Back from a Set Back

Hi everyone. I have been away from the blog for too long! I have been down with an injury......just when you think that things are going so well and couldn't get any better, BAM! Two Sundays ago I was out for my 7 mile run on the Monon. It was a great day and I was anxious to add a half mile on to my longest ever endeavor. About three miles into it, my left ankle started feeling funny - not hurting exactly just funny. By three and a half and time for me to turn around and head back, it was really hurting. I stopped to give it a break, walked a bit and it seemed better. Running didn't feel any worse than walking so I ran. By the time I was done stretching, steaming and showering, it hurt to put weight on it. I got home, tried ice, then a wrap but nothing helped. Called the doc Monday morning and after a horrible experience including being told that I shouldn't expect to be able to do that AT MY AGE, I was told that it was probably a stress fracture. I cannot tell you how down I felt. It literally knocked all the wind out of my sails. I saw my Mini go out the window. I saw all kinds of implications about fragile bones. I was really low. I let Chris know what was going on Tuesday and after a long telephone conversation, I felt better than I had since this all happened. He gave me hope and we talked about plan B :>)
Now to the good news.......after an xray and a CT scan, I do not have a stress fracture. I am seeing a sports medicine doc tomorrow who specializes in running injuries. Hopefully, he will tell me that it is tendonitis or all because of my running shoes or something and that if I lay low for a couple of weeks, all will be well. That is what I am directing my energy towards.
I am back doing what I can as far as strength training, but I really have to watch it. Even yoga hurts right now. That makes me so sad, but I know that it is temporary.
I have missed interacting with all of you and plan on being at Au Bon Pain at the least this Saturday. It's not that I didn't want to be there, but I felt so low, that I didn't feel I had anything to share.
But I want to thank all of you that got in touch with me for your support. It means so much to me.
See you Saturday.

10K - it was a really good day

Today was a really good day! I ran in the 10K training run for the Mini - Marathon. I had never run 6.4 miles before and ran it with a time of 61:34. This is so exciting for me. I was totally focused and enjoyed it so much. I learned how to pace myself so I didn't ever feel a struggle. I chose not to listen to my iPod. I have been leaving it behind about half of the time lately, although I do love my tunes while I run. But I wanted to soak up the whole experience. I found that I loved the sound of my fellow runner's feet around me. It hit me immediately when I took off at the start. I was somehow comforted by hearing all those tennies hit the pavement. I found that even if I find a perfect running partner to run stride for stride with me one day, I will never be a talker when I run. When I ran past people that were jabbering away, I didn't like it. I found that it gave me a real sense of satisfaction to pass people! Okay that is my ego talking, but evil Ginger sometimes doesn't cut herself alot of slack! I found that thanking the volunteers and policemen that were out there made me feel really good. I found that walking through the water stations and actually getting the water down my throat was a really good idea! Those 30 second breaks made a world of difference. I also found that my having a husband that is willing to be my roadie is one of life's greatest gifts! Whatta guy!
I know that I've got a long way to go to be ready for May, but I know that my BTWG training will give me what I need to do that.
Sorry to have missed Chris' class and missed being with all of you. But I was there in spirit and I know that you were with me too!

Whew What a Week!

I am so glad that week 6 is over. It was one of those weeks that I kept getting in my own way. It started out really great - my relationship with my intervals is still very good. I can't say exactly that I love them anymore since I am doing the minute ones, but I do know that intervals are probably the biggest reason why my running is getting so much stronger, so I have a guarded appreciation for the exercise! Anyway after Tuesday one thing led to another and I was unable to do my Wednesday and Thursday workouts. Project grad Matt made a statement at one of our Saturday get togethers that rang so true for me after last week. Having to miss those workouts did make me feel cheated. But I showed the fates! I did both my strength workouts on Friday. Boy, did I pay for it in yoga class Saturday, but the good news is that I made it through them and yoga class too.
I ran as scheduled on Sunday and knocked a little time off my run, so I think I am back on track.

I just wanted to say thanks to all who were at Saturday's get together after Chris' class. I left with such a great warm feeling. The room was full of "Good, good, good good Vibrations" as the Beach Boys would say. Pam bringing in that wonderful childs book with Bob Dylan's words was really awesome. I have an absolutely precious great niece and great nephew and two more babies soon to be born. I always make sure to buy them feel good about yourself books. They each have Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You Will Go" and a lovely book called "On the Night You Were Born". I am going to order each of them the Bob Dylan book as well.

I am glad to be starting Week 7 - I just can't believe it! Spring is right around the corner. Saturday is the 10K prerace in preparation for the Mini. I am really excited about it. I will have a much better idea of how prepared I am after that. But with this great training, I really think I will be ready. Good night and good luck to all of us this week!