Injury

Last week was a bad week for training. Besides getting whatever stomach bug was going around my family I had the ongoing foot pain to contend with. I missed all my training sessions last week (including yoga) and was feeling really discouraged about my progress when on Tuesday afternoon I started getting dinner ready and thinking about going to boot camp. 

I made it a few minutes late and I'm glad I didn't give up half way there with my internal mantra of, "You're not going to make it. You'll never find parking." As I know - and shouldn't have to keep reminding myself of - when I keep a positive attitude I can do anything and most freakishly enjoy it while I overcome the challenge. Boot camp was great - I layered appropriately this time with hat and gloves plus several long sleeve shirts and under armor under my pants. After being out of the training for a week I felt really good about getting back into it and glad when we all joined in a circle to introduce ourselves and all speak to the challenges we're having with training. Once again it was so nice to know I'm not alone in being challenged by this process and good to have fellow trainies to talk to about the aches, pains and training schedule. 

The boot camp format works out really well for me as well. I felt very accomplished with reps of 10 push ups followed by sit ups or presses, then more push ups. Counting along with my fellow runners kept us all motivated - 18...19...20! In total I did more push ups than I thought I was capable of and more variations on sit ups than I could remember trying in a long time. Now two days later my pectoral muscles, under my arm pits and the back of my upper arms are screaming. The left over pain I feel in my abdominal muscles is actually kind of refreshing and a little thrilling - I'd expected that there weren't any muscles there anymore to feel sore, so this is a wonderful surprise in my mind. 

The foot pain was back during boot camp. One of the lead trainers was at the training session and we discussed at length my issue. She is concerned it might be a stress fracture (please no!) but she also encouraged me that even with missing trainings I am still on track for running the half marathon, as long as I'm injury free. We also talked about swimming as a good cross training work out that won't bother my foot and thankfully the children and I just re-joined the JCC this week which has a fantastic pool. Looks like I'll be shoving myself into a swim suit this week. I'll also be calling my doctor to discuss getting my foot evaluated and I was put in contact with an injury specialist from UCSF who can hopefully help with some advice or guidance. 

Foot pain aside I'm so glad to be doing this. Challenging myself in a completely foreign way is making we readdress areas I always just figured were not attainable for me. Like my stomach muscles - I might be sore but I'm also just a little bit stronger and feeling more so each day. 

Flexibility

With my foot flexed and placed far higher up the wall than I ever intended it to go, my legs screaming with pain and my fingers firmly gripping my support ropes I realized that I'm not all that flexible. Not just in yoga class - when the stretches often make me feel like a pretzel that has hardened before completely formed - but also in my daily life. 

I like things the way I like them, and while I also like spontaneity it becomes challenging when too many things are out of place, or new. I feel stretched beyond where I can handle, physically and emotionally. With the marathon training, new school's for the kids, uncertainty about next school year, a new semester's work for me and Dave busy at his work I have to remember to stay loose and willing to to be flexible with my time and energy. 

Yoga focused on leg stretches, inversions and core work today. As my belly cried out for some relaxation I relished the challenge. My core is my new goal - a stronger core physically but also in life. When the core is strong your back feels better, you can hold yourself more aloft and you're less prone to injury. 

I look at my physical core as a reminder of the importance of my life core as well: my family. When the familial core is strong there is less injury, everyone feels better and heavy loads are easier to carry. We've turned off the TV, we've all started reading more, we've focused on building and playing together. While the training takes up a lot of my personal time it also allows Dave more time with the kids which is lovely for him and the children.

Everyone looked like they were hanging from the ceiling by their heads. I was along the far wall so I could see those throughout the room as we all practiced head stand. Perspective is a funny business and I smiled to see our teacher's feet walking by "upside down" on the ceiling. 

The lessons today were all important for me. Remember to strengthen the core, practice flexibility and never fear a new perspective. Such a lovely way to spend a Sunday.