1 year.

December 28, 2007 - 8 miles  

"First 4- 36:11 (9:03) 

Second 4- 36:18 (9:04) 
One gel/water at mile 4- had a cramp below left lung last couple miles. 
right hip pain nagging at start, then worse last couple miles."

After 5 weeks of hobbling and being an idiot, I was finally diagnosed with a Femoral Neck Stress Fracutre.

December 28, 2008 - 13.7 miles.  NO PAIN.  Well, other than 'holy shit this is my first long run outside in almost two months' type of pain.  

And it was 65 degrees.

I think I am going to be smiling all day.

Hands Down: The best weekend in NYC.

It's official. Picked up my number, spent way too much at the Expo, got my dad a t-shirt: this means I have to finish. How else can I wear my new snazzy, sparkly 'I run this city 2008' T-shirt??

The official T-shirt is quite appropriate. The front reads:

"What does it take? HEART POUNDING DEDICATION"


The weather is supposed to be perfect (knock on wood): 51 and partly cloudy. As of now, I am wearing shorts and a long sleeve. Oh, and zebra stripe gloves until I warm up. I have throw-away sweats for the loooonnnnng wait in the corrals before the start.

I'm as ready as I can be. My biggest fear? I am going to cry through the entire thing. Not from pain (well, maybe from pain in the last miles), but from pure emotion.


The buzz in the city has started. All over, you see people carrying their expo bags with the excitement written on their face. Riding home on the subway from the expo last night I spent the entire ride talking with other runners who are either running this year or have run in the past. The number one piece of advice- don't get so caught up you don't enjoy the experience. DONE!

It's funny, marathon weekend, in my opinion, is always the best weekend in the city. Especially last year when we got to watch the Men's Olympic Trials the day before. However, actually running makes it all the more special and you see so much more.

This afternoon, I am skipping out of work early and going to see "Run for your Life" It is a movie about Fred Lebow, the 'father' of the NYC Marathon, and the creation of the marathon into what it is today. It is playing in special release in the city and was released on DVD as well for the expo. I will probably cry through this, as well.



I FINALLY had a good run on Wednesday, did the 2nd mile under 8 minutes (whoops). Legs feel almost 100%- this running-taper thing is CRAZY! Hip is still nagging a bit, but it is what it is.


And let's be honest- did you really think I wasn't going to wear my watch!? :)

Full disclosure...

In the interest of full disclosure, there may be another reason my entire body, namely my hip, have been bothering me.

Last Thursday night I went out. 

And fell.  Off a stool.  A low stool, not a BAR stool, don't worry!!

Howevcer, a week later, this is the result:

It keeps getting darker.  And growing across my back and down my ass.

So after a panicky call to the Doc and a online conversation, I am giving it until Monday.  No running.  We will see how it feels then.  Dr. M promised he will do whatever he can to get me on the starting line next weekend.  The pain is NOT the same as before, and the 'hop test' is A-OK.  

Fingers crossed I am just a clumsy idiot and things will heal up in the next few days.  

Off to DC for the Marine Corps Marathon!!

Last long run DONE.

This morning I ran the last 12 miles of the NYC Marathon course as my final 'long' run in preparation for my first marathon (in TWO weeks!!).

After a not so great week mentally and physically, I went into this last run a bit apprehensive.  I was excited to run on the marathon course, especially the second half of the course, which has more hills (read: bridges) than the first half.  But I was worried that my body, being in the mid-taper-I-need-rest mode, was going to not agree with the run and it would freak me out that the 'course' was the problem, not my body.

Well, all and all, it went well.  The pace, which I slowed WAY down from last week, felt comfortable.  The inclines were definitely noticeable, and of course will be worse on race day, but I'm glad I know where they are and what to expect.  And I am now fully aware the miles 20-23 of the course will be the hardest for me.  

It was also COLD this morning- as in 40 degrees and windy at the start of the run.  This is the first run since I hurt my hip that I have done in the cold.  I am glad I got to wear my capris for a longer run, in case I want to wear them for the marathon, but my hip DID NOT agree with the cold weather.  It was tight and achy the entire run.  I am glad to have experienced this NOW, before the race, however I am wondering what I can do to remedy the problem before the marathon.  My doc said my hip will now know when it is rainy, humid, etc, but i didn't realize cold would fall into that category.  

My only hope is that this weather hangs around and the next few weeks of running will help my hip acclimate to the brisker temps.

Aches and pains.

I ran more last week than I ever have before.

I ran the longest single run I have ever done (and I did it too fast)

Of Course I am going to be sore.  Funny thing is, I'm not sore in my weak hip.

My calf hurts.  Behind my knee hurts.

My shins are fine.  My hip is surprisingly OK- no nagging after three hard weeks in a row.

I think my body is just literally aching for rest.  I have been painfully tired on top of the aches.

I have felt like this in my life before.  I have completed 30+ hour training weeks in college (Training trip hell- 10 days of 2-hour doubles, mostly long course, with a swim meet at the end --  and some of my most cerished swimming memories are from these trips).  It has just been awhile.  

Swimming-taper was second nature. I also had years of base to trust, and a coach to listen to.  The running-taper is new to me.    I am scared that I don't have enough base to justify three weeks of rest.  But my body is telling me it needs it.   And I am going to listen.  There is not much else I can do now that is going to help me on November 2, other than be confident that I have done the work.  

Now it is time to let my body repair itself, and trust the hard work I have put in since stepping off the plane from South Africa in March.  

An artistic interpretation of running in Cape Town:

UphillUphillUPhillUPHillUPHILLflatflatflatdownnhillUPHILLUPhill

(car exhaust)

repeat.

We tried to run' away' from the Mountain, as it is 'flatter'.  Most of the area near my hotel is quite similar to San Fransisco in the lay of the land and the grade of the streets (we ran in the Southern suburbs of Newlands/Claremont/Rodenbosch).  However, I have to admit, the hills are not CLOSE to as bad to the Kloof's Neck Section, which is WAY WORSE than San Fran.

We did 2 nine-mile loops so we could regroup at the hotel for bathroom break, refuel, water, etc- so the hills could not be avoided.  It was just one of those runs when I kept wondering how we could keep going UP without hardly ever doing DOWN!  I am so happy I got it done, I was pretty miserable by the end, but each long run has taught me something different.  

Some lessons from my first 18-miler:

1.  I like the solitude of doing my long runs alone.  The first 9 miles with my running partner were great, but when I started hurting and she started pulling away, it got me down mentally, even though I only had slowed down about 5/sec per mile (because of tummy issues, see #2).

2. Luna Moons=the devil.  I will not be touching these EVER again.  I had a package at mile 9, and was not able to eat anything else the entire run, and had pukey-burps for the next hour and a half.  NOT good at all.  Going to stick with the Gu (Chocolate and Espresso Love, to be exact).

3.  More reinforcement that my body can handle more than I give it credit for.  My long runs fell in the same week last week (Sunday, then Saturday), putting my mileage at 47.6 for the last 7 days.  And yes I am SORE, but not in PAIN, which is a key distinction that I am beginning to be able to make.  

This realization has also made me more confident that I am 'doing enough' for the marathon, in running just about every other day.  Sometimes I worry because that works out to only 3x per week, but that is OK. I am getting the mileage in, and being smart about what my body needs and can handle, and I need to be confident in that.

To Whom It May Concern

To Whom It May Concern-

I promise to not run for a week.
I promise to start taking the Fish Oil and Curcumin again, everyday, 2x.
I promise- strength training, twice a week.
I promise- NO MORE MILE REPEATS.

If I promise all this....can you please, please, PLEASE make my hip stop hurting? Just until Nov 2 at around 3pm?

I would be forever grateful.

Yours, Sarah




I'm headed to Lake Placid on Friday to keep my Kona-training friend company. We figured it may help her get excited for the race to ride an actual Ironman course. I am going to ride one loop. If I get stupid and loopy, maybe I'll do two :) Then we will swim. From there, we will spend the rest of the holiday weekend on Lake Champlain, outside Burlington, VT. We will fish. We will hike. Maybe ride our bikes more. However, two things are definite:
1. Much time will be spent at Cabot.
2. Even more time will be spent at Magic Hat (my fave!)

See, running wasn't invited on this holiday weekend ANYWAY!

May Running Summary....Officially 'healed'?

I ran 55.5 miles in the month of May.

I ran 60.6 in December 2007.

I hurt myself Dec 28th (although I did continue to stupidly run for a few weeks before admitting something was really wrong.)

Basically, even if the speed isn't there, I think I can honestly say that I feel like I am 'back.' If all goes as planned, my long run this weekened will be 8 miles, and that is the length of the run I was doing when I hurt my hip.

These are the notes in my running log from the run I hurt myself:

First 4- 36:11 (9:03).
Second 4- 36:18 (9:04).
One gel/water at mile 4.
Had a cramp below left lung last couple miles.
Right hip pain nagging at start, then worse last couple miles.

I am debating if I will wear a watch for the run (would involve buying one, as my Timex died in South Africa and I have had no reason to replace it), so I can have a real comparison as to the two runs, almost exactly 5 months apart. I think I'm in a good place, and feeling positive as I move forward.


I am even more excited as I move forward from this point. I think I am in better physical shape that I was in December and have been doing all the right things to move forward and continue upping the miles while staying injury free (hip, knee, shins). I have never run as much as I probably 'should' for the amount of racing I do, so I am excited to put in the effort this summer. And to do it the right way- 10% a week, icing, ART-ing, and strength training.

...and on the 7th day...

...I rest.

I am in DC for a work meeting and honestly, didn't feel like packing running shoes/work out clothes, even though I love the trails and sights of running in DC. I will be spending the weekend with my family, going to a bridal shower, going to the Nationals baseball game on Friday night with my dad and bro, and I just couldn't be bothered.

OK- full disclosure: I ran 3.2 Monday and 4 Wednesday this week, and at the end of both runs my hip was nagging a bit. Nagging in a way that is different that is being sore, but not nagging PAIN, per say. I am going to give it a few good days of rest and hope that all is well on Sunday when I get back to NY.

I am not freaking out about it.

I did bring my bathing suit, and MAY get up in the morning and go to Masters at the pool I used to train at in high school, give my old club coaches a heart attack to see me at 6:30am, but I am really only going to go if I wake up w/o my alarm. I don't need to set alarm to get me to the pool for parents that I have known since I was 10 kick my butt in the pool.

It's good to be home. I have not seen my family since being back from my trip and I am looking forward to the weekend.

Hurtin' puppy

My thought process over the last week:

Monday "Ok, I really do have a stress fracture. Damn, but the doc said I could swim- so exciting!!"

Tues: "I'll do 4500. Ok, my leg hurts a little, but the doc said I could swim!
OK fine, I should stop now, 2800 is more then enough"

Wednesday: "Wow, I can't believe my leg isn't bothering me after swimming yesterday- it feels great! Swimming 3200 sounds like a GREAT idea!, as does staying out wayyyy too late. Whatever, at least I only had two beers."

Thursday: "Ugh, I feel like crap. But the doc said I could swim! I have to swim, I'm fat and lazy and so out of shape."

Friday: "Owwwww!!! Yeah, maybe three days in a row on a stress-fractured femur wasn't such a good idea. Damn- where are those painkillers?"

Sat: "How in the HELL did I swim 3200 yards on Wednesday, I can hardly walk. Damn, damn stupid girl. You have a STRESS FRACTURE..in your FEMUR...what are you thinking?!"


....yeah, so maybe I did a bit too much this week. Feel like I am right back to where I started pain-wise, and I feel like it's totally my own fault. Guess that is what happens when you tell a type-A athelete that she is 'allowed' to swim even with such an injury. I am VERY glad I ran into my doc on Wednesday night and he told me no spinning/biking, b/c he had hinted it was a possiblity last week. Next appointment is Monday to go over the MRI results.

So this week, if I am going to swim, I NEED to try to keep it at an easy, 30 minutes or 1650yards. No kicking, no building. Just easy-peasy back and forth swimming.

I need to focus on getting my body in the best place possible so it is ready to take on India in less than two weeks!

Making it all offical.

St. Anthony's- officially deferred until 2009 (second year in a row! I WILL do this race in my life ha!)

Eagleman- just got email confirmation of my cancellation. Luckily it's a race where you can get a partial refund, so at least it's something. I also figure that with the unexpected refund, I will treat myself to something fun and useful for my trip. And as luck would have it- they just came out with new color I-pod!. I already have the pink shuffle, which is GREAT for working out, but is not as practical for commuting/traveling, and also doesn't work with my I-home (my previous I-pod mini is slowly dying of old age).

*******************************************
I guess the process of accepting a serious injury is admitting what you can and can't do and coming to terms with it. I think am doing OK with it all. The race I am honestly most upset about is the Half Marathon in Cape Town, just because I feel like it is something I will never get the chance to do again. As an international entrant, I was automatically entered into the 'International Friendship 5k' that is the day before the main race, I may am hoping I may just be able to walk it and still take part. And honestly, it may be fun to be a spectator at one of the biggest marathons in Africa.

Got the MRI last night. Let me share some valuable information: If you have an upset stomach, reschedule any type of procedure where you will be tied down for over a half hour. I have what you may call a 'nervous' stomach. When I get nervous about things, my stomach is what reacts. In often times predictable, but sometimes not, ways. So I tried to collect myself before being velcro-ed to the machine and put into a tube of magnets for 35 minutes. Happy to say I made it without any 'mishaps', however, when they started to take me out, I practically jumped off the table to run to the bathroom. Sorry if TMI.

Oh well, glad it's over. I am sure the dinner of Reeses Pieces and Cherry Coke Zero I had after my swim didn't help matters. Whoops.

Home again, home again.

I just arrived home again from Philly, and getting in two hours earlier than expected is just the BEST thing ever sometimes. I never sleep very well in hotels, and my leg has been hurting (obviously) and I think I ate more at this training than I have in a really long time, so I am very much looking forward to being a blob on the couch tonight.

Overall, the training was really useful, covered many of the activities I will be doing for the first time during my three weeks in South Africa, but the trainings through this company are also a great way to network and hear of other people's work experiences in various parts of the clinical drug research process, and, to me, that is very enjoyable. It is always interesting to hear how different companies operate, and especially for me, coming from a very different place than most, if not all, of the other attendees (the non-profit side), it's always an interesting comparison to hear what it is like to work in a world of profit, without budget dictating most of your activities. Half the time I think I can see myself working in 'industry' in the future, on the sponser side or on the actual clinical side, however, the other half of the time, I just cannot imagine it. So I always try to keep my ears and eyes open during this trainings, making mental notes about job functions, companies, etc.

No improvements on the hip front. I have still been taking 1/painkiller a day, at night, b/c I have been having trouble sleeping due to pain. I DID get some really good news when I was gone though; I got a call from a doctor (Dr. M) that I had emailed a few weeks ago who is a good friend of many of the friends I have made through triathlon in NYC, and he is a well VERY well respected ortho.

After telling him of my experience last week, Dr. M told me to cancel the spect scan I had scheduled on Monday, and to make an appointment with his office first thing Monday and we would get to the bottom of it. He said the Spect Scan won't provide much more info past the bone scan, that I shouldn't get that much radiation anyways (esp after the xray and bone scan last week). He said the MRI is the best way to see what is going on and will tell us all we need to know.

After talking with him, I got to thinking. I am pretty appalled that the ortho I had been seeing did not read my bone scan, or even look at it, just the radiologist. I feel like, if this is a fracture, it is a pretty serious injury and for the ortho to send me off, walking on it for a FULL week before a final diagnosis, is just not the best way to handle the situation. I feel 100% comfortable transferring my care to Dr. M. He is also a triathlete himself, with multiple Ironman finishes, including Kona, and multiple Boston Marathon's, so it will be nice to be treated, whatever the final diagnosis it, by someone who 'gets it'.

OH! I also am going to get my hands on electronic copies of my x-ray and bone scan to take to his office, so hopefully I can keep a copy for myself and show everyone what is going on!!

No news

After working all morning to get insurance approval for the SpecCT scan, as I walked into the waiting area I hear the receptionist telling another patient "The machine just crashed...stick around and we will see when it is up and running again." Which we all know is medical speak for "Yeah right! No way you're getting this test done today!"

I politely register and am told the same thing, however I believe with my pyschic powers, I just may be able to convince the machine to start working again. So I sit from 1 to 4pm waiting (and napping) and waiting. No dice.

I had a nice chat though with the Head of Radiology, who is the one who read my bone scan last night and an all-around nice guy, who today had an intern, who I recognized from the gym! She is another sucker who loves the double spin classes on tues-thurs with the coach of my triathlon team. She mentioned that she and the Doc had a 'bet' as to what was wrong with me- she things stress fracture, he thinks not. Good to know they are getting some pleasure out of the situation.

HOWEVER, they also mentioned that SHE TOO was getting over the SAME injury, a femoral-neck stress fracture, as my 'worst case scenario' diagnosis, as they kept referring to it. So that is good to know, as I see her at the gym spinning just about every time I am at the gym in that neighborhood. I didn't dare ask how long she was out/off running, but she seemed to have a positive mood about it, even if it was just for my tender nerves (as they were beginning to fray at that point, and with me, fraying nerves=big well-up tears).

So, that's the news. No news. Not until Monday, as now it is off to Philly for three days of training-course fun. Oh, the doc's suggestion for the week ahead in my flux-state of non-diagnosis: "Just dont' walk a alot, OK kiddo?"

Thanks, Doc, thanks a WHOLE lot.

Bad...or worse?

Just returned from a full day at the hospital. After an x-ray (useless), that scan of some type where they inject you with radioactivity and watch the blood flow (results not yet available) and bone scan (illuminating and confusing), it is either:

1. A traction type injury at the insertion point of the Psoas. If you look at this pichttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif, at the bottom-most arrow on the picture, going around the femur, the bone scan was highlighted right at the end of the arrow's tail (not the head, obvs). So this led the doc to think that is what it is.

HOWEVER

2. A femoral neck stress fracture would also highlight a bone scan in the same area. This, of course, would be a much more serious diagnosis and what I have been holding my breath and not allowing myself to 'google' the results of since I started having pain (b/c all my symptoms are completely consistent with this). The doc assured me that this is much, much rarer, and harder to diagnosis, so he didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

So tomorrow, the plan is, once we have insurance approval (of course), I will have a CT scan, and this way we can overlay the bone scan on top of the CT Scan. If the highlighted part of the bone scan is exactly where the insertion point is of the Psoas (which we will be able to see on the CT scan), he will rule out stress fracture. If not....
Well, to be honest, now that I am thinking of it, he didn't really go there.

So basically, it's either bad, meaning still no running and lots of PT, or worse, meaning A LONG TIME of no running and major PT.

The doc's hunch? I think he was leaning towards NOT thinking it was a femoral neck stress fracture, but only b/c it was so rare and I couldn't pinpoint anything I 'did' to cause the injury.

My hunch? Even thought it causes pain (literally and emotionally) to admit, I think it's a stress fracture. I can tell when I walk...something just ain't right. And it ain't right in a way-worse-than a traction type way.

But I have to wait until I get the final diagnosis to start picturing a trip across India with crutches.....

Up and at um!

Anddddd...she's back in the game!! Today is the first day I am FINALLY feeling back to normal. It all started with a quick downhill on tuesday- lasting until about last night. I think I averaged about 15-18 hours of sleep per day this week. And I know I am sick when all I want to do is get back in bed. Reading anything: the computer screen, Menu Pages, a book, made me feel more sick, so I pretty much caught up on sleep in a major way, as well as any reality show you can think of right now. Project Runway? Real Housewives? Make me a Supermodel (or whatever it is)? Ask away, I am your girl. Oh and just about any season of America's Next Top Model, as well. (PS- did you know they are coming out with a Real Housewives of NYC? Can't WAIT!). Also, after the amount of Food Network I have watched, I should officially be a chef. My favorite recipe of the week? Barefoot Contessa's Bacon Mac and Cheese, can't WAIT to make that one!!
Other updates:

Work- SO much to catch up on now. After getting sick at work on Tuesday, and only lasting about one hour in the office on Thursday, next week is going to be rough. I am scheduled to be in Philly for a work training Wed-Friday, so I can imagine it's going to be some long nights in the hotel to catch up. Hopefully my new laptop comes before I leave so I don't have to use the world's slowest laptop with Windows98 I have been given from work until now.

Training/Hip- What is this...training you say?? Day 6 of no working out, day 14 of no running :( The flu took a little pressure off, and I was hoping would help my hip feel better if it simply an overuse injury, however, I can tell that isn't happening. I really think the only reason my hip is feeling better this week is the FAB-u-LOUS painkillers the doc prescribed, however this worries me as I move forward with the injury.

Travel- Plans all made, tickets booked (need to confirm Tuesday). All hotels booked except Durban, need to do on Tuesday.

And I am now realizing that I have SORELY neglected the namesake of this blog. I have indeed been very good in the past few weeks about NO NEW SHOES, as I have only been trying to do India/Travel related shopping. So, over the next few days, I will begin to post pics of my favorite shoes in my closet, so I can share the love with the world :) Oh, and at least the heels can get some action as my hip is in NO position to be sporting 3+ inches right now....

Doc Update

Grade 2/3 Groin Pull? Who would have thought. I never even considered it being my groin, but the doc said all the symptoms I was describing are pointing to a severe groin pull. Apparently the severity/grade is based on if there is discomfort walking (YES) and sleeping (YES). And the fact that there is no lateral pain is a good thing on the stress fracture front.

I am obviously going to keep the the sports med consult next Monday, as this was my GP who I don't love and also told me my shin splits in June was a stress fracture. BUT just the possibility that it could be something else than a stress fracture makes me rest a bit easier right now.

Oh, and the cold dip? Not such a good idea for a pulled muscle (tightens it up even more), so that could be an explanation as to why it was feeling so much worse over the weekend (I did 20 in the cold plunge at my gym on Thursday night.)

....But I mean, let's be honest...all this happiness could also just be due to the wonderful 'narcotic-like' anti-inflammatory the doc prescribed :) I usually hate taking meds, I feel they just cover up injuries, leading to worse injuries with type-A's like we all are, however....this....is....bliss :)

So NOTHING is allowed until I see the Sports Med Doc. No swimming. No cycling. Obvs no running. Just a whole lotta time spent being that creepy person who goes to the gym and sits in the hot plunge and doesn't work out. Maybe I will make some interesting friends???

Nat- thanks for the advice on the shots. I did indeed take some Motrin over the weekend. Malaria doesn't have a vaccine option, so it's pills or nothing. Since work is paying the tab, i will definitely fill the prescrip, however it just depends on the area of India we end up in if they are even necessary.

________________________

And so this isn't a post/blog of only injury whimpering...I made my final travel arrangements today for my trip. And when I say final, that means they may only change 5 more times before I leave. I will be going to India for a conference to present research, with personal time on both sides of the work to travel and visit old friends. From there I will head straight to South Africa where I will be working the entire time, which means I get paid to play on the weekends....not bad. And one weekend happens to be Easter weekend which is a 4 day holiday there (Fri-Mon), which is also the weekend of the Two Oceans Marathon/Half Marathon. So as of today:
Feb 14-Feb 20 Mumbai (leave US Feb 14, arrive night of 15th).
Feb 21-Feb 29 New Delhi for work
March 1-March 9 Personal Travel time
March 10-March 14 Jo'burg
March 15-March 24 Cape Town (Two Oceans!)
March 25-17 Durban

WHEW, even though I am so so excited to be going, it makes me exhausted to even think about that. And how does one pack for 6 weeks and two continents??

Feeling Good.

Just returned from a 75 minute spin class, hip only hurt a bit at the end of a 10 minute climb- however most of my legs were hurting at that point, so I am not too sure the hip pain was injury related. My hip did feel significantly better all day today, hoping that no running this week will do the trick.

I can't decide if I love or hate the spin instructor for tonight's class. People seem to LOVE his classes, always full, have to sign up about 30 minutes prior to even get on a bike. He is a 'real cyclist' IE, it isn't an aerobics-esque spin class, it's the real deal. It's mentally challenging, he isn't a screamer/loud teacher, he just puts on the music, tells you how much resistance to have on a scale from 1-5, and tells you when to climb. No countdowns, no sugar coating. I think the mental toughness in getting through his classes will be very helpful when it comes to my first Half Ironman in June, Eagleman. It is a notoriously flat course, and to me, that equals boring!! So I think if i can develop some mental toughness though this spin class, it will go a long way 30 or 40 miles into the Eagleman bike.

I am going to put my main focus and energy into the bike before I leave on my trip in 6 weeks. This will take the form of mostly spin classes, as I am too lazy and broke to invest in a trainer right now. However, it also means that if there is a nice day, I WILL get out on my road bike!! I even ordered a cute cycling jacket today so I have no excuses. It will be easier to run/find treadmills while traveling, so if I build up a big base on the bike over the next 6 weeks before leaving, I will be a bit less nervous about the time away and off the bike.

I also found out today the hotel I am staying at for 9 days in New Delhi has an outdoor 50 meter pool!! That doesn't even bring back the dread of sat morning long course practices from college, it gets me quite excited!!

Plan for tomorrow is to book the details of a work-related training I have to attend in Philly in a few weeks, as well as my one way ticket to Mumbai. I have time to figure out the second half of the trip and just how I am getting from India to South Africa, but for now, at least knowing I have (hopefully an aisle) seat to Mumbai on Feb 14 will make me rest a bit easier about all I have to do in the next six weeks!!

If it's not one thing...

So over the past two years, I have slowly been trying to 'become' a runner. After swimming from the time I was 10, through college, I took a good year off from any type of physical activity, and slowly began running. I ran my first 10 mile race in Oct 2005 while in my second year of graduate school, on a long run of 6 miles and perhaps 10-15 mpw. It was painful and slow, but I was hooked.

Since moving to New York, running has become a way of life. I have learned to enjoy the daily release, the long run, and friendships that form on the streets of Central Park. However, over this time, I have constantly been dealing with making sure my body is on board with my new-found love of running.

Through-out college, I had horrible ITB problems, due to swimming 10 times a week, being a breaststroker, having minor scoliosis, and a 'tilted pelvic' (ie one hip is about 2-3 mm higher). I was religious about PT, stretching, icing, and managed to get through it. I also saw a Chiropractor on a regular basis for about 3 months in my sophomore year, and I think this is one thing that made a HUGE difference.

So since starting running, I have been very good about stretching/icing. My knees have flared up a few times, but with proper attention, it seems to be fine. However, it always seems "If it's not one thing...it's another." I always wonder what it would be like to be one of those people who can run and run and never get injured. Oh the joy. I battled with a shin splint flare up this past summer (June 06), but was able to rest and ice my around it through the end of triathlon season. I was also able to attribute the timing of the shin splits to a new pair/brand of running shoes. After switching back to my old shoes, I was able to slowly return to my weekly mileage.

This summer also marked the first time I started doing weekly workouts with a running group. I was doing things that I had never ever heard of: hill repeats, fartlek runs, tempo training. I loved the challenges, as they were akin to my swimming background, and I improved dramatically in a year. (HM time from 2.02 to 1.48, 10k from 52 to 48). I decided this winter I was going to focus on the run. If was going to achieve my goals and finish a HIM, I needed to be running consistently and smartly.

Best laid plans, right?? Around Thanksgiving I got fitted for new shoes. Not new shoes, actually, as I wanted to stay with my trusted NB 992 (not everyone loves, but they are the only shoe that I have found that don't aggravate my ITB). I did however, want to get fitted for size, as I had started to get constant blisters on the ends of my toes. The running store (a trusted and reputable one here in NYC) agreed that I should go up a size. After this, my heels started bothering me. Nothing too bad, just a soreness on the sides (not bottoms). I attributed it to the new shoe size, as well as the switch back to treadmill running with the weather turning. No biggie.

Then last week, during my long run of 8 miles (yes, that is long for me right now), around mile 6, my hip started to hurt. Nothing sharp, just a dull ache. By the time I got home, showered and stretched, I almost couldn't lift my right leg. Trying not to be a hypochondriac and use google against my good judgement, I iced and stretched and backed off a bit. Ran 3 more miles on the 'mill a few days later, felt fine, but it was definitely affecting my stride length (shortening).

So, I believe I have self diagnosed a hip flexor strain. All the symptoms I have read about are exactly what I am experiencing, and a common cause is 'over compensating for Achilles tendinitis'...hmmm remember that heel pain I was talking about? Damn. I will not over-react and freak out that i have a femoral neck fracture, b/c there is no way I would still be running.

One thing I am not good at is rest. Since my hip started hurting (8 days ago) I have: taken three days off, (only 2 in a row) run three times (3.5, 3.1, 4.1) and been spinning. My hip has hurt more after each run, but feels better before so I think I can do. Just at a slower pace.

After the novel that is this post, I NEED to take time to rest and stretch and just, perhaps go to the doctor. I am just SO bummed b/c I have some great running races planned over the next few months, ending with the Two Oceans half marathon in Cape Town that will be a once in a lifetime chance to run one of the most beautiful courses in the world. I NEED to find a way to stay/get healthy so i can be consistent in my training up through March 22. I don't' need to "race" ANY of my half marathons until tri season. I just scheduled them to help me maintain the distance of my long runs (9+) through the winter months.

I was hoping writing all this down and re-reading will help convince me I need to make a doctor's appointment, stop running for a few days, and realize it's not worth it. It has in a way, but it also makes me realize that my legs have protested my love of running from Day 1, and icing, stretching and Advil has averted every other problem I have encountered. It also makes me realize that all the injuries are no doubt related and go back to my back and pelvis. So the first appointment I will be making on Monday morning is with the chiropractor to get readjusted and evaluated. One visit the last time made a world of difference, and I am hoping for a miracle.

So it's yoga, swimming and spinning in the saddle until then. Think I am going to give up on the Manhattan Half Marathon (Jan 27) for now to take some of the pressure off of myself.

Oh- I ran 4.1 miles last night on the Westside Highway from Bank Street down to Battery Park and back- slowwww and steady and in not much pain. But this morning? Yeah, I'm like a lame duck. This stinks.

Also watched a GREAT movie- 'The Waitress' with Keri Russell. HIGHLY recommended- funny, sweet, poignant Very good.