Injuries

It's been a tough few weeks of marathon training. Just when I committed to myself that I was going to get back to my scheduled weekday runs - life happens. First I miss my 10 mile long run and then before I could make it up I get in a minor car wreck. As I stood in the street waiting for the Sheriff's to show, I notice I have a good sized seat-belt burn on the side of my neck and my neck is starting to stiffen to the point I could barely turn it side to side. CRAP! I started thinking back to my last wreck and the 6 months of physical therapy and 3 spinal injections it took for me to get to the point where walking wasn't an issue. I went to the ER and as I sat there in the room I started to cry. 18 weeks out from race day and I maybe sidelined until next season. The doctor came in and as she examined me, I asked about running. She gave me that knowing look only another running could and said that if I wanted to run again I would wait and see what this really is and give it time to heal before getting back at it. Thankfully after a few days the swelling and pain subsided. By weeks end I was ready to get out for a few test miles. By Saturdays long run I was ready and amped up for 12. And I did them with no issues. Come Sunday morning I rolled out of bed for yoga and arms. I laid out my mat, grabbed my 3 pound hand weights and 3 minutes in pull the feck out of my lower back. Yea me. 

Now I don't know about you but when something is happening in my life my facebook feed seems to pop up with articles about it. As I sorted thru the ones about "getting back at it" after injury I found one that listed the different injury types and when you know you're ready to start up. It said for back injury that if you can hop and balance on one foot and then the other you should be ready to run. Monday - nope not happening, Tuesday left side no issue, right side forget it, Wednesday so much better, Thursday morning YES! I laced up, grabbed a water bottle and went outside, it was raining, I went back in determined and grabbed a visor only to come back out to it being torrential downpour. I turned on my Garmin, low battery, RATS, ok all signs lead to try again tomorrow. I stretched, it was ok but it's not running. 

There are upsides. I am well rested. Today starts packet pick up for the first race in the Texas Bridge Series, the Toughest 10k Kemah. I am going 6 for 6 with Running Alliance Sport this year and am so looking forward to it. Saturday is race day and even if I walk more than I get to run I should finish without too much pain. There is a 2 hours time limit so it's kind of walker friendly. 

Marathon Training wise this week is 10 so I'll probably do 8-9 with warm up and cool down. Next week we get back to 13 and then the first week of October cut back to 9. I have taken advantage of our cut back week to skip group training and run my first fall half. I signed up for the Buffalo Stampede put on my the Brazos Valley Museum of natural History. They say it's fast (don't they all) and relatively flat (this has to be some sort of euphemism they use to trick people to forget about hills) but the last 2 miles are on the down hill. And it was cost effective, $50 for a half is a great price these days. It will also be the first of four races for October. Next comes the Toughest 10k Galveston followed by the Raintree Village Trick or Trot 5k (my daughters are running it with me) and the day after it the first race of the Chevron Houston Marathon warm up series the Houston Half. I am hoping that last one has better weather this year compare to last year but even running in the rain is no really turn off.

I think, no I hope, that I am getting all my injuries out of the way and am able to get back on track by the end of September. October and November a crucial training months as mileage ramps to the 15 to 18 to 20 mile range.

I should have pictures and a race recap for you all on Monday. Until then Happy Running!