I’m scared I’m losing my run

Towards the end of my tri training I started having knee pain, specifically in my right knee. At first it was only shortly after I ran so I figured extra stretching and icing would take care of it.

Right before my tri the pain wasn’t just during my workouts. It would wake me up in the middle of the night aching. And it wasn’t just my knee anymore. It was above my knee, the outside of my knee, and all the way down to my ankle. In fact at points it feels like my ankle is aching too. I noticed it more and more after walking in flip-flops, flats, or any exercise.

After my tri last weekend I took almost all of last week as a hiatus from not only running but working out. Last Friday night I did a quick 2 mile run, the first exercise in 5 days and felt the pain after. I immediately went home and iced it. The pain started again during my hike on Sunday morning.

This afternoon my body craved a workout. I felt like I had enough of a break so I hit the treadmill. I really wanted it to be a good run since I don’t have that many days left before my 10k. But my right leg started to ache a little bit into my run, although it wasn’t too bad at first. What was frustrating though was at .72 of a mile I felt tired. I felt like my legs weighed 1,000lbs, I felt out of breath and just crappy. I took a walking break and started to run again. And then I felt pain. Only now it was the feeling of my quad muscle tearing in my right leg.

I wish I said I immediately got off and stretched but instead I decided to move over to the elliptical. After 10 minutes I knew I needed to get off before really injuring myself.

Now I’m home and basically icing my entire right leg. I’m frustrated. I don’t understand why my run has been so off the past few weeks, including during the tri. I don’t understand what my leg is trying to tell me.

I know I might sound ridiculous right now. I know there are other types of exercises that I have learned to love. But right now, I want to run again. Just a few miles. Without feeling like I’m going to cause permanent injury.

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Balancing Act

I am loving this weekend so far. I think it’s been great to stay put and lay low for a weekend.

Friday night V and I headed to Upper Crust where we ate a ridiculous amount of pizza (I won’t even tell you how many slices). The good thing was we got it on thin crust wheat dough – half margarita, half bbq chicken. It was delicious! Our other friends met us and then we headed to grab Coldstone ice cream (why not go all out) where I got coffee ice cream mixed with almonds and chocolate chips and headed into Sex & The City 2.

I actually really liked it. Despite the horrible reviews, despite the silly outfits – I found it fun to watch. I also found Miranda surprisingly the most likable character in the movie. I say it’s worth seeing, especially for a girl’s night.

And I got really excited that there was a preview for Eat, Pray, Love! I loved the book and now can’t wait to see the movie version.

Saturday day I headed to the gym’s pool. No one else was there for my first 15 minutes so I got the ENTIRE pool to myself. Quiet, peaceful laps were exactly what I needed. Then another person came in but had their own lane so I continued with my own lane. I did laps for about 35 minutes with maybe 2 minutes total for rest. It felt fabulous. I was surprised when I stopped and realized my heart was pounding and my breathing was so heavy! I got into such a rhythm that I hadn’t noticed. It’s strange that I’m almost craving getting into the pool and feeling that swimming rhythm again.

Saturday night I met my friend G for tart frozen yogurt and we just sat on the steps near the T station and chatted for about an hour and a half. What a nice treat to get some time to catch up with just her. You can never underestimate how good it is to have a friend who truly listens when you talk – no judgments, no immediate advice, just listens. She and I both are going through a lot with relationships and I think it was great for us both to have an “open forum” in a way to spill it out. I couldn’t help but get a little sad when I was walking home thinking about how at the end of the summer she’ll be headed to DC for graduate school.

This morning I tried making something really exciting. Protein pancakes! I have been reading about them everywhere, like here and here – and thought OK I should try this. Here’s what I did:

Chocolate Cinnamon Protein Pancake –tastes like “Thin French Toast”

• 1/3 cup Trader Joe’s organic egg whites
• About 1/4 (tiny) scoop of Trader Joe’s Chocolate Whey Protein Powder
• 2 shakes of cinnamon

"Protein Pancake!"

I wanted to keep the serving size small because I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I used minimal ingredients because for me to be able to “cook” the key is keeping it simple! The giant pancake (plain) was only 50 calories. I loved it! I added a tbsp of almond butter on top but next time I’d prefer some type of syrup instead. I also would call this “thin french toast” because to me this pancake tasted EXACTLY like french toast. I think I’d also have this as a dessert, it definitely caters to my sweet tooth.

I’m a tiny bit sad (nostalgic?) this morning. B is running a half marathon up in Vermont. Two years ago I drove up from NY so I could watch him at the end of it. Last year I went up for the whole weekend with him to watch him come through. Last night we chatted briefly as he was driving from his sister’s to his camp friend’s place where he was staying for the race and he said, “it’s going to be a lot harder to finish knowing you’re not waiting for me at the end.“

 

No comment.

So anyway, I despise yoga (sorry yoga lovers) but I’m just a cardio girl. Stretching hurts more than any cardio I can imagine. But during the movie on Friday night I got two charley horses in my foot. And when I lay on my back and try to straighten my legs in the air – I can’t. I have got to stretch and work on my flexibility or I’m worried I’m going to get injured. So on this rainy Sunday morning, I’m going to go try out some on demand yoga video.

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Calf Cramping

Ahhhh I am so frustrated right now.

 

Tonight B came and picked me up at about 7:30. (I’ll have to write a different post about our conversation regarding camping and attraction later.) Anyway, I walked out and as I was stepping into his truck my right calf completely seized up. It was the most extreme version of a charley horse that I have ever experienced. Usually when I’m in pain I try to hide it from people and keep a poker face but I couldn’t. I literally sat in my seat and just held my calf waiting for it to stop cramping so badly. When it finally eased up it turned into soreness. Now it feels rubber band tight and super sore.

 

I’m just really frustrated because after dinner with B I got on the spinning bike for about 30 minutes but couldn’t do a single hill because of the pinching. I’m not sure if I should run or not tomorrow morning. I really want to but I don’t know if that’ll make it worse. I tried to do a little research and everything basically says it’ll fade in a few days and to stay hydrated.

 

But I’m usually ridiculously hydrated. On average I drink 100-124ounces of water a day and today I drank probably 80ish. I don’t know what caused it but now all I can think about is it happening again or happening during the Tri. All I can really think to do is stretch and drink a ton of water.

 

It just makes me realize how careful I need to be about my body because the last thing I want is an injury. 😦

 

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