Running Chick

I was able to do my 9-mile run on Sunday after four day of rest. It was purposely slow - my average pace was 12 minute/mile. Cripes, I haven't been that slow in ages. Of course, I did stop and stretch every mile, so that probably added to my slowness factor. I was supposed to run seven miles last night, and I only made it to two before I stopped. My legs are in bad shape.

I have pain which starts mid-calf and radiates down to my ankle. It's manageable with Ibuprofen, but only rest seems to make it go away completely. The day after a run, I can barely walk.

I'm throwing everything I can think of at this injury. I'm using ice, heat, I'm stretching several times a day and massaging my calves regularly. I replaced my shoes. I replaced my insoles. I'm taking Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

Nothing has worked yet.

I'm getting a deep-tissue massage this afternoon and I have an appointment with the sports doctor next Wednesday.

As I see it, I have two options.

Pull out of the HM completely. An option that's not looking too bad as I sit here with throbbing, burning lower legs.

Last year, despite all the b.s. I went through with the twisted ankle and knee and being under-conditioned and wondering what the hell I'd gotten myself into half-way through the race, I had a blast.

I really want to run this race.

So, option two is to completely rest for the next 15 days and run it. That means no running or biking. For 15 days.

It also means that I must seriously monitor my calorie intake so I don't gain any weight. Adios, cerveza. *weep*

I'm fairly confident that with that much rest, I'll be able to run (heck, I was able to complete 9 miles on four days of rest), but I won't be setting any new personal records. I suppose I could just attempt to beat my time from last year's race, but I was really hoping to do better than Eagle River.

But, 15 days of not doing anything? I'll go crazy.

Maybe I should take up knitting. Basket weaving? Embroidery?

Maybe I should just give up running.

What a depressing thought.

My legs are bothering me again. I think the climb from Bridge Street to Dodgeville was too ambitious. I can't afford to take any more time off so if I can't get my legs back under control soon, I'm going to have to pull out of the HM.

I just checked my last few reports. I haven't had a good run since the beginning of August. This is not good, peeps.

Not good at all.

DO NOT eat an entire Pemmican bar 30 minutes before you head out for an 8-mile run. You will end up with horrible heart burn and nausea and have to call your boyfriend to come and pick you up after six nasty miles.

Seriously, I'm not even going to post my run statistics because it was so bad. I felt so awful that I was scoping out the bushes to see if I could find a secluded spot to go make myself throw up. I hate throwing up, so that never came to fruition. I would make a bad bulimic.

On the bright side, there was no sign of the lower leg issues I was having a couple of weeks ago. That's the only good thing I have to say about my run.

Yep, that's it.