I live with a “No Regrets” mentality. I don’t waste time looking back at what has been and lament about things I did wrong or even wish that things were different. I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that God plays a huge roll in every aspect of our lives even if we don’t understand why or recognize the work He has done. No regrets, things are as they should be and it is our job to accept. No regrets.
So each year, I jam as much as possible into my life because I know that at some point this will all come to an end and all that will be left are the stories. In fact, I frequently see a shirt that One More Mile makes that sums it up perfectly.
In fact, if you know me in real life, you have probably heard me say on occasion, “oh, that’s gonna hurt…. but it will make a good story”.
Last week should have been my biggest training week for the Chicago Ragnar Relays but life “kinda” got in the way. Even my running watch noticed.
I may have mentioned it before but if you are going to be a slacker, don’t buy the Nike+ GPS Sportwatch, it totally calls you out. I’ve only had one other time when I saw a message on my watch and that was when I took some time off at Christmas to try to get the Plantar Fasciitis in check.
Between life, and an attempt to heal my left hip from tripping on a crack in the sidewalk and jamming it up and also NEEDING to heal the aching Plantar Fasciitis, last week was a bit light on workouts. You’d think I’d feel better and refreshed but I don’t. I do think we are making progress with the hip but the PF is out of control. The current method of treatment for the PF is a process of scraping the fascia to break up any scar tissue/residue and hopefully eventually curing the PF to the point where I won’t need the orthotics. It hurts like hell. It’s not going well and has inflamed the PF back to it’s original state of pain. It hurts to walk and run. It hurts to stand. It hurts.
I did manage 2 runs this weekend. A beautiful 10.5 miler on Saturday morning. The trail is alive and beautiful and makes me happy to be out there moving.
It took 5 miles before the hip loosened up and I could actually run faster than a 9:30. The second half of the run was much better and I was back down into the 8:45 range, not great but I was comfortable for most of it until probably the last mile when the hip really started burning and the PF was getting extremely cranky.
But I was happy to be out! Then Sunday, I went 7 miles and that wasn’t pretty. The hip didn’t bother me at all but the PF was very angry from the Saturday run so it was a run/walk fest. Yesterday I rested. The PF is even worse today. Hmmm….how to handle the next month?
So, although I have “no regrets”, I certainly am not excited that the official kickoff to Chicago Marathon training started yesterday. I can manage the pain with TRI training because the intensity of the run is low; however, I know from experience that the pain just increases and spreads with the high mileage that marathon training requires. And then I have that little thing called the Ragnar Relay which is in 10 days. and oh yeah, I’m on an ultra team. Hmmmmm……..
No regrets but things could be looking a little better at this point. 🙂
No complaints but anyone have a cortisone shot in their pocket? I know that doesn’t fix anything but it sure does make things a lot more bearable. You wouldn’t tell Alexis L that I got a cortisone shot while she was trying to cure my PF, would you? Shuuuuussh, cuz I’m seriously thinking about it.
How was your weekend? Did you print your training program for the Chicago Marathon? If not, you need to think about doing that. If you are in half marathon shape, and are not freaking out about the fact that you have to run a marathon in 18 weeks, you will need to start training the first week of July. If you are not in half marathon shape, then you need to start training…….. yesterday.
** Happy Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com **
TooTallFritz 
Well TTF…that was quite the revealing post and it says a lot bout your tenacity to “stick-things-out” and not give up! But…your ad-hoc coach had some insight and needs to make a few comments to help stave-off a “total-breakdown” that will take you out of running for an extended period.
First…regarding your Nike watch reminding you bout running, or your lack thereof, does it have an option to tell it you are taking some time off to heal? Actually what would that Nike watch say if you didn’t run since April 16th? Can you tell it the answer is one needs time to heal?
Second…that deep-tissue massage therapy (DTMT) that hurts to break-up the scar tissue….No offense to Alexis, but not a big-fan of treatment that causes more pain in its aftermath that one had prior to starting it. I told that to one other runner when I was coaching Fleet Feet marathon trainees in the past, and posted on that philosophy.
I know….they (i.e. therapist) will tell you that they have to break-up the old scar tissue in order to increase flexibility…..A sort of “pain or no gain” philosophy. But one factor left out is that if you are “breaking-up” old scar and other tissue, you are essentially creating a new injury and that takes time to heal. So…no wonder the PF is hurting so fiercely and I can only presume that consigning one’s self to DTMT for PF also requires a certain time off from running during the series and post final session to allow the tissue to heal-up?
I would suggest you have this discussion with Alexis cause I don’t buy-it what is being done will heal that PF….unless that stress of that treatment is followed up with rest to allow the tissue to heal properly.
I wouldn’t suggest you do the Cortisone while doing this DTMT cause Cortisone will just mask the pain and inflammation. If scar tissue is that bad in that arch at the front-end of heel bone, then you might be a candidate for that micro-surgery referred to as “Micro-briding.” But that treatment has you off running and in a boot for 3 weeks or so, then some additional time off out of the boot.
Once you get this DTMT sessions done, or to the point Alexis believes she has broken and loosened all that connective and scar tissue up, you might stop that DTMT and then go get a PRP injection (that’s Plasma Rich Platelet). With the concentrated HGF in all those platelets, probably will stimulate faster regeneration.
With PRP….you don’t have to wear a boot or take more time off from running (other than 1st 48-hrs post-injection), but considering the DTMT, a period of 1-2 weeks of no-running, but x-train on bike and swim….might be a good recipe to get you over that PF, or at least get it back to a nominal annoyance level.
Finally…only disagree with one philosophical statement of yours….there really is no reason why things happen…..they just happen….as miniscule as tripping over a crack in the sidewalk, or as megadom as an asteroid striking our planet.
I don’t know much about God (or Gods), but recognize it gives lots of individuals meaning to their lives. Don’t know if God is a he….a she….or something else., but with the billions of humans that live on this planet, I have a hard time conceiving any single entity, no matter how great, would orchestrate what happens to us each day throughout our lives…..I guess we are all just out here in an infinite cosmos…all on our own….and what happens…..happens….no rationale reason….other than things happen. OK….ya could interject probability theory into the equation? I like that one quote….I think in Steinbeck novel (Grapes of Wrath?) – “Their ain’t no right and their ain’t no wrong….just things people do.” I guess I could extend that concept to whatever happens to us…..
Their ain’t no reason and their ain’t no explanation…..things just happen. Or…maybe even simpler….”Shit happens.” LOL.
Not sure if their is anyone out their that feels the same way regarding why things happen to us, but on the more serious note….please reconsider and look more into your approach regarding the PF. If things hurt or feeling worse….its a clear sign something needs to be changed. I have said it before and say it again….You are dancin’ with the injury devil. It’s a pay me now or pay me later philosophy, but the costs for the latter are always far greater.
Cool blog…keep it up TTF and get that PF-issue contained and ditto for the hip, but not saying anything bout the hip cause the PF seemed so pronounced, but the two probably work in concert with one another?
Oh…didn’t print my training schedule for Chicago Marathon….not running it (or at least have a registration for it at this time). Probably trying to set my sights on Fox Valley Marathon in September since that is my last shot to post a qualifying time for Boston 2013. I resume run-training June 1st….probably just 3-miler… run as easy as can keep it….and play the first week or two ad-hoc…and keep rebuilding endurance base slowly, but with goal marathon race in September, probably only have 15-weeks to train.
Which marathon schedule do you follow Amanda?
Great job on getting those runs in!! And good luck with Ragnar!!
I normally use Hal Hidgon. I run the advanced plan for long runs but my weekday mileage is less due to TRI training, working, communting and being a mommy.
I wish I could adopt your “No Regrets” philosophy. I do believe everything happens for a reason, but that’s mostly for things that happen TO me, not things I do. 😉
Pingback: •ρ• Regret « Reflections on Reality