The Shelf Life Of Your PR In Running

I went to my chiropractor's office today for a sports massage and Graston Technique torture.  While I was waiting, I perused their copy of Runner's World as I love to do (especially since my subscription ran out).  I read a section about runners' etiquette for sharing your PRs with other runners and I'm not quite sure if I agree or not.  It was stated something to the likes of :  A PR has a shelf life of two years and after that it is still a PR but you basically need to add a disclaimer as to when you set that PR.  I guess I would agree more than disagree.  This explains my sudden urge to take my PRs down on the side of my blog or at least put the date that I ran them. Before I went to the chiropractor's office, I had someone comment on my blog about my 5:25 mile time.  I have not had a chance to respond to them but my instant reaction was really one of embarrassment because  there is no way I can run a 5:25 mile these days.  After this injury, I would be lucky to run a sub 7 right now.  That time was ran in college almost 10 years ago!  So, I do think I should probably delete it or include the date that I ran it.  Same with my 800 meter time.  I don't even know why I included those anyway. What do you think?  Do you agree that it is an unspoken runner's rule that if you share your PR and it is older than 2 years, you should have to explain when your PR was set?  Is this really that big of a deal?  I mean who really cares anyway?  Definitely something that got me thinking.

Before the chiropractor, I hit the gym.  I took Miss Zippy's advice and didn't do my planned 800's.  Instead I spent some time on the stair climber and then ran a few sub 8 min miles on the treadmill.  I forgot what a good workout the stair master was!  It really gets me sweating and I always feel like I got a decent workout if I do the right workout on it.  The stair climber was my favorite thing to do in lieu of running when I was nursing my babies!   You can also read while working out!

My reading material for today.  Don't want my professional teacher brain to go to mush! Gotta keep up with the current research and latest trends in the literacy world!

Just in case books.  The top one is my book club book that I have to read in a week and haven't started yet.  I have the blog world to blame for this slacking.

Oh, I wanted to have clean socks to wear to the chiropractor's.  You know, just in case they ask me to take my shoes off and see my dirty mismatched socks!  The funny thing is, the socks I chose were far more embarrassing than mismatched and dirty socks.  All I could find was my 5 year old daughter's socks.  I made them work.  Check it out:

Don't mind the stubble.  Shaving in the cold gym shower didn't work so well for getting a close cut shave.  Sorry to my massage guy.  I promise that my ankles are not cankles!  Seriously, it is the sock stretched over my feet that make them look that fat...like big tree trunk fat!  I will post a picture of my ankle with regular socks if you don't believe me.  This is hilarious to me!  I'm easily amused.

On a sad note.  When I was in the locker room, news of Elizabeth Edward's death came on the television sets.  So sad and such a reminder that our life here is limited so we need to be making the most of it!  My heart goes out to her kids and those that loved her.

 Nose Pickin'

 I pierced my nose not too long ago.  For a second time.  Anyway, I'm a little obsessed with it and making sure things are cleared out in there.  I can't stand the feeling of having something in my nose so yeah, why would I get my nose pierced (twice) is beyond me.  I totally got caught digging in my nose at the gym (playing with my nose piercing like I'm not supposed to).  It looked a little like this:

I know someone saw me because just when I thought nobody was around, I looked up and saw a few ladies checking me out (not in a good way).  See just through the mirror by those lockers?  Yeah, that's where they were.  Lovely.  Don't mind the wet, slicked back hair.

Parenting, MOMs Groups, and Finding What Works Best For Us
As I mentioned in my last post, I had an awkward time at a Moms' group (I think was called MOPS...Mothers of Preschoolers) that I went to as a favor for a friend.  It was definitely an odd social experience for me since I found myself so unusually quiet and feeling out of place.  I'm also trying not to be too quick to judge at first impressions.  I think I might give it one more go so that my friend can have someone to go with.  After that, she's on her own if I get the same vibes. Life is busy enough...no need to add something that isn't enjoyable if I don't have to!

  Some of you mentioned the parenting book I had referred to written by Jim Faye, The Love and Logic Dude.  I don't agree with everything Jim Faye has to say with his Love and Logic plans...in fact, I find some of his logic to be downright annoying.  Just as with most things in life, there is a book for everything and we will find things that work and things that don't but ultimately we have to do what works best for us and stuff our opinions when it comes to what other parents choose to do.  I wrote about this in one of my first blog posts A Book For Everything and Real Life Lessons.  I just think it is important to continue learning and growing and finding our groove as a parent, wife, athlete or whatever we identify with in life.

Just to end this LOOOOOONG blog post on a good note, you thought those shorts I was wearing in Boston were bad?  Check out my outfit that I wore when I went on a night run two night ago.  It was at night so it is beyond me why I felt the need to wear shorts over my running tights just to cover up the bad underwear lines from wearing my old lady undies.  I'm so vain!  Well, maybe not if I'm wearing this.

Would love to hear from you!  Seriously want to know your opinions about the PR shelf life rules for runners.

Amanda

First Run and A Window Into My Healing Process

My therapy appointment today went better than I could have hoped.  My sports chiropractor told me that I could try out light running.  Music to my ears!  My heart laughed when I heard this! Of course, knowing my personality, he specified LIGHT and said that it shouldn't be for a workout but only to start getting used to the motion again.  I'm so EXCITED! He also gave me the go ahead to start doing light lunges and squats and other types of strength training.   I know this doesn't mean that I'm back to running normally again but it is a first step and that makes me feel hopeful and happy! 

So, of course I had to try out my light run tonight as soon as I got the kids in bed and had free time.  I only ran about a half mile.  I don't even know if you would consider it running but more of a shuffle jogish thing.  I couldn't lift my leg very well and I don't think I am at the point where I can even attempt to run fast yet but I'm taking it all in stride.  Baby steps.  A positive outlook goes a long way.  Here's a picture of me about to go on my first run (with permission) since my injury.

Total Cheese but feeling happy!

Since this is partly a running blog and a way for me to document my transition back into running again, I thought I'd write a bit about what life has been like for me since August 15th when I fell in the forest and injured my hamstring.

I've always been one of those runners that is lucky to have never had a serious injury.  I never understood or gave much attention to all the articles in Runner's World about running smart to prevent injury, or how to recover quickly, etc.  I just knew I loved to run and I ran often.  Injuring myself at a time that I was running better than ever before and on track for a personal best in the marathon was in and of itself devastating. What was more difficult was that running and training seriously for something had become an outlet and goal for me to focus on  in the place of having a job outside my home.  Temporarily giving up my teaching career to stay at home with the kids has been a wonderful decision and I wouldn't trade it for the world but I still find myself needing personal goals and engaging in things I'm passionate about.  Training seriously as a runner was that.  It was a piece of ME every day and I felt so fulfilled with my progress and accomplishments.  Writing my workouts down in my running log provided such joy and because of my hard work and progress as a runner, I had more to give to my family. 

After my injury, it took a few weeks for me to adjust to the redirection my life was taking.  Not everyone understood this.  I had people in my life who just didn't understand why I would have any reason to be depressed over something like a hamstring injury when I had three beautiful kids, a husband that adores me and an overall wonderful life.  I don't know if you can truly make someone understand this type of feeling if they don't already just get it.  I was depressed, frustrated, and impatient.  I just wanted to be healed and back to running.  I even held on to the hope that I would still run the Portland Marathon and be just fine.  Even after the MRI showed that I had a complete tear of one of the hamstring muscles, I still tried to run despite the pain and difficulty lifting my leg.  Yeah, pretty stupid. 

It wasn't until I had time to redirect my focus and surrender to the fact that I would have to just be still and heal that I saw this as an amazing opportunity to reevaluate my goals as a runner and make plans for how I can use this injury to make me stronger.  I've been incredibly inspired by my sports chiropractor,  Dr. Ted Forcum at Back In Motion Sports Injuries Clinic.  He is truly gifted at what he does and incredibly knowledgeable in his field.  I switched to him after having less success with other therapists and when I googled him (yes, I'm one of those people that google people), I was so inspired by all he has done!  I was humbled that he was working on my hamstring once I knew all the great athletes he has done therapy on.  

My therapy with Dr. Forcum has been painful and left lots of bruising but I trust him completely to do whatever he decides to try.  The painful part of the therapy has been from something called The Graston Technique which is a technique used to break down scar tissue.  I just know it as an extremely painful form of torture that leaves bruising.  Here are the torture devices used on me:

Dr. Forcum preparing his Graston tools for torture

And here we go to my happy place.  My breathing techniques that I learned in birthing class actually come in handy here. 

After the painful part I always get to enjoy some quiet time getting ultrasound and electric stimulation.  This part is fun because 1.  I get to read magazines in quiet , 2.  Quiet time without kids, and 3. Did I mention that I get quiet time without kids?

After Graston Technique.  Already starting to bruise.  We can all use a little color in our life. 

At the end of the appointment, Dr. Forcum always comes to use this awesome kinesio taping that looks pretty cool and has become my favorite accessory the past 9 weeks!  Today he even taught me how to tape myself.  He was so good about taking pictures for me so I could share it on my blog.  He's a busy man too so I was really loving the extra time he took to snap shots with my camera.

The best part of my day?  For sure being told that I can start my steps towards running again.  However small my steps are and however slow I run, I'm still one step closer to where I want to be.

Amanda