To Flake Can Be A Win

I'll come right out and say it.

I flaked on my 5K today.

This is where I ran (well, walked and ran) instead.

It happened at about 5:30 this morning, after the alarm had gone off twice and I had made a quick bathroom trip. The coziness of my bed overwhelmed all the other inconveniences of participating in the Race For The Pennant.

Don't get me wrong. I had my reasons. Once you see these, I think you will agree with me.

First came the money issue. Now, things can't be all about the money, or at least that's what I tell my husband. But this was strongly steeped in it. To run in this race would have cost a total of about $40 dollars, between the entry fee, the parking, and the gas and wear and tear on the car. I don't mind spending that money, and have proven this in the past, if I can run the race my way. My way is to run it fast, run it hard, and run it for a PR. Because of my current ITB problems, that way would have been impossible today.

Secondly, if I did race, even assuming having to hold myself back to avoid further injury, the pressure of having thousands of just-as-obsessed runners around me might have resulted in me pushing myself harder than I have a right to with my injury. Hence, in itself running the risk of further injury, both physical and mental.

Third, and probably most important, why spend early Saturday morning (my sleeping-in day, mind you) driving all the way downtown in the dark, hassling parking and thousands of people I don't know and probably wouldn't like anyhow, to run a race that I have no possibility of finishing with a PR and will most likely injure myself further?

All of this was not worth $40 to me.

In the end, though, I did win a PR.

I saved $40.

I saved further damage to my Achille's Leg.

I saved my sanity and my pride.

I preserved my early morning serenity by running in a quiet, unoccupied space.

I'll take a win like that!

In Defense of Sweat - Afterthoughts

First, an ITB update. I ran about 3 miles today. BTW, I did it earlier in the morning to avoid the heat. It was a little over 80 degrees at 9 a.m., which in the sun still translated into runny sunscreen.

I tried two new things in the effort to cure and/or get through this. I wore a calf sleeve. I used to wear one a few years ago when I was having problems with shin splints and before I realized that my shin splints were actually the beginnings of stress fractures. It is basically a supportive device for the calf area and looks just like the sleeve of a tight fitting shirt. Feels like it to. I got the idea from another runner I met in NOLA in February who said it helps with her ITB.

It didn't work for me.

I also tried stretching at various points during my run. I always stretch after the first half mile. But this time I did it after every quarter mile or so.

No change.

I still ended up in a sort of walk/run. I ran until the pain affected the stability of my knee; walked until the pain subsided. Not very effective and definitely not very fast. I will not be breaking any PRs on Saturday.

The only positive that came from all this was more concentration on my upper quad and gluts and focusing on making more complete movement of my leg. When I could keep my focus, it relieved some of the tension on that ITB. I definitely need a PT who specializes in running to analyze how I run.

Now for my afterthoughts.

Sweat is sexy. It's all in how you define sexy. Sweat makes the skin shine, even sparkle in certain light. If you remove the cultural bias against strong smell and add in standard human attraction to shiny things, sweat on the human body is sexy.

Take it one step further and think about cars, appliances, windows, diamonds, and water.

Do you look twice at a body of water that is mucky or dirty? No, because you can't see the shine. But, clean that water up and put some sunshine on it so it shines and sparkles and the next thing you know, you want to jump in. It draws you closer.

What do guys do with their cars? (OK, chicks do too, but we are more apt to do it at the carwash!) They wash and wax them. No matter what the model, make, or year (unless its a battered POS), any vehicle looks more appealing when it has a sparkle and shine on it. Especially the vintage ones...

Apply this to appliances, jewelry, windows, dishes, the guy you have your eye on at the gym (just don't get close enough to smell or touch). The list is practically endless. Shine it up and it will catch anyone's eye.

So, I say, rejoice in your sweatiness.

In Defense of Sweat

The heat is on in Texas, even at 10:30 in the morning. It's not 70 or 80 degrees. That would be comfortable. That would be winter.

I'm talking 90 degrees by 10:30 in the morning. No doubt it is that time of year again ~ "that time of year" lasts about 9 months ~ when I can easily talk myself out of any and all outside cardio if I don't get motivated before 8 a.m.

It is that hot. Too hot. Hot enough to consume 8 oz of water within 15 minutes. Hot enough to feel my scorching skin through what's left of the dripping sunscreen I generously applied only minutes earlier. Hot enough to melt nail enamel off a French manicure applied the day before.

I hope you get the picture.

If you do, you should also know that I don't mind the sweat that comes from working out. More sweat means more weight loss, more cleansing of toxins, and more feeling of accomplishment, like I pushed myself to my limit. I didn't waste my time and I know that tomorrow I am going to hurt like hell.

I have been told by a certain guy friend that it's sexy. Though, without the smell. At first blush, I felt flattered. Even then, I think that's a leap. The greased up models sporting string bikinis on the cover of Sports Illustrated, with their wet hair, wet muscles, and, well, string bikinis, are sexy. But, they are right out of the shower, and sprayed with some beautifully scented oil. No exertion involved with that. They probably get a massage afterward, or before, or both. They are fawned over by all around them. Their faces don't look like a blotchy overcooked tomato.

Lucky them.

The co-eds in the wet t-shirt contests and even, I daresay, female mud wrestlers exude a feel of sexiness in their wet look. OK, now that I think about it, there might be a few other instances (beyond the scope of my blog) where sweat can be sexy.

All I know is I don't find it sexy, probably because I don't feel sexy when I am sweaty after a workout. Then again, "sexy" is not my goal. Nice to know, I guess, that it is a by-product for some folks. Good for them.

Exercising in extreme heat requires more advance preparation. I have to pay particular attention to hydration; 24/7, not just before my exercise. And, past that, I have to start wearing a fuel belt to replenish the extra fluids I lose in extreme heat that I don't need to worry about the rest of the year.
The extreme heat also wears me out faster. Three miles in 90 degrees feels like 10 miles at 70. It gets harder to breath as my heart pumps faster to keep my organs and the rest of my body cool. As the oxygenated blood flows to my heart, its abscence from my limbs makes them sluggish. It also messes with my will power to endure. My main goal, particularly if I am running, becomes to get to the next shady patch instead of pacing myself to get through the next mile. Maintaining my zone becomes a battle with controlled chaos in my head. Kind of defeats one of my main purposes for daily exercise.

It is so early in the season that I haven't re-trained myself yet to get my exercise in early. I am still in winter mode, what winter mode we have here. In winter, I can wait until noon or later to work out. My only limitation is the setting of the sun, which comes at around 4 p.m. instead of 7. Aside from that, I can take my time.

Not anymore. Today was no exception. When I did get out there, I was sorry I had waited so long. I could have been out there at 8:30. It would have been a little cooler. Just a little. The upside was even with the heat, the sweat on my skin made for the feeling of a cool breeze as I broke away from the stoplights. This feeling didn't last long but it gave me something to look forward to, to push for.

I do have a secret carrot that keeps me going once I do get started. If you could look inside my head during the last quarter of any workout, you could see the image of it dangling from a string in front of my eyes. What is it?

My favorite part of my extreme heat workout is a jump in the pool afterward. Total and instant immersion into cool water; instant metamorphosis from hot and sweaty to cool and cleansed. The wet quotient, however, remains the same.

New Plan for New Growth

When things don't go the way you plan, it's time to make a new plan. This is the only way to get results. It's the only way to grow.

And I want results. But I have to get creative. I can't run as much anymore because ITB is here for the long term. The pain, the tightness, the constant search for the perfect running posture and quick fixes for the pain. I will run with my ear to the ground for tips and tricks that I missed.

Or, maybe I'll create something new and hence inspire the running world and all my fellow ITB constituents with the cure to ITB .

Until then, it's time for a new plan. It's time to branch out to new disciplines to replace the benefits lost from running. But how?

Cycling is good, and so is swimming. Hey~ that means I might be on my way to a triathlon. Although I alot of friends and acquaintances ask me about this possibility, I have to say no, not this year.

I tried two new activities this week. The first was yoga.

I've never done yoga. Pilates, yes. Yoga, no. I thought they were similar, in both motions and emphasis on breathing. I was right, and wrong. They both focus on controlled motion of multiple muscle groups. They both require specific breathing in order to get the maximum benefit out of the movement. Both provide enough activity for someone to leave breathing heavily and feeling sore. However, yoga is more serene, quiet, and relaxing. It also incorporates a contortionist's dreamworld, with twisted limbs and balancing acts on single leg. Twisting body parts that are not meant to twist that way, and straightening parts that are not meant to bend. All the while breathing, breathing, breathing.

As I was trying to perform the motions of the instructor, I couldn't help but think about the new naked yoga movement going on in NYC. I couldn't imagine doing the downward dog, or many of the moves, without clothes on. But, the result of trying it was that I want to try more. In fact, I Binged it and will keep you informed.

Also, this week, I tried a Turbo Kick Box class. I used to do kickboxing several years ago and really liked it. I liked the control that was involved in getting the kicks and the punches to look right. I hated the idea of looking like a "wimpy" girl trying to throw punches and kicks.

But, like I said, it was quite a few years ago. And it was just kickboxing. Now, notice the "turbo" in front. Little did I conceptualize that meant high speed. Duh! It was like aerobics, kickboxing, and a dance class rolled into one and keeping time to music at the speed of The Chipmunks. It reminded me of why I gave up aerobics, opting instead for step. I am an uncoordinated goon who gets confused with my right and my left, especially in high speed, complicated routines. Half the time I was standing there, one or two moves behing, kicking when they were punching, looking and moving left while the rest of the small class was moving right. I emphasize small so you understand that I couldn't hide in the crowd.

Bottom line, I will not be returning to TKB, unless my gym offers KB without the T (sort of like ordering a Whataburger) but I don't see that happening any time soon. I did get a good workout during the parts of the simpler routines that I could keep up with. Most of my workout came at the end when she had us lunge and squat across the room and back. Now that's the type of work out I can handle!

My plan is coming together. I may have to reduce my running but in that reduction will come exposure to many other things. From that exposure will come new growth, new opportunity.

The Challenge of Pain

Life has been a barrage of chaos. That is my excuse for not posting. I refuse to use "busy" because it sounds too cliche that way. Really though...when I wasn't solving the problems of the world of Bluth, I was out exercising. 5 days this week. Whoohoo!

Unfortunately only 4 miles of running. I wanted to take it easy on my Achille's leg, in the hope that a gradual return to over-exersion would keep the IT band away. I was wrong.

No luck. It kicked in after the first mile on the first day. There I was, again, getting excited about the possibility of running like I used to: with no concern about pain. And then I started feeling the familiar tightness, which turned into the stabbing pain. This time it started radiating into my kneecap. I was glad for the walking part at the end of the 2 miles.

The rest of the week I cycled, worked out with free weights at the gym, and did a cycle/swim on Thursday.

Took Friday off. Not because I wanted to but because it just happened that way. Instead, I spent the whole day shuttling Mojo the cat back and forth from downtown Houston so he could get neutered for a reasonable fee. I'd say $50 vs. $250 is a good reason to call off exercise for the day.

This morning, I attempted to run 2.5 miles on the treadmill and the same thing happened after about the first mile.

So, I clearly have a problem that is here to stay. Not a problem, but a challenge. A challenge to work through and beyond. A challenge that I will not give up without a fight because I can't imagine life without running.

A challenge that I can't face alone anymore. I can't run solo through it anymore because it is not getting resolved that way.

In Retrospect: Time Off

The weather is beckoning me to cut my recovery short. The crystal blue skies and the still-somewhat comfortable weather draw my eyes, my heart, and indeed my soul out of doors. My running shoes are calling me; my bike whimpers in the corner of the garage. I'm sure that by the time I use them next week I will have to wipe off dust and fill the tires.

I feel quite jealous of those people that are on the road doing what I long to do. But, I think I've mentioned that at least once in the past four weeks.

As the time gets closer for me to start running and cycling again, as excited as I am to be fully active, I can't help but worry about re-injury. To avoid it, I have to pay close attention to my form, my speed, my intensity, and my mileage. I got an email from a local running group which I hope to run with on occasions. Their mileage: up to 7.5 miles. I don't think I will be running with them any time soon because I have to keep my starting mileage at around 2 miles per run, 3 times per week. Form and intensity will be very important. I read a great article on form that I will share next week.

Cycling won't be quite the same issue. I never experienced IT band issues until after I had them in running. Even then, it wasn't until later in the injury progression that I started also feeling the effects of the injury while cycling. In fact, early on I used the bike to keep active even when the doctor was telling me to stop running. I think HE even told me to use the bike as a replacement.

Many good things have come from this time off.

• I have gotten so much done. Things that before hung around on my to-do list for weeks are done in a day, or two. Strangely enough, the list seems to have continued to expand and the projects on that list are much more time intensive; but all the minor irritating stuff is gone.
• With so much more getting done, I do not feel so pressured to be completing them when the kids came home from school, which has led to more productive family time.
• I conquered a weakness ~ swimming ~ and found that I somewhat enjoy it. Once in awhile.
• I gave all my gear a breather. It will last a little longer now.
• I lost that frenetic rush that came from juggling my daily workout into my chore list.
• I gained more perspective.

It remains to be seen whether I can accomodate the above once I start running because I realized that, while physical activity in general is a necessity for me, somehow the running and cycling exacerbate that to an obsession. With only gym workouts and swimming on the possible menu of activities, I found myself much less obsessive about getting it done. This is one of the reasons, I think, for my weekly workouts shrinking to 2, or 3, instead of 4 or 5.

The exertion that comes from running and cycling is a pseudo-obsession, if there is such an animal. Over the last four weeks, I could not duplicate that same feeling with either swimming or a lengthy workout in the gym.

The other thing I noticed was how I viewed the success or failure of my days. Normally, I start my days out with a list of things I have to accomplish. Pre-ITB-DL, that list ALWAYS included a workout incorporating either running or cycling. How many items I plowed off of that list during the day did not matter unless I had gotten my run/cycle in. I felt like a failure if I didn't. However, during my recovery, that feeling of failure was much less intense. It took mental massage on my part; but, I found a way to feel successful without getting the intense workout in.

Will I be able to retain the ability to get to that feeling of success? It sure took a lot of pressure off, which probably fed into some of the other bullet points I mentioned above.

With my vacation coming to an end, I look forward to my next challenges and vow to take it easy on myself, both physically and mentally. I don't want to land here again too soon, at least not until I achieve more. I just hope I can retain the balance that I have found the past four weeks.