So weekly updates didn’t last too long, did they? Sigh. I’ll just plead life and know you all understand. This will be a quick one but here’s what’s been going on:
Sven the trainer is still awesome. Last week, I emailed him and told him I was game to up the intensity of the workouts. He answered that with a workout yesterday that left me in a sweaty puddle on the floor at times. It was one of those intense, push yourself to the limits workouts where you are so fatigued yet have a huge grin on your face because you are enjoying every minute of it. It truly was awesome and I look forward to what he has in store for me next week. And, the workouts are working. I have muscle definition in my shoulders and back for the first time that I can remember. If I could lose the excess pounds around my middle, I have a feeling there are some toned ab muscles under there. I can see a hint of the muscles so that’s exciting. Muscles in my stomach? Who would have guessed!
On a different note, I did suffer an injury 2 weeks ago. L and I had a 2o mile training run scheduled and she had to cancel at the last minute. I was dressed and ready to go so I figured why not, I’ll go alone. I hadn’t taken a day off in over a month and was achy and tired when I started out. About 8 or 9 miles in, my back started to hurt. By mile 16, I was in agony and had to quit. By Tuesday, I was unable to get out of bed because I couldn’t sit up or roll over due to the insane pain. I was unable to bend over and put my shoes on. But, you know me, I still went to run. I gritted my teeth through the first 30 minutes and then slowed to a walk. After another 30 minutes, that was it. I couldn’t move another step. The next day I tried to walk a mile just to loosen the muscles and then went and iced it for 20 minutes. I worked out with Sven on Thursday and managed to get through the workout but was in a lot of pain when I was done. (And, yes, when I told Sven yesterday that I had hid the pain from him, I was in trouble.) I took a couple of days off and pounded ibuprofen and by Sunday I was able to run 13 miles and am almost off the ibuprofen now. Thank goodness.
And now for something exciting! I was able to put together a team of 12 runners and we all signed up for the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage Run. We’re running 187 miles over two days from Blaine to Langley. I am psyched! And the relay race ends on my 40th birthday. How exciting would it be to run the final leg and cross the finish line on my 40th?
Next time: An update on the relay team and I’ll fill you all in on what’s been going on regarding the diet and nutrition side of all this training.