Aaaannd the A-holes Are Back

On October 9th of 2013, I posted “Shin Splints are A-Holes“.  Well, guess who decided to re-appear lower on the other leg?  Honestly, I’m not 100% sure it’s technically “shin splints”, but I would define shin splints as any injury or something-feeling-like-an-injury, or an ache or pain that can’t be attributed to anything else but “running”.

A week ago Sunday, I felt a strange sensation in a different place on my right leg. I knew I’d had some issues with my shoes fitting right and I figured it was due to some sort of compensation for ill-fitting shoes. Dummy me who put off buying new shoes…. fast forward a few weeks and my sore area is worse and I went 0-4 for new shoes at the running store.  Sorry TrySports, it’s not your fault my feet are as wide as boats barges. Instead of waiting two weeks for them to order me my Asics Nimbus WIDE that I’ve used for years and decided to stay with, I ordered them from the good ole web and voila! Two days later, they lay here all pretty and ready for me to run in.  They feel like clouds…..

Because my method of ignoring a pain to make it go away didn’t work last time, I decided to be pro-active and make an appointment to have my back adjusted and then some active release therapy done on the sore spot. It’s still just sore at this point and I don’t want it to turn into an injury, so I’m doing whatever I need to do for it to heal and well, just go away! The session was good and I will go back again next week. I’m rolling as much as I can, and my doctor even told me to roll with a lacrosse ball. Ouch!! It wasn’t quite the white-hot pain as when he was doing “therapy” on it, but it certainly hurt more than my foam roller. No pain, no gain!

My 16 mile race is Sunday where I will run two legs of the Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon Relay, hopefully at Boston Marathon pace. The coaches from my running group, Without Limits, are either the directors or deeply involved, plus lots of us from the group are running in it in some fashion.  It’s going to be a blast! The water stations are college sports themed due to it being March Madness, so my husband, a Clemson alum, will be working the Clemson/LSU water station with our boys. So fun!!!

Getting set up for the Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon – I’m so excited!!

As for other things this week, I haven’t felt the best.  I felt very sluggish on Tuesdays run, and Wednesdays was better but not normal.  Thursday was a 1500 m swim and it was ok, but not up to my normal performance.  I figured I really need to get serious about nutrition. I don’t know if it’s because I’m nearing the peak of training for the Boston Marathon and I’m just tired, or if I’m not doing something all right. I do well at eating for the most part, but it’s time to step it up and pay a little more attention.

I went to return my shoes and drove right by the finish area for the race pictured above.  Right next to that is a place I have a very hard time being in with a credit card…. Barnes & Noble. I went in and about spend $2000 on all sorts of stuff that I would LOVE to read, but ended up with a new cook book featuring chicken, my favorite meat. I also got Hal Higdon’s 4:09:43.  I was SO FREAKING excited to hear that Hal Higdon will be at the Boston Marathon expo so I will plan my visit there according to his schedule.  I will bring my Hal Higdon’s Marathon book I read and followed so many years ago and 4:09:43 to see if he can sign them. EX-CI-TED.

I’m looking forward to a little more variety. YUM!

Last night was the volunteer dinner for the Wrightsville Beach race as I will be working the expo/packet pickup tonight.  Then on Saturday, my son is running his first 5k.  I don’t know if he or I have more nerves, but I’m thrilled for him to be a part of the race festivities this weekend. Sunday morning, I’ll do my best at keeping in my goal pace range and of course, HAVE FUN!!!!  Let’s just hope the rain stays away!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!