j-lyn's corner

Went out for a slow recovery run and ended up running fast. I got excited about new music. Or I was just having fun. Or I was angry that the stupid trail was still icy. I dunno. But 9 min miles on an icy trail is pretty good for me.

"You need an iphone to drive down three exits and park on the east side of the freeway?" Yes, yes I do. 

Just when I thought trail running was the equivalent of self-inflicted misery; just when the lyrics of "Stubborn Love" became my running motto: "It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all/ The opposite of love's indifference;" just when I was convinced I would vomit the next time someone tried to tell me that the perdy pink clouds made the 3 hour slog worth it... I actually have FUN running. Real fun, not the "putting sprinkles on and I think I kind of like it" fun but the guttoral laughing running 5 min miles downhill fun.

 I love this pic. Neasts and jun are all classic "I'm cool when I jump" and JimmSG and I look brilliantly awkward.

...although, I did almost puke up some bacon trying to race JimmySG and jun to the top of the mountain. Of course I lost. I knew I would lose. But if I can make someone else push harder to the top and suffer just a little bit more, of course I will! (Replace suffer with some well-played words on helping those faster than me train harder or something else that makes me seem Mother Theresa-ish).

It was fun to run with Neasts after she schooled me at Pony. She's fast! Met new people, laughed with old people (by old I mean old) (ok, no I don't. I'm just the baby and we're all impressed I can tie my own shoes.) I got to meet JimmySG, who is a super speedy climber. I asked him to go push jun once, and he replied that that would just make jun go faster. I didn't mean pace push. I meant literally push. I couldn't keep up to do it. That's what happens when you're the shortest, fattest, youngest, most obnoxious member of the team. But I do bring food to share so I get nice points. I also got to see ScottW's face for the first time. I reintroduced myself.

We ran up Lake Mountain. I tried to hide the fact that I was thoroughly confused about which way was north, east, west, and south and what range was what. I had never looked at the valley from that angle and I had expected it to look different. I am excited to upload the run and go over the location in eagle-view so no one scowls at me the next time I ask if we are north or south of herriman. (hey, at least I knew we were east of herriman, which we were, right?)

All in all it was fun, I guess. I didn't whine.

really, really slow. knee hurt.

"You wrote a bad song Petey"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4FyZwAFZII

...pretty much sums up the day. Went out with a fun crew for 20, began limping after about 6 or 7 miles, walked/ hobbled in the last few. Probably the most pain I've had while running since I ran on a broken foot. The entire knee froze up and I felt unable to move it. Luckily I was able to get a massage in immediately after, and with some myofascial release, ice, heat, and laser therapy I can at least again bend my knee.

In the spirit of being less bitter (I know, who is writing this right?) I am glad I went out today. As much as it sucks feeling like all the healing progress I've made in the last 2 weeks is gone, I am glad because today's run confirmed the diagnosis of the popliteus injury (definitely not a PCL). That little muscle is also easily injured upon impact. Today it seized up on me, which then tightened all the ligaments around my knee, which immobilized my knee and caused excrutiaing pain. 

The massage therapist was able to get the ligaments limber again and then work on the popliteus as well. The injured knee was substantially more swollen and stiff than my other one. I have again regained range of motion, it's just painful still.

Happy birthday to me! The birthday money I've been waiting for since last summer to buy me a real pair of running shorts is going to be spent on a course of 30 min massages. No sense in buying running shorts if I don't get my knee better to run on.... sigh.

These are the shorts I've been wanting since last summer. They'd look rather nice on my skinny little legs. Well, there's always next year (or the vain hope that I'll receive a birthday bonus!)

http://www.inknburn.com/women-s-performance-denim-shorts.html 

Ah yes, also notable is Leslie finding a fish from England. 

woo-hoo rockin' the sub 1 mile run.

 I'm not allowed any rest days (so I'm told) or all my loose ligaments that we're working on will freeze up in the wrong places. So, 0.5+ it is from here on out...

 I woke up today unable to stand on the injured leg to pull pants on. I told them I wouldn't run today unless I could walk without severe pain. Then my massage therapist worked voo-doo magic on me. I can now walk up and down a couple of stairs and stand on that leg! Small progress, hoping after the deep massage/ counter-strain release method soreness wears off and the inflammation settles a bit more I will have a bit more range of motion and can get around a bit more.

Still banking on being able to go for a real run next week. I'm being good to myself and have the next two massages scheduled... 

progress... I was on ibuprofen still.

With JM and CMC. Took it really slowly, no ibuprofen or braces. Knee flared at 3.5 and I walked back to the car.

 It should've only been 4. But I couldn't figure out how to get to the TRAX where we left the cars from dimple dell. Good thing I had both my watch and my iphone to get me back. It was almost epic. Ha. 

Moved at a pretty good pace at dimple dell. Overall average 9 min miles but that's with me stopping 27 times to put on or off the knee strap. I had KT tape on, and ended up spending almost all of the run without the strap.

Compensation injury (right shin) acting up.

After I got my knee warmed up (0.75 mile) I ran feeling excellent. Pretty stiff and a bit painful afterward, so I took ibuprofen after. Now it doesn't hurt at all... 

We also went for a family hike. I'm counting the miles. I can use all the miles counting I can count miling can count get. 

ran a mile, walked 2 miles, ran a mile. conned Ben into coming with the kids and I to dimple dell where the boys drove remote control cars, then we returned a redbox and went home. it hurt after the massage, I got really down.

2 miles at a good lil clip on the port rockwell paved trail. not fast, but at my usual tempo. felt pretty good, especially for asphalt.

10 miles. Met up with Leslie, ScottW, Craig, and Zac. We ran a decent pace, minus the 20 mins of inactivity at the halfway point. Of course on the way back my headlamp died (I haven't charged it in weeks, go me) and I was running with Zac. Finally, someone who is as good at directions as I am... lol. Took a wrong turn and added on a 0.25 mile. Then we waited around for everyone else. Hoping they were still behind us, we headed to the car, only to be embarrassed that they beat us there and knew our mistake. It is a ridiculous fact that I still get confused on the trail behind my house. Oh well, it's a work in progress.

In other news, my knee felt great. Pain fluctuated between a 1-2 for the first 5 and dropped down to a 1 the 2nd 5. I woke up half hour early to spend 20mins heating it and to have some time for squats and lunges before the run- it does so much better warm and with the muscles ready.

I haven't been adding this on, but since last Wednesday I've been working my arse off trying to get my knee healed. The PT stretches, icing, heating, and strengthening takes 1-3 hours a day. About 45 mins of it is entirely useless (so it feels) doing weird weightless moves with my leg and stretching everything around it. I've started some homeopathics, with a couple more that are supposed to arrive tomorrow. Add to that the extra vitamin C, multi-vitamin, and herbal muscle relaxants.... yeah. But the aggressive combo is working! My opposite shin (compensation injury) now hurts more than my actual injury, and even that's improving after some trigger point massage. 

A painful mile after massage. She bruised me this time. I also thought she was working on the wrong knee. Things are pretty much healed... Just sore and stiff.

2 slow miles with the double jogger. Kind of felt trashed today, so I was lazy and didn't cross-train and barely did any PT. I also ate a lot of cookies. Not sure this is going to help the weight loss goals. Not sure I really give a... (swearing ain't ladylike.)

For anyone who actually reads this.... been blasting back to some of my old school punkrock roots. Here's a gem that started my formal musical education: (by my bro-in-law)

"No Tit;" The Queers (Don't Back Down album) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZUFA6zmB94 

That's right. FAST miles. Nothing too incredible speed-wise, did 6 at dimple dell in 50:40. It felt sooo good to pick up the pace a little on the trails! I haven't done ANY intensity training since early Jan, and haven't done any on trails since before the snow hit. I could've picked up the speed more, especially on the downhills, but was still a little skeptical on my slightly wobbly knee. Knee felt fantastic, shin hurt at probably a level 3-4. 

I downloaded music I haven't listened to since I was a pre-tween and listened to it while running. Slightly embarrassed by my playlist now. :) 

For kicks I'm adding my hiking miles. I carried a backpack and helped kids move. Felt good to stretch the knee and shin on the steep talus. 

Did all my PT and was a good girl and cross-trained. Started cutting back the intensity of the cross-training and PT now, I can't taper it as much as I'd like but I do need to cut it back a bit.

Ran a 7:07 mile. Which was a pretty good clip for me, especially not pushing too hard. Now that I trust my legs again I can't resist using them.

Knee pain at a 0 compensation shin at a 1 while running 3 after. I know I know, I'm working on it. 

Recovery day, took the kids mountain biking while I ran. They had blast! Also had a shin from Hades.

Had my shins stripped and it made be bawl. Only did a mile, moderate shin improvement.

2 sub 8's on the trail in the rain. Shin felt "ok," I was still a bit worried how it'd do pacing. Had it stripped again after. Followed by contrast baths. PT, the bane of my life right now.

I know I know, I technically dropped at the aid station at mile 38. But I am a dork (which is a whale penis) and I forgot my gloves at an aid station and added on 3/4 mile there, and then with all the shuffling around at aid stations caring for a runner I added on some more miles. My Garmin and Garmin Connect verify the 39.3 and I want credit for all of it!

Anyways, my real report is here: http://jennilyneaton.blogspot.com/2013/03/night-pacing-lessons-learned.html

Basically, it hurt like the devil, and I only (quietly) winced twice which made my runner freak out and demand details so even though I wanted to be a whiney baby I didn't. He needed to focus on moving forward, not wondering if his pacer's knee was going to blow out for the rest of the season.

Had a great time planning the Zion's traverse trip. And eating as much guacomole as I wanted. Do I at all doubt that my knee will be ready for 50 again in 3 weeks? H-E-Double-hockey-sticks-NO. I just ran 39.3 miles on a wobbly sore knee, that had just 3 weeks of recovery time. In double that it'll be fine. I really think it'll be just dandy in another week or two. I'm done babying it.

In other news, I decided to run at Liberty Park on the mulch trail. Ok, my body decided. I didn't really want to run. I've been having all these weird aches and moans and my body just keeps feeling like I need a good run to get them all out. So as I pull out to the park, I have severe pain on my right leg above my ankle. Screamin pain. WTF??! I decide to run anyways. For about the first 1/2 mile, the ankle screamed and I was convinced I was an idiot but I was desperate for warm muscles. It settled down, knee felt sore and wobbly, but not really painful. By the last 0.25 miles my body felt done.

I thought I was going SO SLOW (I'm thinking 12 min miles) but I look at much watch, and it was just under 27 min for the 3 miles (and I stopped for water.) So apparently my body isn't as wasted as I thought it was. 

Took my lunch break to Dimple Dell. If you want to visit Dimple Dell during daylight hours you need to have a dog. I don't. I'm so not cool.

But I blasted Nelly and ran along, listening to me knee and shin jibber jabber to each other and all the other random pains (glutes, hips, ankles, etc) randomly scream for a half second as they sorted it out. I need a few more runs for everything to "fall back into place." Again, I went in thinking a recover run, but averaged an 8:50 pace through snow and mud. I think my body is just excited to move or something... 

Today I started up the PT again. Hooray for the 1 1/2 hour of stretching and cross training. My MT told me my IT band was tight again and she showed me how to strip it at home with a tennis ball. What a painfully dull way to spend the evening. 

Kids @ dimple dell again. JM stood me up (ok, his Dad was in the hospital) and my kids conned me into taking them mountain biking. I'm not too hard to convince. Fish startled a rattle snake and had a panic attack. Kid can bike pretty fast while screaming at the top of his lungs.

Did a tempo @ Dimple Dell, 5 miles 38:30.

It made me want to vomit. 

10 with Jacob @ Dimple Dell. I managed to convince us we were lost. Not so. Whew.

Ran R Mountain in the 'Burg (Idaho) with the love of my life.

He hasn't run in months.

After 5 miles, he put 1/2 mile between me and him and a 0.75 mile climb.

I debated my love for him.

I returned the favor on the way down. He had flimsy old Merrell pace gloves on, which sucked on the volcanic rock. He didn't stand a chance. I had La Sportiva UltraRaptors.

It was fun to get out with him. I tried to convince him on my birthday to summit Grandeur with me on the dark, snowy, post-holing trail. He opted to take me to the movie theater.

I want to see what he could do in a ultra. He would just have to:

1. stop thinking that 6-10 miles per week counts as "strict training" for an ultra distance that ruins his climbing life

2. not race me. I don't want to get my trash kicked by someone who never runs. 

Finally did a real recovery run. It was terrible. Everything hurt. I hate recovering.