Finding Balance: Week 2

I guess it's much easier to find balance when you are in a more predictable routine. I went back to work this week (students don't come until next week) so I front loaded my training to accommodate the stress that would come at the end of the week. I think the key to success when you aren't running every day is to really look ahead and make sure you are planning out the most effective way to fit things in. I did pretty well with that this week. 

Monday: 7 miles, 1:05 9:20/mi. 
Chiropractor.
I set out to run 3-4 miles today but wasn't going to rule out doing more since I didn't run at all over the weekend. I started and was so bored I thought for sure I'd hop off at 3 miles, but then little by little I just stayed on and cut myself off at 7 miles. I felt totally fine and was happy to have no weird twinging or symptoms while I was on the Lever. 
I did two strength exercises after: Squats and hip thrusts. 3 rounds of 12. I'm going to try to just do a couple exercises after each run. It makes it much more manageable to just tack it onto a run rather than set aside a longer chunk of time. I'm way more likely to get a run in than an independent lift... and way more likely to skip a longer lift session after a run... so just putting a few exercises doesn't overwhelm me. 

My TOS is getting much better. the chiropractor is definitely working for this but I'll be excited to have it fully better so that I can *actually* lift again and not just do body weight

Tuesday: 4 miles 37 mins 9:15/mi
I haven't done many back to back days but for some reason I thought I'd rather run today than Wednesday. My justification was that I wanted the day before the first day of school off so that in case I had some bad symptoms I would have a day to recover. I pretty much did laundry all day after this. Lots of up and down the stairs and walking around putting chunks of clothing in bedrooms... Trying to get those NEAT moments in. 

Wednesday: OFF... 
Man, Good thing I didn't run the day before work because I was THROBBING today. I'm pretty certain the botox has worn off completely... The polarization between how I was just a few weeks ago and now is so glaring. I can't believe I legitimately lived like this and thought it was normal. In a perfect world I could high-tail it to Wyoming for another round ASAP, but there's a lot going on preventing me from being able to drop what I'm doing and head out there, so.... Just gotta deal with it... But holy hell I can't believe this was my old life! Kinda reminds me just how much progress has been made. Sometimes you need to go back to baseline to see that clearly. 

Thursday: OFF- First day of school
I planned to take today off because it was my first day of School. I BARELY slept the night before. Legs were THROBBBBINNNGGGGG... In part because I didn't sleep. I think the two days in a row probably wasn't the best move plus I'm back on the concrete floors so... la-la-la- it is what it is. But again. Holy Hell. It's like sticking my legs in lava. It doesn't help that I also actually had a sunburn healing on my shins so it was also itchy. First day wasn't so bad. It was hard because I very much pictured it different, but since the summer didn't go super well for me that "how was your summer" question is always tricky. What can ya do? Things are definitely looking up, just wish I still had a month of vacation since I feel like I missed a month! 

Friday: OFF
I originally planned on going home and running but I literally couldn't believe how bad my legs were. Jeeze. I know I can't go to Wyoming anytime soon but I really wish I could manage the situation. I'm thinking I'll adapt. Probably wont do many 1 hour runs anymore and might have to ..... blahhhhh... Learn to walk. Maybe once school really gets in a groove I can do swimming or something, but right now I'm just too far away from a pool and my kids are starting school so I can't plan anything but a workout at home. 
I did use the Air Relax and that may or may not have helped but gave me some relieve temporarily. 

Saturday: 5 miles- 46:49, 9:21/mi
Another "planned to do 3 ended up staying on longer"... These will probably bite me in the butt... or the shins... or the calves... but one day at a time. It was a really beautiful day and I was sad to be on the treadmill but happy to be running at all. I missed my chiropractor by accident because I went back to school shopping with the girls. Kill me. haha. Anyway. I tried to put my legs up right after the run to get the blood moving and draining. Just going to play around with different strategies to manage pain because I didn't know what my diagnosis was and what caused my pain in the past so the strategies I used weren't necessarily specific to my needs. At least now I know whats up. Gotta avoid that plantar flexion and get that blood back where it needs to go. 

Sunday: Short Walk
Last day before the school year officially starts, and after Matts long run we went to Treehouse Brewery to eat from the food trucks, go for a short hike, and have some ice cream. The walk went great and overall I felt good and hopeful that I can maintain some sort of movement while I wait for the opportunity to get another treatment. We had a great time! Unfortunately, afterwards I was sitting down and had some of those really old lightning sensations in the left calf. This had me bummed out at first but its so different this time around because I know this is to be expected. I'm 8 months out from my last treatment... and if I could just fly to Wyoming and get the injections I would, but I can't... and it is out of my control... so I'm really going to have to get creative for the next several months. We will see how it all shakes out... but for now... it's looking like running might be off the table... so who knows what I'll be blogging about next. I'm proud of the risks I've taken and the commitment I've made so far... Time to figure out a new plan. Again. 

Summary: 16 miles, 1 chiropractic adjustment, 2 mini strength sessions
Not such a bad week overall, but kinda a bummer at the end! I wish I didn't know for certainty that this pain in my legs wont go away until I can get more botox, but... ya know... it's pretty much a guarantee I'm not going to improve from here on out it's just a matter of how long until I get botox again. So I guess I'll be documenting how to cope with the pain in between treatments... I'm pretty happy overall with how far I've come and know I have a lifetime left to live. Just hope it doesn't impact me too badly and I can get through this school year in one piece please!