Tag: Pain

BibRave, Run!, Training

Big Sur Marathon Training-Week 13

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Ok, I lied, you get the training recap before the race recap.  Oops.

It’s coming, really!  It’s never taken me this long to write a race recap before but maybe that’s because my brain checked out last week.  I was so tired and just couldn’t figure out why or seem to catch up on my sleep.

I had wanted to move my 20 miler up a week to this weekend as it just fit my schedule better that way but between some leg issues and the extreme tiredness I was getting the feeling that was probably not a good idea.

Monday- 2.5 miles I planned on a few shake out, easy miles to get my legs loose from the day before.  I was aiming for 3-4.   My leg had felt ok during the day at work but it quickly let me know that it was not on board with a run.  Not at all.  I was hoping it would loosen up but instead it steadily grew worse until it felt like the pain was in the bone too which alarmed me so I called it short and just headed back to the car.

Tuesday/ Wednesday- Nada  I was giving the leg a few days to see what it would do.   Working at my desk makes it very, very angry.  I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again- stand up desks are not all they are cracked up to be.

Thursday- 4.5 miles  I headed to lake path as I had a feeling that the dirt path would be more forgiving than pavement or concrete.   I started slow and kept it nice and easy.  Because spring had suddenly made an appearance and it was 80 degrees at 6 PM, going slow was not an issue.  In fact I needed a few walk breaks due to the warmth.   However those breaks pointed out that my leg was ok once in motion, it really does not the stops and starts of walk breaks.  Which is problematic as I know I will be walking part of this marathon.

Friday- Stupid For some reason I was so freakin’ tired this week… and it was making me stupid.  And slap happy.  I took a nap on my lunch but it didn’t help.  I had a feeling my long run wasn’t happening on Saturday.

Saturday- 2.2 miles  I was still super tired and my leg was sore but this was supposed to be longer.  But we got a little lost.  My mom and headed to do a trail but the one we did a few weeks ago is closed, boo. So instead, we did the Pine Mountain loop.   It gains almost 500 feet in the first 1/2 mile or so but the path is fun with a couple of random off shoots.  Once we made our way to the top, we took one of the random off shoots thinking it would make the path longer but instead we had climb over and under some downed trees before it deposited us almost in someones front yard and on the highway.  Oops!

Sunday- 10 miles My leg was sore and I was still so tired, I pretty much knew that 20 wasn’t going to happen early and I was going to stick to the plan of 12.  But when my alarm went off in the morning, my head was pounding, likely due to hormones from that TOM, so I rolled over and went back to sleep.

That had me heading out for my run in the afternoon.  It was over 80.  I didn’t think it would be that bad.  And it wasn’t until mile 5 and then it was all downhill from there.  So much walking.  I was so damn warm.  I had 2 bottles of water in my pack and I drank them both.   I even took a few moments iny a lone shady spot to just try and cool off.   But no luck.  It took me so long, that I ended up only having time for 10 miles before I needed to head back for Easter Dinner.

19.23 miles for the week.  Not great but not horrible considering how my leg felt on Monday.

How was your week?

BibRave, Run!, Training

Big Sur Marathon Training-Week 4

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

I designed my plan with flexibility.   I know I like to be able to move my days around depending on how work goes or if my stomach is being a complete asshat.

That said, I didn’t plan on basically chucking the plan out the window in week 4.  I am so behind on miles.  Don’t freak out, don’t freak out.

I mentioned last week that I ended week 3 feeling broken thanks to a crappy treadmill and some shoe issues.  People, getting out bed on Monday hurt.  Walking around work hurt.  What the hell????? Don’t freak out, don’t freak out.

The plan-haha

week 4

Life-

Monday- Rest Haha, I worked and I rested.  I tried not to make any sudden movements and just get through the day.  I had to put the thought of my pretty new shoes out my head.

Tuesday- PT Otherwise, more of the same.

Wednesday- 4 miles on the bike  My lump on a log- ness was getting to me so I went for a very short ride on the bike just to test the legs out.    I followed up with half of my PT exercises.

Thursday- 2 miles I’m feeling very anti treadmill right now but wanted to test the leg considering I had a race on Saturday.  Oh crap.   While I wish I hadn’t been running on super uneven sidewalks, the miles were ok.  I always think I run differently at night due to the limited light.  I  love my Knuckle Lights but I still feel like I run a little off.  That could also be that I don’t run enough in the dark to get used to it though.

Friday- Rest For doing next to nothing all week, I was super tired.  That stupid cold/flu better not have caught up to me.  I worked the early shift at work and headed home to try and get some sleep before the early morning of race day errr, well supported long run. 😋

Saturday- Mission 10 miler– race recap to come.

Sunday- 3.1 miles I finally put some miles in the Altra’s.   I took it super easy as it was my first time in zero drop shoes but I surprisingly it took over 2 miles for me to feel any calf/achilles tightness.  Mini spoiler- that happened within 1/4 mile the day before during the race.  I also took it easy because I still wasn’t feeling well- another mini spoiler?  All in all this was decent recovery run.

15.4 miles for the week.  So basically, I ran a long run and skipped everything else.  Only 9 miles short.  Don’t freak out.

How was your week?<

 

BibRave, Run!, Training

Big Sur Marathon Training-Week 3

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

If I had one word to describe this week, it would be ouch.

If I used more words, ouch would likely be followed by a couple of colorful expletives and then some more ouch.

Work was stressful and busy.  I ran but it didn’t go well.   I bought new running shoes, oh and I cut most of my hair off.  Surprise!

The plan-

Week 3

Life-

Monday- PT/3 miles It was a day off from work and part of me really wanted to run the 6 miles of speed work that was on the plan for the week.  Part of me was also really feeling the 15 miles I had put on them in the previous 2 days and wanted a rest day.  I compromised and stuck with the plan and headed out for 3.    I should have gone with the rest.  My legs were not having it.   Not even turning to my long run run/walk intervals helped.   I probably shouldn’t have run the same day I had a PT appointment with traction.  I ended up just walking it in.

Tuesday- Rest Insanely busy work day plus I was listening to my legs.

Wednesday- 2 miles Another busy day and mentally, I did not think I could handle the treadmill. I changed into my running clothes at work but was talking myself out of it the entire drive home.  I was thisclose to bailing entirely but instead I parked my car and a headed out for a dark few miles.  Things were a little stiff but I chalked it up to all the uneven sidewalks I have to run on at night and figure I run a little differently in the dark.

Thursday- 4 miles -400’s On the lake path, my typical 400 pace ranges from 7:55-8:15.  On this night, due to some very poor treadmill math, I was running these 400’s around 9:45.  And they were kicking my ass.  I normally love 400’s.  Not tonight.  My legs and back were not agreeing with the treadmill at all.    I called it at 4 miles because an ache in my upper left leg started to turn into pain.  I hate treadmills.  Particularly bouncy ones.

Friday- Rest/ PT exercisesI wore compression socks all days and my for the most part, I felt ok.

Saturday- 9 miles/ PT exercises I wanted 11, should have quit at 5.  The plan was to run from home, do my 11 and finish at the high school where my mother was having tennis practice then she would give me a ride.  I was super achy and stiff the first 2 miles but sometimes it can take until mile 4 for me to loosen up so I kept running.   By mile 5, the aches had turned into straight up pain and I knew I was in trouble.   So I took a shortcut and hobble-ran my way to the high school stopping occasionally to stretch as best as I could.  Once home, I iced, and stretched and foam rolled as much as I could.

Sunday- Rest  I did wander around SLO and do some shopping.  My left leg is still not to happy but I was able to walk without pain.  But certain muscles and bones are making their presence known if that makes sense.  I stopped in at the Running Warehouse and made the leap into a new pair of shoes.  I’m moving around too much in the Adidas right now no matter how many pairs of socks I wear.  Fingers crossed these help.

18.19 miles for the week.  5 short of where I should be.  But it’s early days and I am not going to freak out yet.  No, I am not.  If I repeat it enough, it’s true right?

How was your week?

Product Review, Run!

Breathe It In

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received Earth’s Care Pain Relieving cream to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro  (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I am usually bruised in one place or another.    I’m notorious for running into things and forgetting about it until I see the bruise.   It’s a running joke in my family that we are notorious for hurting ourselves in new and inventive ways.   We’ve all made a doctor’s visit or ER trip where the nurse just looks at us and says “you did what how?”.    I also tend to be anti pain medication, my go to is usually an ice pack for every ailment.  Migraine? Ice pack.  Sinus congestion? Ice pack.  Shin splints? Ice pack.  But that’s also how I gave myself second degree burns on both my legs.  But that’s another story.


So I figured I would give Earth’s Care Pain Relieving Ointment a try.  All natural ingredients that I could actually pronounce? Score.  When it arrived and it smelled like wonderfully, minty menthol goodness, well that was just a bonus.  😊

earth
from the website
Of course, since I’ve had it, I haven’t bruised anything.  It’s a new streak!   However this stuff was amazing while I was sick.  My back was aching so badly from coughing so much.     The cream made sleeping a little more comfortable.  Plus I like just taking the cap off and smelling it.  That’s not weird at all, right?     Until I quit coughing, this ointment and I will be very good friends.

I am sure my bruise free streak will end at some point.  My shins will likely ache once I end this unplanned running break.   Now I have something to help me instead of suffering in silence.  Well, I was never really silent, I whine a lot.  😛

What do you do when something hurts?

Are you accident prone?

 

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 48 Um Ouch Recap

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

After the last week, I am so glad I don’t have anything to put under the “Training For” label.    I had such high hopes for getting back to running but life was like yeah no.  😛

Monday– I packed all my stuff for an evening run and I was looking forward to testing out my new reflective vest and tights.  My back started to feel sore bordering on painful towards the end of the day which I thought was odd but other than that didn’t think much of it.  Since I was also waiting for a new shoe delivery I used it as a reason to rest.  I figured I had the rest of the week to run, right?


Haha!  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch

My alarm went off on Tuesday and I damn near screamed when I went to turn it off.  Whatever had been wrong with my back the day before was nothing compared to this, I could barely move without crying.   Getting dressed was one of the most painful things I’ve done and I have a pretty decent pain tolerance.  Every movement hurt.    And kept hurting.  I could have used a sling, I basically kept my left arm at a right angle and glued to my side for 3 days.   Instead of screaming or cursing, I would only whimper with the occasional moan.

Problem was I realized just how left hand dominant I am.  I am right handed so I write and eat with my right hand but I do damn near everything else with my left hand and arm.     I felt like I forgot how to do everything.   I kept losing the computer mouse at work, I’m not used to having it on the right side!  Grrrrr.    Anyways, I was about as active as a lump on a log those days.   A moany lump on a log.

There were Shiny moments though-  I saw Fantastic Beasts and it was awesome!  Movie theater seats were not a good idea but the movie was great!  Thanksgiving was a very low key, chill day with family, just the way I like it.    I’m also not a huge fan of traditional fare so it’s the one day a year I have no worries of overeating.  😛😛   I was feeling a little better on Friday, so with slooooow, deliberate movements, a coworker and I decorated the building for Christmas.  I guess that was pretty active, I hung lights around 9 windows.  🙂

Saturday was crazy rainy but I was feeling a little better so I took advantage of a break in the rain and headed out to attempt a short run.    I made it 3 miles and kept it super slow both due to my back and the now 3 weeks off.  I feel like I am starting over!  That said, it was a pretty good run, it helped that I had zero expectations about this run.   I was pretty happy that I was even able to get a sports bra on.


Sunday was spent doing some Christmas shopping.   I also returned the Hoka’s.    They just weren’t working.   My toes felt bruised every time I wore them and I still have that odd spongy feeling in my left arch every now and then.  It never existed until the Hoka’s.  I hate returning shoes but I also can’t afford to just eat the cost on $130 pair of shoes either.   I exchanged them for another pair of Nike’s.   That is the only pair of shoes that hasn’t caused me any issues other than I can only wear them up to 8 miles.  But it’s not like I will be hitting the double digits any time soon so these should get me through.  Also, fingers crossed that the Hail Mary Sayonara’s that arrived on Monday will work for longer runs.

My back is still sore but drastically better then it was during the week.     I feel a knot or something but I’m still going to take it easy until it is back to normal.  This has happened once before, years ago.  I remember rolling over to get out of bed, feeling and hearing something pop before the pain hit and I couldn’t get up.  I also remember yelling for help for 40 minutes before someone in the house heard me.   That may be why I forced myself to try to work through the pain this week.  That or I am stupid.   My boss tried to get me to go to a chiropractor but 1- they scare me, 2-by the time I jump through the insurance hoops it will be next year.  😞

How was your week?

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you run a Turkey Trot?

Ever break yourself while sleeping?😛