I'm Back!

I ran 8 miles today! Whoo hooo! It feels so good to be back! :)

Here's the lo down...
The pain in my sacrum is caused by severe inflammation due to 2 different factors. 1. I pulled my hamstring a bit in my left leg. 2. my spine is so straight that it allows pretty much no cushion when I run so the vertebrates just bounce on top of one another which causes the inflammation at the base of my spine. (my sacrum) With these 2 things consistently causing inflammation in the same area the inflammation has had no where to go except for consistently building up. I'm still seeing my Dr. and he gave me the clearance to start running again after he taped me up to release the pressure. Fortunately running doesn't do any further damage it just aggravates the inflammation.
(How many times can you say inflammation? LOL)

So today.. I ran with the 15 min per mile group and Davy came to donate his time at the site.(I earn $20 towards my fund raising each time someone volunteers) We ran an interval pace of 2-2 instead of 3-1. It was good. I felt strong for most of the run. around mile 6 it got a little challenging. But mostly for my mind. :)

I got to know some new people which was really nice. I'm running with such an amazing group! It's fun to learn why people signed up for this marathon.

When I got home I decided to take an ice bath to reduce the any future pain/inflammation aggravation. It was my first time doing it. OMG NOT the most comfortable thing I have ever done! However I think it helped. I video taped the process so you can see how it went. :)

This training process is and has been amazing! I wouldn't take a second of it back. How sweet this victory will be on Dec 12th after I finish running 26.2 miles and cross the finish line.

I love it!

p.s next Sunday my group will be running 18 miles! GO TEAM! I will be doing 11! GO ME:)
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I'm a Healin' and Times a Ticken'!

So I am active again which is good. My Dr has ordered me to get X-rays before he does any further treatment. It could be a spinal something or other ( I don't remember the name) a stress fracture or just the pulled muscle that attaches my leg,butt and groin together with lots of scar tissue build up. Either way its fixable! Whoo hoo:)

Currently I ice 3 times a day, stretch a lot and take Ibprofen. Which is all helping a little. I can't really run until I'm healed so I am power walking. Which gets my heart rate up and works me out a bit:) I joined my training group this last Sunday. They ran 8 miles to recover from their 16 mile run last week (that I power walked 3 miles). But this week was fun!

Reenah is such an amazing teammate. She walked with me almost the entire time! We did intervals the same as when we run/walk except when it was time to walk we power walked faster. It was fun! At mile 4 they served us water and had snacks for us. They had Ritz crackers, peanut butter and pickles. I wasn't brave enough to try it so I ate a cracker with a pickle instead. LOL Reenah loves them tho! LOL

At the water stop we picked up a runner with us who needed to walk due to an injury. She was awesome! A singer like me:) Through conversation we found that we are both currently working on getting a lounge/restaurant gig singing standards and show tunes. It was really nice getting to know her. Reenah ran the rest of the way once I had someone else to walk with. (Thanks Reenah for sticking with me as long as you did)

Although the route was 8 miles we got a ride back at 7 miles due to our injuries. No worries though, 7 miles was a stretch for me since I have been out of commission for the last several weeks. It was good.

When we got back to the training site I stretched real good for about a half hour and even had a teammate that's a physical therapist rub down my I-T Band. OUCH! But, it was helpful:)

It felt good to be back and due a substantial amount of mileage this week. What an amazing adventure this has all been and I'm not done yet! :)


My fund raising has been going great but the pressure is on! My deadline is this coming Monday Sept 27th! I have $1200 more to go.

I need 12 people to get 10 of their friends to donate $10 each and I'm there! WE CAN DO THIS! PLEASE HELP!

Copy and paste this into your URL bar to go to my donation page and sponsor me with a donation!

http://apla.convio.net/site/TR/Events/NationalAIDSMarathonTrainingProgram-MARATHONONLY?px=1502753&pg=personal&fr_id=1080

Progress

I want to let you know I am making progress. The chiropractor I am seeing is working out my muscles that are pulling on my ligaments that cause my sacrum pain. It's lots of rubbing, stretching and icing.

The cause of all this... My running form. I practically run on my tippy toes, in return my body has gone in shock. Apparently the way I run is perfect for sprinting but awful for long distances.

I was able to power walk 3 miles on Sunday with my training group. Although they did 16 miles. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous but I will not feel sorry for myself. I just keep thinking about how awesome its going to be crossing that finish line on Dec 12th after going through all of this.

Before we all ran on Sunday we all got new shirts for the new company APLA is turning into. Team to End AIDS. They filmed us and we got extra pep talks. It was a lot of fun! We are the last official group to run the AIDS Marathon with the APLA Training program so its kind of cool to be a part of it as well as support their transition:)

Also...I have to say Ive only been gone for 2 weeks but when I came back on Sunday for my walk, my training group had all separated into separate groups! I don't like it! I have to get back and bring the Peaceful Warriors together again!

Anyway that's it. I'll keep you updated!

XOXO

p.s I'm almost there! 74 more people at $20 is all I need! PLEASE HELP!

oh my sacrum!

So... some of you know now that I have been in a lot of pain for the last month. At first I thought I was just tight from running but now its painful to sit for long period of time (like being on the computer) as well as stretching or kneeling down. My dear friend Elinore has been so helpful giving me personal yoga instruction and supplements to take to release the pain but now I am going to a sports chiropractor since my insurance kicked in. The sharp pain in my sacrum keeps persisting when I stand or bend over and my muscles in my left leg seem to pop out of place in certain stretches. My run coach has instructed me to not run or speed walk until I am recovered. I have missed the 14 mile run, a 7 mile run and this weekend I will be missing the 16 mile run, not to mention all my maintenance runs.

I'll be honest it makes me really sad. However I still have time to catch up when I get better and it gives me more time to do my fund raising. Looking at the bright side since feeling sorry for myself is not going to get me to finish that 26.2 miles. I will finish this run! :)

I am currently at $1692.00!
Only $1508.00 more to go! Come on friends we can do this! If you and everyone you know donates $10 or $20 we can make it in no time:)

The deadline is Sept 27th!

Night Run

Last night I went a beautiful night run with Reena. We met up at the Hazeltine Park at 7:45pm. The sun was just about down and it was my first run in almost 2 weeks since I have been taking it easy on my back. We power walked a good portion of it to appease my body but we did run a bit. I feel fine when I'm running it's after I feel the consequences. Today it was hard to bend over without the shooting pains and I could feel my butt muscles near my sacrum tense up throughout the day. However it was really nice running last night.

Reena and I made a packed to really go for it this month with our passions. For me it's making 108 hair flowers for the 108 yoga mala month. (Sept is the national yoga Mala month celebrating 108 passions/earthly desires, by doing something your passionate about 108 times) I am also committed to getting a weekly cabaret gig this month as well as practice for an upcoming performance with an aerial dance company that has asked me to sing for them. I am focusing on my passions this month and pushing my limits. Reena is doing the same. I'm very excited!

As far as my back goes I called a physical therapist to get a quote. Unfortunately I can't afford it until my insurance kicks in. Until then I am going to see my acupuncturist and see a sports massage therapist. Starting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

p.s How old do you think we look?:)