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Epic Fail

Looks like I won't be back to running in time for the Whidbey Island Half Marathon. My injury seemed to be getting better last week, and I was even able to run a mile last Saturday without any pain. However, when I decided to give it another try on Monday I ran into some problems. My run Monday just didn't feel right, it didn't hurt exactly, but just felt slightly off. Not to mention at one point my hip started to feel kind of numb. So I went back to the doctor yesterday and she referred me to physical therapy. Meanwhile I won't be running the Mercer Island 10K this weekend as I'd planned. I asked her about my chances of running Whidbey Island next month and she said it didn't look like it would be happening. I'm pretty upset about it, but at the same time I've come to terms with it. My first physical therapy appointment is this coming Monday and I'm actually kind of excited to see what it all entails. While I love my doctor I don't think she was able to give me enough information on what I should and shouldn't be doing. I'm back on the ibuprofen, at least until my first PT appointment.

In the meantime I figure I can keep up doing what I do as long as it doesn't make the pain worse. This week I started the New Rules of Lifting for Women program. I'm not normally one for following diet/exercise programs from books, but for some reason I was drawn to this one. I like the idea of building muscle and becoming stronger. I did my first workout at the gym Tuesday and while it seemed easy at the time, my muscles are still sore from it. The workout consisted of 5 exercises with two sets of each, I think it took me about 20-25 mins to complete it with the warm up and the rest between reps. Today I am doing the second workout, which I'm looking forward to a lot. I do feel kind of intimidated about going in the free weight room at the gym, but I know that the more I go the less intimidating it will be. Not to mention most of the people in there are far more concerned with themselves than anything else. The only thing about this program is that it suggests getting about 30% of your daily calories from protein. Which is difficult, let me tell you. Based on my caloric needs the book suggests about 150 grams of protein per day, and in all honesty even with protein powder and bars and stuff I struggle to make it over 100. I'm not too concerned about the protein at this point though. I figure as long as I make a conscious effort to eat healthy (which I pretty much do anyway, just have to cut down on some of the candy) and eat more protein I should be fine.

I am trying to find a way to work in some Bikram to my routine this weekend. I absolutely love Bikram. Just being in the warm room and sweating, it's so cleansing and detoxifying and when I'm done I feel completely refreshed. However, it requires a lot of time. The class itself if 90 mins and obviously it helps to arrive a bit early, to change and pick out a decent spot, etc. Then after class, you can relax there for as long as you want, then you have to change and get everything together. By the time you make it back home, you've probably invested a good two hours and then you have to have a shower. I think once my 30 classes are done with, I'll probably just drop in on occasion when I feel like it, or pick another type of yoga that isn't so time consuming. I do love it though and think as long as I don't stretch too much I should be okay doing it even with my injury. We'll see, hopefully I can make it there tomorrow or sometime this weekend.

posted by Erin - Thursday, March 06, 2008