The Money Hip

In my desperation for a quick recovery, I've asked everyone I can think of for advice and remedies. The results have lead to a bit of a dent in my most recent pay check. C'est la vie. (French just looks better in italics, don't you think?)

First, Facebook came through for me when I updated my status and asked if anyone knew good foods to eat for muscle repair. Most responses were jokes like, "beer" and "meth," but then two people told me about Arnica Cream/Gel (turns out professional athletes use it) and Arnica Montana c30 (which are tiny little pills that you let dissolve on your tongue three times a day--kinda fun and tasty). It's sold at health food stores, so I went to Henry's and found a $12.99 combo pack of Arnica gel and Montana c30 pills. I've got that going full force...when I'm not icing or heating, I'm gelling.


This is the arnica flower. Cute, but poisonous. Don't eat it.

I did some further internet research and found a place in Pacific Beach that received good reviews from local runners for their expertise and helpfulness when it comes to finding the perfect shoe for your body. It's called "Movin' Shoes." Despite the name, that for some reason bothers me, I decided to go and see what they had to say about my current shoe situation. I'm not very good at asking people in stores for help. I never have been. When I walk into a store I usually know what I'm there for and like to get in and get out without making eye contact with anyone. So, I wasn't really looking forward to going there knowing I'd have to talk to people.

When I walked in, I saw four men sitting in a circle talking in front of a wall of shoes. Three were older, 40ish, 50ish and 60ish, and one about twenty-something. No one else was in the store. When they saw me standing at the outer edge of the circle, they stop talking and look at me...I never know what to say first...do I explain my whole situation or just cut to the chase? I settled on,

"Do you all work here?"
"Yes," they said at the same time.

I don't remember what I said after that, but I definitely said "marathon" and "hip" and "shoes" which made them all jump up and start grabbing stuff (from the store, not me!). One guy studied my current running shoes as if they were some archaic treasure. Another guy told me to take off my Tom's and stand barefoot so he could assess my ankles. Another went to the back, brought out 3 pairs of shoes and said, "You look like an 11, right?" And the twenty-something guy asked if I like my Tom's (he was sort of a slacker...typical20yearold.)

Wow!
They were amazing.
And yes, I do wear a size 11. (They are also long and narrow like water skis... in case you were wondering.)

After about half an hour of jogging around the parking lot in different shoes, I walked out with a size 12, narrow, men's shoe!
Seriously? Size 12? Cooome oooon.*sigh*

But, I can already tell they fit a hundred times better than the shoes I have been wearing. And, that they're also a thousand times uglier than the shoes I've been wearing. It's sort of like the "equal and opposite reaction" theory. The uglier the shoe, the better it's made. The worse the food tastes, the healthier it is for you...the list goes on.

Turns out I'm a pronator...not sure what kind. (My ankles collapse in a little when I run, sooo... that kind of pronator.) Apparently, what I need in a shoe is cushion in the toes and support on the sides and heal. I've been wearing the Nike Zoom Vomero and they said it has great cushioning but zero support. My hip issue could be that my ankles aren't getting what they need. It makes sense.

I ended up with a different Nike shoe (the Span 6) and we'll see how it goes when I get back out on the road next week.

The third thing I am doing for my hip is electrocuting it!

I remembered today that, years ago, my husband invested in a Dual Channel Stimulator Kit for his own battle with tendinitis. Basically, I put two self-adhering neurostimulation electrodes on my hip and let 'er rip. Electrical pulses send (hopefully healing) shock waves deep into the muscle via a 9V battery.

I think I'm doing just about everything I can. I even bought a small canister of powdered Goji juice at Henry's because someone I know once told me it's practically a magic potion: cures everthing. (For $20 I guess it's worth a shot.)

Even though this forced rest is making me anxious, I feel good about taking action against it. My wallet, on the other hand, is rather unhappy. But I guess it, too, will recover soon enough.

Gotta keep on truckin'.

Freaking out

I was stupid to believe that I could never fall victim to one of the injuries that plague so many runners. But it's happened.

I'm officially an injured runner...

Remember when I posted my "fears" over some issues that came up on my 20 miler? Well, thanks to Google and some of you loyal blog-readers who offered your advice-I think I have the nausea one figured out. However, the pain in my upper-thigh that I complained about came back like a saucy wench (saw that on a bumper sticker last night and have been dying to use it) yesterday after an easy 4 miler!

Why now!? Why after only 4 miles? I did 13 on Sunday without a twinge. And whhhhhhhhhhhy with only 30-something days until the Napa Valley Marathon? Coooome oooon.

I went to the doctor today (I'm never this on-the-ball about going to the doctor) because... me not going to Napa will affect more than just my ego. Other people will be there. Other people who have booked hotels and plane tickets. As the title above states, I'm freaking out.

The doctor told me that I have tendinitis (fancy word for overuse) in my hip-flexor. Common pain-in-the-ass-(hip) issue for many runners. The prescribed cure? That dreaded, perverse, loathed word... rest. She said two weeks, I asked for one, she said maybe.

If you told me five years ago that one day I would beg a doctor to go for a long run--I would have laughed at you and probably walked away from you and your friendship. I hated running for nearly my entire life. It's the reason I quit basketball my junior year of high school--too much running all the time. But the anxiety I have to get back on the road is surprising. I miss it already and I was just out there yesterday.

But I'm going to do what the doctor said. I will rest this hip for a week. I will give it all the frozen peas, hot water bottles and ibuprofen it (responsibly) wants and needs. And then next Wednesday I will run with my friend "Twin" at our usual place...and hope hope hope for the best.

Dear Universe,

If you're listening, from this day forward I vow to be more responsible with my body. Is this because I call my thighs "Thunder?" I won't do that anymore. In fact I vow to:


1. Stick to the Galloway Method--no matter what! (I strayed and skipped my walk breaks...shouldn't have)
2. Properly warm up and cool down
3. ice ice ice after every run--even the little baby ones.
4. Think, "I am healthy, I am strong, my body feels great" over and over until it's true.
5. And only say kind things about the thighs you gave me.

I'm afraid this "rest" might be more difficult than my longest run.

More Things I Googled Recently...

Q: (So...just to clarify, once and for all...) Why do I get nauseous during my long runs?

A: (revised into my own words.) It looks as though it essentially comes down to a couple things. First is absorption. Water will sit in the stomach and cause nausea if it isn't helped along the absorption path. Salt is the help. (This I knew already.) The proper amount of salt intake on a long run is 1,000 mg/hour! Eating a couple pretzels or salty peanuts isn't going to cut it. I also learned that the night before a long run eating a salty dinner and then a salty breakfast in the morning will help absorption. I have to say, I'm really looking forward to fulfilling this requirement! I'll have to tell my father-in-law about this rule...he puts salt on his ice cream.

The other thing that can cause nausea is the flavor of the gel or sports drink consumed during a long run. Apparently tangerine and chocolate flavored gel's cause nausea for a number of people--especially late in long runs. This was a HUGE relief to hear...guess what flavor gu I had on my 20 miler when I started to feel sick? Tangerine. (It was actually the gel made by Powerbar that time.) If you're a Gu/gel user like me...the most mild flavors are Vanilla Bean and Just Plain (which has a simple, sweet taste). I feel like I learned a lot on this particular google search.

Q: San Diego massage therapy, runner's discount?

A: I found some places that offer first time discounts for sports massages...but I know that there are massage schools around here where you can get a massage for $20. Any one in SD know of them? If so, tell me please! I need to hit up a cheap massage soon.

I selected these two below as possible "test-runners" because they seem professional and reasonable...but you never really know until you try.

The Knot Stop (University Ave) $55 for first timers
San Diego Sports Massage (Point Loma Avenue) $75 an hour

Three Things I Googled Recently

Q: Why do I shiver sometimes after a long run?

A: (revised, in my own words) After an intense workout, the core body temperature can drop suddenly, especially if one stays in sweaty/wet workout clothes. The best way to stop the shivering and prevent possible hypothermia, is to immediately remove wet clothes and take a warm shower (even on warm days the shivering may happen if you enter a cool place.) If no shower is immediately available, say for example you are at a race and won't be getting home for a while, get a space blanket from a medic station. I always wondered why these were handed out after races--even when the race takes place on a hot day--but I definitely used one (actually two) after the first marathon I ran in May 2006. It was a hot day, but when I finished the race, my body temp dropped and my husband found the space blankets while I shivered on the grass next to a trash can. It was pretty amazing....

Q: How do I get the mildew stink out of my "high-tech"/CoolMax running clothes?

A: Penguin Sport Wash Laundry Detergent. "Its residue-free, non-allergenic formula is designed to keep high-tech fabric at peak performance and odor-free by washing away residues left by regular detergents, removing dirt, neutralizing bacteria, and restoring breathability, moisture-wicking, and factory applied waterproofing (DWR). And it's biodegradable, so your conscience is as clean as your gear."












Q: Are electrolytes salt?

A: Yes. More specifically: sodium (table salt), potassium, magnesium, and calcium are all electrolytes. Huh. So all those fancy sports drinks we buy... all those "gu's" and "blocks" and "beans" can be replaced--at no cost-- by a packet of salt from In-and-Out and a wrist to sprinkle it on and lick off (tequila-shot style!) Well...medically, that's probably not the best idea, because during a long run you need both the calories and the electros. So, maybe hang on to the Gu. But, I do plan to grab a salt packet the next time I'm at In-and-Out and give the salt lick a try.

Weird Week

What a crazy week. Today is Saturday, but it doesn't feel like it. I didn't do a long run....I just wasn't ready for it to be Saturday yet.

We had a number of storms hit San Diego this week. It was great for many reasons-- the first being that the storms caused the power to go out at my school two days in a row. I know, I know...I'm not supposed to be happy about that. I'm the teacher. Only the kids are supposed to be happy. But, sorry kids...teachers are just as pleased as you are about skipping school--if not more so.

The days off allowed me to work on my submission for the NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness Short Story Competition. Wheew. Still a keyboard full. Not very happy with the Drama/Computer Hacker story I came up with...but at least I did it and it's properly edited, unlike last year when I sent in a story with the word "comma" instead of "coma." Kind of a big difference that little "m" makes.

Because of the storms, I wasn't able to run outside as much as I would have liked. On Wednesday morning, when I heard school was canceled, I got in a great 5 mile hill run before the second big storm came. It was pretty awesome running in the sunshine, but also seeing the storm approaching over the ocean--ominous and beautiful.

School was canceled Thursday as well, but the weather was too bad to run. I'd like to clarify one thing. I have no problem running in the rain--and I have done it many times. I actually like running in the rain. A lot. However, the reason this particular storm prevented me from doing so is because the winds were so strong. Trees fell on peoples cars and homes...in fact a friend of ours had a cypress fall on his car and totaled it! And do you have any idea how big palm fronds are? And how easily they are ripped from the tops of the trees? I imagined running along, running along, running along, BAM! Newspaper headlines read: "Runner suffers brutal bitch slap by palm frond in hurricane force winds. May have brain damage." (Also the longest headline ever.)

With all my extra free-time indoors, I discovered a fun site called The Daily Mile where I can meet other San Diego runners and track my mileage and races...all for free. It's fantastic. If you're training for something (or not) check it out.

So. Since it's been a weird week and I have my days all mixed up... I'm going to move my long, slow, distance run to tomorrow. We'll see if I can make it happen. The weather cleared this afternoon. San Diego has returned to normal. Maybe my schedule will too!

As if brownies weren't good enough...try this...

I discovered a way to make the best brownies ever! (This isn't really a picture of mine...I just found it on the internet. I would have taken a picture of the ones I made, but they're gone already.....soooo, that's the picture you get.)

First, get your favorite boxed-brownie mix. It has to be one that calls for oil (I think they all do...but just in case your freakishly healthy brand doesn't...well...then you shouldn't be making brownies in the first place.)

The ingredients usually call for about 1/3 - 1/2 C oil, an egg or two, and some water. So, in my version, instead of using regular vegetable or canola oil, use a cooking spray. (Non-olive oil version of course!)

I know...it seems weird. And last night, I thought so too. But, I reached for it in my moment of desperation after I realized I had bought brownie mix and forgot that we were out of oil. My husband said, "That's just wrong," or something to that effect as I was spraying oil into a measuring cup. It's a bit messy...but here's the technique:

1. Tilt the measuring cup sideways so that the can will spray evenly.
2. Spray the cooking oil into the measuring cup until you're concerned it might start falling out of the cup.
3. Tilt the cup upright and use a spoon to stir the spray. It will be really fluffy, so you want to stir it down to about half its size. You may need to spray some more into the cup to get the amount called for in the recipe.
**Even after stirring it down, it will still be a little fluffy--but that's OK...I think that's the trick.

That's it! Just follow the rest of the directions according to the box and enjoy. Oh...also, I used an 8 x 8 pan. That may have been part of their success as well.

My husband has banned me from ever making them again because he ate 75% of the pan last night... ew. I, too, ate too much and gave myself a dessert stomachache. So be careful! But also enjoy.

Voice Blog 3

Taking on district-run workshops in...

"An Enormous Waste of Resources"

With success comes a new set of fears...

I ran 20 miles on Saturday! I'm happy, but it also scared me. I didn't feel so hot during the last four miles or so. In fact, I felt quite s***ty. Considering the fact that I tacked on an extra two miles when I shouldn't have, and thus should have only felt s***ty for 2 miles, makes me feel slightly better...but not much. I need to focus on the reasons I'm happy with this run...and in honor of the Shakespearean play I'm finishing up with my freshman this week, I will do it a la Friar Lawrence when he attempts to comfort Romeo after Romeo has been sentenced to banishment:

Me: Six miles more hath I. Aye me, and to perform thusly at twenty?! Six! The pain I endureth cuts off my head with a golden axe and pronounceth me finished.

Friar Lawrence: Thou hast a pack of blessings light upon thy back. Thou art healthy and uninjured after this task. There art thou happy. Thou hast completed more miles than before without the force of upheaval. There art thou happy. And thou art free to trod light on Saturday next. There art thou happy. So suck it up and stop whining.

Me: Ay, Friar Lawrence, thou hast comforted me much. Now, can I have one of your "sweet tonics" from the back room? I know you have some stashed back there...

I know that was cheesy and completely self-indulgent, but it's too much fun for me. Shakespeare was a genius and whenever I read one of his plays certain monologues get stuck in my head. Friar Lawrence's "there art thou happy" is one that sticks around for a while each year.

The new-sprung fear I have at the moment, about last Saturday's long run, is that I had a good deal of pain in my left thigh. Sort of like a pulled groin muscle, maybe? But, it's better now. I went for a 4 mile jog today and it felt fine. However, the pain didn't get bad until after about mile 13 on Saturday. The other thing I'm concerned about is that fact that I started to feel sick at the end. But, at the same time, I'm encouraged because I ate some salty peanuts as soon as I started to feel nauseous and about ten minutes later I didn't feel sick anymore...so "there art [I] happy"...I guess. No, I'm still concerned about it.

On a different subject: It's hurricane wind and rain outside--loads of fun! I love when San Diego has crazy weather like the rest of the country. It's sort of like having a really close friend whom you haven't seen in a long time come stay with you for a while. At first you're so excited they're staying with you because you haven't seen them in so long you almost forgot what they were like! And then, after a few hours you remember how high maintenance they can be and how they're always messing up your plans and ruining your clothes and eating all your food...then you just want them to go away so that life can return to normal.

Luckily, I'm in the "I love seeing you! You can stay forever!" phase. However, I know once I have to drive 30 miles to work tomorrow through freeway rivers, I'll be wishing the sun back again. And, I'm not sure how I feel about the 7 miles I need to do tomorrow either. Can I really stick it out that long on a treadmill if I have to? I guess we'll find out...until then friends,

keep on truckin'

Short Story Challenge

I decided, at the last minute of minutes, to enter the NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness Short Story Competition (that's a keyboard full...) again this year. If you want to see what this competition is about, and possibly do it next year, then click HERE. However, here's a quick run down: Contestants are placed into heats of about 20-30 people, and then each heat is given a different genre and subject. (Examples: Fantasy/Sewing Machine or Historical Fiction/Chocolate) Contestants then have 8 days to write a short story using the genre and subject.

Last year I entered the competition and had to write a horror story involving a metal detector. If you're interested in seeing what I came up with, you can read it by clicking HERE. (I'm not gonna lie, it is cheese ball!) It was fun and stressful...but mostly fun. I won my heat in the first round, which allowed me to move into the final round. I competed against 30 or so people, in a 24 hour round, and had to write a sci-fi story involving a neighbor. This final round happened to fall on the 24 hours of my birthday, so I...being the selfish person I am...wrote a crap piece in 8 hours, slept the whole night away so that in the morning I was fresh to edit, send it off, and go to Disneyland for free. You will find no link to this particular story...smiley face, smiley face.

This year, the final round does not fall on my birthday--so I can't use that as an excuse for a crappy story if I am lucky enough to get into the second round.

The first round starts tonight. The assignment is:
Genre: Drama
Subject: a computer hacker
Due: before midnight on January 23rd.

If you want to do the challenge along with me, for fun or just to practice some writing, link it to my page. I would love to see what sort of story you can come up with in 8 days. Let the fun begin.

15K

I did a 15K Resolution Run for Sun Strides-- a renewable energy company that is working on stuff in Africa. I don't really know. I just wanted the miles. The good causes (and they're always good causes) are a footnote in my long book of selfishness. But I have to say, I don't think I'll ever do a race with this organization again. From start to finish it was a clusterf***.

I knew when the website said bib pick-ups were to take place at Road Runner Sports that this was a red-flag situation. (Road Runner Sports is the worst company on the planet ever ever ever. Do not go there. They will sell you crappy shoes and charge you too much and give you bad advice and waste your time. Diatribe done...hopefully you're still reading.) But, I didn't listen to me and nearly reached my boiling point when I showed up at 4pm (the advertised time) to pick up my bib; the little 20-year old twits running the show rolled in with Blackberries blazing at 4:05pm. I had to wait another half an hour for them to set everything up. Then, they didn't even hand out the usual complimentary safety pins with the bibs. Annoying.

Then I find out the race was not time chipped. Not even a clock at the start line (another clusterf***). To top it all off, we had to wait in line to cross the finish line where there was definitely not a water station! What the hell. Those are the plentiful downsides of this race. But, in spite of itself, it was probably one of my favorite races for one reason: I ran gooooood. I'd like to give a special thanks to PowerBar Gel Raspberry Creme and Stride gum in bubblegum flavor. Fantastico.

As you may know, I've been using the Galloway Method (8 minute:1 minute) training strategy. Well, all my rules went out the window during the race. The competitive side of me kicked in and I starting kicking. I did about an 8:45 pace and didn't use my 1 minute walk breaks. I made sure not to push myself too hard, because getting injured right now would be tragic only 7 weeks from Napa. But, I felt so good I didn't want to slow down. And, I ran to the race--an extra 5 miles! I know I'm bragging like a big ol' fat braggart, but I'm so excited about how good I felt. No joke: the last time I trained for a marathon, I got sick and felt terrible during all of my long runs. The fact that I ran before the race and then felt good enough to pick people off* along the way, makes me want to jump around like Tom Cruise on Oprah.

So, Sun Strides Resolution Run, you may have pissed me off to near meltdown level on Thursday and part of Saturday-- but I'll always remember your race as one of my personal bests.

*Pick a person about a 1/4 mile ahead and pass them. Then pick another person up ahead...pass them. Repeat as needed.

For Beginner's Eyes Only

Not really for their eyes only, but I was recently asked by a friend for some running tips for newbies. I get really excited talking about running with people--so note to yourself: if you ever ask me about running, be prepared to listen for a long, long time.

His question inspired me to think about my first days as a beginning runner. Sooo (whistfully) the story goes: One day I came home from work, put on an old pair of sneakers and wondered if I could run to the roller coaster in Mission Beach and back. My boyfriend at the time, now my husband, had done so with a roommate the day before, and it was an idea I had never considered... I can run places. I didn't try that day, but I ran down to the ocean (about 1.5 miles) and back again. When I realized that I could run...well, jog/walk, 3 miles--I wanted to find out how much further I could go. A few weeks later I found myself at the Belmont Park rollercoaster--an 8 mile trek--came home and signed up for the Carlsbad Half Marathon. Thrilling story, I know.

So for the beginners out there, who may be looking for some simple tips that will make your first few weeks of running manageable, this is what I came up with (if that means anything at all)..

1. Accept the fact that the first two weeks will be a bitch. You will feel pain at first, especially in your lungs. They will burn and you will want to stop. And it's OK if you do...walking is a good thing when you're starting. Don't feel bad if you walk before even completing one mile. As with everything in life, you need to learn about it first. In this case, you need to learn about your body and how it responds to what you are suddenly demanding of it. If you are patient with yourself, you'll be happier with running in the long run. (No pun intended... that time.)

2. To avoid injury: get yourself into a proper running store where they will fit you for running shoes. Shoes are very important and once you find a pair you like--you'll shock yourself with the devotion you have and the panic you feel every time the model changes...you'll see. Also to avoid injury: try not to run down hill often--especially steep hills. Walk them. Running down hill without proper knee strength can result in life long knee injuries. For example, my friend is still battling a knee injury from a race 4 years ago. She still can't run more than a mile without knee pain, and it's all because she over did the downhills in a race without proper training. Sad.

3. Clothing. It is so worth investing in some "technical t's". Look for "CoolMax" on the label. They wick sweat away from your body (a good thing). When you're first starting out this isn't as important; however, cotton will soak up your sweat and cling to you. Ick. I wear old, cotton race shirts if I'm running under 3 miles. But, anything over that, some serious sweating calls for more advance fabrics. They are worth every penny. And most races give these out now instead of the traditional cotton ones. In fact, I haven't actually "bought" any of my own...though I've definitely paid for every one I own. The more comfortable you can make yourself while you run, the longer you'll be able to keep plugging along.

4. Motivation is a another bitch. But the number one way, I have found, to make myself pound the pavement on a regular basis is to put some money in it. Register for a race. It does not work if you register for one a year from today. It needs to be something that is a manageable distance for you in a timely fashion. For example, if tomorrow will be your first jog, then sign up for a 5K that is about 4-6 weeks away. If you've been running 3-4 days a week for a couple months, you may want to consider finding a 15K or a half marathon that is about 2-3 months away. This way you are giving yourself goals for races you'll be able to complete, but are also challenging for your ability.

5. Find a running buddy. I used to run alone, and I still do most of my running alone. But there will be days when you do not want to go--and it's those days that it's nice to have a friend who is counting on you to be there. Running with someone at least once a week helps you stay in the habit of running. Humans like repetition. So if you run one day, you're more likely to run the next day too...statistically speaking. So try as much as possible to form a habit of it. (Research shows that it takes 21 days to make a habit of something. Give yourself those days and see what happens.) One of my favorite buddies isn't a person, but comes to see me every month. Can you guess what it is? (Answer and link below)*

Hopefully this helps a newbie out there. If anyone is reading this and has something to add--some tips or links for new runners--please leave a comment for them!

Welcome to running newbies! We're so glad to have you.
Keep on truckin'.


*My subscription to Runner's World Magazine. What were you thinking!?

I love that

a four mile run feels like nothing anymore!
I love that I did it in under 38 minutes.
And, I love that it feels like I didn't even workout tonight.

I finally feel the results of my long runs. An unexpected best day of training so far.

If you're out there-- keep getting out there. It will get better!

Thank you legs

I remember this feeling from the last marathon I trained for, and I got it again today: I am thankful for my legs--even my thighs!

Dear Thunder Thighs,
Thank you for your contribution during our 16 mile run today. If I were more flexible, I would bend over and kiss you both. Because of your hard work today, I will wear whatever pair of pants you want, no matter how unflattering they may be to our saddlebags, because we ran 16 miles and feel great.

Well, I feel tired. But, I'm not puking which is a former post-long run habit of mine. I attribute this good feelingness to a combination of The Galloway Method, ice baths and more level hormones than in 2006.

To the ladies out there: I firmly believe that certain types of birth control slow us down and affect the way we feel during long workouts. I have no science to back it up...just years of changing them or not using them or changing them again. (And, this might be TMI*, but I run great when I'm not on the pill. Hopefully that bit of TMI will help one of you out there, then it will be worth sharing publicly.)

Friends, in whatever sense it means to you...
Keep on truckin'

*Too much information