Sinus Infections don't make you run faster

Last week was a bit of a bust due to a nasty sinus infection.  I was extremely sleep deprived from the pain in my jaw that that nasty infection was giving me.  And then the headaches just wouldn't end.  So this is what I ended up with:

Tuesday:  full body weights- added in lunges to lower body

Thursday:  4 1/2 mile run at steady state for 7 minutes and recovery for 2 minutes

Friday:  full body weights

Saturday:  9 mile run that probably included 3 miles of walking.  My body was not happy with me for any part of this run.  It just seemed hard on my lungs and my whole lower body was hurting.  My piriformis was throbbing and my hips just ached.  I was even with Jodi for part of the run and it wasn't enough of a distraction!  All I can figure is that the lunges must be working that muscle too much and I need to modify them, make them easier some how or just eliminate them.  Maybe it was just a bad day.  I hurt all the rest of the day and all night long.  But thanks to Janz and the rolling pin, (it dug in there deeper than my foam roller) by Monday I was doing very well.  I'm still continuing to stretch it, but during my run today it didn't hurt at all.  And in fact, I forgot to wear my knee bands and had no knee pain whatsoever!  Hooray!

Oh and I'm still continuing on with my abs and pushup program.  It's getting harder but it feels good to know that I'm getting stronger and by the end of the week, I'm ready to move on.  

And I am thankful for each step I am able to take.  Read Mike's 1/2 marathon adventure and be inspired.  

Again...weekly recap

Monday:  full body weights and stretching 

Tuesday:  3 miles of interval work on treadmill

Wednesday:  full body weights and stretching

Thursday:  4 miles of 6 minutes running and 2 minutes walking intervals.

Friday:  2 miles of recovery and full body weights and stretching

Saturday:  5 1/2 miles on treadmill.  Planned on 6, couldn't do it any longer.

I've continued with my abs and pushups.  I'm on week 3 now and my abs are killing me today.  On the up side- everything else is doing well.  I'm amazed at how well my piriformis is holding up and the IT band pain is pretty much completely gone.  I've just got to keep up the stretching and rolling and not slack off.  Hopefully by the time the hill training needs to start, I'll be ready to jump right in.  

If you get a second, pop over to Mike's blog and check out his last couple of posts.  There's a good laugh, an inspirational story, and his detailed countdown to his next half marathon.  It's worth checking out!

Weekly Report

Monday:  weights

Tuesday:  3 miles interval work- increase slightly from last month and added an extra repetition.

Wednesday:  weights

Thursday:  3 miles steady state- increased slightly from last month too.

Friday:  8 -1/2 miles slow running.  Felt so good to run "far" again.  I've really missed it.

I've also been doing this crazy beach ready workout with my sister.  This is week one for us!It consists of 100 crunches and 10 push up every day.

Week two 150 crunches, 15 push ups

Week three 200 crunches, 20 push ups

Week four 250 crunches, 25 push ups

Week five  300 crunches, 30 push ups

Week six  350 crunches, 35 push ups

Join in if want!  I need people to suffer with!

Equal Time, really?

It seems like the older I get, (and I'm not THAT old) the more time I'm spending on the pre and post part of the workout.  I know some of you know what I mean.  Anyone who says that they can just get up and go run is young.  My routine is getting painfully longer and I'm not enjoying it.  However, I think it is helping my body, so I guess I'll have to continue.  The stretching, the rolling my IT bands and piriformis, the icing, and then the post workout meal seems to be taking as long as the work out itself.  Last week, while doing some lower body exercises, I kinked my piriformis right back into full injury mode.  I'm learning what exercises I can and can't do.  The bridge pose with one leg extended is not one of them.  I've quit doing the stair stepper too.  However, I was SO diligent with the heating pad and my stretches and about 2 days later it was almost completely gone.  I really couldn't believe it.  While rolling my IT bands last week, I found a spot about midway up my leg that feels almost like a  knot.  I've been working on that slowly (as it hurts very badly) and I think it's working itself out too.  So, all in all, that time must be paying off.  I guess when you're injured and getting older it gets more important to take that longer warmup and stretch like crazy afterwards!  See... I'm learning!

For last week...  Monday- still felt tight after Saturday's run so I did yoga (this is where I kinked my butt again.)

Tuesday- 3 miles of interval work

Wednesday- 2 miles easy recovery and weights

Thursday- 3 miles of 9 minutes running, 2 minutes walking

Friday- yoga and weights

Saturday- 6 miles of slow running