{DL} Always something to work....

I had great intentions.

The weather was beautiful & calling me to just be outside.

I sent a text to a friend & asked if she wanted to go walking.  I mean, I know I'm in trouble with my knee & thought walking is a good option - running it out, but talking with a friend who is so great at distracting me with great conversations is what I needed.

& then I stopped at the bank on the way home...

& came across the parking lot & it was like my knee raised the white flag...

Exactly how my knee did

I literally stood in the middle of where the cars were driving & gasped with pain.

Something didn't feel right.

I basically had to limp in a Hunchback fashion to get to my car.

I got home & wrapped up my knee & then text my friend back to let her know that walking wasn't even an option.

But I had to work out... I've learned about myself that if I don't work out, I panic.

That may be the definition of addiction - but that's ok when it comes to healthy things - right? ...that could be a whole other post.

So I decided to put in my video that concentrates on core...

Abs don't require knees - right?

Actually, some parts of it did - It required being on hands & knees & I just doubled up a towel & put under my bad knee.  It's like that soft spot on the knee is the worst pain.  Yep - this is new.

& I didn't stay in that position long.

I'm not going to push it.

But I did get to workout ... my abs anyways... I'll take what I can get for now.

Stupid knee.

{DL} New knee pain.... but at least it was pretty out

Just when you think things are going well.

I've been making better times - building up a good endurance on running - keeping my  heartrate at a good level & not huffing & puffing - actually enjoying running lately...

... & then it happens ... all over again.

Knee pain.

I'm used to it.

I've had it my whole life - know I'll always have it - but this is a new knee pain.

& its getting bad. Like, I am limping kinda bad.

I'm trying not to get discouraged because I know the routine.  Rest, ice, keep it up. 

Been there ... done that... many times.

I'm also trying to keep my attitude in check knowing that it will heal up.  Time is what it takes.

I'm just bummed thinking that I'm going to miss out on this beautiful fall weather to run in. This is only one time a year... who wants to miss it.

I pushed it last night when I went for another run.

I forgot I had my glasses on my head till half way through my run....

I ended up having to brace up both knees & it actually isn't enough. I need a full knee brace with the pain in my left leg right now... sigh....

Ricky keeps getting on me to just STOP for now.... but I don't wanna. 

Yes, I'm great at throwing 2 yr old tantrums....

I may just keep doing my strength training videos & enjoy the weather with nice relaxing walks.  That counts as something - right?

How do you not go running with colors like this around you?

 

Anyone else struggle with constant knee pain?

 

Any tips on running with knee pain?

First full week of the new year... & my side still hurts...

Anyone already hate 2015?

No... no one does... right?

So Monday started me off with a bad day of starting to work out again.  Y'all are so encouraging, by the way.

But I did get back up on that old horse ... I mean, treadmill, & I walked again on Tuesday.  I did longer 2.21 miles ... & didn't hurt as bad.  That's good...

& then I had plans on resting on Wednesday & walking again on Thursday.

Only we had a church meeting on Thursday & didn't get home until almost 8 & then I was like, I'm going to be lucky to clean up for bed, much less work out.

How I came in the house heading to bed
... & it was basically this cold too...

No defeat.

I'm going to try & walk tonight.

I so desperately want to do something else.  Yoga, P90X3, my Just Dance 2014 Xbox game (because I'm cool like that)... but I'm scared to death to do anything other then walk.

Why?  Because my freaking stupid rib still hurts.

Yep - I finally got an x-ray, but as long as it took me to get the x-ray, the same frustration is happening getting the results.

I got the x-ray on Monday... It's Friday.  The doctor's office just told me, "We don't have the results yet"... when the x-ray place said it should be no longer then 48 hours.  What is the DEAL?... plus, the nurse told me that the doctor isn't in anyways so they couldn't tell me anything anyways if they got them.

Doctor's suck.

US healthcare sucks.

I am in pain.

I will say, it IS better.  But I still feel it. 

When I went to sweep & mop my floor, I could feel that ache... so I'm scared to work out.

If it is an intercostal muscle sprain, I know those can take up to 6 weeks to heal... which my pain has been 6 weeks... but 6 weeks is supposed to be for people that pamper the area.  I have been putting up Christmas decoration, shopping, wrapping, on the go, since the side started hurting... & they say it is so slow to heal... so if it's that, I think any sort of working out where I pull my ribcage, I'm back to the beginning again.

if it is broke?  ... I don't know... I just can't believe after all this time, I don't know what's going on...

what I want to say to the nurse every time they tell me NOTHING

I don't do well with this...

Anyways, this wasn't a post to start freaking out about my side again... it just turned into that...

Needless to say, I'm trying not to let that stop me from MOVING...

I will say, I have been good at logging in my food all week at My Fitness Pal - so if anything, I think I made progress this first week of the year...

I'll take that...

Starting again... about 2 miles BEHIND the start line....

I did it...

I worked out last night.

I haven't really worked out good since October... when I was on vacation, then got a cold, then got my mystery side pain & the holidays & blah blah blah...

I can feel the difference from not working out & watching my food in the past 2 months.

I mean, I FEEL it...

my body just feels off, it feels heavy, I don't feel good.

With this side pain, its been even more aggravating because I literally am in pain 24/7 now.  But I thought, screw it, I have to start somewhere.... so last night, after getting home from an x-ray of my side, I put on sweat pants, my Nike watch & head to the treadmill.

I didn't care to run - just like my resolution - to just move...

Oh my gosh... I didn't realize how much out of shape I am, or feel.

I walked 1.81 miles in 35 minutes.  I felt like a elephant trudging along.

& the worst part.... within the first 15 minutes, my low back starting twanging. My knee started aching. My side pain that is always there welcomed all the aches & pains & said, more people to party with...

& then, I got off the treadmill & just felt even more 'off'... I was dizzy.  I felt strange.

I took my blood pressure about 30 minutes after getting off the treadmill & it was high & slightly odd... the first one was 150/95... the next time I took it about 15 minutes later, it was like 110/89 - which I always heard you don't want those numbers to be so close together.  Then I started mildly freaking out.. what is going on?  My blood pressure is normally like 101/58... LOW... my heart rate was staying in the 90's too.

I don't know if it was because my body was in pain... I don't know if it was because I had a stressful Monday... I don't know if it was because I had to go for my x-ray & am freaking the freak out slightly stressed about what this pain is...

Needless to say, I sat down & watched The Bachelor & knitted some more & just tried to make myself relax...

But I just sat there feeling awful.  Feeling useless.  Feeling like I am not only back at the start line... but I am a few miles BEHIND it... I've never felt this out of shape.  I've never felt this wrong or off.

This morning, I took my blood pressure & it was better. 110/70 ... my back pain didn't linger.  My knee is just its normal ache.  My side pain, still there...

So I'm going to work out again tonight.  Something slow.  I won't push it. I know I have a journey to go down... again... but I've done it before - I'll do it once more.

I've decided I don't like my Brooks....

OK, I know age is creeping up on me, which brings more aches & pains but lately, my feet are just aggravating me.

It's nothing new - not a new injury - something that just flares up every now & then. It involves those little bones on top of your foot.  They hurt so bad.  It almost makes my foot feel like I can't bend it because those bones are just so stiff & achy...

This is exactly where my foot hurts
... & dear Lord, please know this is not my hairy foot...

I went to a podiatrist about them years ago & he said I have a small area in between my bones on my feet that allows the bones to slide & get sort of out of alignment. There's a name for it... I call it pain in my butt...

He even told me, I bet if you have a sibling, they have the same issue.  I asked my brother the next time I saw him if he has issues with his foot like that... & yep... exactly the same. How weird is that?!?!?!

When I'm on my feet a lot, like after a wedding, I REALLY can't bend my foot with the pain.  It's quite aggravating.

So last night, it was what you want for every day weather.  Beautiful grey clouds where the sun peeks through, beautiful fall colors, but still 69 degrees...

I couldn't make myself do P90X... I had to get out in the air...

I choked up my knee in the world's tightest knee brace & set out to do a 5k. I didn't care how long it took me, I didn't care if I crawled - I was going to finish 3.1 miles.  It's been too long since I've done it.

I knew if I ran, I would aggravate my knee & my back & thought, I'm just going to walk it... & it was so beautiful, I didn't care if it took me all night long...

I so enjoyed being out on the road, breathing in fresh air, getting my heart pumping...

... but my dang foot...

Always something...

But I've noticed that ever since I've been using my Brooks, I've been having even more issues.  With everything really.

My knee... my back... & now my feet.

I got fitted for these shoes, but I always say I don't understand how some young kid can fit someone when they see you run for 10 feet.  I mean, of course you can have great form for 10  feet...

Talk to me when my knee & back are aching & I'm running all limp sided & hunchback like...

But since wearing these shoes, I've also been getting blisters so I know they are doing something to my feet.

On a side note - DO NOT GOOGLE anything with the words "hurt foot"... Goodness... there are some disgusting feet out there...

But Ricky needs a new pair of shoes as well, so I think I'm heading back to the store & wanting a new pair myself.  I'm not even sure I'll go with Brooks.  Maybe back to my old stomping grounds (pun intended?) of Saucony's... maybe another brand?

I just know these ain't working for me...

 

Do you have feet pain?

 

What's your favorite brand of shoes?

Why I dont go to the doctor....

I'm not rich

Bam...

fastest post ever!

Seriously, every time I put something up about my knee, I get one, two a dozen comments about, "just go to the doctor"... "get it checked out" ... most of those comments are from my parents too.

I love that you all care.

I just wish it were easy.

My job, that I have been at for 22 years... I'm old... took away our health insurance about 6 years ago. 

Anyone ever had to get their own health insurance policy?

its a joke... a big fat stupid joke.

What you pay for?  A lot of nothing...

I have to pretty much front everything on my own, all the while paying huge monthly premiums.

Seriously - I have a friend who is a fire fighter that had to just change to a family policy since he & his wife had a baby.... their amazing, fantastic health insurance is like $125 more then mine a month.  Their coverage takes care of 3 people... a baby on top of that.. & only $125 a month?

Stupid

So if I go to the doctor, I know there is nothing he can do besides tell me to ice it, keep it up, go easy, blah blah blah

... & if it still hurts, come back & we'll do an MRI

Well, he told me the same thing with my bicep tendon & my back pain...& guess what - I still never went back...

& why I'm still in pain.

I had to have an MRI for an emergency a few years ago & do you know, I just paid it off a few months ago. 

Seriously.

So yeah, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to the doctor & get it checked & have an MRI to know what's happening...

anyone want to front that bill? ... yeah... its not as easy as it sounds.

This is me

or at least having it
but having a crappy plan

The even MORE frustrating thing is our work still covers the top big wigs of the company insurance policies.  How is that even fair?

A co worker that is on my level had some big health problems the past few years herself & ended up having to file bankruptcy... hearing her stories of how much she had to pay & the results of how it affected her whole life & that was the only thing she could do?  That scares the fire out of me...that's how awful personal health care is...

I hope this doesn't offend anyone.. I know you all just want the best for a blog-sister... I really appreciate that... I do... I just felt like I needed to explain so you all didn't think I was some weird naturalist hippy or something... which I kinda am... but not to that point where I'm an idiot.

So some people say if they hit the lottery, they're going to Disney World... yeah, I would too - right AFTER I had a huge round of MRI's! 

#100SummerMiles, injuries (again) & good news for slow runners ... that'd be me

So I have to say, I was thrilled to see the latest news on running...

A new, large study has found that even just a few minutes of jogging a day — no matter how slow — can significantly help your health.

& then they said this as well

the surprising finding in this large study was just how little running it took to see a benefit. Researchers found that the lowered death risk was similar across all types, from those who ran more than 150 minutes a week at a fast six-minute-mile pace to those who ran 50 minutes or less a week at 10 minutes per mile or slower. The authors concluded that just five or 10 minutes a day of running at any speed — even slower than six miles per hour (10 minutes per mile) — led to "substantial and attainable" affects to life expectancy.


I had to laugh when they said "slower" is about 10 minute miles... I'm going with the 'or slower' part of that statement.

This makes me feel good about running up & down my driveway to get a mile in.  I did that one time.  Tried for 30 days to get at least 1 mile in a day.  Looks like that's the way to go....

& today is the link up to the #100SummerMiles over at Mind of Kiwi

 

Trying to get in some miles this summer.
Walk, run, do what you gotta do to move... & if you hit 100 miles, awesome. If not, you moved some.

I've been doing this (this is week 2) but didn't document it the first week.  This week, I made sure to take some pics...

I even RAN for the first time in forever on this mile
... knee did decent...
but read below what's happened now...

Even doing #100SummerMiles during lunch & walking in skirts
...whatever works...

So it's been great getting in these miles.

& as I've mentioned, I've been doing the Nike Kinect Training.  It's been pretty neat feeling & seeing the difference in my body.  I am doing more push ups, my squats are getting deeper.  Feeling strong.

.... & then last night, on one of the moves where they have you jump from a squat, my knee popped & had this excruciating pain... I mean, the kind where I fell on the ground, held it & rocked & cried.

It was doing so good. 

I want to break my Nike Kinect disc into a million pieces.

I did walk last night (no pic) & my knee was aching, but dang it... I feel like I'm back to square one.  I had that little taste of running & feeling like I was going to get back there... & BAM. A few jumps & looks where I'm at...

Time is ticking closer to suck it up & go to the doc....

 

Knee/Shin? What is this?!?!?!

So I'm a pro at knee problems.

Ever since I jacked up my hamstrings in BOTH knees at the wonderful age of 11 thanks to martial arts... I can't help I had an awesome high kick...I have known about all things knee for 98% of my life.

Just because....

& when I started running, I REALLY got to know about knees.  My orthopedic doctor listens to me telling him what my issues are & my self diagnosis from WebMD.

So this is why I'm stumped.

My knee started hurting about 3 weeks ago doing the T25 program.  I just thought it was the good ole Runner's Knee acting up.

But when I press on my leg & feel the center of the pain, I'm finding it really lower then my knee... its almost at the top of my shin, right under the knee cap - but on the side.

Don't worry about the red - that's from where I just had an ice pack

What the heck?  This one has me stumped.

If it doesn't ease up soon, I may have to make another trip to my Orthopedic doc.

Runners... people who see an Orthopedic doctor more then any other doctor for health issues.

Any thoughts? 

Fizzle at the finish....

OK... so I'm probably going to be a debbie downer today...

I'm just so frustrated - so aggravated - want to punch something or someone.

Volunteers?

Where's my irritating co-workers when I need them?

 

I'm on the last week of T25... 10 weeks.  I've done every day (except Sundays which is stretching... & well, not really a workout).  Proud of myself getting through it all...

& here we are on the home stretch... & what happens?

I've done something to my knee. 

Well, not something.  It's not like its new. My knee ALWAYS has problems. I messed up my knees in martial arts when I was in elementary school.  Yes, I started martial arts at 7 years old - so by the time I was 11 years old, in 5th grade I had injuries from exercise.  I was on crutches & needed physical therapy for hamstring injuries ... it was quite dramatic.

So I'm used to knee pain... & I know it comes & goes.  Running hasn't helped the knees, but it doesn't really hurt it either. I mean, I hurt it doing T25 - low impact version for goodness sakes.

& I COULD press on & make it through this week, BUT I have a wedding Saturday - which means I have to stand on my feet - & my painful knee - for about 12 hours. Smiling the whole time.  Bending up & down.  Walking all day long from place to place, grabbing equipment, going to the bride & groom whenever they want me.  As of right now, I'm nervous - my knee hurts that bad. 

So my hubs & I decided I take off working out until after the wedding.

it's killing me... I feel like my body is getting fatter & lazier by the minute.

& then, I did the worse thing possible. Remember when I said I wouldn't weigh in until the end of T25. Well, I feel like this is the end anyways - because when I start working out again, I'm going to start my running program....

Got on the scale...

FREAKING.HEAVIEST.EVER.IN.MY.LIFE~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no, I didn't measure. I'll do that tomorrow.

I was too shocked to think about measuring. 

I am up.  Higher then ever. 

Dear God... WHY?!?!?!!?

10 weeks was useless?

Where's that co worker at?  I'm heading into their office now with my dukes up....

Spider Tech Woman... please move closer to me...

So when I went to the expo for my last race, I was excited to see someone applying kinesiology tape.  I was ready to knock everyone out of my way to get there & get taped up.  I love this stuff.

I was hoping someone would be there because I can do my knee & my bicep tendonitis fairly well... my low back?  Yeah - not easy to get to on my own.

My poor hubby...

he tries...

He watches video after video on how to apply this stuff but it never works.  I'm not sure what's going on when he does it.

So yes, I was taped, it got me through the race & my back has felt great for the past week.

... & then... it happened...

Saturday evening, it came off.

I literally wanted to scream, "WHY GOD?"

I guess all good things come to an end.

I thought, its OK... it gave my back time to mend up, its all going to be OK.

Except it wasn't.

Last night, I got out of my car & my back got the worse pain.  Like it had a cramp right in my low back, right where my bulging disc is.

I almost didn't work out & then thought, "Screw that" & popped in my T25 video for the day.  It was rough.  I couldn't move my left leg very well, but once I would get it going, it felt better.  It's when I'd stop that the pain was & then I'd have to work to get moving again.

Actually, working out helped.  Don't know if warming up the muscles helped or what, but I was doing better after the work out then before the work out.

There's advertising for exercise for you.

I got my shower & then thought, let's see what we can do with my KT Tape - see if we can do the same sort of taping....

called the hubs, who said, "I know this isn't going to work"... I was keeping the attitude of, "its going to be just fine"...

It got it on... & it felt good...

except the tape popped off last night in bed while I turned over.

DANG IT!

The lady that put this on for me the first time has a shop, but its like over an hour away from my home.  I can't do that weekly.  Because believe me, if she were close by, I seriously would pay weekly for her to do it. Not even joking.  $10?  Heck yeah, once a week please.

So I just ordered the Spider Tech tape that is pre cut & I'm going to make my husband study & study & study again this video...

Its going to work. He's going to be a Spider Tech pro...

& I'm going to have a happy back...

I DID IT!!!!... now what?

10 miles... the top of the chart... the pinnacle of the training for the half marathon.

it was this weekend.

As usual, I had 2 photo sessions & a busy weekend & didn't know how I was going to get it in.  Especially with the weather on Saturday being cold & rainy...

But I told my husband I had to try to get it in because I had to know if I could do it.  If I couldn't do 10 miles, I was OK with that, but I would know I wouldn't be prepared for the half marathon in 3 weeks (OH MY GOSH - 3 weeks/?!?!?)

Yep... that's my reaction when I realized it was 2 weeks from this coming Saturday!!!

My husband had to work on Saturday & I figured instead of cleaning the house, why not just give it a try... & I did something I NEVER EVER EVVVEEERRR do - thought I'd do the long run on my treadmill.

I don't care for really long runs on the 'mill because it burns my feet after so long & plus, it's just boring.

BUT... I kept hearing of people using their tablets for entertainment & I just downloaded Frozen on there so I thought, let's give it a try...

I started off actually with Netflix & put on "The Spirit of the Marathon"

A tablet, a bottle water & a Luna bar... ready, set, GO!

Is there any better motivation then that?

& honestly, it wasn't that bad... before I knew it, an hour & a half went by & I felt decent.  I kept to the walk/run training plan of 3 minute walk/1 minute run for the first 4 miles.  Then I thought, I'll push it a bit because on race day, the training is walk 3, run 2 minutes... so I said, I'll change it to walk 3.5/run 1.5 ...

I was doing math in my head for about 5 minutes to see if that would help me gain any time.  Actually it would.  Not a lot, but some... & some is better then none.

I was doing really well until about mile 7... then I was just kapooting out.  I think because I didn't have anything but water & was limited on that - I didn't want to stop & have to go upstairs & refill... which I ended up doing anyways because I felt so bad. 

& my Luna Bar isn't what I normally run with & I think that messed up my stomach...

so mile 7, it was bad... but I refilled my water & got an Arbonne Energy Fizz  to add to it & I went back down to finish the 3 miles.

I put on Frozen at that point to push me through.. singing & Disney can get me through anything - right?

I was feeling it in the end.  My legs were tight, I was nauseated...

But I did it...

& finished right when "Let it Go" was playing..
BONUS!

I felt like such an accomplishment was met...

abet a slow accomplishment, but I did it...

but then I was talking to my husband & I'm like, "now what?"

I always said if I could get through 10 miles, I knew I could do the mini...

But I felt so bad in these 10 miles.  I mean BAD at the end.  Was it just nutrition?  Was it because I was on the treadmill?  I know outdoor environments plus RACE environments makes a difference...

& the kicker.  My back... OH MY GOSH... it was aching so bad in those 10 miles.  So much pressure in my low back.  My knees did great surprisingly ... but my back... It would ache on the walk part, but the pressure was ready to BURST on the run parts.

My low back felt like this could happen if someone put a pin in me...

Now I'm confused what to do...

do I try the race & see how my back does?  Do I push myself to maybe some place my back doesn't want to go?

Do I keep at it & go at this slow pace that is going to leave me with a totally embarrassing time?

I don't know what to do really...

Not to mention, the next 2 weeks before the race, I'm going to be doing a wedding and then out of town for the next weekend at a Christian women's retreat... so I'm not even going to properly be able to tamper.

What to do... what to do...

 

If anything, I felt like a queen for a moment when I hit those double digits... while singing "Let it go"

I'll take a moment like that whenever I can get 'em

Not the dreaded Plantar Fascia....

I did my long run of 7 miles Saturday...

applause... bowing...all the good stuff...

But when I was out there, I kept feeling my feet hurt.  I am used to low back pain, sciatica running down my leg, my knees hurting like daggers are being pushed into them... but my feet?  That was new.

I have new shoes that I got a few months back & used to start my training with.  With the winter, they've mainly been on the treadmill...

They may hurt, but they're pretty....

I'm noticing they're not that comfy on the actual pavement.

& I'm thinking they may be the culprit to my pain.

Drats...

Mercy, my foot hurts.  It hurts even to walk right now.

I am a tad dramatic when it comes to pain

Its like what I would imagine plantar fasciitis would feel like, but isn't that in the heel of the foot?  My pain is up right under the ball of your foot - so kind right in the arch.

Ahhh heck - it very well may be Plantar Fascia
... that's exactly where it hurts...
where the line says "Plantar Fascia"

Someone asked me, "Did you step on a rock?"... no, but that's exactly what it feels like.  When you get a bruise from stepping on something.

Maybe I did step on a rock & not notice it...

or maybe I need to make a trip to the local running store as soon as possible for new shoes.

We'll see how my run goes tonight ... & I'm probably going to pull out my old shoes for that.

We have 50's & 60's in the temperatures coming our way... this problem needs to get kicked in its rear & just move on.