October 21, 2021

Return to Running Recap : Week 21

This is going to be a super short post, because of the simple fact that I actually have no recap--because I didn't run this week!


For the past three days, I was stressing myself out about "Holy crap, I have to hurry up and somehow get three runs in before Thursday so that I can post about my running or it's going to look like I'm lazy and full of excuses!"

Then yesterday, I decided that you know what? It's okay to just write that I haven't run this week. That I took a week off for the first time since late May. A "rest week".

If anyone else had asked me, as a running coach, what I would thinking about them taking a week off, I would tell them that there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes we just need a short break--mentally or physically--and as long as it's not due to procrastination or sheer laziness, I think a break is totally fine.

In my case, it's been for both mental and physical reasons. (I do know that running would probably help both of those things, but it's hard to see that play out in my mind, which is why I chose to take a break instead). My mood is starting to feel more stable (probably due to a dosage adjustment on my meds), so I'm hoping that this mixed bipolar state is over soon. The symptoms are definitely lessening.

As far as physically, my pain level has been pretty bad. When I spent over six hours driving on Monday, I was in SO much pain from all the sitting and being unable to shift positions. I also had a really hard time the following day. I've been stretching and foam rolling (and using a ball similar to a tennis ball to press along my sacroiliac joint. Since my x-rays showed problems with my SI joint, the radiologist recommended that I get an MRI. My follow-up appointment with my rheumatologist is next month, but I contacted the office with the hope that I could get an earlier appointment.

Now that Eli is done with soccer, I feel like I can get back to a "normal" routine. Our afternoons/evenings have been kind of chaotic for the last month, and when I get out of routine, I feel anxious and overwhelmed. 

Anyway, all of this is to simply say that I took a week off of running. I'm feeling recharged, though, and I want to start the MAF80 plan that I wrote. I plan to start that tomorrow, and I'll likely run on Fridays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The weather here has been GREAT fall weather and perfect for running--so I'll probably be doing outdoor runs much more frequently. I'd really like to start running in the mornings, too--it's just hard when I feel so stiff! I do think that it would make me feel better for the rest of the day, though. I'll give it a try this week.

6 comments:

  1. I wonder if your MRI will show something like ankylosing spondylitis? (I’m sure I spelled that wrong!) I hope you get in to see your rheumatologist soon, and feel better.

    I have inflammatory arthritis, and I’m too stiff to exercise in the morning too. I spend the first hour of the day stretching in bed, wiggly one body part at a time. Some movements were learned at physical therapy. Others are from low-impact yoga videos. My dogs climb on me while I stretch, which always makes me crack up. And we all have heard that laughter is the best medicine. I finally limp out of bed when the dogs ask to go out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny you mention that--that's what I spent several hours researching yesterday. The symptoms all line up so well. It wouldn't be a great diagnosis to have, but it would give me a lot of answers and other treatment options!

      Delete
    2. So I thought I had that diagnosis and my husband who is a physician (allergist/immunologist) was confident too. I had MRI/X-RAY and everything was normal. She prescribed Celebrex but you can’t rake it long term.

      Then a few weeks later I was talking to a friend telling her how I felt and she said she felt similar and someone mentioned giving up dairy. At the time I was a vegetarian so I was eating a lot of dairy, making my own yogurt. So I very sadly gave up the dairy and it’s crazy the majority of the symptoms went away.

      When I told the rheumatologist she was surprised. I eat very clean (Whole 30ish/gluten free bc I get bad migraines) and she said she hear people getting some relief with a more whole food diet but never the dairy! 😳🤣.

      I do cheat every so often and I can feel it the next day. 😆

      I hope you get some answers. I feel like that with my migraines. They take me down and it’s hard to come back sometimes. I too feel bad that I don’t go to Orangetheory or go for a run outside, but sometimes our bodies/minds need a break.

      Delete
  2. Hi Katie,
    I know it's easier said than done, but go easy on yourself. Physically and mentally taking that break may be the best thing to do. There is a lot to be said for routine but taking a "down" week even if that's a total break or a lowering in intensity is a great idea in a training plan at every level. As an injury prone runner (also following up the AS diagnosis...just as soon as I finish buying this house!) I find the break happens every few weeks naturally or ends up being enforced by injury or burnout.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Smart move. Listening to your body is so critical. It will tell you what it needs if you listen. My father had RA and it can really knock you down. For the first 6 months he would need to rest in the middle of the day.Good thing he owned his own business. We had to move a sofa to office. Once he got on a plan, the improvement was dramatic. He always had pain, but he was able to do things he was unable to for a while. I hope you get to the bottom of your pain issues. It took a while for the doctors to determine RA was my Dad.

    ReplyDelete

I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

Featured Posts

Blog Archive