Pretty in Pink

Yesterday, if you couldn't guess, was another 10 hour shift. Not only that, but yesterday was our (unannounced) State inspection. Awesome. Then a staff meeting. And by the last few hours of my day, I was just glad I was working with Trish. (See previous entry for a highlight of our work conversations... laughter abound.)

The luxury of not being married, not having kids, and working an unusual schedule gives me the opportunity to sleep as much as my body needs. 9 full hours. I'd love to be an 8 hours or less sort of person. I remember fondly the days when I could get by with 6 - or even 3. But working 40 hours a week and training for a marathon? I need more sleep than that. After a night of restful sleep (thank goodness!) I didn't really want to do anything. I especially didn't want to run. Because I am working full-time, my general thought process for my free time is something like this: "how much time do I have? should I go running? I know I should go running, so I don't die in __ weeks, but what about cleaning up ______? what about doing ______?" Good times, right?

Today I did not want to run, but knowing my work schedule was going to interfere with my training schedule next week I gathered up my clothes. I did not want to run. And then I put on, and laced, my running shoes. This is the first, and only, shoe that was actually picked out for me by a pronation expert. A shoe that is designed for running. And they feel amazing every time I put them on. The weather looked very, very suspect. I just hoped I wouldn't get completely soaked. I wasn't in the mood.

I have five weeks to go, four with quality training potential, until my race. I am beginning to feel a little beat up. This is as close as I have come to running a race "healthy." Of course, I still have five weeks to go... (Remember that I injured myself a mere 10 days before my first half-marathon? oh yes, plenty of time left to do something stupid.) Nevertheless, so far so good. My only complaints are sore ankles (anterior/dorsal tendons; both feet - minor concern) and sore shins (chronic anterior compartment syndrome [worst case scenario] and/or anterior tibial stress syndrome [best case scenario]; both legs, but worse in right leg - moderate concern.) I've really been trying to baby my legs. Menthol massages galore. Yesterday my new KT tape (hot pink) came in the mail! Of course I couldn't wait to tape myself up!

[If you're injury prone and haven't tried kinesio tape I HIGHLY recommend it. It seems expensive, but you wear it for multiple days. The brand I've used in the past would stay on for 3 days. This brand says it will stay on up to 5 - I'll let you know if that is true in a few days. A few tips: I always shave and exfoliate well prior to putting on the tape - I've never even bothered shaving once its on so I'm extra thorough before hand. (yes guys, that means you too) Wipe your leg (or whatever body part) with rubbing alcohol immediately before you are ready to tape. This eliminates oils, or lotions, on your skin that could interfere with the adhesive. The adhesive is activated by the heat from your skin, so make sure you don't touch the sticky side of the tape with your fingers! That will compromise it sticking to the area your treating. When it is in place how you want it, you rub the tape very quickly to increase the amount of heat in the area so the adhesive can set.]

I taped myself last night before bed - that's my usual preference. Kinesio tape increases blood circulation to the area, so I put it on at night so while I'm sleeping my body is hopefully getting some extra relief. I cannot convey how much this tape saves me in the long run! I went running on Monday. I was in so much pain with my anterior tibialis on my right leg, I had a rough time finishing 5K (3.1 miles.) With the tape on, I completed 5.3 miles with only minor discomfort. It truly makes all the difference!

So I've hit the halfway mark: 5 weeks down, 5 more to go. This is where the balancing act begins. Pushing myself enough to improve my endurance (and my health too) without pushing too hard and causing sickness or an injury. [Segue to future entry...]