For a while now, I've been wanting to find a vice. Not much appeals to me in the way of drugs or alcohol. Ibuprofen is about all I can stomach. Gambling and cheating are out, as I wear my heart on my sleeve and can't lie to save my life. Anything outside of my marriage would destroy me emotionally. In all this thinking about wanting a vice, I started to realize that I've been regemintally eliminating some of my most creative outlets. Planning dinners, planning my evenings and weekends with workouts. Perhaps it was the sneaky trip to LA with JE, or the dinner I cooked-- no recipe and completely unplanned--the way I used to cook, that made me realize how much I miss these quiet and achievable bits of creativity.
Life is easier, when I have some things planned, but my creativity needs to go somewhere. I need to find that outlet, and fast.
I sneaked a run this evening. It felt so good. Just five miles. In all this chiropracty and kinesiology, I've learned something about the way I run. I'm taking steps to correct a simple mistake, and discovering some speed and endurance I didn't know I had. My hip pain is caused by my feet collapsing down on my extremely high arches. Generally, I thought I ran fairly neutral, but I think as I get tired over longer distances, my feet start caving in. This would explain a lot, including why my right shoe starts hitting my left inner ankle bone after so many miles. Orthotics should enter the running picture soon, to give my sneakers a bit more support.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Physical
It was an interesting doctor visit, this morning. I'm not sure I've heard the word "perfect" used in regards to my health, ever. We went over my bloodwork and that was the term my doc used repeatedly to describe my liver, kidney, thyroid function. As well as all of my cholesterol, sugars, and salts. All systems are perfect. No sign of anemia, or other lack. I've never had a doctor tell me that I could go to In and Out and eat a cheeseburger, fries and a shake. Pretty cool. I've worked really hard on that. But I'd rather have a crab dipped in drawn butter.
Monday, I went to JE's chiropractor and was adjusted. He is an adjuster, not a bone crusher. It was great, followed by some deep tissue massage and a follow up adjustment. Worth the time. The deep tissue massage is something I've wanted to have for a while, but hadn't found anyone who did anything akin to deep tissue. My shoulders and hips are feeling so much better. I'm not running this week, just swimming and cycling. That mania can wait a bit. I'll do some short runs next week and see how it goes.
My swim today was bright and light. I spent most of my time focusing on the mechanics of swimming, and trying to gain as much length in my torso and legs as possible. One and a quarter nautical miles in about thirty eight minutes. Funny how when I slow down and focus on form, I usually speed up. There are dorm decent adult swim classes around. I'd like to go and try that out.
Monday, I went to JE's chiropractor and was adjusted. He is an adjuster, not a bone crusher. It was great, followed by some deep tissue massage and a follow up adjustment. Worth the time. The deep tissue massage is something I've wanted to have for a while, but hadn't found anyone who did anything akin to deep tissue. My shoulders and hips are feeling so much better. I'm not running this week, just swimming and cycling. That mania can wait a bit. I'll do some short runs next week and see how it goes.
My swim today was bright and light. I spent most of my time focusing on the mechanics of swimming, and trying to gain as much length in my torso and legs as possible. One and a quarter nautical miles in about thirty eight minutes. Funny how when I slow down and focus on form, I usually speed up. There are dorm decent adult swim classes around. I'd like to go and try that out.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
It's interesting how something can change so much in only a year. Last year, I was working in the shop I'm currently at and so happy to be there. It was light and fun, and I really enjoyed the work--even though it was a bit unorganized. This year, I'm working on the same dance show, but things have gotten out of hand. I'll save you the gory details, but it's so bad, that when I get home from work, all I want to do is crawl into bed. But I usually don't. After dinner, I lay in the middle of the living room floor, bemoaning my state of fatigue and wondering how on earth I'm going to remove myself off the floor and get myself into bed. I've been running and even commuting by bike to work, but my swim disappeared this week. It was replaced by overtime and a pathetic attitude.
What am I doing? I never thought I would hate what I do. Is it just this shop?
Ran today. 15 miles, but the last three were halted by a bum leg. It's getting worse.
JE went to see a chiropractor this week. Tis is hopeful stuff. One of his coworkers recommended him, as he is a specialist to get runners moving faster and more symmetrical. I'm going as soon as this show is up!
What am I doing? I never thought I would hate what I do. Is it just this shop?
Ran today. 15 miles, but the last three were halted by a bum leg. It's getting worse.
JE went to see a chiropractor this week. Tis is hopeful stuff. One of his coworkers recommended him, as he is a specialist to get runners moving faster and more symmetrical. I'm going as soon as this show is up!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Go suck lemons!
It's a funny thing: as I run, I'm writing. Proseful, enlightened, intelligent thoughts. When I finally sit down to capture my day, I'm often just too tired to worry about it.
The ground was wet with rain, this morning as I set out. JE came with me to my early morning appointment. As part of a multifaceted physical, I had some advanced imaging done this morning. That was the worst part of my day. JE took me to breakfast, dimsum at Capital Seafood in Diamond Jamboree. Those were the best shumai I've ever had. And I'll admit that we went to 85c and got bread. Multigrain with walnuts and raisins (and sugar in there by the buckets, I'm sure). It was the perfect breakfast to go set a new distance record. Fifteen miles! We ran happy, sucking on lemons from the lemons grove during the long stretches between drinking fountains.
We've been sucking lemons for a couple of weeks, now. The lemons act as little pouches of über thirst quenching juice. When rolled around in hand and pinched within an inch of its life, the juice is released from the pockets and a quick bite on the end unleashes all that goodness straight up. Last week, on our fun run, we sat in the grove, sucking lemons, watching a blimp fly down near Santiago Canyon the disappear as it headed out toward the coast. I'm not sure who is flying that thing, but I need on it! Life list, right there. It wasn't the Goodyear blimp, either!
Last Saturday, I didn't even want to run. My body has been under a load of stress, and has been revolting when I threaten any distance. It's just nerves, I tell myself and push forward anyway. So last week, I set a limit: run eight and enjoy it. Eight is no small fete but completely doable. And so we ran. All weekend, we lounged around and just took some time to reconnect to each other, our home, and our estranged cats. It was the first truly relaxing weekend we'd had together in months.
As I alluded earlier, I found a doctor. Finding the right doctor is akin to dating, I think. I have certain expectations and hopes. I take those to the doc's office and hopefully ask the right questions to discovering if this person and her opinions, practice, and expertise is something I could live with for the next so many years. My expectation was that this doc was old school enough to prescribe drugs as a last resort, not a quick fix. Check. My hope was that she would be compassionate and as caring as insurance companies allow her to be. Check. She blew me away. She listened to my complaint, talked to me about it, resolves my concerns in a compassionate manner. When I told her my previous doctor had only prescribed a muscle relaxer, she said, " Oh, that's not what you need. We need to get you into physical therapy so we can treat this old injury and allow it to heal." She, too, is a runner.
Recently, to help with my post run pain, I've been wading out into the unheated pool in my area and walking around for twenty minutes. The water is incredibly clear and cold. I am usually out there wading up to my waist, my upper half shrouded in my warm blue fuzzy fleece. I look ridiculous but, it seems to work fairly well.
Gram's tomorrow. She hasn't been well and it is affecting her spirits. We are borrowing our neighbor's small dog to take to visit her. She will love it.
The ground was wet with rain, this morning as I set out. JE came with me to my early morning appointment. As part of a multifaceted physical, I had some advanced imaging done this morning. That was the worst part of my day. JE took me to breakfast, dimsum at Capital Seafood in Diamond Jamboree. Those were the best shumai I've ever had. And I'll admit that we went to 85c and got bread. Multigrain with walnuts and raisins (and sugar in there by the buckets, I'm sure). It was the perfect breakfast to go set a new distance record. Fifteen miles! We ran happy, sucking on lemons from the lemons grove during the long stretches between drinking fountains.
We've been sucking lemons for a couple of weeks, now. The lemons act as little pouches of über thirst quenching juice. When rolled around in hand and pinched within an inch of its life, the juice is released from the pockets and a quick bite on the end unleashes all that goodness straight up. Last week, on our fun run, we sat in the grove, sucking lemons, watching a blimp fly down near Santiago Canyon the disappear as it headed out toward the coast. I'm not sure who is flying that thing, but I need on it! Life list, right there. It wasn't the Goodyear blimp, either!
Last Saturday, I didn't even want to run. My body has been under a load of stress, and has been revolting when I threaten any distance. It's just nerves, I tell myself and push forward anyway. So last week, I set a limit: run eight and enjoy it. Eight is no small fete but completely doable. And so we ran. All weekend, we lounged around and just took some time to reconnect to each other, our home, and our estranged cats. It was the first truly relaxing weekend we'd had together in months.
As I alluded earlier, I found a doctor. Finding the right doctor is akin to dating, I think. I have certain expectations and hopes. I take those to the doc's office and hopefully ask the right questions to discovering if this person and her opinions, practice, and expertise is something I could live with for the next so many years. My expectation was that this doc was old school enough to prescribe drugs as a last resort, not a quick fix. Check. My hope was that she would be compassionate and as caring as insurance companies allow her to be. Check. She blew me away. She listened to my complaint, talked to me about it, resolves my concerns in a compassionate manner. When I told her my previous doctor had only prescribed a muscle relaxer, she said, " Oh, that's not what you need. We need to get you into physical therapy so we can treat this old injury and allow it to heal." She, too, is a runner.
Recently, to help with my post run pain, I've been wading out into the unheated pool in my area and walking around for twenty minutes. The water is incredibly clear and cold. I am usually out there wading up to my waist, my upper half shrouded in my warm blue fuzzy fleece. I look ridiculous but, it seems to work fairly well.
Gram's tomorrow. She hasn't been well and it is affecting her spirits. We are borrowing our neighbor's small dog to take to visit her. She will love it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)