The Climb That Almost Wasn't

I have participated in a fundraiser for three years now. It raises money for the American Lung Association. It involves climbing the stairwell of a tall building. 29 stories. No, really, 29 stories. It only takes a few minutes but it's so challenging. As long as I have done it, it is has been on Saturdays. For some reason I had it in my head this year that it was Sunday. I have no idea why, but Sunday was firmly ingrained in my head, even though the emails this week stated "latest info for SATURDAY", as if the director was speaking directly to me. Yesterday, my son asked me  if the climb was today, "no", I said, "it's Sunday". I received a text last night asking if the climb was today, again I said it was Sunday. The reply indicated that another person was doing a climb on Saturday and were there two climbs? Uh oh. So I went back into my emails and looked closely to find that yes, indeed, it was Saturday and not Sunday. DOH!! So I reset the planning switch to 12 hours instead of 36 and was geared up. Somehow we had an early start time and the climb went very quickly. I was relaxed about it this year, no running, no two stairs at a time, just climb one at a time and get to the top. I took a few breaks to stretch and take pictures, this was more about the experience than a race to me, and I had fun.

You know that's right

Wait!  I wasn't supposed to go until 9:40!!
Then again, I thought it wasn't for another 24 hours, so what's four more minutes?

That's a long way down

Three more floors

My favorite part of the day, the sweaty smelly ride down to home base

and on top of that

I'm fighting an issue with my back and leg...bursitis? it band?  sciatic nerve?  That's what my pt is hoping to figure out today.  I hope we do figure it out and fix it.  I can say that I am frustrated and feel totally derailed.  It's my own fault for doing too much too soon.  I'm hoping I still get to test for my black belt in June.  I don't even care about a marathon at this point.  Just help me get rid of the pain.  It will get better!!  I am hoping to be pain free by my Birthday in May.  You know...40 is the new 20 apparently.

This stupid kick will be the death of me

Oh dear

So I've done it now.  My getting all big in britches and trying minimalist running shoes, loving them and heading out for a 7.5 run in them.  Can you say plantar fasciatis?  Woops.  I ran today and it worked through alright.  My back feels good.  I'm thinking I will save those shoes for short runs and go back to my big sneakers for ling runs.  It's amazing how different they feel and how different I feel while I am running with them.  Here's hoping I didn't screw up marathon and black belt training.  Here's hoping I can work through it.  woops

Okey Dokey

What's new?  Well, I've earned my black stripe.  I'm about 6 months away from testing for my black belt.  I am fighting a back issue, but working through it with PT and Chiro care.  I'm doing the Runner's world run streak challenge and tomorrow my family is running a trot off your turkey race.  Well, that's it.  Just need to hop back on the wagon !!

5 months?!

Was it really five months ago for my last post?  Well, I sure have been slacking.  Let's see what's new.  I earned my black stripe and just about blew my back and leg out in the process.  I have put myself on rest and in Physical therapy right now to try to fix what I almost destroyed.  I blame the spinning hook kick and my crooked pelvis.

I was going to train for a half marathon for the Fall, but training while trying to heal my injury is like fighting a riptide, it ain't gonna work.  So I admit I am out for now.  I am going to go the race to cheer my running partners on and sleeze a lobster roll.  I have my black belt test next year, so I guess my goal over the next year would be to heal, and train for another half and another big test without making this injury flare up again.

This sucks royally because I recently got my iron levels set and feel good in that respect when I run, but the pain is no good.  So I'll keep stretching and exercising and hope I work back into this.

Slowly but Surely

Running takes some faith and wisdom

I have a necklace that I love.  It's a brown leather necklace with a runner girl charm, a faith charm and a pearl of wisdom.   It is to remind me that I have become a runner, to have faith in myself and to have the wisdom to not hurt myself.  It is all a work in progress.  I may have run myself a 5k a couple of weeks ago, but I continued pushing myself on that week and ended up irritating my back (which felt great that week) which causes pain down the side of my leg.  So I missed a whole week of running after that, and now I am back to short runs with intervals.  I'm happy to be doing the short runs, I just wish the wisdom thin would have kicked in last week because now I have blown any chance for a half marathon this Spring.  It's ok though.  I don't think my body was meant to do a lot of half marathons, it fights me on long runs.  Instead I am going to train for a 10k that runs over a local bridge.  Very cool!  I need the wisdom to balance the Tae Kwon Do and the running,  so I can't get caught up in what everyone else is doing.  Just because a friend does a half, doesn't mean it's right for me.  I still have two big tests and I can't do big races at the same time I do these tests.

Back in the Race

I'm training for another half marathon and already I know this is going to be good.  I ran this morning.  For the first time since I started running I ran and felt good the whole time.  It's damn cold and snowy around here, so I'm holed up at the gym these days.  I'm ok with it, because I actually feel good when I run now.  This morning I was able to run a 5k.  I was back to my original 5k time from my very first race.  34:50  I may not be a speed demon, but I ran the whole distance, something I have never actually been able to do.  I think I am going to kiss my Dr when I see her. She has changed my life.