running update

So something absolutely horrible happened to me about 9 months ago. I got injured running! I have been running pretty consistently since I was in 4th grade. It is who I am, a total lifestyle to have my body moving and exerting itself like that on a regular basis. I have never really been injured before so this has been such a struggle. It really started before that. I wasn't ever feeling very good. I always felt sluggish, tired, drained, even when I got lots of sleep. I couldn't keep up with everything and it made me feel depressed. I was running on the treadmil and at the time didn't realize how intense I was running. I was doing fast & hard speedwork 90% of the time. I remember one day in November I had a random thought that said I'd better slow down or I'd get injured. But me?? stop running? Um, no...I'll risk the injury. I can't not run at least 3 days a week. So about a month after that the inside of the right knee started feeling swollen and painful. I took about 10 days off running and it just got worse! I started to research online and asked my friend, Shelby's husband who is a physical therapist. We decided it was bursitis which is an overuse injury and with some ice and aleve it should get better and I didn't need to stop running, just take it easy. So I tried doing that and it didn't change much so i ran even less and started doing some workout circuits with weights instead, again not realizing they were still pretty intense, and I ended up with a really sore hip one day. The knee felt worse when I didn't run/exercise and the hip KILLED when I ran at all. Even a few steps down the street. So I didn't something I haven't done in years (except when pregnant) I went to the doctor. He basically told me what I already knew...bursitis in knee and overuse strain or possible tear in him fascea and sent me home with a referral for physical therapy and orders to take aleve all day long. I went faithfully for 12 sessions doing everything she told me to do, did my icing and took my aleve. And it still wasn't getting better at the rate I wanted it too. By the end she had me running for 4-6 minutes at a 5 speed on the treadmil and after that my hip would hurt for the next 24 hours and clearing up just in time for my next 4 min "run".

Throughout all this I was pretty devastated. Running, and running well, has been the only thing about me I have been able to take along with me through these last 10 years of giving everything else up. I don't dress how I'd like, my hair never gets done, I didn't finish school, I don't do anything for me except run. I cried so often over the dissapointment in this b/c I wasn't sure I'd ever get better. On PT told me I would probably never run again, reading similiar situations online told me the same thing. I'd  have this pain for live. I have had dreams of running the boston marathon and competing in triathalons which were out the window as well as playing a simple game of tennis with Ben (I couldn't move my leg for a day afterwards and I did my best to not run at all). I felt so discouraged and frustrated that nothing was working and felt sloppy and gross b/c I'd been slowing gaining weight over these months of injury.

Then one day after my PT sessions had run out I decided to stop taking the stupid aleve and stop icing b/c I felt I never really knew what was affecting my knee b/c those things would mask the real feelings. I also quit doing the most strenuous PT exercises she had me doing b/c those seemed to make both injuries flare up too. I stuck to using the eliptical, lots of stretching, and basic squats and lunges. Then only day I decided to try running barefoot on the treadmil. I was able to run for 8 min before feeling any pain...Twice as long as with shoes! I was so excited to see this tiny but wonderful improvement. I continued to run about 2 times a week barefoot and slowly over the next couple months increased my running to about 1.5 miles (this would take a good 20 minutes as I ran very slowly)

I left to Utah in July and after all the sitting and driving I could barely move my leg b/c of the hip pain afterwards. I went hiking and tried carrying evrett but that left me in pain. My knee would flare up randomly and keep me from sleeping b/c if anything touched it the pain would wake me up. I tried running a few times with Haylee but ran in shoes b/c we went outside and went 1-2 miles and had some pain afterwards.

So, we came home from our trip and I was determined to get this leg better. I went to a speciality running shoe store and after buying and returning the first 2 pairs I finally found some that I liked. They are minimalist shoes...so as close to running barefoot with still having a shoe on. They aren't comfy to walk or stand in but I love them running. I also became more consistant with good eliptical and weight workouts.

It has been a month since we returned from our Utah trip and I ran 5 miles in my new shoes the other day with NO PAIN. Hours later I had slight discomfort in my hip but that was it.

My knee only gets painful if I sit in a weird position for too long and it gets stiff.

So I think I had overused my hip and caused some damage. Getting these new minimal shoes has caused me to run differently...I land on my midfoot and not my heal. So my leg muscles are being used just a bit differently and with less impact. So I am getting better! I still slow....getting down to 8:30 min miles on a 3 mile run but I'm wiped out afterwards, but I am just happy to be running!

I think this whole thing was a huge learning experience for me. 1. I need to take care of myself. I was running too hard before with no stretching and not enough fuel (always on such a tight food budget). I think that is why I was feeling so crappy for so long. Heavenly Father knew the only way to slow me down was to give me an injury that kept me from running for awhile but didn't keep me from being able to take care of the house & kids.

I also had to work really hard to be happy. I had to find other ways to get that mental and physical break that I got while running.I'm also able to go a few days without running and feel OK. Before i'd go crazy until I could get a run in.

And I now can sympathize much better with people who struggle to lose weight. I tried watching what I ate and was walking for exercise and would still gain weight! It was horrible! When you run the weight just falls off compared to any other type of exercise.

I think my improvement has also been another blessing of serving in this calling in primary. When my blessing said my load at home would be lightened I think this is part of it.

Now I'm just so so so grateful to be running. I don't know if I will ever get near the speed or distances I used to be able to run. But running 10 min miles or 6 min miles are both running and I'm thrilled to do either!