A couple of months ago I won entry in to The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon in Moab, UT. I was SO excited to go to this race for a couple of reasons. One being I had never been to Moab and the other is I had a friend coming down from Spokane that I haven't seen in 10 years and she was running the race also.
A couple of weeks before the race I got REALLY bad shin splints, so I had to not run the race; however, I still went down to Moab to cheer on my friend Christy.
A couple of weeks before the race, Christy's Uncle James won entry in to the same race! Yay!!! This was going to be his first race EVER!
The race was on 3/19, so we made the 4 hour drive down to Moab the day before. We checked in to our hotel and shortly there after, we went to dinner at Pasta Jay's. We ended up calling it an early night so that we could get back to the hotel and Christy & James could get to bed to rest up for the race.
We got up the next morning and I took James and Christy to the finish line because they had to be bused up to the starting line. I ended up going back to the finish line around 11:30 to watch Christy, James and her other Uncle Gerard and Aunt Klea run in to the finish.
As I was standing at the finish line, there was one girl that came running in to the race that shocked me because she moved me very emotionally and I seriously got a HUGE lump in my throat and almost started to cry. As she was running the last 100 yards or so, she stopped and bent over and was crying and dry heaving and saying that she couldn't do the rest. I just started yelling at her "You can do it! You're almost there! You're SO close!" I was just yelling anything & everything I could think of that I know I would want to hear if I was in her place. A few seconds later she stood up and ran in to the finish. I had no clue who she was, but I was SO proud of her.
Christy, James, Gerard and Klea did awesome in the race. With this being James' first race, he just wanted his time to be around 2 1/2 hrs. He had only been training for 2 1/2 months. I personally thought that was a fast run for someone who had only been training 2 1/2 months. I mean, I had trained for quite a while before I did my first 1/2 marathon and I came in at 2:10. Well, James shocked us all. He finished the race in 2:01! He finished the race 3 seconds faster than his brother Gerard!
After the race we all went back to the hotel and Christy & James laid down and I went out to try and find some mementos for my family, but didn't find anything.
Around 3:30, Klea and Gerard took us on a simple little hike up a canyon. It was actually a trail for dogs and stuff. It was SO fun. We came to a little river at the end of the hike. It was alot of fun.
We went to a mexican restaurant for dinner and then after dinner, because it was supposed to be a super moon, we took a hike up to Delicate Arch via moonlight. There was cloud cover, so it was darker than a stack of black cats. We all had headlamps, but otherwise, it was dark.
We got up to Delicate Arch and none of my pictures turned out because it was so dark. I find it quite humorous, but thankfully Christy's camera took some awesome pictures. It wasn't too hard of a hike. I felt kind of bad because one of the guys on the hike had a bad knee, but he wanted to do the hike any ways. So, on our way down the mountain, me and Christy stayed behind to help him down the mountain.
I loved it though, while we were up on the mountain right next to the Arch, there were some ladies that had a little bit to drink at dinner and they were singing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Someone brought their iPad up with them so we actually had the music to Sweet Caroline as well. Then they were singing along to Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond. I pulled out my camera and started recording it because it reminded me of being at the dueling piano bar that I go to every Saturday night. I loved it!
We went back to the hotel, crashed cause we were so tired, and then got up and came home the next day.
I'm bummed that I didn't get to run the race. I've heard it was beautiful scenery, but with more races coming up in April, I needed to sit this race out. I'm thinking of trying to run The Other 1/2 Marathon down in Moab in October.
Here is one of the videos I took while up at Delicate Arch:
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Shin Splint Update
I thought I'd give you a quick update on my shin splints. They are doing REALLY well. I'm so happy.
There are times where my shin splints ache, but as long as I keep them taped up, I'm doing really well.
I'm glad I took the 2 weeks off of completely exercising. I think that's helping them to heal a little faster.
I spent this last weekend down in Moab (another blog post to come regarding Moab) and I went on 2 hikes (one was kind of strenous) and there were times where my shins were aching a little bit, but over all, I did great. There were a couple of times down in Moab, where I was able to jog a little bit and it didn't even hurt!
Starting tomorrow morning, I am getting back in to exercising. I'm going to be going swimming every morning and then I won't be doing the treadmill, but I will be doing the eliptical trainer and I'm going to ease back in to running.
I've got a race coming up in 12 days and I will make sure I'm all taped up for that race and hopefully it'll be a good season with no more injuries.
There are times where my shin splints ache, but as long as I keep them taped up, I'm doing really well.
I'm glad I took the 2 weeks off of completely exercising. I think that's helping them to heal a little faster.
I spent this last weekend down in Moab (another blog post to come regarding Moab) and I went on 2 hikes (one was kind of strenous) and there were times where my shins were aching a little bit, but over all, I did great. There were a couple of times down in Moab, where I was able to jog a little bit and it didn't even hurt!
Starting tomorrow morning, I am getting back in to exercising. I'm going to be going swimming every morning and then I won't be doing the treadmill, but I will be doing the eliptical trainer and I'm going to ease back in to running.
I've got a race coming up in 12 days and I will make sure I'm all taped up for that race and hopefully it'll be a good season with no more injuries.
Not This Year
I had to send 2 emails tonight that I REALLY didn't want to send. I was looking online and doing research to find a hotel down in St. George for 5/6/11 - 5/10/11 because I'm supposed to volunteer at the Ironman St. George.
After looking at prices of hotels, I just can't justify spending $300+ on a hotel right now. I've got other things I need to purchase for my races, etc.
Honestly, I'm VERY concerned about money right now. I just don't seem to have enough money for everything. It really irritates me that people at my work think I make more $$$ than I do and just because I live at home, they think I don't have any bills. Money is just a major concern for me right now and spending $300+ on a hotel, I just can't do it.
So, tonight I had to send an email to the volunteer captain people at the Ironman to see if I can back out of volunteering this year. Hopefully it's still far enough away that I can back out.
I'm actually really quite upset that I can't volunteer this year now. I can only imagine how inspiring it would be to go down and volunteer at the Ironman and be in the presents of these amazing athletes. Oh well, I have to do what I have to do, you know? There's always next year.
I hope they get back with me soon.
After looking at prices of hotels, I just can't justify spending $300+ on a hotel right now. I've got other things I need to purchase for my races, etc.
Honestly, I'm VERY concerned about money right now. I just don't seem to have enough money for everything. It really irritates me that people at my work think I make more $$$ than I do and just because I live at home, they think I don't have any bills. Money is just a major concern for me right now and spending $300+ on a hotel, I just can't do it.
So, tonight I had to send an email to the volunteer captain people at the Ironman to see if I can back out of volunteering this year. Hopefully it's still far enough away that I can back out.
I'm actually really quite upset that I can't volunteer this year now. I can only imagine how inspiring it would be to go down and volunteer at the Ironman and be in the presents of these amazing athletes. Oh well, I have to do what I have to do, you know? There's always next year.
I hope they get back with me soon.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Yay! Good News!
I went to the orthopedic surgeon today regarding my leg to find out if it was just shin splints or if I had a stress fracture.
After sitting in the waiting room and then sitting in the exam room for what seemed like forever, they came and got me and I hobbled to the x-ray room. They took 2 x-rays and then I hobbled back to the exam room and seemed to wait for what seemed like forever again. Finally Dr. Johnston's PA came in and we looked at the x-rays and he examined my leg and....I just have a terribly bad case of shin splints!!!
So, what he wants me to do is not run for like 3 - 4 weeks. I've also been wearing the boot that I wore when I broke my leg & ankle 4 years ago and he wants me to continue to wear that when I'm not swimming or biking.
Since I only ran once last week (Monday), next week will be 3 weeks, so he said I can TRY the eliptical trainer next week, but if that seems to put a strain on my shin splints, then I need to back off for a little longer.
He also wrote up an order for a bone scan for me. He said if I don't see any marked improvement within 3 - 4 weeks, I should go get a bone scan so we can make sure that I don't have a stress fracture.
He basically said I've been running too much. He said I should really only be running 20-25 miles a week, and I've been running 30-36 miles, if not more, a week.
So, I won't be running The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon this Saturday, but I will be down there cheering my friends and personal trainer on. :) I could've probably paid $5 and downgraded to running a 5 mile race at The Canyonlands this Saturday, but I am working on getting better so I can participate in all of my triathlons this year, starting April 2, 2011 in St. George, UT.
So, I'm stoked that they are just terrible shin splints, but can I just say that this is THE WORST case of shin splints I've EVER had. They hurt like hell!
After sitting in the waiting room and then sitting in the exam room for what seemed like forever, they came and got me and I hobbled to the x-ray room. They took 2 x-rays and then I hobbled back to the exam room and seemed to wait for what seemed like forever again. Finally Dr. Johnston's PA came in and we looked at the x-rays and he examined my leg and....I just have a terribly bad case of shin splints!!!
So, what he wants me to do is not run for like 3 - 4 weeks. I've also been wearing the boot that I wore when I broke my leg & ankle 4 years ago and he wants me to continue to wear that when I'm not swimming or biking.
Since I only ran once last week (Monday), next week will be 3 weeks, so he said I can TRY the eliptical trainer next week, but if that seems to put a strain on my shin splints, then I need to back off for a little longer.
He also wrote up an order for a bone scan for me. He said if I don't see any marked improvement within 3 - 4 weeks, I should go get a bone scan so we can make sure that I don't have a stress fracture.
He basically said I've been running too much. He said I should really only be running 20-25 miles a week, and I've been running 30-36 miles, if not more, a week.
So, I won't be running The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon this Saturday, but I will be down there cheering my friends and personal trainer on. :) I could've probably paid $5 and downgraded to running a 5 mile race at The Canyonlands this Saturday, but I am working on getting better so I can participate in all of my triathlons this year, starting April 2, 2011 in St. George, UT.
So, I'm stoked that they are just terrible shin splints, but can I just say that this is THE WORST case of shin splints I've EVER had. They hurt like hell!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Possible Stress Fracture
I'm not a happy camper. I found out Thursday that my shin splints have great potential to have turned in to a stress fracture. I was texting back and forth with my personal trainer on Thursday and I asked him what I should do about shin splints. We were texting back and forth and he was asking me if it was on the inside of my shin or outside of my shin. He wanted to know if it hurt while I was running, etc.
I told him I haven't been able to run since Monday because it hurt SO bad. I'm to the point where I can barely walk on it and the pain is constant, except when I'm sleeping.
He told me that I needed to get inserts for my shoes and that I needed to get compression socks, but that he has a VERY strong suspicion that it's a stress fracture!
Now, I trust BJ and what he has to say. He went to school at the University of Utah in sports therapy and health stuff, so he knows what he's talking about. Granted, he's not a doctor, but he's had enough schooling and he's trained so much that he knows what he's talking about.
When he said stress fracture, I just felt my heart drop. I was at work and I got up to talk to my manager (I'm supposed to do a 1/2 marathon with her a week from today) and I honestly started to cry.
Not more than 5 minutes before I got a text from BJ I decided that I needed to call my general practicioner to see what I should do about these "shin splints".
I've had these shin splints for probably 3 weeks now, just within the last 1 - 1 1/2 weeks is when the pain has got significantly worse.
I heard back from my general practitioner and he didn't even want to see me. He told me I needed to go straight to an orthopedic surgeon. Shit! Thankfully I don't need a referral or anything because I already have one (I broke my other leg & ankle a couple of years ago and had to have surgery).
I called up Dr. Johnston's office & left them a message. I really wanted to hear back from them quickly so I could hopefully get in that day, but I didn't hear back from them until almost 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The soonest they can get me in for x-rays and stuff on my leg is on Monday at 2:00 p.m.
I made the appointment, but in the back of my head I was wondering to myself "do I go to insta-care so I don't do any more damage to it before Monday?" Now, my dad is an EMT and he is very smart when it comes to broken bones, etc. Unfortunately he was out of town in Denver. But, I called him up and explained to him what was going on. He told me to save my money and not go to Insta-Care and we would just treat it as a stress fracture until Monday when I can get in to the doctor.
I don't know alot about stress fractures so I started researching it after BJ told me he thinks I have a stress fracture. If it is a stress fracture, they'll either put you in a cast or they will put you in a boot. It takes anywhere from 4-12 weeks to heal. If it's SUPERBAD, they have to do surgery. So, if they cast it, I can't do ANY kind of workout.
I've got a 1/2 marathon a week from today (3/19) that it looks like I'm not going to be doing. I'm really bummed about it. It was going to be my first race of the season. Thank God I didn't have to pay to register for this race (I won entry in to the race), but I'm bummed. I've got a friend coming down from Spokane doing the race and it was going to be exciting to run a 1/2 marathon with someone I know. Plus, my personal trainer is doing this race as well. I was really excited when I heard that because granted, BJ will finish the race before me, but I wanted him to see me in action. He hasn't ever seen me participating in a race. Now...a little humorous, I am contemplating finding a wheelchair and wheeling my way through the race. Haha!!! I don't know. That would be super hard on my arms I think. But even if it's not a stress fracture in my leg, I still am not in enough shape any more to run 13.1 miles in a week.
If I'm in a cast for 8 weeks, I've got 3 races planned in April that I have already registered for. I would obviously not be able to do those races. I will be out about $120. I think that's one thing I'm the most upset about. Plus, after the 8 weeks of being in a cast, you have to do physical therapy and I won't be able to just jump back in to doing triathlons. I was reading and it says after you get out of your cast/boot, you should only up your workout by a maximum of 10% each week as to not overdo it and re injure your leg! Unfortunately, after everything I have read, I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture.
With shin splints, you should still be able to run and while you're running, you're shin splints go away. Yeah, I can't even run.
With shin splints, you should still be able to put a significant amount of weight on your leg...yeah, no can do.
This is just not looking good. I am EXTREMELY upset about this. I don't know how far back this is going to set me and it looks like I'm going to be out a good portion of $$$.
I will keep everyone posted and let you know what happens Monday at the doctor's office. Pray for me, send good vibes out to the universe for me. Cross all your fingers and toes. :)
I told him I haven't been able to run since Monday because it hurt SO bad. I'm to the point where I can barely walk on it and the pain is constant, except when I'm sleeping.
He told me that I needed to get inserts for my shoes and that I needed to get compression socks, but that he has a VERY strong suspicion that it's a stress fracture!
Now, I trust BJ and what he has to say. He went to school at the University of Utah in sports therapy and health stuff, so he knows what he's talking about. Granted, he's not a doctor, but he's had enough schooling and he's trained so much that he knows what he's talking about.
When he said stress fracture, I just felt my heart drop. I was at work and I got up to talk to my manager (I'm supposed to do a 1/2 marathon with her a week from today) and I honestly started to cry.
Not more than 5 minutes before I got a text from BJ I decided that I needed to call my general practicioner to see what I should do about these "shin splints".
I've had these shin splints for probably 3 weeks now, just within the last 1 - 1 1/2 weeks is when the pain has got significantly worse.
I heard back from my general practitioner and he didn't even want to see me. He told me I needed to go straight to an orthopedic surgeon. Shit! Thankfully I don't need a referral or anything because I already have one (I broke my other leg & ankle a couple of years ago and had to have surgery).
I called up Dr. Johnston's office & left them a message. I really wanted to hear back from them quickly so I could hopefully get in that day, but I didn't hear back from them until almost 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The soonest they can get me in for x-rays and stuff on my leg is on Monday at 2:00 p.m.
I made the appointment, but in the back of my head I was wondering to myself "do I go to insta-care so I don't do any more damage to it before Monday?" Now, my dad is an EMT and he is very smart when it comes to broken bones, etc. Unfortunately he was out of town in Denver. But, I called him up and explained to him what was going on. He told me to save my money and not go to Insta-Care and we would just treat it as a stress fracture until Monday when I can get in to the doctor.
I don't know alot about stress fractures so I started researching it after BJ told me he thinks I have a stress fracture. If it is a stress fracture, they'll either put you in a cast or they will put you in a boot. It takes anywhere from 4-12 weeks to heal. If it's SUPERBAD, they have to do surgery. So, if they cast it, I can't do ANY kind of workout.
I've got a 1/2 marathon a week from today (3/19) that it looks like I'm not going to be doing. I'm really bummed about it. It was going to be my first race of the season. Thank God I didn't have to pay to register for this race (I won entry in to the race), but I'm bummed. I've got a friend coming down from Spokane doing the race and it was going to be exciting to run a 1/2 marathon with someone I know. Plus, my personal trainer is doing this race as well. I was really excited when I heard that because granted, BJ will finish the race before me, but I wanted him to see me in action. He hasn't ever seen me participating in a race. Now...a little humorous, I am contemplating finding a wheelchair and wheeling my way through the race. Haha!!! I don't know. That would be super hard on my arms I think. But even if it's not a stress fracture in my leg, I still am not in enough shape any more to run 13.1 miles in a week.
If I'm in a cast for 8 weeks, I've got 3 races planned in April that I have already registered for. I would obviously not be able to do those races. I will be out about $120. I think that's one thing I'm the most upset about. Plus, after the 8 weeks of being in a cast, you have to do physical therapy and I won't be able to just jump back in to doing triathlons. I was reading and it says after you get out of your cast/boot, you should only up your workout by a maximum of 10% each week as to not overdo it and re injure your leg! Unfortunately, after everything I have read, I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture.
With shin splints, you should still be able to run and while you're running, you're shin splints go away. Yeah, I can't even run.
With shin splints, you should still be able to put a significant amount of weight on your leg...yeah, no can do.
This is just not looking good. I am EXTREMELY upset about this. I don't know how far back this is going to set me and it looks like I'm going to be out a good portion of $$$.
I will keep everyone posted and let you know what happens Monday at the doctor's office. Pray for me, send good vibes out to the universe for me. Cross all your fingers and toes. :)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Shin Splints Still
This is getting a bit ridiculous. I STILL have my shin splints. I will admit that I think part of it is my fault.
Monday I was feeling really good, so I went and ran 6 miles that night. I think I might have overdone it that night. My leg has been hurting ever since then.
Tonight is the second night that I've had to not workout because my leg has hurt too much. :( I have been icing it down and taking it easy, so hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to be back up and working out.
I don't think I'll run quite yet, but maybe do the eliptical trainer instead. I've just got a 1/2 marathon in 10 days. No matter what happens, I'm GOING to do that 1/2 marathon, even if I have to crawl across the finish line.
I just hope that within the next day or so that my shin splints heal. I just hope that it hasn't turned in to a hairline fracture or something.
Monday I was feeling really good, so I went and ran 6 miles that night. I think I might have overdone it that night. My leg has been hurting ever since then.
Tonight is the second night that I've had to not workout because my leg has hurt too much. :( I have been icing it down and taking it easy, so hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to be back up and working out.
I don't think I'll run quite yet, but maybe do the eliptical trainer instead. I've just got a 1/2 marathon in 10 days. No matter what happens, I'm GOING to do that 1/2 marathon, even if I have to crawl across the finish line.
I just hope that within the next day or so that my shin splints heal. I just hope that it hasn't turned in to a hairline fracture or something.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Shin Splints
I've been having pain in my leg lately and haven't been able to figure out why. I swore off that it wasn't shin splints because it wasn't on my shin. It was to the side of my shin.
Well, today I did some research online and low and behold, it's shin splints!!! :( This is no bueno because I have my first race of the season in 13 days!
So, my friend told me about KT Tape:
I went to Sports Authority today and bought me some KT Tape and taped up my leg.
I am praying that this will help! I don't know what else to do. I've been putting Bengay on my leg, but it doesn't seem to help alot.
They (the people on the internet, WebMD, etc.,) say that when you get shin splints, you need to take a break from running until you get over your shin splints. I honestly don't know if I can do that knowing that I have a race in 13 days! Crap! What do I do. It seriously scares me to take 1 day off from running.
Hopefully this KT Tape will help. Cross your fingers for me.
Well, today I did some research online and low and behold, it's shin splints!!! :( This is no bueno because I have my first race of the season in 13 days!
So, my friend told me about KT Tape:
I went to Sports Authority today and bought me some KT Tape and taped up my leg.
I am praying that this will help! I don't know what else to do. I've been putting Bengay on my leg, but it doesn't seem to help alot.
They (the people on the internet, WebMD, etc.,) say that when you get shin splints, you need to take a break from running until you get over your shin splints. I honestly don't know if I can do that knowing that I have a race in 13 days! Crap! What do I do. It seriously scares me to take 1 day off from running.
Hopefully this KT Tape will help. Cross your fingers for me.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
So Incredibly Frustrated
Today has not been a good day as far as my workouts are concerned.
It seems like my swim time has taken a complete nose dive (no pun intended). Today my swim workout was:
200 swim, 200 kick, drills
4 x 100 with 30 sec rest
200 pull
4 x 100 with 30 sec rest
200 pull
My first 100 yds after my drill I was able to swim it in 1:59. I was really excited. I just wanted to be able to swim my other 3 - 100's in 2:00 or less. Well, it went downhill since. I never swam in less than 2:03. There were times where my 100 yds took me 2:05-2:10 to swim!
That is horrible timing when considering one week ago, I was able to swim each 100 yds in 2:00.
I just don't understand why my swim time can't be consistent.
After I got done swimming tonight I went upstairs to do 1 hour on a spinning bike, but I only lasted 15 minutes on the bike. I was just so spent from swimming 2000 yds that I just couldn't do it.
I was so frustrated that I couldn't do it because in August, I have to be able to swim 0.94 miles, ride 24 miles and run 6.2 miles. I kept trying to tell myself that when I do that triathlon in August I'll have energy beans and gu to keep me pumped up and I didn't have that tonight, but it's still frustrating. Especially since I know I can swim 2000 yds and then run 6.2 miles.
I'm going to try and blow this one off to the fact that the spinning bike I was on was SO uncomfortable because I couldn't adjust the seat. The gym I go to, it's nice because that's where my personal trainer is at and they have a pool, raquetball courts, basketball courts, and indoor track, weight room, ice rink, everything. But...the equipment they have...SUCKS!!! They just don't seem to take care of it very well.
I just can't wait to meet with my personal trainer next week and maybe he can give me tips on my swimming and why it's so hard for me to go straight from swimming to biking, etc.
It seems like my swim time has taken a complete nose dive (no pun intended). Today my swim workout was:
200 swim, 200 kick, drills
4 x 100 with 30 sec rest
200 pull
4 x 100 with 30 sec rest
200 pull
My first 100 yds after my drill I was able to swim it in 1:59. I was really excited. I just wanted to be able to swim my other 3 - 100's in 2:00 or less. Well, it went downhill since. I never swam in less than 2:03. There were times where my 100 yds took me 2:05-2:10 to swim!
That is horrible timing when considering one week ago, I was able to swim each 100 yds in 2:00.
I just don't understand why my swim time can't be consistent.
After I got done swimming tonight I went upstairs to do 1 hour on a spinning bike, but I only lasted 15 minutes on the bike. I was just so spent from swimming 2000 yds that I just couldn't do it.
I was so frustrated that I couldn't do it because in August, I have to be able to swim 0.94 miles, ride 24 miles and run 6.2 miles. I kept trying to tell myself that when I do that triathlon in August I'll have energy beans and gu to keep me pumped up and I didn't have that tonight, but it's still frustrating. Especially since I know I can swim 2000 yds and then run 6.2 miles.
I'm going to try and blow this one off to the fact that the spinning bike I was on was SO uncomfortable because I couldn't adjust the seat. The gym I go to, it's nice because that's where my personal trainer is at and they have a pool, raquetball courts, basketball courts, and indoor track, weight room, ice rink, everything. But...the equipment they have...SUCKS!!! They just don't seem to take care of it very well.
I just can't wait to meet with my personal trainer next week and maybe he can give me tips on my swimming and why it's so hard for me to go straight from swimming to biking, etc.
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