Starting Again

After weeks away from official training I'm starting back up this weekend. Saturday the training schedule starts for all those runners doing the 18 week program which translates to less miles on the long runs. For me that means getting back into the swing of training and not feeling so left behind. 

During the absence from official training I've been trying to make boot camp, working on swimming more often and taking a water aerobics class at the JCC. I have to say I'm loving going back to water aerobics. Previous to this I hadn't taken a class since after Mimi's birth nearly 4 years ago. The women in the pool are all over 60, if not well into their 70's and 80's. Everyone smiles and is supportive and I think generally amused that I'm taking this "old ladies" class. I was surprised to find the pool pretty packed this go around. When I took the class before there were only a handful of women in the pool. This time however there were over 20 of us, stretched out across the pool water running, doing jumping jacks, making waves and generally looking ridiculous... like I said, I totally love it. 

The teacher is great - making sure that my foot is supported and not baring too much weight while in the pool - moving me to the deeper sections when high impact actions are coming. I ran into another participant only once last class and in a pool full of older women I'm not the slowest all the time like I am at the run training. Not sure this is really a boost to my self esteem but none the less I like not being last sometimes. 

This Saturday we're scheduled for 3 miles in the Presidio. I'm looking forward to seeing my pace group again and getting back into the swing of things with runs. Over the "break" I also finally went to get my shoes checked out. I went to Fleet Feet in the Marina and had great help finding just what was going on - and hopefully getting to the bottom of the foot pain. He took detailed measurements of my feet, watched my ankles as I walked, then jogged, then ran away and then toward him. Mimi was with me and all the store people were very nice to her and not bothered at all that she insisted on running back and forth with me and picking up all the shoes off their racks - "Ooh, these are pink Mama, get the pink ones!"

After measurements, walk, jog and running he put some insoles in my shoes to give my feet some extra support. He then showed me the proper way to tie my shoes - not too snug you need to let your feet get circulation but snug enough that your shoes aren't flopping around while you walk/run. He also went over some foot, leg, hip and back stretches and pointed out some places to make sure I stretch before and after running to minimize pain and injury. 

I've been wearing my new insoles around the house and they're quite comfy though they haven't made it on any runs yet (except those quick sprints after the kids while they're scootering at the park). This Saturday will be the first test - I'm hoping with all the stretches, shoe improvements and general foot rest this issue will be resolved once and for all. 

The last few weeks have proven that life easily gets in the way of training. Work, school, children, family health and upcoming due dates have all worked to make training the least of my concerns on my to-do list. This Saturday I'm taking a new order and re-arranging the items on that list. Here's my reminder of what that list should look like: 

1. Family - time spent, care for and interest in. 

2. Health - which includes training for the marathon. Keeping myself healthy helps keep my family healthy.

3. Projects: - School (Dominic's school fundraiser, Mental Health in Public Schools project)

Volunteer (Transcription for upcoming LGBT play on aging)

Craft (knitting, sewing, birthday present making, playing my new clarinet)

4. Peace and Rest - taking the time needed to let myself and my family rest and have peace as needed. 

With my to-do list in mind I'm looking forward to Saturday morning, 8:00 am at Sports Basement in Presidio. The weather report currently says "partly rainy" but come rain or shine I'll be there ready to take a fresh (re)start to this training process. 

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.