the Green Fix that I was getting at the FM was so pricey, why can't I make my own? And the answer is, I can! I've also made a smoothie using kale and yesterday I bought some spinach to try out.

Running

I had a 4 mile run today. It was fine - good weather. I just don't know why it seems like such mentally hard work right now. But I did it. So that's something!

No Go

The title says it all.  I couldn't even get half way up the driveway and I could feel the pain again with every step. I don't know what else to do.  Put my running clothes and shoes up for sale on eBay I guess.  Very discouraging.