The lessons of pain

The last 2 weeks heel & feet pain have allowed me time off to consider my goals. I've gained 40 lbs back, that I had almost killed myself to lose in 2008, by running and eating less. Since I love to eat and our family of 7 revolve around eating (oh the food, the food!), anything less, is a great sacrifice. So my near starvation diet for 5 months before our wedding, was the hardest I've ever worked on myself. I was literally in the best shape I'd EVER been in physically. I had achieved a total of 90 lbs lost since 2001. You would think....a person with any sense would think....one would never go back. Well, when the wedding & honeymoon were over..... I returned to some of my old and comfortable habits & gave myself a "break".

I've been berating myself since Christmas 2009, when I gained yet another 20 lbs between October and December 31. I know I can blame my family because when we went home for a holiday, all the merriment cost me 8 lbs in 4 days. Seriously Ridiculous. Because it takes me weeks, if not months to lose.

As I've become more serious about my running personality, mentally I've been connected weight loss with it. Only to find that really, the MORE I run, the MORE I have to eat. You can't run 6, 7, 8 miles and restrict yourself to 1500 calories (or less if I'm being honest). The physical and mental fall after a long run without energy or nutrition isn't worth the loss of lbs or water weight.

So when my feet started hurting after my first 8 miler 2 weeks ago, I ran another 2 days. And then they really hurt. I thought it would be wise to take a "few days" off to let the pain go away. A few days turned in to a week, which is now 2 weeks. Instead of allowing my weight conscious (OH MY Lord, I am going to gain weight!) take over and freak out because I can't run, I used a few moments to reflect. On my frustration at increasing my mileage, while the scale seemed to fluctuate around the same point. Yes, I've lost 10 lbs in a few months but it seems to have stopped with my increased mileage. So I decided, instead of worrying about logging the miles AND losing weight, knowing I want to be lighter when I run my first half in June and knowing the training for that doesn't have to begin until March, I'm going to concentrate on one thing - weight loss. 6 weeks should be enough time. With that in mind, I have changed my eating habits, even including breakfast but eating more fruits/vegies every day and working in a small amount of chocolate, one coffee. Wow! Even without aerobic activity, a little bit of upper body weights, I've seen loss. Nice!

So yesterday, I thought my feet felt much better & maybe I'd chance a run. Just a few miles. Then I decided I didn't have the time & since I was still feeling a little bit of discomfort (scale .5), I should wait. I hit the worst sore part of one foot on the stairs. And within a few hours, my foot was throbbing. I removed my shoe & sock to find my heel completely swollen. Self diagnosis? I think definitely Plantar Fasciitis. Which means? No running for a while. My husband was nice, helping me look at symptoms, skeletal diagrams of the foot (which he deemed weird and kind of gross, ha!!) and told me "um, no running". Damn.

He also told me Ibuprofin. Being a non medication oriented person, I was sitting in church tonight with my foot throbbing, telling myself "I'm not taking any drugs". I have never taken so much Ibuprofin in my life since starting running. And well, it's going to hurt. So get over it. But finally, after much under my breath whimpering, I asked him to get me some.

He asked me if I was okay. I said yes, just really disappointed. Because resources are scarce for new gear, new shoes (mine should be just fine), inserts, doctor visits, treatment and well, I want to do the June half marathon. And I don't want, don't need this running thing to be difficult. I want to do it. I want to be successful. But I don't want intrusion, distraction or set backs! (the truth be known, I'm kind of like that about everything, this is typical Grunge behavior). Running is the one thing for me right now. It makes me smile knowing I'm going to accomplish something I never thought I could. And he said "then you'll have to be good, rest now, so you can train & race later". Point made.

I had another injury last year to my lower back/hips/pelvic area and it was a great time of reflection for me. Contemplating how irritated I get when I CAN'T do what I want or what I set out to do. Sometimes that God in the sky, just knows when we are flying too fast and cuts one of our engines to slow us down enough to hear the message. Okay. I'm hearing. But can I have some M&M's while I'm listening?

RW: Fat Traps

By Nicole Falcone

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-304--13785-1-1-2,00.html

For the full article, go to the post above. The section below was the most eye opening for me. Especially those darn nutrition bars, which I notice make me hungry!

Stumbling Blocks


Common nutrition mistakes that trip up runners

EATING TOO CLOSE TO A RUN

Fifteen minutes after eating, insulin levels rise, says Deborah Shulman, Ph.D., leaving you feeling sluggish. So eat one and a half to two hours before a run. The exception? "Your body doesn't release insulin midexercise," says Shulman. A snack just before a run will keep you energized.

MAKING ENERGY BARS A MEAL

High in sugar and low in fiber, energy bars are perfect on long runs, but not ideal for weight loss, says Shulman. They won't keep you full long, making it likely you'll overeat at your next meal.

OVERDOING SPORTS DRINKS

Sports drinks are high in calories and meant to provide fuel for running an hour or longer, says Lisa Dorfman, M.S., R.D., or if you're working out at a high intensity for at least 45 minutes. Otherwise, water or a low-calorie sports drink is your best option.

NOT FUELING UP MIDRUN

"You have 90 minutes of carbs in your system," says Shulman. Run longer without midrun fuel and you'll bonk, which won't help you lose weight. Consume 30 to 60 grams of carbs (try a sports drink or dried fruit) for every hour you exercise to keep energy high.

OVEREATING POSTWORKOUT

Runners know they need recovery fuel after a workout, but they often overestimate how many calories they burn, which leads to overeating. "If you do an easy workout that's 45 minutes or less," says Dorfman, "100 calories is sufficient for recovery."

A 2011 Running Challenge

Go To It! Fellow Runners!

http://www.tallmomontherun.com/2011/01/tall-mom-1000-club-2011.html

3 sentences or less

Why I run:

Sanity. I give my soul to my family. On the road, my mind returns, problems are solved, my body feels GOOD, spirit refilled and I find – I CAN, when all else says I can’t.