It’s been two weeks since my race- the dust has settled, and I’m left with… a sore, achy left hamstring. Running that race didn’t make it any better or any worse, and I feel like if I start running again now, it’s going to ache for the rest of my life. OR, I could take some time off running to solve the problem once and for all.
It’s not exactly that I miss running; but my body seems confused that I’m not running, and I feel kind of… scattered. But, there were workouts this week, and I’m linking up as usual with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown (thanks, ladies!) Let’s get into it…
Sunday
It was a gym day, and the first hard workout since my race. I did a very basic upper body workout- horizontal push (benchpress), horizontal pull (rows), vertical push (overhead press), and vertical pull (lat pulldowns). Good workout!
Monday
I tried to cue up a Caroline Girvan abs workout, but oh yeah… we were in the middle of our internet fiasco. You can’t do Youtube videos with no internet! Instead I did my hip stability exercises.
Tuesday
45 minute walk! This felt pretty good.
After work I went to my sports chiropractor. He did a Graston treatment to break up scar tissue in my hamstring (he said he had wanted to do it for a while, but didn’t want to mess anything up before my race). I asked him about strengthening that hamstring, but he said to hold off for now, until it’s healed up more.
Wednesday
So… when my chiropractor said hold off on strengthening, he didn’t mean squats, right? I mean- squats don’t really target your hamstrings? Anyway… I went to the gym and did squats. It was the first time since my race, so I did a little less weight. It felt good! Then… I got on the treadmill, figuring I would do the “Cool Bloggers” 3/12/30 workout. 3 mph for 30 minutes, at a 12% incline. I used to do this all the time with no problems… but now it was REALLY HARD. I really couldn’t keep up that pace and incline. What is going on? Did I get out of shape? Am I still tired from the race (it was ten days ago??!) OR, maybe the treadmill is broken. Yes, that must be it, ha ha.
Thursday
Our internet is back!!! I celebrated by doing a Caroline Girvan abs workout. After work I went to the gym for another upper body workout. Is it just me, or is pushing way more fun than pulling? There’s something so satisfying about bench press. Or maybe my back is just weak- I added reverse flys just in case.
Friday
Okay, here’s where I started to feel a little confused. Shouldn’t I be running? What AM I doing anyway? I ended up with a 2 mile walk.
I originally had another chiropractor visit in the afternoon, but had to reschedule it because it was the night of the band banquet! My daughter wore a pink dress and pink shoes (the polar opposite of last year, where she looked like Morticia Addams).One of her friends wore a suit, top hat, fake handlebar mustache, and a monocle. I couldn’t stop laughing while we took pictures.
The kids had a great time and my daughter won “Outstanding Sophomore” award!
Saturday
Okay, let’s figure out what is going on with my cardio. I got on the Stairmaster, and was able to do the same level as always…
So what was up with that treadmill workout the other day? I have no idea.
Sunday
Happy Mother’s Day! On tap for the day: Sleeping in (OBVIOUSLY). Waffles. In the afternoon- trip to the gym. It will pretty much be a normal Sunday, except guess who’s NOT cooking dinner? ME.
Did you have a “normal” week?
Who’s cooking dinner at your house tonight?
28 Responses
Happy Mother’s Day, Jenny!
(I’m not cooking dinner, but I’m not at my house either, lol sob)
Congrats to Angie on winning the prize and congrats to you for yet another week of purposeful movement!
Thank you Maya! I know it’s not exactly a “normal” Mother’s Day for you, but I hope you have a great day!
It’s probably that you are still tired from the race. It’s said that takes 3 weeks to recover from a marathon and your race was longer than that. I struggle to get through those 3 weeks without running so I can totally relate.
HOpe your hamstring gets healed soon.
happy mother’s day. I’m cooking for sure. 🙂
Thank you Coco! Also, thanks for that info- I didn’t know that, but it makes sense. I just couldn’t get my legs moving enough on that treadmill! Sheesh.
Happy Mother’s Day! I think you are still tired from the race. You know what they say, even though I never listen, but you are supposedly supposed to rest as many days as miles of the race or something like that. Hmmm… I hope you get back to normal soon, but I am sure that a little more rest wouldn’t hurt!!
Thanks Kyria- but I am NOT resting for 50 days! I guess you could say it should be 50 days before another super yard effort. Anyway… you’re right. More rest isn’t going to hurt anything, and it’s not like I’m training for anything in the near future.
I think it’s wise to let your legs recover after that race! I hope your hamstring recovers too! Did that Graston treatment hurt? Scraping the muscle sounds oh so painful! You could…always go back to pool running…
Happy Mother’s Day! Sadly, the dog did not let me sleep in. Guess who’s sleeping now? The dog.
Hey… I kind of forgot about pool running. Our pool is too cold in the winter, but it should be warm enough now. The problem is, my flotation belt broke- but I could get another one.
The Graston treatment was a combination of pain, and a weird kind of pleasure. Kind of that “hurts so good” feeling. I think if it didn’t hurt at all, I wouldn’t think it was doing anything.
Oh those Gaston treatments can be quite spicy! Hope it helps. It is smart to take time off to recover and let your body heal. Hope you have a fantastic mother’s day
Thank you Deborah, you too! And, “spicy” is a good word to describe it. I can see why my chiro put it all till after my race.
Happy Mother’s Day, Jenny! I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing day and don’t have to lift a finger in the kitchen.
I think you’re smart to take some time off to let your hamstring heal. Wendy’s suggestion to do pool running in the interim sounds like a good idea. Just remember to ease back into running when you start back up on pavement.
Congrats to your daughter on her band award!
Thank you Debbie! And I really think I will try pool running again. And when I start running I’m going to do VERY conservative run/walk intervals to start with.
I think you are still tired from your race! It will take some time to recover from running 50 miles!! But look at those arms in the upper body pic! You are toned!!
Congrats to Angie on her award!
I will be cooking dinner tonight but it’s an easy soup recipe in the instant pot. Phil will make lunch while I am at church with the boys. Will was up at 5, though… we gave up and gave him his iPad so the adults could get more sleep. I just know he is going to sleep until 6:30 tomorrow and not want to get up when I get him up for school.
Ha ha, thanks Lisa- but I think everyone looks toned WHILE they are lifting weights! I appreciate it though.
Ugh, Will- don’t you know it’s Mother’s Day??? The Ipad was a good solution for this morning.
Hah! I think I’m cooking tonight, but that’s OK. I was treated to lunch and dinner yesterday. 😉
Congratulations to your daughter! Love the dress — and cute shoes too!
I’m just going to come out and say that your legs could need a lot more time off after 50+ miles.
Thanks Coco. And… maybe you’re right. My legs feel normal so I think I can jump right back into it… but maybe not.
Your daughter is lovely and I adore her dress and shoes! Also she’s got great hair. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to hear some random middle-aged lady in Canada thinks she has great style but SHE DOES!!!
I’m no medical expert but in my yoga teaching years I learned that hamstrings are a bitch to heal, and that the only thing that can be done is resting. Wait, that’s for a torn hamstring, hopefully that’s not what you have. Anyway, I remember that people used to tear their hamstrings when doing yoga too vigorously, or doing hot yoga, and that was the only thing, to rest it and not aggravate it further. So maybe your hammy just needs a little rest? Idk, you DID just run 50 miles. That’s a lot of miles, Jenny!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you Nicole! And, I figured you’d like the band banquet photo. I wish you were here to give my daughter compliments and fashion advice- she doesn’t listen to a word I say.
I’m pretty sure my hamstring isn’t torn- I think it’s a chronic inflammation/scar tissue situation at this point. Rest is definitely good, but it also needs some gentle nudging to get back to normal. But- hamstrings are hard to heal- that upper part where it attaches to the pelvis doesn’t get a lot og bloodflow.
Happy Mother’s Day! I’m traveling for work, leaving this morning, so no real celebrations here. We went out to brunch yesterday though! Your 12 incline sounds intense! Even 10 incline – i may need to try that!
Thank you Melissa! Yes, if you ever can’t/don’t want to run for some reason, try the incline treadmill workout. It’s a good one!
I’m glad you got to celebrate yesterday. Work travel on Mother’s Day should be outlawed!
I think it’s smart to give yourself a break from running after your race! I’ve heard it recommended to take a day off for every mile run, which seems excessive but I think most of us don’t give ourselves enough time off after a race.
It was not a normal week for me either! I had Monday and Tuesday off because I was up volunteering at Cocodona, which was an incredible experience. I volunteered at an aid station from 1 pm to 1 am on Monday, slept in my car for 6ish hours and then got up to drive into town and get shuttled back to the aid station to start my 15 mile sweep section Tuesday afternoon. And then I had to drive another 50 min each way on a dirt road to get my co-sweeper back to her car, and by that point it was after 10 pm and I was not up for driving 3 hours back to my parents’ house, so I ended up getting a hotel room last minute and crashed there before leaving the next morning at 6:30 so I could get back to their house to start work by 9 am! It was a lot but I’m so glad I was part of the Cocodona experience! I didn’t end up running Monday or Wednesday, which is unusual for me as my typical rest day is on Sunday, so I’m heading out for a few miles today to make up for my extra rest day.
Happy Mother’s Day! I’m glad you don’t have to cook dinner!
That does sound like an INCREDIBLE experience!!! Totally worth the loss of sleep and last minute hotel room. I was thinking the other day that I need to start volunteering at some of these races- but none of the ones around here are as awesome as the ones out in AZ.
My PT did the Graston scrapes frequently when I was under her care (gosh, that was two years ago, already!). I found them very gratifying 😉
I hope all goes well with your left hammy. Happy Mother’s Day! I’m not cooking today, LOL, but have my sights on dinner elsewhere…
Yes, “gratifying” is a good word! I like it when a treatment feels productive.
Happy Mother’s Day!
I was on vacation so not a normal week. And yes if I didn’t run, it would feel weird.
Hope your hammy cooperates and lets you run soon.
I definitely miss Florida weather – sunshine!!!
Oh we’ve got plenty of that! I’m glad the weather was nice for your visit. Hope you’re enjoying the day with your family!
Oh, I feel your pain. Very much (I’m going through something similar at the moment, although not the hamstring). I’m glad you are still doing some movement, just listen to your body and what seems to cause pain and not. How frustrating though. I hope you feel better really soon.
Thank you Susanne! I’m going right over to your blog to find out what’s going on with you.