Fall down, get up, keep going, repeat...

I haven't been posting as often lately. Partly because I've been injured and not running as often as I'd like. Partly because that fact depresses me a little. I confess to not being in the best frame of mind a lot lately due to feeling "out of sorts" about not running.

Last week I had a horrible treadmill workout. It was demoralizing. Just over a month ago I was pounding out 6 or 8 miles on the tread, gloating about how easy it had become. Yesterday, a measly 5K seemed daunting. I was tired by 2 miles. Even though I have tried to keep my fitness up with cross training, all the swimming and stationary bike riding in the world hasn't seemed to keep my running fitness at the same level.

Here's what I AM learning. Crosstraining is good. For so long during my marathon training, I did nothing but run, run and run some more. I think more than anything, that contributed to my injury. I thought I could just run and that would be enough. I am learning that even though the swimming and biking don't exactly work me in the same ways, it's better for my body to have some "other" training. Working different muscles in different ways is helping me to become stronger overall. Taking a step back from running during the past month and a half has really shown me the benefits of being less narrowly focused.

I'm also learning that the way you naturally run is not the way you always have to run. During PT, I've been doing some 'gait retraining' and it's actually working. I am running with a slightly wider stance so my feet are landing more square beneath my hips, my arms are swinging straight and my upper body and pelvis aren't twisting. It has taken almost a month to make even small changes, but the adaptations are starting to become habitual and I know the improvements will help me down the road. Literally!

Setbacks happen. You fall down, you have to get back up and keep going, even if you have to go much slower for a while. The fact that this is the first time I've REALLY encountered a big setback just means I've been lucky. Even though I'm not running as much as I'd like to be, I feel stronger overall, more relaxed about my running, and optimistic about moving forward. Slower than I'd hoped, but forward nonetheless. And today's treadmill 5K felt good. Really good. Next time I think I'll do 3.5 miles.

Still recovering, warts and all

Post 26.2, I am still recovering from a hip flexor strain that caused a secondary issue with my piriformis and some tendonitis. Not only that, but I have finally lost all the toenails that I ruined during the long miles of training and the race itself. In spite of being fitted multiple times for correct shoes, having a sock consultation, and getting my overall running form evaluated, I still lose toenails. I was basically told it's a biomechanical problem I just happen to be prone to. Swell. So for the record, I have now lost FIVE out of ten toenails. That's HALF. The good news is, they have all completely fallen off now, so at least they don't look like mangled nasty messes anymore. They just look...gone.

In spite of missing all those toenails, it's summer in Southern California, and it's hot. And when I'm not in running shoes, I pretty much live in my Rocket Dog flip flops. That is not changing, no matter how self-conscious I get about my less than elegant, non-pedicured toes. I hope that my friends know me well enough to overlook this social/fashion faux pas. I found an amusing post from the "Ask Miles" files at Runner's World that addressed this issue:


DEAR MILES,
Q: I've lost a few toenails thanks to running. Is it impolite to wear sandals around nonrunning friends?
A: Are they new nonrunning friends? If so, yeah, it's kinda rude. If they're friends who know you all too well, it's fine.

(http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-270-13549-0,00.html?cm_mmc=beginner-_-2010_07_14-_-beginner-_-ASK%20MILES%3a%20'Should%20I%20Tip%3f'%20)

Thank goodness. And to all my new nonrunning friends, I hope you're not squeamish or a member of the fashion police. Because this is me. Warts (and missing toenails!) and all.