Taking the week off

Take a look at my week in running last week. 

Yep.

I didn't run at all.

On Monday, I did the "Hot 100s" (100 seconds of plank, 50s each of side plank and 100s of wall sit) and then I started to get a cold. 

By Wednesday, it was a full on, horrible cold.

I decided to take the entire week off of any kind of exercise and to just be.

I haven't done this since last November after I hurt my knees on the downhill at the Hamilton Half Marathon.

It felt great to not have to worry about fitting in a run and to just let go.

Do you know what else felt great?

This morning's run:

That's 5:46 in the AM people!

Woo! Back at it!

It sucks that I wasn't well, but I think the time off has refocused my off season. I'm looking forward to keeping the mileage up in the coming weeks.

No Run Knee

Last Thursday, I woke up to a very swollen knee. It was painful and I had very limited range of motion. I couldn't figure out what I had done (race Sunday, baseball Monday, easy run Tuesday, rest Wednesday), but clearly, I had done something.

I iced and elevated the knee throughout the day and saw real progress. Nevertheless, I headed to my family doctor on Friday and secured a referral to physio.

Yesterday (Monday), my knee felt fine, but I headed to physio anyway.

After a few pokes and bends and measurements the therapist determined that I had some cartilage damage but not a full on Meniscus tear (thank goodness!).

So.

I can't run for two weeks and I'll be hitting physio two times a week for the next three for laser, ice and some other kind of therapy (I can't remember).

I hope the weeks pass quickly.

Of course, we've had the perfect running weather the past few days.

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

Except not for this runner.

Last week, I signed up for the 5k Resolution Run which takes place on December 31st at 5pm. This is a perfect race to, 1)Beat my Jingle run time, 2)Have an excuse to over indulge later that night. However, after a great week last week, I've yet to run at all this week.

I'm finding it hard to fit it in with my older son at home this week and by the time everyone is in bed at 7:30pm, I'm just way too tired to want to bother (I'm still up 3 times a night with the baby).

The good thing is that I don't really feel like I'm in any kind of mode right now. I'm not too worried about hitting a time like those I hit in my pre-pregnancy 5k races and I'm not training for the half marathon yet, but I do feel... sluggish.

Of course, maybe that's my nightly 11pm, 2am, 5am, and 7:30am wake up calls.

Half-way there... photo

Here is what I look like:



That was taken about 2 weeks ago, about half way through (20 weeks, 2 days - according to ultrasound). I know I look huge, but keep in mind, I'm only 5ft tall. I'm actually doing better this time around!

I miss running. I've read all the Around the Bay posts and this past weekend was the Harry Spring Run Off. The weather has been AMAZING (+20!) and I've seen tonnes of runners out and about. Don't get me wrong, the baby is 100% worth it, I just miss the thrill of meeting a goal. I feel like keeping up with races and runners that I "know" via their blogs will only help to motivate me to return (hopefully in September sometime).

Congratulations to everyone out there running and racing. You are inspiring!

Not Since Dec 15

I haven't run since December 15th (when I vomited while on the treadmill - but still finished the run!).

I have been alternately tired, sick, or generally BLAH.

I do know what is wrong with me though:



I'm about 15 weeks along and starting to come out of the fog!

Plans! Well, plans include trying to get out for jogs or fast walks in the next few weeks. I have been going to Curves about once a week, but that's a quite recent addition (I've caught every single sickness I could have and lost 5lbs between months two and three!).

The goal is NOT to end up at 193+ lbs (I never got weighted after 38 weeks last time) this time and to successfully have a VBAC, so exercise will be important.

Sigh, I miss running. I hope to get back to something like it and soon.

Oh yeah, I'll be half marathoning in May 2011! Whee! Its awesome to put that on paper!

Right

Right.

Got the all clear from the doc on Wednesday to get back to running. I had pulled a muscle in my upper back sometime over the holiday’s so I had stopped running while it healed (perhaps lifting my 35lb three year old is not the best thing for my 5ft self anymore). The plan was to get running on Saturday on the treadmill while the kid napped (yes, my three year old still takes glorious two-three hour naps daily). Alas, I woke up on Saturday with a self-diagnosed case of gastroenteritis.

Ugg.

I had the whole kit and caboodle, let me tell you. Suffice to say, running didn’t happen.

AGAIN.

F&*K.

I’m really rather pissed.

Now, my husband is telling me that the treadmill is STILL acting up (chugging). I have to wonder if our 100-125lb weight difference will make a difference to the performance of the treadmill, but only time will tell.

The new plan involves getting back to Curves this week and onto the treadmill at least once for a 30 min or 5k session – depending on how I feel/how the treadmill is. Then if the weather stays warmish at the weekend, I’ll get out for a jog.

BAH. I’m so discouraged. Most people start a New Year full throttle and I can’t even get out of the gate.

The end of one, the beginning of another

So.

What a year end I had.

It did not involve running or meeting my 500km goal.

Instead it consisted of a pulled back muscle, bronchitics and a sorry old treadmill.

Despite the trifecta above, we did enjoy our holiday's and tomorrow, I return to program of sorts.

I'm going to begin slowly on the treadmill at night per my winter routine last year and if I feel up to it, I'll move outdoors to longer distances on the weekends. I'm targeting the week of January 18th to come up with some kind of 2010 plan.

Happy New Year to all!

It's almost like a trend

Yet again, a week after a race and I've yet to get back to the road or treadmill. Monday saw me hit CURVES at lunch and then play baseball at 9pm - no time for running in there. Tuesday, I ended up with tickets to the Dave Matthew's Band concert in Toronto and it was AWESOME! My plan was to get out for a city run right after work, but my husband ended up downtown about an hour early and that put the kibosh on that plan. Today... we'll let's just say that I had a few (or four) tallboys last night courtesy of the sales rep who was entertaining in the box I was in and that, combined with five hours of sleep meant no exercise today.

Tomorrow the plan is to hit CURVES (am going out with friends post work) and Friday I have off as we are camping. If the kid naps, I will put at least 7k on the treadmill. If I'm up for it, I will run at the campsite.

Sigh. I'm trying to get a minimum of 15k in a week (a teeny, tiny number compared to all of the other running blogs I follow), but it seems that life works against me and often.

I know... I know

Narry a word or a run in over a week. EEEKKK!

I did manage to get to Curves three times last week, but only twice this past week (w/o March 23). The goal tomorrow is a nice, long OUTDOOR run! I know where to run to get 5km in and that is the key goal. I got some nice running stuff for my birthday (headbands and water bottle), so I can try those out. I really need an iPod armband though. Hmmm.

In way different news, I gave up my beloved chat boards for lent and... I don't miss them. Perhaps it is twitter and TweetDeck that is filling the need. Perhaps it is the fact that I can barely pee at work, let alone find time to be bored, but I'm unsure if I'll return on Easter Sunday the way I did last year. Hmm. One to think about for sure.