Listening To Our Bodies

I think we've all been there before.  We've been so determined. So focused on a goal.  So absorbed by our training, our plan, our goals to get to where we hope to be.  To accomplish the feat that will make us feel victorious.  Glorious.  Successful and satisfied.  Sometimes we get so focused on staying on track and following a "plan" that we forget to listen to our bodies.  We forget to realize that it is always okay to go off our path for a quick change of pace or direction if it means keeping our bodies healthy and injury free.  Just like with a good road trip...sometimes we need to take unexpected potty stops or we get tired and have to pull over for a pick me upper!  Without these stops or breaks we might not get to our destination at all. Isn't changing our plan or slowing down more important than never getting there at all? 


This is where I'm at this week.  I'm pulling into a rest stop with my training plan and I'm listening to my body.  This isn't always something I would have done but after reading so much about injuries and broken hearts of athletes who pushed themselves too hard or had the misfortune of hurting themselves and now can't run at all, I'm trying to learn from their stories as much as possible. My own recent injury is fresh in my mind as well. We all know that as runners, we can be a bit neurotic or obsessive sometimes (not all of us) and missing a day or two sometimes seems like the end of the world.  It is easy to feel Out of Control when we don't stick or our plan as we had expected.  Not to mention how our mood changes when we don't get our running "fix" that we are used to getting. But, I'm trying to play this thing smart.  I only have one body. One pair of strong legs, arms and feet.  One.  And I have to take care of it.  


As most of you who read my blog know, I've been experiencing some pain in the side of my leg and was thinking it was IT Band pain.  After so much great advice, googling it , and talking to friends, I'm thinking I'm right about it being my IT band. RockStarTri mentioned that sometimes woman feel the pain more in the outside of the hip rather than the knee.  This seems to be the case for me. 


I plan on posting a blog soon with all of the wise advice I received from everyone.  I also found a good video that shows me some good stretches and ways to roll it out.  Thank you everyone!


As of now I'm:
*  Taking it easy
*  Slowing down with my plan this week.  Yesterday I didn't run...only rolling and stretching
*  Tonight still not much running...spin class and then Yoga
*  YOGA...I am going to make this part of my weekly workout routine.  I think it is so important.  Meg from Meg Runs mentioned a few yoga stretches that help her with her IT band.  
*  Jill advised me to roll it and stretch it every day whether it hurts or not. She has also e-mailed to check in...thanks Jill.   
*  Miss Zippy (Amanda) has really been good about reminding me to NOT PUSH IT. Thinking of her and her recovery and hoping she can be running strong again soon!
*  LISTENING to my BODY.  


Today it is a pretty dull pain so I think it is getting less angry.  I feel pretty sore for some reason in my lower back and hips...probably from all the painful rolling and stretching.  


Thanks again to all of you for your advice and wonderful and wise reminders!  Once again, this blog is a HUGE blessing to me.  I've learned so much and I am so grateful for the resource that it proves to be for me in so many areas of my life.  


Are you remembering to listen to your body? 
I am now but I have not always done this.  When I was younger it used to be all about being tough and pushing through pain that I should have listened to.  


Would you describe yourself as obsessive, needing to be in control, or a bit neurotic about running or other things in your life?  
Once again, I am much less so now that I'm older.  I still get obsessive about things...if I have something to plan that is important...a presentations, training for a race, etc.  Training for a race and being on track with my plan helps me feel in control with other areas of my life.  


Do you feel okay about going off track of your plans when you need to or when things come up?  
After experiencing what it is like to be seriously injured (my complete hamstring tear in August) I realized just how precious my body is and how I have to take care of it in order to keep my lifestyle the way I want it to be.  I'm pretty good at reevaluating things in life and changing direction if I need to.  



Happy Thursday,
Amanda

Small Celebrations and IT Band Video Take Two

Hey Blog Peeps.  Thank you so much for your IT Band Wisdom.  I'm hoping it isn't an IT Band Issue.  I will be listening to my body, being smart, icing, stretching, rolling (with the painful one Chris), using my rolling pin more often in creative ways, and hoping it all goes away.  


Small Celebrations today:


*  My husband is home after being in Toronto for a work presentation/conference.  Yay for my best friend and love being home.  


*  I was able to have my babysitter watch my kids so that I could fit in my run AND volunteer in my daughters Kinder class.  


*  I got to help in the Writer's Workshop in Kindergarten...What a JOY!  I'm convinced that being a kinder teacher is quite possibly the most rewarding and important jobs there is.  I think it keeps you young being surrounded by such raw joy and unguarded life every day.  It was such a treat for me to be doing something I love so very very VERY much...teaching kids to read and write.  


*  My daughter was so joyful that I was in her classroom.  Proud too.  This made me feel like a million bucks!  I also made it in time to see her master the monkey bars at recess.  Priceless and irreplaceable moment.  


*  I decided to present at the Oregon Writing Festival again this year.  


*  My son had his shots today and barely cried.  We had donuts afterwards as a treat!


*  Despite the pain in the side of my leg, I felt awesome on my run today.  6 miles @ base pace.  MIle 3 was 7:45 and Mile 4 was 7:37.  Often I would look down and realize that I was at low 7's and felt strong.  I slowed down a bit to keep my pace at a higher 7 or low 8 pace  since this wasn't a race.  ;)  I had a big smile on my face.  I can see the pieces coming together and my work paying off.  I have a long way to go though.  


My husband watched my earlier video and then the one I did an hour or so before and he thought it was much more authentic with my son at my feet.  I thought I'd give you more of the HOOD to Runninghood in this second video.  I guess after watching it, it kind of makes me laugh seeing how much my little guy is moving around and I'm just ignoring him.   So here is more of the REAL DEAL.  The one you saw in my last post was when he was napping.  





Thanks again for your advice and support!  


What is a small celebration (or BIG) in your life today?  

Amanda

IT Band? Advice Please.

I do plan on doing some google searches to get some information about this topic once I get some solid time today but half the fun of this blog is having my wonderful readers who have so much knowledge and wisdom to share so I thought I'd ask you first.  I'll let the video do the talking since it takes less time than typing.  I don't even know if it is an IT band pain that I am feeling or not.  I've been fortunate enough to not have many injuries or issues as a runner up until now that I'm in my 30's.  Boo.  Are we all going to eventually just fall apart?  Gosh, I hope not.  But if so, I think running is worth it!  

Happy Tuesday!

Hope whatever information I get about this topic will also be helpful to others with similar pains.  

By the way, the rolling pin....totally joking about the house wife comment...I barely cook...let alone use that thing on food or in the kitchen.



Amanda