Wow! It's been months since I've been on here. First, I was letting the colder months get the better of me and slacked off over the holidays with the intention of getting back to it at the beginning of the year. Then... I injured my back and was told no running, no Zumba and no yoga. Not even yoga! Somehow I ended up with severe pain resulting from a sacroiliac joint dysfunction and nothing I did was comfortable.
I couldn't sit, stand or lay down without pain that, at times, brought me to tears. After a couple of doctor visits and a couple of ineffective prescriptions for pain meds, I got into the Spine Center at University of Michigan Hospital and saw a Physical Therapist. My PT quickly became my new BFF and gave me lots of homework to increase my flexibility and strength, which I did without fail most days. Finally... relief! But she wasn't about to let me do more than the exercises that she prescribed and I wanted to heal, so I did as she said. The Cork Town Race came and went, without me running it, which was very disappointing to me. Last week she gave me the clearance to start running again, but I felt like I was going back to square one with my training.
Luckily, about the same time, I signed up with a running coach - a benefit that I get through the ACS DetermiNation program. And an AWESOME benefit it is! My new coach, Luke, got my information and learned what I did before and what I've been doing lately (nothing) and set up a program for me to get me back on the road. Today was my first day out and it felt really good!
My performance wasn't great, but not so bad, considering, I guess. My pace was slow, and he has me doing 2 miles, 3 or 4 times a week at a comfortable pace until my next 5K on April 21. Well, I have a 5K this weekend, too, but I'll not be running that one. I'll walk it, as that will be one of my off days for running. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement that the upcoming weeks (and months) will bring, but right now I'm just taking it 2 miles at a time.
Here is my race schedule for the rest of the year. I am planning to add some in - at least one a month, so I can get some competitive runs under my belt before my big ones in October, so this list will be growing as time goes on, but I thought I'd share what I have on the calendar right now:
March 31 - April Fool's Run - Clarkston, MI
April 21 - Feet and Friends Fighting Colon Cancer - Ann Arbor, MI
May 6 - Cinco de Mayo Race - Mexicantown, Detroit, MI (shouldn't that be Seis de Mayo?)
July 22 - Rock and Roll Mini Marathon, Chicago, IL (hopefully)
October 6 - Fall Colors Mackinaw Bridge Race, St. Ignace to Mackinac City, MI
October 21 - Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Half Marathon, Detroit MI and Windsor, ON Canada
I need to get to work on finding a few more races to fill in June, August and September!
Stop back here on Wednesday and I'll check in after my next 2 miles. I was so excited to run today - AND get to wear my Runner Girl necklace for the first time in AGES - I know I'll be following the program that Luke set up for me so I can feel this great and wear it again in a couple of days. Yes... I can be bribed to run with jewelry - and it's jewelry that I already own!
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