Friday, March 23, 2012

Training Setback

Damn. Out of commission again?

Back story: I made a vow to myself that among other things, 2012 is the year I get fit and healthy.

Goal: to gain strength, muscle and endurance, and most importantly to have more energy and feel better. I was making good progress, working out 2-4 times a week with plans to up it to 5-6 days. I was starting to see some positive changes - muscles I forgot I had!

Sure, I fell off the wagon a couple times. The latest was approximately 5 weeks off the wagon, and I paid for it dearly. I was a crabby, moody, exhuasted mess. But then I got up, hit the gym, and felt a measureable difference. I vowed to myself that I would no longer make excuses to NOT go to the gym.

I mentioned that was learning to become a runner. I've never liked running. In fact, I've always joked that the only way you could get me to run is if something big with sharp teeth was chasing me.

But this year, I was all set to run a 5K in May. I started my training. I was beginning to enjoy it. There's definitely something meditative about the rhythm of your feet in time with whatever tunes are blasting through your earbuds. I come away from it with a clearer mind and a ass-load of sweat (or liquid awesome, as I like to refer to it.)

And then last week, I pulled something. My pririformis. If you're not sure what that is, I'll tell ya - it's a muscle in your butt. And it hurt like a bitch.

Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (R.I.C.E.), a visit to my magical massage therapist, lots of stretching and then a few more days off, and I was good to go. Exactly one week later, I went for a run with no pain in my butt. Woo! Resume training!

Then just three short days later, I pulled something in my back. I went to my magical massage therapist again, only this time her magic wand seems to be broken or something. She worked on me for over an hour, I think, and still that damn muscle is tight as a drum. (There's a group of muscles that run along either side of your spine, from your neck to your tailbone. I pulled the left side, about half way up, and had transference pain about an inch down from my shoulder blade.) Her words were: "It's totally locked up. Take a rest for a few days from training."

First: How in the hell did I do that?
Second: Nooooo! I can't take a rest! I have a race to train for, dammit!

Sigh.
I'm definitely not as young as I used to be, and my body keeps reminding me of that.
I will still run in that damn race. I'm starting to face the reality though, that there may be a whole lotta walking too.

So I guess strength training is out for a few days, since everything I have been strength training is connected to my back.
Running is probably out, since it's high impact.
Recumbent bike? BORE.
Elliptical? I hate you, but if that's all I can do, so be it.

I guess this is my new mantra. For now, anyway.


2 comments:

  1. Injuries suck. I have often said I had no need for running, because I'd just shoot anyone I felt I had to run from. But I'm getting older and it's no fun being fat and out of shape.

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    1. Being rail thin and out of shape is no fun either (maybe I'll expand on that at some point!). I've been a 100 lb weaking for a VERY long time, and it's time to change that! My back is feeling better, but I'm thinking I need another day or two off just so I don't back track!

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