I wasn't sure what to expect, going to the new physical therapist, Monday. I've been running crooked for so long, I figured it was the hand I was dealt in life & I'd have to deal with the consequences as my mileage went up-- & I crashed in a fireball after the finish line- always. While I know exercise can sculpt a body to a degree, I have been grasping at straws since I started running. I don't even know what to ask FOR at a running store, or from a coach. I've had some limited success but I figured I'd roll the dice on this therapist (that I met through the training group at track night). I hoped I might get some new information- a silver bullet. I've had two physical therapists in the past. They were both kind & helped me loosen tight muscles (which alleviated pain); but, I was looking for answers to "why" I was breaking down after each race. I wanted preventative measures and strengthening exercises to AVOID the pain. The equipment through Promedica was top notch. It gave information on my cadence. It gave information on which leg was propelling me more than the other! Videos showed my foot strike & my form collapsing with every foot strike. I'm kind of wondering how I made it this far! Mr. Jeff gave me sideway Monster walks (legs crouched in a lunge position) with a band around my ankles- moving one way, then back to the start. I am doing modified clam shells as well as single leg squats on a block- focusing on not collapsing in form. One leg is strong & has horrible functionality. The other leg is weak & has better function. My heel strike jars everything into my hip, shifting stability. Solution: "patty cake" the ground (my words, not his). I attempted to "drop" at my knee "sooner" rather than extend my leg as far. This resulted in a flatter foot strike instead of heel striking. My muscles would be absorbing the impact of foot strikes rather than a shock wave running up my leg into my pelvis. In theory, I understood his clear explanations. BUT-- in real life, could I implement it? I am surprised to report, "I did it." At least I think I did it. Another treadmill trot should help us see.

I missed my Tuesday track night as I stayed with Jillian to work on a paper. She is quite capable & finished it; but, I sat with her & offered a bit of help in sentence structure. I looked up information with her but had no clear understanding to help much. I did my assigned exercises instead of track. I will feel it, tomorrow. I can feel it working where I usually feel SO tight! I am confident it will help on race day.

I am pleased. Two visits with Jeff, the ultra runner, triathlete & physical therapist. He "gets it" when I say those are my same eventual goals, as well. He is professional & knowledgeable. I am SO optimistic, I can barely stand me! 😆

Do you have Spring Fever, yet? This weather has me cleaning out closets & planning on power washing my house & cleaning out the garage! We've been out to the Metroparks & enjoying the great weather. Spring is "unofficially" here!

Wait! Spring is here? Race time is around the corner as well! No doubt your schedule has been busy with long runs, tempo runs, speed work & hill repeats as you've been juggling work, family life & other fun stuff.

That said, what ELSE do you have to look forward to in April? Oooooooo- there will be MUCH to do on race weekend! Are you coming from out of town? Do you need a place to stay & rest your pre-race jitters? Recommended Lodging List- CLICK HERE

Where do you want to eat?  YUMMY places to eat, locally

Coming with the family & making a weekend of it? Places to go-- Things to see on race weekend

If you are racing, you will, no doubt be stopping at the expo. Where should you go & at what time? HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO — RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP & REGISTRATION

Other events happening Saturday during packet pick up:
** Races for the KIDS :) --FINDLEY DAVIES KID’S MARATHON
** WATCH THE AGILITY ANGELS DOG SHOW

The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon homepage has a WEALTH of information. Check out course maps, road closures and other information, listed above, all in one place.
MERCY HEALTH GLASS CITY MARATHON HOMEPAGE

We'll see you at the start line, soon! --Happy miles!

As I've said MANY times, this year is different than any training year, prior. I'm running more days a week & adding speed work, now. At one of our track nights, a physical therapist spoke  to our group. I chatted with him about dysfunctional SI joints & my history. I got his number, checked with insurance & got my chiropractor to write me a referral. I "rolled the dice." -I am happy to say I went to see him, today. He checked my leg strength, mobility, range of motion, etc. Leg strength: he graded me an "A". Leg function? Well... that was a different story. 🙁 My form collapsed. -The assessment: (he was careful how he worded it- so I share my summation) my hips have the mobility like a guy's not a girl's. I am still heel striking not midfoot or forefoot striking. (That I knew.) My foot is supposed to fall "at my knee" or behind my knee (if you draw a straight line "down to the ground). "I've never seen anyone's foot that far behind their knee..." 😕 He applauded my cadence then we talked about my lack of even foot propulsion. 🙁 He was nice the whole time & extremely professional. I could physically see data to explain the tightness here... & here... & here... Long story, short: I have a winner. When a person can quantify your form & aches in front of your eyes, you know you have a keeper. 👍🏼 I felt life & training was going well when I stepped into his office. I was a bit overwhelmed at the data. At the end, I explained what my goals are. I asked if they were realistic. "Oh, absolutely!" Then he said some other stuff... but I heard the affirmation & can't remember the exact points that came later. He gave a list of "positives" & "slight adjuststments."

I am quite pleased to get ahead of injury & hopefully strengthen weak links. I can't believe what a difference this year is compared to where we were last year. I am not just joyful... I'm happy. 💕

Yes- I've been gone a long time. I've been gone because life has been good! Training is going well- for both Jim & myself. I am taking a glass class at the Toledo Museum of Art, weekly. I am the head coach for Team Ohio's 4-H air pistol kids. Our girls are doing both high school & college- & neither drive- so we've been driving them back & forth between the schools. Work is steady & house work is never caught up... but busy is good.

Glass City Marathon weekend is coming in April. I am running the 1/2 with Jim; so, my full marathon plans will be the following weekend in Canton. I have never run this race. It looks much hillier than Toledo! I am going to do my best, thinking through the strategy & not freaking out too much about pace.

I have NEVER ran this many days a week when training in the past. Even if I don't meet my time goal, I'm confident my performance will be better. I can FEEL the improvement, now, with every training run. I don't take walk breaks, anymore. My pace is much slower when I run with Jim... but, I suspect that it's keeping me from getting injured.

My mom had a stroke a few weeks ago. I've been quiet about it. My relationship with my mom is a strained one. I have visited her & we have talked about her comeback. She is already showing signs of improvement. I told her she has never shied away hard work. She agreed. "This is your new job. It will be work; but, I have no doubt in your ability to work hard." She smiled. She is months ahead of where Jim was... I remind her of this & his comeback. She is hopeful. --And Jim has had some procedures & tests, as well. It appears he is QUITE healthy- other than his diabetes. No signs of fluid in his abdomen. There were signs of a slight lung collapse/lung damage (probably due to being on a vent tube longer than he should have been allowed to be) but he seems to have dealt with it. I'm sure running is good exercise for that. He still needs naps as he does his own "physical therapy." Most pro athletes schedule naps as part of their training. Building his body from emaciation to athlete is tiring. I am just happy to see Jim resting, breathing easily, with color in his face.  The gray/blue hue is gone & his rosy/pink cheeks are back. I know it's ridiculous to say- AGAIN- but I am so grateful...

I know it's all a delicate balance & I worry that it will be disrupted, daily... but for now... busy keeps my mind on tasks & off of worrying. Life is pretty good, right now.

Your sweetie is going to be happy with that race registration you got them. 💕 Registration prices go up, again, on February 15th. Sign up, before the increase.

Registration or gift certificates:

REGISTRATION OR GIFT CERTIFICATES

I'm new to podcasts. Someone recommended Mojo for Running. It has been informative. While I started listening to it, at work, I found out that Runner's World had a podcast. I LOVE IT! Then Runner's World got another podcast: The Human Race. I LOVE IT! I found out about a fourth podcast: Another Mother Runner. At first I found Sarah's speech to Dimity a bit demeaning- okay a lot demeaning... but Dimity didn't seem to mind. Then I saw photos on their website. Holy cow! I certainly don't need to "protect her." She is (in her own words) an Amazonian woman (6'4")! As I tried to get past the chit-chat, I learned a lot. I learned about Altra shoes. I learned about heart rate training... then I heard the following podcast. Another Mother Runner podcast - Mental Toughness  OH MY!!! I listened to it at work. Then I listened a second time due to distractions. I listened a third time, at home, where I could take notes.

Many know I doubt my abilities. I, often, get PHYSICALLY SICK with anxiety before a race or even a training run. I emotionally shut down. I tell myself to suck it up... but I feel worse if I "yell at myself" & implode. I have listened to this podcast numerous times & this is what I took away from it (for me): POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY.

*Do not focus on avoiding being fearful--> you end up steering right toward it (Don't tell yourself: "Don't be scared of -----." It's putting the idea in your head & will backfire.)
*Connect to something positive or NEUTRAL to keep you moving (When skiing, don't fear hitting a tree. Focus on the area between the trees & you will steer there.)
*Remind yourself: "This is what I love..."
*Remember: you are "prepared" (In life we get sick or situations arise that we miss training. Remember that you've prepared for years before this...)
*Focus on your BREATH- slowly & deeply to create a calm
*As endurance athletes we are an anxious or pressed bunch, we get wrapped up in tracking too much (HR, pace, etc).

*Connect to your body's "flow of movement." (Get out of analyzing everything & be in the moment of what your body is doing. Focus on that breathing.) 

I found myself getting anxious about tomorrow's long run. I heard this last night & today. I feel butterflies as I contemplate tomorrow with a group of people... but I will attempt to apply the points above. 

The question I get the most is: "Why do you get so anxious?" I was seriously injured at the beginning of learning to run. I kept running in that injured state with no relief- a leg out of socket & a misaligned SI joint. All of my "progress" was making things WORSE. I equate any progress with an eventual downfall. I am taking steps to avoid this but biomechanics are often going to stay. I am always waiting "for the other shoe to drop." 

For now, I follow the training, do more preventative... & remember to breathe... 

My swim teacher missed her second week with me. She is having a bit of a family situation. She is normally quite open & frank; but, has been reserved with communication. I'm hoping all is ok. In the meantime, I'm going to the pool, anyways. I try to do my own thing & just practice. My breathing is easier; but, I'm still quite winded just making it across the pool. I remember what my teacher told me: exhale completely & slow down your arms. The concept of not holding your breath & slowing down seems "simple." It's amazing that I have to THINK that through, though! I try to apply... & feel better as I make another length of the pool. My heart is still racing; so, I wait-- a long time. I know I'm not fluid. I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I notice I "bob" extremely low in the water whenever I use my left arm. Jim showed up to offer some advice & critique. He's trying to explain how Michael Phelps reaches farther, then is able to extend his pull in the water. I try. I bob... but I make it across the pool with no "panic." I don't know what I changed. I just know "I didn't used to do that. Now, how do I fix it?" Jim took a video and shows me in slow motion... 🙁 My right arm comes out of the water, most of the time "okay." My left arm doesn't clear the water enough & "scrapes" the water making a wave every other stroke. There is also a regular hesitation. I'm guessing it's me realigning myself in the water; but, I'm not sure. I'm still disconnected from what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm far from a strong swimmer-- but I am making it across the pool, now.

Progression is a reason to cheer... & then quickly re-evaluate plans and goals. I'm curious how my teacher is going to fix what I'm not sure is "broken." 😁 When the pool called & cancelled with me, I was relieved. The pressure was "off." I guess I should feel more pressure when she's not present. I want to be The Little Mermaid... not floundering Flounder! 😜

I do hope all is a well with her family... I kind of miss her, though, as my family.