Mid May Already?

Where is time flying ?  It's almost half way through May, though the temps outside would make you think we were still stuck in March!  I would hope that by this time in my training schedule I would be happily posting about my awesome swims, rides and runs, but unfortunately I've hit a bit of a bumpy stretch.

I think it all started back a couple weeks ago at the Toronto Younge Street 10k.  I ran my little heart out in that race and felt pretty darn good about it.  That following week I took a little downtime on the running, coming back 4 days after the race and putting in a solid 12k run at 4:40/km pace and according to my notes and recollection, my right leg was feeling fine.

That weekend we had our first outdoor ride and it was glorious   Windy as heck but fun to get out and ride outdoors with Barry.  We left from Angus Glen CC and rode up Warden 35k to the top of Ravenshoe Hill.  We met a nice guy on the way who gave us some great riding pointers.

Then two days later I hit the treadmill for some speed work and this is where the injury story picks up. 5 x 1,200m, each interval taking 5mins with 3 mins recovery in between - it's a work out I really enjoy.  Legs felt pretty good until half way through my forth interval when my right hamstring started pulling.  Instead of bailing on my fifth interval I pushed through.  And ever since I have been having an uncomfortable hamstring.   It originates up near my glute and runs behind the knee into the calf.  My Chiro's assessment is a tight right QL (those pesky lower back muscles that attach to the pelvis).

I took some time off from running and basically pulled back for a few rest and recovery days.  You would think this would be a great time for me to focus on my swimming, but instead I almost dropped swimming completely over the past 13 days.  I've hit the spin bike a couple of times and have put a 100k and 80k in on my bike.   A week ago  I tried to do a long run - by 5 km in I decided to turn it around and cut it short due to the "discomfort" in my leg.  I haven't run since.  It's been a week. I miss running.

So I've been stretching the QLs and trying to get mobility back into my hamstring through heat and stretching.  Aggressively stretched my QLs and legs last night and followed that up this morning with a hot Epsom salts bath and a good long core and stretch workout.  Now I'm currently sitting on 2 ice packs and feeling optimistic.

My training calendar looks pitifully blank for the next 5 days - I'm taking it day by day.  I hope to get to the pool tomorrow and Wednesday as well as do a couple spin classes to keep my fitness up.  We leave on Friday for our Toronto Triathlon Club Training Camp in Collingwood where I hope to ride close to 200km over the 3 days.  I'm really looking forward to getting away from home for a few days, hanging with some of my favourite triathlon friends, talking all things swim, bike, run and doing some seriously climbing on the bike.

Running might just take a back seat until I run the Ottawa Half Marathon in 2 weeks.  I had some high hopes of hitting a HUGE PR by running a sub 1:40.  While I'm optimistic that I will be able to run the race that pace might be out the window.  I need to remind myself that the Ottawa Half is not my "A" race.  I should be happy to run a sub 1:50 for a PR!

Happy Training and swift healing!

Tibioflibular Joint Instability!

That's right - this morning I drove across town to see a Sports Medicine Specialist.  He spent nearly 40 minutes with me (wow - that's a lot of time) and he has come to the conclusion that I have superior tibiofibular joint instability with a second degree pelvic dysfunction.  That's a mouthful now isn't it?  So in layman's terms, if I got this right, the joint where the tibia and fibula meet underneath my knee and attach to the hamstring is unstable.  Which in turn is causing my pelvis to tilt which in turn makes my legs different in length.  And all of that is what is causing the area above my hip and around my pelvis to hurt.

What's the cure?  Well, crazy enough, he did this strength exercise which I failed miserably, then he put a little piece of KT tape on and I passed with flying colours.  Yip, I know - CRAZY and if I didn't see it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it.  A little 2 inch by 4 inch piece of tape!  So I'm now wearing a wrap brace around my leg just below my knee which will keep the joint stable.  AND I have to increase my glute and core strength as well as work on my hamstring flexibility.  Good ole Doc says I cannot run for 2 weeks and then he wants me to start running.  He's given me to green light to spin and swim - given I wear the brace 24/7 (or the KT tape while swimming).

This Saturday it will be 6 weeks since I was first injured.  Let's hope this Doctor is right and I'm running again by the time we hit Florida for our February vacation!

Sore hip = sad me

On Saturday, DECEMBER 17 - we stole another beautiful day of sunshine and warm temps!  Hubby and I went for a nice 16 mile (26k) run together.  I was going great, I was enjoying the sunshine and the pace was ok for me - much better than the weekend before where I felt like I was being held back.  I was really enjoying my long run with the hubby.  Then, at about mile 12 - OUCH - what is that - a pain in my left hip.  I slowed a bit, changed my gait, my stride, but each time my foot hit the ground there a was a pain in my hip.

The last 4 miles of the run SUCKED.  I sucked it up and ran it the best I could, but here I am, 2 days later and in 2 hours I will be on my therapist's table for an emergency 1/2 hour massage to see what the heck is going on in this hip.  It seems to be living somewhere on top of the hip joint.  This morning, while still lying in bed I was quite optimistic because the pain seemed to be gone.  When I first got up, it was feeling pretty good ... and then about 10 minutes out of bed and BAM ... every step with my left foot produces an annoying, painful sensation in my hip that seems to radiate in all directions.

I leave for our Christmas Holiday on Wednesday with dreams of hot weather runs in Florida.  But right now I'm quite sad, feeling side-lined by this injury.  I don't get injured.  So I'm hoping and praying my therapist will fix me right up tonight and in a few days I'll be blogging about my run to the beach and back!