Being Injured Can Be a Pain #2

Being injured can be a pain, both physically and mentally.  I am having a hard time with it.  Running is one of the only things that keeps me dealing with other things in my life, and when I cannot run, those other things become tougher.  I suppose I shouldn't be so open on this blog, but no one really reads it anyway.  I have been really down, and it has been difficult for me.  I feel like when I have tried to talk to people about it, they don't understand.  Sometimes I don't understand.

I had my second PT appointment on Monday (two days ago).  Craig said I was looking better, and then he went over all of the exercises that he gave me last Thursday.  He wanted to make sure I was doing them correctly, which was good, as I needed to change some small things.  He also added another exercise for me to do.  I assumed he would build on what he started.  Then we want to watch me run outside, without my brace (which I didn't have on because it was too sweaty from the gym).  He said that I was a good runner (ha), and he told me he wanted to change some things.  He wants me to tuck my pelvis under when I run (like a pelvic tilt), and also shorten my stride (like Wendy said today "ha, now you will go no where").  So, I practiced doing that, and then we talked about the upcoming race (Chase the Moon) this weekend.  We will decided Thursday if I should run it.  I like Craig, and I like where he is going with the PT.  I just know it is going to take a long time to correct this, I am sure I have been this way for a long time.  He thought it contributed to my MCL injury as well.  So, I will have an update tomorrow.

4-Legged Fourth of July Run

Yesterday Tom, Riley, Cabby and I ran the 4 Legged Fourth of July Run in Windsor.  It was Cabby's first race and one of her only adventures.  We haven't taken her for runs because of her age, and waiting until she is a year old before we start her running with us.  But, this was only a 5k, so we figured she and Tom could walk most of it.

The dogs were pretty excited when we arrived, so it was kind of stressful, but this was really good for Cabby.  When the race started, Riley wanted to take off, so we ran; and so did Cabby and Tom.  Cabby wanted to run and run, and when Tom tried to get her to walk, she wanted to run.  So, Tom would pick her up and run with carrying her for a bit.  She liked being carried, but didn't like walking. The run was just around the Windsor Lake, and we THOUGHT it was a 5k, but it wasn't, it was only 2.3 miles.  Tom and I were disappointed with the mileage for us, but it was perfect for Cabby, plus it got really hot quickly.

Riley and I won second in my age group; so I got a medal, and Riley got to pick a toy off the table.  Of course he chose a ball.  It was fun, and the dogs had a good time.  Not sure if we will do this run again, but it was a fun thing to do with the dogs on the Fourth of July.

The Dizzy Goat 12 Hour Trail Run

It's been 10 days since I ran the Dizzy Goat 12 Hour Trail Run in Omaha, Nebraska.  Before this, I really couldn't write before this, as I have been feeling really down about what happened at this event. Mostly, my performance.  I guess my goals were too high for what my body could do, or maybe not.  I felt totally ready, totally trained, and I felt good.  I was hoping to run more then 26.2 miles, or just surpass my longest run, which has been 21.5 miles to this point, but it was not meant to be.  In the end, we decided that since I hadn't been able to run trails as much as I would have liked to prepare, and the trail was tough because of the weather they had had there; that it was just too hard on my MCL injury and body.  But, in the long run (ha ha), I think maybe I have learned something.  So, let me tell you about it. . . .

We left on our trip Friday morning at 7am, picking up my friend Linda.  She was walking the six hour run, and we were running the 12 hour run.  The trip out there was fun.  We made several stops along the way, and even stopped at the Archway in Nebraska for lunch, and to look inside.  Maybe someday we will stop for a longer time there.  It looked cool, but we had to check in and get our runners packets by 6pm in Omaha. When we got to Omaha, we went straight to Canfields to pick up our packet's, and Stacy and Beth were there at the same time!  How amazing was that?  I bought to Tailwind with a 20% off coupon they gave us, and we shopped around the store.

We then checked into mine and Tom's hotel.  Our hotel was in Downtown Omaha since there was a College Baseball World Series there, and there were no rooms in the area at all.  We at Dinner in our room, then headed out to Schramm State Park to set up the Canopy for the next morning.  After that we got Linda settled into her hotel (Motel 8 that we stayed at last year), and then we headed back to our hotel to get some sleep.  When we got back to our hotel there were several cops there escorting some women out that was high or something.  Great.  The hotel (Hotel 402) is old, remodeled, and in a kind of scary area.  I will have to say that I slept great there for some reason.

The next morning started our great.  I was ready to go, and so excited.  We picked Linda up at her hotel (since she didn't start until 1pm), that way she could have the truck while we were running.  It was so great to see everyone!!!  Ginger was there, and Scott (Race Director - we saw him the night before).  The weather was amazing!!!  It was so cool, and it didn't get over 74 degrees, and there was hardly a drop of humidity. Perfect weather, all day.  7am finally arrived, and off we went.  It was wonderfully cool, and so great to be back on this trail.  The first 4 loops went great.  I felt good, didn't feel tired or hot.  Then on the 4th loop at the Motivation Station I got some pain in my left IT area on my knee.  WHAT?!  I don't get left IT pain.  So, I tried my best to ignore it, but it got worse.  I was so upset, this was so unexpected.  And it got worse, and worse.  When we got back to the main area, I told Tom he needed to go on his own, and I would just start walking loops and run when I could.  I know he felt bad, but I wanted him to succeed, and there was no need for him not to take a shot at his personal goals.  This was hard for both of us.  I finally convinced him to leave me, and then I started walking the 6th loop.  I actually ran some of the first part of the loop, and I felt hopeful that it would just go away.  Ha.  Not to be.  I was putting ice on it at the Motivation Station, and then about half way back from there I saw Tom, and sadly told him I thought I would have to time out.  I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to ruin his run.  It is also hard to cry at the Dizzy Goat because there is always someone coming toward you in the opposite direction.

At the end of the clockwise loop and beginning of the counter clockwise loop there is the What The Hill hill, it was going down that hill that I realized that I had to time out, the pain when down the front of my shin, and I knew it was my last loop.  I couldn't injury myself more.  I timed out, finishing 6 loops, officially 19.5 miles.  They gave me my medal.  I told Scott and the new RD.  They were both so sorry, and the new RD came over to the canopy to talk with me and offer me some FireBall.  This is why we go back, "they" are the best.  They really are.

I got to see Linda and Stacy start their 6 hour run.  I spent the afternoon sipping shots of FireBall and watching Tom, Linda, and Stacy run/walk their loops and try to give them aide when they needed it.  I tried to nap and cry, but wasn't successful with that either.  I went over and got a massage from the group that was there at Cunningham Lake last year.  She is amazing.  I think that helped a lot.  I also go to me Deb Bahr for the first time.  Even though I was extremely sad and disappointed I got to enjoy the success of others and hang out with friends.  Tom ran 44.25 miles!  Linda walked 16.25 miles, and Stacy did 10.5 miles.  Beth was an awesome volunteer.

The Dizzy Goat was over, and I felt that I had failed.  Or at least that is how I felt.  It was so hard not to start crying, and I really, really tried hard not to show how sad and disappointed I was.  We went out to dinner at a place at the Outlet Mall and then dropped Linda off at her hotel and we went back Downtown to ours.  We took showers and went to bed.  I tired not to cry.  I felt bad for Tom, he had done awesome, and I was happy for him, but I was so down.

The trip home the next day went great.  I tried to drive for a while, but only lasted about an hour.  I was just tired and down.  We got home around 4pm, and really enjoyed the time with Linda.  She is such a great friend.  I didn't know what a great friend I was getting the first time she asked me if I wanted to go to a movie with her.  I will always be thankful for her.  

The next week was tough.  I didn't want to go to the gym, I had failed.  I didn't want to talk about the race, I had failed.  I didn't want to eat, I just wanted to sleep, I had failed.  I cried A LOT.  It was a bad week.  My trainer, Joey wanted me to go to his Physical Therapist, so I made an appointment.  I was so afraid I would cry in his office, but I didn't. Craig was very good, asked me questions, watched me walk and gave me some exercises to do twice a day.  He said my right hip is back farther them my left.  My right femur goes medial, and my tibia goes lateral; and my left leg was the opposite.  It wasn't bad, but he believes that with correction it will solve the IT Band issues, piriformis issues, and is the last step in healing my MCL injury. He also said No Running - no runner wants to hear this until the weekend and I could go on a "little run".  I asked him specifically what that meant:  3 miles, flat.  I was so sad still. However, he said my MCL knee was great and amazed at how healed and strong it was.  So, I did these exercises twice a day until Monday (yesterday).  I saw Craig yesterday, and he said I looked and walked better already.  He also watched me run, and wants me to basically tuck my pelvis under when I run, like a pelvic tilt.  He said I was so straight that it was causing tension on my hips, piriformis, and IT bands.  He said I was a good runner, and that I could run on Tuesday and Thursday - longer miles, and NO BRACE on flat surfaces!  Running without the brace was amazing.  Just amazing, even for the run through the parking lot at the PT office.

Here I am, healing again.  Still healing.  Both physically and mentally.  After running this past weekend, I started to feel better.  The run on Saturday was great (I did the Virtual Home of the Free Because of the Brave 5k for #MySoxyFeet).  The 5k run on Sunday was really hard, so much fatigue and it was hot - for both Tom and I.  So, the healing continues.

What have I learned?  I need to run.  My body wasn't ready for the Dizzy Goat, even though I was.  That I needed to celebrate others accomplishments, because it's not just about me.  I still need to learn patience.  Do I still love the Dizzy Goat?  Yes.  My review of the Dizzy Goat, is that it is an amazing race with good sportsmanship, comradery, friendship, hardship, suffering, and beautiful trails.  They had a new course this year, and it was great.  Will I go back? Yes, that is the plan.

Today we did another short race in Windsor (without my brace), but I think I will stop here and share more pictures.  Tomorrow is another day to blog.

#mysoxyfeet                  Stacy and Linda

                 The suspension bridge                              What The Hill

Me, Tom and Ginger

#mysoxyfeet