Things have been going pretty well training-wise since the Trudge. I have primarily hit the mileage I wanted and have felt decent doing it. The feeling of coming around, getting more fit, and not struggling every run is one that I am glad to have again. I have had some good hill workouts and some good weekend long runs, including trail runs on Blue Sky in Fort Collins, the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota, and up at Curt Gowdy.
The only issue I have had is my seasonal affectiveness disorder. Spring is a tough time to train in the mountain west. Such a mercurial climate is always getting one's hopes up only to bring them crashing to the ground. Just last week, we had a surprise blizzard Monday afternoon into evening that dropped about half a foot of snow. Two days later, I was running at lunch in a t-shirt, getting sunburned on my ever-more-exposed forehead in 60 degree temperatures. By my long run on Saturday, I was fighting a howling wind, trudging in remnant snow on the Gowdy trails, feeling like total waste. Such is spring in Wyoming.
I am starting another "up" phase in my mileage build-up this week. By the end of this month, I hope to be back up to 60 mpw. I have been taking Mondays off. While it flies in the face of my New Year's resolution, I really need that day off right now. My body just simply does not handle mileage like it used to. In fact, my body never really handled mileage all that well to begin with.
I am heading down to Moab the latter half of this week with what consists of the majority of the Wyoming men's cross-country team from 2002-2006. It is turning into a reunion of sorts, and I am excited to see the guys again. Some I have not seen in several years. I am also looking forward to getting in a few miles on desert trails. While the weather reports indicate that we may not have the best of weather gracing us down there, a change of scenery is always welcome. I have mentioned this previously, but Laramie is wearing thin on me lately. Plus, I have always been infatuated with the desert and its canyons. No wonder Edward Abbey wrote so vociferously about it. It is truly beautiful and encapsulating in its simultaneous grandeur and stark emptiness.
Week of Feb. 11 - Feb. 17
20 miles in 3' 22" (lazy week)
Week of Feb. 18 - Feb. 24
35 miles in 4' 55" (Trudge week)
Week of Feb. 25 - March 3
44 miles in 5' 29"
February: 132 miles (18' 29")
Year to Date: 239 miles (33' 58")
Week of March 4 - March 10
50 miles in 6' 06" (weekend runs in the Black Hills)
Week of March 11 - March 17
40 miles in 4' 57" (felt sub-par toward end of this down week)
Gear: Asics SpeedStar 6 (276 miles), Asics 2000 Trail (186 miles), Saucony Peregrine 2 (385 miles)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Trudge 2013
Since I first ran this race in 2009, the race-day conditions have been exponentially worse year after year. What took me 1:51 in 2009 took me 3:33 last year. Snow levels have been higher and the wind has typically been fierce. We actually delayed a week last year because the road conditions made it nearly impossible to even access the course. Thankfully, one of the benefits to the lack of snow and warm winter we have had this year was a course that was not inundated with snow and race day weather that was mild.
Five-year veterans of this race get an Official Masochist jacket courtesy of Alec. I never had any intention of running this stupid race five times, but a jacket is a worthy goal for a materialistic and ego-driven man such as myself. So, this being number five in a row, I got to start the morning by receiving my commemorative jacket.
The infamous Horsecow came up Friday night and bunked at mi casa. He, Elizabeth (official Trudge first-aid guru/legal adviser), and I hopped in Chuck the Truck and got to the start/finish area. This was the first year since 2009 we were actually able to get into the Blair picnic ground. That was great. It's a much nicer place than up the road exposed to all the wonderful wind.
I was signed up for the 22-miler, but I figured to drop down to the 11 since I am just starting to get back from my injury and I haven't had the opportunity to get in many long runs. I thought that if I was feeling totally amazing after the first lap, I would go out for a second. An absurd pipe dream I now realize.
I do not know if it is just this race, or racing in general as of late, but I felt like garbage right from the start. I had not slept well during the week, and I was not hungry before the race, so I started with nothing more than a granola bar in my stomach. I'm not sure if it is physical or a manifestation of my lack of desire to race. Whatever it is, I just was not feeling it on Saturday.
My race essentially consisted of going through the motions. I walked up hills and in deeper snow, ran the dry sections, ran and chatted with Jefe for a bit, and let others go, even the Horsecow. He is now 4-0 against me. I am not flying the Hungry Dog flag very well lately.
I finished 8th overall in 2:01:49, my second fastest time on race day and over an hour and a half faster than last year. We had speed records all around, which means I really should have gone out on a second lap, but dry, warm clothes, my camp chair, and a PBR tallboy sounded like a much better alternative. Plus, it gave us a chance to get up to the Bear Tree for a little bit of live music after the Un-Run (formerly known as The Poker Run). Nothing like a packed house, a few beers, and a large green chili pizza.
Where do I go from here? I am not sure I really want to run this race again. Alec always puts on a great race and kudos and thanks to him and the crew for their hard work. The issue I am having this year is that it is so undesirable to try to run or do any significant training this time of year. The weather has been total shit the last couple of weeks, and I simply do not want to run in that crap anymore. It probably means I am being a giant sissy la-la, but I am tired of being injured all the time, and slipping on the ice and busting through drifts will only accomplish exactly that. I am to the point where I am going to start heading south on the weekends in an attempt to get in some trail miles. I hate February, and every year gets worse. I feel my time in Laramie may need to come to an end sooner than later.
Five-year veterans of this race get an Official Masochist jacket courtesy of Alec. I never had any intention of running this stupid race five times, but a jacket is a worthy goal for a materialistic and ego-driven man such as myself. So, this being number five in a row, I got to start the morning by receiving my commemorative jacket.
The infamous Horsecow came up Friday night and bunked at mi casa. He, Elizabeth (official Trudge first-aid guru/legal adviser), and I hopped in Chuck the Truck and got to the start/finish area. This was the first year since 2009 we were actually able to get into the Blair picnic ground. That was great. It's a much nicer place than up the road exposed to all the wonderful wind.
I was signed up for the 22-miler, but I figured to drop down to the 11 since I am just starting to get back from my injury and I haven't had the opportunity to get in many long runs. I thought that if I was feeling totally amazing after the first lap, I would go out for a second. An absurd pipe dream I now realize.
 |
| Alec's pre-race sermon is always enjoyable. |
I do not know if it is just this race, or racing in general as of late, but I felt like garbage right from the start. I had not slept well during the week, and I was not hungry before the race, so I started with nothing more than a granola bar in my stomach. I'm not sure if it is physical or a manifestation of my lack of desire to race. Whatever it is, I just was not feeling it on Saturday.
 |
| Coming into the aid station. Photo by Wendy Perkins. |
 |
| Leaving the aid station, microspikes on-foot and Sherpa John in pursuit. I would finish before Sherpa John, who then went on to do a second lap and made me feel like the little girl I am. Photo by Wendy Perkins. |
My race essentially consisted of going through the motions. I walked up hills and in deeper snow, ran the dry sections, ran and chatted with Jefe for a bit, and let others go, even the Horsecow. He is now 4-0 against me. I am not flying the Hungry Dog flag very well lately.
 |
| Done. Photo by Elizabeth Spaulding. |
I finished 8th overall in 2:01:49, my second fastest time on race day and over an hour and a half faster than last year. We had speed records all around, which means I really should have gone out on a second lap, but dry, warm clothes, my camp chair, and a PBR tallboy sounded like a much better alternative. Plus, it gave us a chance to get up to the Bear Tree for a little bit of live music after the Un-Run (formerly known as The Poker Run). Nothing like a packed house, a few beers, and a large green chili pizza.
 |
| The usual. |
Where do I go from here? I am not sure I really want to run this race again. Alec always puts on a great race and kudos and thanks to him and the crew for their hard work. The issue I am having this year is that it is so undesirable to try to run or do any significant training this time of year. The weather has been total shit the last couple of weeks, and I simply do not want to run in that crap anymore. It probably means I am being a giant sissy la-la, but I am tired of being injured all the time, and slipping on the ice and busting through drifts will only accomplish exactly that. I am to the point where I am going to start heading south on the weekends in an attempt to get in some trail miles. I hate February, and every year gets worse. I feel my time in Laramie may need to come to an end sooner than later.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Last Couple Weeks Quantified
I'm still keeping track of statistics. They are merely a gauge for a very progressive build-up concerning mileage and the ever essential "time-on-feet" that I am focused on this spring. I have a schedule drawn up. I think it will work. I am still very paranoid about injury.
I am running more and biking less. Here's what 2013 has looked like thus far:
Week of Jan. 14 - Jan. 20
45 miles (4' 34") - 22 bike, 23 run
Week of Jan. 21 - Jan. 27
31 miles (3' 21") - 11 bike, 20 run (was under the weather)
Week of Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
49 miles (5' 51") - 11 bike, 38 run
January: 208 miles (21' 15") - 107 run, 101 bike
Week of Feb. 4 - Feb. 10
55 miles (6' 00") - 10 bike, 45 run
Gear: Asics SpeedStar 6 (203 miles), Asics 2000 Trail (107 miles)
I am currently in a down week. I'm doing a two-up, one-down cycle. I have never been able to make it through a third up week, so this will be more beneficial. This is all very gradual. Injury avoidance is paramount, especially on these cold February days consisting of snowed-in trails and icy streets. February is the worst. C'mon, Spring.
I am running more and biking less. Here's what 2013 has looked like thus far:
Week of Jan. 14 - Jan. 20
45 miles (4' 34") - 22 bike, 23 run
Week of Jan. 21 - Jan. 27
31 miles (3' 21") - 11 bike, 20 run (was under the weather)
Week of Jan. 28 - Feb. 3
49 miles (5' 51") - 11 bike, 38 run
January: 208 miles (21' 15") - 107 run, 101 bike
Week of Feb. 4 - Feb. 10
55 miles (6' 00") - 10 bike, 45 run
Gear: Asics SpeedStar 6 (203 miles), Asics 2000 Trail (107 miles)
I am currently in a down week. I'm doing a two-up, one-down cycle. I have never been able to make it through a third up week, so this will be more beneficial. This is all very gradual. Injury avoidance is paramount, especially on these cold February days consisting of snowed-in trails and icy streets. February is the worst. C'mon, Spring.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Band of Horses - The Funeral
This is my current theme song. I am always trapped in February. Come the end of winter, I think weekends in the mountains are in order. Me, Chuck the Truck, and trails.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Getting Fixed Up and Going Again
Last week, I finally did what I should have done over a month ago and made an appointment with Spine and Injury Clinic of Laramie. I went in last Tuesday and consulted with Dr. David Milam. I explained to him the issues with my lower back and he immediately jumped into a diagnosis and treatment. It was like being back in the training room in college, which was great.
Anyway, what I thought was a lower spine issue is actually a bum left piriformis muscle. The second he touched that spot, I wanted to scream, it hurt so bad. But, that is a good thing, since obviously a muscular injury is much easier to treat than a spinal injury. He hooked me up to the stem machine for about 10 minutes, then did a quick series of deep tissue massages, stretches, and chiropractic adjustments. He sent me home with some literature and exercises and stretches to do daily. I immediately felt better, went for my first nearly pain-free run the next day, and then saw him again for another round of treatment Thursday. I will go back in tomorrow for a quick look, and then be on my way. Three treatments and I'm back on my feet. Those guys are awesome. Why did I hesitate so long to call them? I won't be doing that again.
So, what caused the issue in first place? I more than likely tweaked it running Silent Trails (in the slippery snow again) and then continued to run trails on it. I was also inconsistent in my running after Jelm. I also stopped doing the little things, mostly due to being lazy. I sit on my butt all day at work, rarely get up, slouch badly, and don't stretch. Then we went to Oregon, and a couple of hours in the car, getting stuck on the plane for five hours, and the return trip home certainly didn't help things. Then I took time off to heal it, when, as Dr. Dave suggested, I actually should have continued to work out in order to keep things loosened up. Rookie mistakes all around.
So how did he fix it? I get up once an hour at work and do two stretches, a hamstring/piriformis stretch and a hip flexor stretch. I do a couple of exercises with my core work three times a week, and I spend some time with my foam roller at night. And holy hell, has it worked.
I have been good on my resolution thus far. I have a 17-day streak going back to Dec. 31 of doing at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. So, I'm excited to be on the mend so I can continue. Right now I'm still biking a few more miles than running, but I hope to shift that ratio in the next week or two. My focus for the rest of January is to keep cross training, take it easy, and get the little things done so I can start thinking about mileage. There is no reason to be thrashing myself outside right now (especially considering our recent run of sub-zero temps). Stay healthy now, work on getting a little stronger, DO THE LITTLE THINGS, and worry about miles come April and May.
Ultimate goals are still Bighorn and then the Wonderland Trail. Horsecow, Elizabeth and I have been hammering out some details and I believe we will all be in the Pacific Northwest July 20-28. I'm really excited about this. But I have to stay healthy and work to where I can run back-to-back-to-back ultras. That could be difficult, but certainly doable.
Week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6
51 miles (7'33") - 20M run, 23M bike, 8M hiked
Week of Jan. 7-Jan. 13
57 miles (5'06") - 23M run, 34M bike
Year to Date
116 miles (11'20") - 47 run, 69 bike
Anyway, what I thought was a lower spine issue is actually a bum left piriformis muscle. The second he touched that spot, I wanted to scream, it hurt so bad. But, that is a good thing, since obviously a muscular injury is much easier to treat than a spinal injury. He hooked me up to the stem machine for about 10 minutes, then did a quick series of deep tissue massages, stretches, and chiropractic adjustments. He sent me home with some literature and exercises and stretches to do daily. I immediately felt better, went for my first nearly pain-free run the next day, and then saw him again for another round of treatment Thursday. I will go back in tomorrow for a quick look, and then be on my way. Three treatments and I'm back on my feet. Those guys are awesome. Why did I hesitate so long to call them? I won't be doing that again.
So, what caused the issue in first place? I more than likely tweaked it running Silent Trails (in the slippery snow again) and then continued to run trails on it. I was also inconsistent in my running after Jelm. I also stopped doing the little things, mostly due to being lazy. I sit on my butt all day at work, rarely get up, slouch badly, and don't stretch. Then we went to Oregon, and a couple of hours in the car, getting stuck on the plane for five hours, and the return trip home certainly didn't help things. Then I took time off to heal it, when, as Dr. Dave suggested, I actually should have continued to work out in order to keep things loosened up. Rookie mistakes all around.
So how did he fix it? I get up once an hour at work and do two stretches, a hamstring/piriformis stretch and a hip flexor stretch. I do a couple of exercises with my core work three times a week, and I spend some time with my foam roller at night. And holy hell, has it worked.
I have been good on my resolution thus far. I have a 17-day streak going back to Dec. 31 of doing at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. So, I'm excited to be on the mend so I can continue. Right now I'm still biking a few more miles than running, but I hope to shift that ratio in the next week or two. My focus for the rest of January is to keep cross training, take it easy, and get the little things done so I can start thinking about mileage. There is no reason to be thrashing myself outside right now (especially considering our recent run of sub-zero temps). Stay healthy now, work on getting a little stronger, DO THE LITTLE THINGS, and worry about miles come April and May.
Ultimate goals are still Bighorn and then the Wonderland Trail. Horsecow, Elizabeth and I have been hammering out some details and I believe we will all be in the Pacific Northwest July 20-28. I'm really excited about this. But I have to stay healthy and work to where I can run back-to-back-to-back ultras. That could be difficult, but certainly doable.
Week of Dec. 31-Jan. 6
51 miles (7'33") - 20M run, 23M bike, 8M hiked
Week of Jan. 7-Jan. 13
57 miles (5'06") - 23M run, 34M bike
Year to Date
116 miles (11'20") - 47 run, 69 bike
Thursday, January 3, 2013
New Year New Plans
While I am still slightly limited physically by my back, I have been mixing some short, slow running back into my routine. I have been hiking/trudging/snowshoeing the past few weeks. I also "borrowed" a trainer from my dad, so I have my road bike set up in my house. I have been using it to do analogous tempo and fartlek workouts. I have also been forcing myself to stretch everyday and do some core work every couple of days. So far, the back, while not 100%, is feeling quite a bit better.
My one and only resolution this year is to get my ass out and do something every day. It doesn't have to be much. It just has to be something. I can surely find at least 30 minutes each day to run, hike, ride, etc. I have been inspired by my good friend Chris Schabron who just polished off his second year in a row of running every day. He has a 731 days-in-a-row and counting streak. There is no reason I cannot do something similar.
This is all, of course, build-up to my plans this year. I had a brief conversation with Alec awhile back that was started by me bringing up FKTs. I thought FKTs were something I'd be interested in maybe pursuing, though I'd have to get a hell of lot better physically and mentally to even begin. I asked Alec his thoughts/would he care to join, and he told me FKTs were not things in which he was interested. He said he was more interested in WCTDIEATW (What Cool Things Did I Experience Along The Way). While not an acronym concerned with brevity, it does hammer home something I've been feeling for a long time.
I mentioned last June that I needed to step back from the competitiveness and learn to enjoy the art of running. I have felt that fire burning less hot in the past months, and honestly, training and gearing up for racing is something that no longer interests me all that much. I am more concerned with just being outside and enjoying the world that running can provide. It opens so much more to me.
I have a problem waxing philosophic about running. We've all read the Quotable Runner, we've all fantasized about being Quenton Cassidy chasing down John Walton, we've all suffered through George Sheehan's self-important pseudo-philosophical rantings because that's what we were supposed to do. And for a long time, I thought, "Fuck those guys. They were slow and never won a damn thing in their lives." I thought those guys missed the point. Zen running was for sissy-la-las. I wanted to win races. Run as fast as I could. Out-kick people and give them a shrug of my shoulders as I passed them. And for a long time, that was satisfying. But it just is not anymore. And now I understand a little more what the hell those guys were talking about.
There is a life to be lived out there. And I want mine to include running. It is truly a lifestyle. And one I love very deeply. So, as I have alluded to in my previous and sparse posts, I have decided that winning races, and even racing in general, is not something I am going to be too concerned with going forward. I'm more interested in having adventures and experiencing cool things. Enjoy being in that moment.
That said, I do plan to participate in a couple races this year (if I'm physically able, of course). First, the Twin Mountain Trudge. This will be my fifth year in a row at this bitch of a race. Five year veterans receive a "Mountain Masochist" jacket for subjecting themselves to the brutality year after year. I want my damn jacket.
I signed up for Nick Clark's Quad Rock race in May because I feel the 25M will be a good lead-in race going towards Bighorn in June. Pilot Hill is also on my agenda for the same reason. Plus, it's one of our "Big 3" homegrown Laramie trail races, so I should be there.
The goal of the next five or six months is Bighorn. I have unfinished business thanks to my hip injury last year. I will do everything in my power to avoid a similar mistake this year. Bighorn is the weekend before my 30th birthday, so I figure, what better way to celebrate the end of my twenties than by running 50 miles through the mountains?
After that, the sky is the limit. I am going to start working on plans to get back to Rainier either end of July or mid-August. The Wonderland Trail intrigues me. 93 miles long, it circumnavigates Mt. Rainier. I figure it can be broken up into ~50K each day, allowing one to enjoy the views without thrashing the body too badly. If I can get a crew together, we could have a couple people shuttling cars and setting up camp each day. That would be an amazing experience.
Teton Crest is another adventure I've been considering for some time. Somewhere between 35-40 miles on the west side of the range seems like a great way to spend a day. I'm thinking Labor Day for this. That allows for quick travel to Jackson while also being, in my opinion, the perfect time of the year to run up there. All I need is someone to drop me off at the tram in Teton Village and pick me up at Jenny Lake 8-10 hours later.
Those are my 2013 plans. I'm sure they will be amended, but I'm happy with them right now. And to end, here is what I did on New Year's Eve:
My one and only resolution this year is to get my ass out and do something every day. It doesn't have to be much. It just has to be something. I can surely find at least 30 minutes each day to run, hike, ride, etc. I have been inspired by my good friend Chris Schabron who just polished off his second year in a row of running every day. He has a 731 days-in-a-row and counting streak. There is no reason I cannot do something similar.
This is all, of course, build-up to my plans this year. I had a brief conversation with Alec awhile back that was started by me bringing up FKTs. I thought FKTs were something I'd be interested in maybe pursuing, though I'd have to get a hell of lot better physically and mentally to even begin. I asked Alec his thoughts/would he care to join, and he told me FKTs were not things in which he was interested. He said he was more interested in WCTDIEATW (What Cool Things Did I Experience Along The Way). While not an acronym concerned with brevity, it does hammer home something I've been feeling for a long time.
I mentioned last June that I needed to step back from the competitiveness and learn to enjoy the art of running. I have felt that fire burning less hot in the past months, and honestly, training and gearing up for racing is something that no longer interests me all that much. I am more concerned with just being outside and enjoying the world that running can provide. It opens so much more to me.
I have a problem waxing philosophic about running. We've all read the Quotable Runner, we've all fantasized about being Quenton Cassidy chasing down John Walton, we've all suffered through George Sheehan's self-important pseudo-philosophical rantings because that's what we were supposed to do. And for a long time, I thought, "Fuck those guys. They were slow and never won a damn thing in their lives." I thought those guys missed the point. Zen running was for sissy-la-las. I wanted to win races. Run as fast as I could. Out-kick people and give them a shrug of my shoulders as I passed them. And for a long time, that was satisfying. But it just is not anymore. And now I understand a little more what the hell those guys were talking about.
There is a life to be lived out there. And I want mine to include running. It is truly a lifestyle. And one I love very deeply. So, as I have alluded to in my previous and sparse posts, I have decided that winning races, and even racing in general, is not something I am going to be too concerned with going forward. I'm more interested in having adventures and experiencing cool things. Enjoy being in that moment.
That said, I do plan to participate in a couple races this year (if I'm physically able, of course). First, the Twin Mountain Trudge. This will be my fifth year in a row at this bitch of a race. Five year veterans receive a "Mountain Masochist" jacket for subjecting themselves to the brutality year after year. I want my damn jacket.
I signed up for Nick Clark's Quad Rock race in May because I feel the 25M will be a good lead-in race going towards Bighorn in June. Pilot Hill is also on my agenda for the same reason. Plus, it's one of our "Big 3" homegrown Laramie trail races, so I should be there.
The goal of the next five or six months is Bighorn. I have unfinished business thanks to my hip injury last year. I will do everything in my power to avoid a similar mistake this year. Bighorn is the weekend before my 30th birthday, so I figure, what better way to celebrate the end of my twenties than by running 50 miles through the mountains?
After that, the sky is the limit. I am going to start working on plans to get back to Rainier either end of July or mid-August. The Wonderland Trail intrigues me. 93 miles long, it circumnavigates Mt. Rainier. I figure it can be broken up into ~50K each day, allowing one to enjoy the views without thrashing the body too badly. If I can get a crew together, we could have a couple people shuttling cars and setting up camp each day. That would be an amazing experience.
Teton Crest is another adventure I've been considering for some time. Somewhere between 35-40 miles on the west side of the range seems like a great way to spend a day. I'm thinking Labor Day for this. That allows for quick travel to Jackson while also being, in my opinion, the perfect time of the year to run up there. All I need is someone to drop me off at the tram in Teton Village and pick me up at Jenny Lake 8-10 hours later.
Those are my 2013 plans. I'm sure they will be amended, but I'm happy with them right now. And to end, here is what I did on New Year's Eve:
 |
| Tetons on a brisk but sunny day. |
 |
| Grand Teton. |
 |
| Mt. Wister and Avalanche Canyon. |
 |
| Teton Range, Wyoming. 1/1/13. |
Friday, December 7, 2012
Beginning of Winter Blues (and Injuries)
I did not run a step the week before Thanksgiving. The idea was to rest and then begin a long, slow, and gradual build-up going into the February races and, even farther out, Bighorn. As usual, I was an idiot. And now I am really hurt.
Before I took that week off, I went for a trail run at Happy Jack. It had just snowed about an inch, so I threw on my microspikes and had a good time. About halfway through the run, I felt a pinch in the middle of my lower back, right above my butt. It nagged the rest of the run, but I didn't think anything of it. It continued to hurt the rest of the weekend, keeping me mostly couch-bound (well, that and football). After a day or two, it seemed fine.
Thanksgiving morning I ran the 4-miler in Fort Collins. I ran slow, which was a reflection of the fitness (or lack thereof) I had at the time. I didn't run again until we brought back Tuesday Night Hills last week. After the hill session, I was in rough shape. My back pain kept me up at night several nights in a row, forcing me to seek refuge on the couch or in the la-z-boy, and had me cringing all day at work. My office chair was killing me.
I kept running thinking that would help. I was just a little weak; so I did a bunch of core work to compensate. It seems to have had the opposite effect.
After another round of hills Tuesday, I shelved it. I could barely move when I got home.
The pain radiates from that spot in the middle of my lower back which makes me curious if I did something to my lower spine. However, after the hill session, I was hurting most in my upper glutes, particularly the left one, and that pain radiated from my back through my glute and down into my hamstring. That makes me think it may be sciatica, which is something I've had issues with in the past (I suffered for a bit with it in high school).
Anyway, I haven't run in three days and things are feeling quite a bit better. However, it does seem that running is 100% responsible for this, which sucks. I want to be running.
I am going to let it heal and then figure out some new routine or whatnot to fix this. I'll do just about anything in order to keep running.
Before I took that week off, I went for a trail run at Happy Jack. It had just snowed about an inch, so I threw on my microspikes and had a good time. About halfway through the run, I felt a pinch in the middle of my lower back, right above my butt. It nagged the rest of the run, but I didn't think anything of it. It continued to hurt the rest of the weekend, keeping me mostly couch-bound (well, that and football). After a day or two, it seemed fine.
Thanksgiving morning I ran the 4-miler in Fort Collins. I ran slow, which was a reflection of the fitness (or lack thereof) I had at the time. I didn't run again until we brought back Tuesday Night Hills last week. After the hill session, I was in rough shape. My back pain kept me up at night several nights in a row, forcing me to seek refuge on the couch or in the la-z-boy, and had me cringing all day at work. My office chair was killing me.
I kept running thinking that would help. I was just a little weak; so I did a bunch of core work to compensate. It seems to have had the opposite effect.
After another round of hills Tuesday, I shelved it. I could barely move when I got home.
The pain radiates from that spot in the middle of my lower back which makes me curious if I did something to my lower spine. However, after the hill session, I was hurting most in my upper glutes, particularly the left one, and that pain radiated from my back through my glute and down into my hamstring. That makes me think it may be sciatica, which is something I've had issues with in the past (I suffered for a bit with it in high school).
Anyway, I haven't run in three days and things are feeling quite a bit better. However, it does seem that running is 100% responsible for this, which sucks. I want to be running.
I am going to let it heal and then figure out some new routine or whatnot to fix this. I'll do just about anything in order to keep running.
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