Saturday, February 11, 2012

'Ritas and Randomness

Ah yes, it's Saturday night and I lead such an exciting life.  The Hubby and I just finished watching Midnight in Paris.  (Cute movie, but definitely not "Best Picture")  He has a 12-mile run tomorrow. And me?  Well, I have nothing tomorrow.  No run, no bike, nothing. Okay, well, I am going to go to the pool to do my swim from Wednesday, but I don't have to wake up early for that.  In fact, the gym doesn't open until 8 am and the Hubs won't be home until around 9:30 am...so, I am actually up past 11 pm watching TV.  This is rare for me!  Oh, and I am having some leftovers from my birthday party....

Hello Margarita's....Yummy, yum, yum!

Speaking of birthday party, I don't think I've posted this pic...

Me and the Hubs at the big event
So, let me update you on what's happened in the past week...

The Hip
As you've seen, I've been increasing the volume with my workouts over the past 3 weeks.  Not necessarily increasing the intensity, but definitely increasing the amount of time.  My bike has gone from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours.  I've added swimming back into my workouts, as well as some aqua jogging.  The result? A sore hip. Not horrible like it was just a few weeks ago, but uncomfortable. As in - just walking is uncomfortable.  This, my friends, is not a good sign.

You're Fired
I decided to ditch my previous Dr. Chiro and visit with Dr. Chiro #2.  Dr Chiro #2 specializes in Active Release Technology (ART).  I've been noticing people on beginnertriathlete.com mentioning ART over and over again, and I have a friend who highly recommends it and referred me to her Dr...so, I thought why not? I had my 1st visit on Wednesday.  Dr. Chiro #2 put me through some major torture! And, he worked on a completely different area than the original Dr. Chiro.  Oh, and he told me to stop the stretches/exercises that I've been doing.  Apparently, if it's the area he thinks it is (the rectus femoris), the stretches/exercises may be aggravating the area.  Also, I have been asked to stop the elliptical, spin, aqua jogging, biking, etc., as that may also be aggravating the hip.  Lovely.  I went back on Friday for another torture treatment session. The Dr also wanted to get me to attempt to run.  It didn't go as well as he (or I)  hoped...there is still some pain.  The good news - it's not as bad as it was before the Houston Marathon...but, it still hurts more than it should after 7 weeks.  He commented that most people could recover from SURGERY in less time.  Duh!

On the Wong-Baker scale, the pain was an 8 before Houston. Now, it's around a 5.  Better, but not great.

I go back again 2x next week.  I am hoping that he gets me back to running!  If not, I've decided that I will  take 4-6 weeks off from everything except swimming (with a pull buoy) and some strength training just to let the damn hip heal!

Galveston
Due to the above mentioned issues, Galveston is not happening for me.  So this is just not going to be my year for Galveston.  I thought the same thing last year, because my work schedule was crazy.  This year, it's the hip...I can deal with the crazy work schedule.  Yes, I am pissed angry.  Yes, I am annoyed.  But, I am accepting this.  I do have some options - I can select a race later in the year (Austin 70.3), or I can wait until next year (so I can do a fall marathon). 

What's Next?
Well, I have decided that if the hip is not better after ART...meaning, I can't run, elliptical, spin, bike or aqua jog for several weeks, I am going to focus what I can do.  I will swim.  I will do strength training.  My lower half and endurance may go to shit, but I will have a rocking upper body.

So yes, my 40th year is not going quite the way I had hoped so far.  F*ck it...I will make the most of it.  Things may not be starting out well, but I will kick this year's ass before it's over!

And, since I had 3 hours of my life back today (since I'm not able to do my scheduled 3 hour ride), I was able to meet up with some friends from grad school for brunch and hang out with the kids all afternoon...

The Munchkin running a "time trial"...he was trying to beat the Kiddo's time to the next driveway and back.

The kiddo running her fastest!

And, we picked out a new member of the family.  He will be joining our family in just a few weeks!

Am I cute, or what? And, I need a name!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Have you had to change your race plans due to an injury?  How did you handle the disappointment?

9 comments:

Lisa said...

OMG, that puppy is too CUTE! And cute kiddos, too.

Good for you on getting that 2nd opinion. Never hurts to explore other options.

Michelle @ www.movinitwithmichelle.com said...

Your family is gorgeous! And I am glad you are pushing forward. I have been having IT band issues, so am taking it slow myself. Love and prayers sent your way!

Kathy said...

Grr, hip. Hang in there!
Happy birthday!!
Your puppy is SO adorable? German Shorthair?

TX Runner Mom said...

Kathy, yes it is a German Shorthair!

Duckie said...

YES! My training has been one big injury cycle. DW is trying hard to break it and I hope we succeed. I had to scrap my entire season last year after July. We don't even have a race goal discussed right now. I just got notification about my deferred MCM entry and I will sign up only because I have already paid for it, but it is highly debatable as to whether or not I will get there.

How did I deal? I whine... a lot. And I fired the coach that guided me into hot water in the first place.

I had a chiro/ART guy work on me in Austin. I was very pleased with the results. I believe it was the turning point in my progress with the Achilles tendon and Plantar. I am trying a new FL chiro tomorrow because I am getting fairly sore again, including hip and low back pain. My old guy just didn't seem to get to the root of the problem. I can't wait to get home to use chiro in Austin again. He was the only one that got results with the foot. Good luck!! Let me know how it goes!

Laura said...

Glad to hear your plan to focus on what you can do. I had to cancel a full marathon several years ago, and didn't venture to train for another full until last year. Then I missed a half this fall when I was recovering from shin stress. So I hear you... but I think you're right, do what you can! Glad to hear you're trying some new therapy, hope it helps.

Donna said...

You know, I've been suffering from some hip issues on and off for a few months. I have a question: Does it hurt more after you've been sitting for a while or when you walk up and down stairs? If it does, you might want to ask about Bursitis. I hate the word... it's an "old" person thing...ugh! The only good thing is, it does go away, but it takes rest. I also went back to a more cushiony running shoe, and it get a little more relief.

TX Runner Mom said...

Donna - it hurts in the front of the hip. At first it hurt anytime I appled weight to the leg - walking was painful, stairs were excrutiating, and I could not hop or run on that leg at all. Now, it's only achey in the front after I have done any kind of repetitive movement that makes me lift my leg...even if I don't put much weight on it (i.e. aqua jogging, elliptical, etc). However, it still just plain hurts if I attempt to run or hop on that leg.

That Pink Girl said...

Boo to hurty hip. I am very sorry that it's still bother you so much. I'm sorry you're in pain and I'm sorry you are missing out on your spring races. I know that's disappointing.
Midnight in Paris is cute! :0)