Well, never a dull moment around here! THIS week, I’ve been dealing dealing with a pain on my left side, around my ribcage. I was able to run but my strength workouts had to be modified. It’s not good, but definitely not the worst thing that’s happened. As usual, thanks to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s just see what happened…
First, a flashback….
Let’s go back to Friday of the previous week. I did a Caroline Girvan Iron Series workout, which was posterior chain: back, glutes, and hamstrings. It was a great, hard workout. Nothing hurt during the workout but by Friday night and into Saturday, I had a pain under my ribs that got worse and worse. I can say with utmost confidence that this was caused by lifting a weight that was too heavy for me during that Friday workout. SIGH.
Sunday
But I can run! I ran from my house to the beach, which is 9 miles. When I started, the ribs really bothered me- it hurt to move that left arm back and forth. But after a few minutes I stopped noticing it, phew. This was an odd run- I really didn’t feel great for the first four miles or so, but then felt better and better. The second half was a great run.
I dipped my feet in the ocean but didn’t go all the way in. I was just here a few weeks ago, but the water seemed dramatically colder already. I also hadn’t arranged for a change of clothes- my husband picked me up and I didn’t think he would appreciate me sitting in his car soaking wet.
Monday
Ah, now it gets tricky. Next up in the Iron Series was a full body workout. I previewed it, saw that it started with renegade rows, and knew there was no way. Having just run 9 miles, I also didn’t want to run or do any heavy leg work. So I did Marcia’s Cardio Barre Workout. This was just what I needed. The movements are bigger than Peloton barre classes- squats and lunges- but there are no weights, so it’s more gentle than regular strength classes. The last ten minutes are abs, which is nice.
Tuesday
3 mile run followed by plyometrics. I’m approaching the plyos cautiously, but so far my foot is fine.
Wednesday
Okay, this is officially A Problem. Ribs are still sore (to clarify, I don’t think the problem is actually my ribs- it’s a muscle around that area.) There’s still no way I can do the full body workout, so I reluctantly skipped it and moved on to Day 15 of the Iron Series. Bummer. I was really feeling good about moving through the whole series, taking each class in order. Well, I’ll come back to Day 14, eventually. Day 15 was shoulders, and it was the first class I didn’t love. I mean, an entire class on shoulders… I don’t care about my shoulders THAT much. But I could do the whole thing without hurting my side, so it was the perfect class for today. It was also the perfect day to take this class, because it was a running day as well.
After I dropped my daughter off, I continued on to a park with a trail where the local cross country teams hold their meets. This is a very pleasant, well-groomed trail. If you’re interested in trail running but think there are none around you, consider that the high schools probably have cross country teams, and they have to run somewhere.
Quick side note- I have a new favorite podcast! After my post earlier in the week about refueling properly for hard workouts, Nicole told me about this podcast.
First of all, awesome name for a podcast about menopause. This episode was great, and now I want to listen to more.
Thursday
I decided to continue on with the Iron Series- Day 16 was hamstrings, with lots of deadlifts. The only thing I had to modify was the staggered deadlift, where you’re doing most of the work with one leg, and Caroline has you holding the dumbbell in one hand. I absolutely could not do that on my left side, but it was okay if I held the dumbbell with both hands.
Friday
A 3 mile run that started in the dark (one more week till we turn the clocks back!) and ended in the daylight, followed by plyometrics.
Earlier this week Jenn posted about Planksgiving.. The way she put it was “I’m also doing something called Planksgiving, which sounds absolutely terrible. Who wants to join?” Ha ha… well, I’m up for that challenge! I signed up, but then realized there’s no way I can do a side plank on my left side, and some of the other variations seem risky for me as well. So much for Planksgiving! We’ll just have to let Jenn tell us all about it. I can do a regular plank on my elbows, so I’ll join her in that every day.
Saturday
Rest day! Taking Saturdays as a rest day has really been working well for me. I get to sleep in a little, but then I go to work, so I don’t rest TOO much and end up feeling depressed for the rest of the day. While I was at work I assessed the rib situation. I can’t figure out if it’s getting better or if I’m just getting used to it. Definitely still hurts- but it’s not keeping me from doing the things I really want and need to do. Well, everything heals eventually… right?
Sunday
On tap for today… 10 mile trail run. I’m looking forward to it! Then watching the Dolphins and, well, I guess I better get some Halloween candy! We get lots of trick-or-treaters.
Are you doing Planksgiving or any sort of challenge for November?
Are you ready for Halloween? Is anyone running a Halloween-themed race?
38 Responses
ouch on the ribs pain! Think it is the obliques? Well, on the brightside looks like you have really increased you run mileage again! Hope you are feeling better this week
Hope you feel better this week!! Glad you’re back at running again.
Thanks Melissa! It has to get better, right???
Thank you Deborah! It’s something on the side… who knows.
So sorry about the rib pain! Sounds like you probably separated the muscle from the rib and yeah, ouch! Hopefully you will feel better this week. We need to wrap you in bubble wrap!
I don’t listen to the podcasts, but I do subscribe to the Feisty Menopause newsletter.
Enjoy your trail run!
Ha ha… yes, wrap me in bubble wrap! Why didn’t I think of that???
I have to subscribe to the newsletter- I love reading things (in addition to listening.)
I hadn’t realized how much you’ve increased your long runs…glad those are going well! Is it possible you could have fractured a rib, by chance? That area is so delicate! I’m also doing a Planksgiving Challenge, starting Tuesday… three 8-day “weeks” of fun on the floor 🙂
I thought of a broken rib, but I don’t think it’s that- I’m pretty sure it’s muscular.
Planksgiving is right up your alley!
Wow, you are ON FIRE with your running! It’s so good to hear about that. The rib thing is annoying and hopefully it will take a hike soon.
I don’t remember the shoulder workout specifically but I’d bet anything that it’s one that I used only 5# weights for;-)
Oh yes! I used 5#s.
I’m so sorry to hear about your rib pain. Hopefully giving it a little time to heal will be all you need. It’s always something with us runner girls! Glad you’ve figured out that Saturday makes the most sense to be your rest day, and leaves you feeling guilt-free.
Hope you’re having a great run this morning!
Thank you Debbie! I’m always switching my schedule around, but I’m going to keep the Saturday rest days at least for a while.
Ugh on the side issue — at least it is not impacting your running! A 10 mile run is great!
Thanks for sharing about that podcast. Sounds like it’s got some great information.
Is your daughter going out for Halloween? Or she too grown-up for that?
Oh, she’s going out! Not with me of course- she’s trick-or-treating with friends. I’m glad she’s not too grown-up yet.
I thought you would like that podcast – I’m so glad you do! She has a very large back catalogue and while I don’t listen to every episode, there are so many great ones about training and living your life through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. It’s so great. I kind of hate the five minutes of ads at the start, but that’s what the skip feature is for.
There are a lot of ads- but I’m intrigued by some of the products (so I guess the ads are doing their job.) Yes, I’m excited to go back and listen to previous episodes. Thank you!
Hmmmm, sore ribs? I’ve had that once from a skiing fall and thought I broke a rib. I did heal up fairly quickly which was good. But it sounds like you pulled something? I hope it is very temporary. Good tip about the trail for cross country runners! I hope you had a good run today. We do have a few bags of candy for trick or treaters. Someone put a hole in the bag and now it’s slowly disappearing. Hopefully it’s still enough for Halloween on Monday!!
Ha ha, you might have an emergency trip out to the store for candy.
Yes, I considered a broken rib but it doesn’t hurt THAT much. Hopefully by next week I’ll have better news.
Yikes on the rib pain. I’ll bet you strained an intercostal muscle. CG’s workouts are tough and awesome but one must proceed with caution.
I runfess I joined planksgiving and haven’t done a single day of it yet. Ugh. Christmas was everywhere at Target when I was there yesterday and Halloween candy was well on the way out. Hope you’re able to grab some!
YES I NOTICED THAT. Target had a little candy but not what I wanted so I still don’t have any. I’ll have to get some tomorrow- we may be those weird people who give out something lame like dum dums, ha ha.
Several years ago a friend and I did monthly challenges; daily planks the first month. It was short, but we touched base every day after we finished the daily plank and it was GREAT. The second month we did wall sits, and I RUINED my left knee. It took 6 months to recover. I’m still not sure what went wrong, but I’ve been very cautious ever since about doing the same thing (other than walking) daily!
It’s not exercise, but I will be posting to my blog each day in November for NaBloPoMo. Does that count – haha!
We don’t do too much for Halloween. I bought candy a few weeks ago; we haven’t even carved our pumpkins yet. Oops. Not sure if it will end up happening. We have a very busy neighbourhood for trick-or-treaters, though. It’s a closed loop with no through traffic, so a lot of families come here, park, and then walk the various loops since it’s very safe. I have to admit, Halloween just doesn’t do much for me, but the kids sure are excited and I tend to dread it every year and then…it always ends up being a lot of fun! (To be fair, I really didn’t like Halloween when I was a kid, either. I’m an introvert and I rather hated going door to door and engaging with a whole bunch of strangers. The candy was enough of a draw to make me do it, though).
Yes, the candy was enough to make me overcome my introverted tendencies. I think Halloween is really fun, but I don’t really do much. Nowadays I usually stay home to answer the door for trick-or-treaters- although tomorrow I’m driving my daughter and her friends to a couple different neighborhoods. They’ll go around without me so I guess I’ll sit in my car and read? It’ll be an introvert’s Halloween!
Hope your ribs/chest muscle heals quickly.
I remember that beach fondly.
I have signed up in the past for a plank challenge but I have remember to do them LOL.
I have losts of candy and though I didn’t run a halloween race, I did volunteer and dressed up as a witch. It was more fun than running (a race… a trail one that is).
Actually I forgot to do my plank today… oops. I can see how this is going to be a challenge!
Dressing as a witch to volunteer at a trail race sounds really fun. I don’t really want to run a race wearing a costume.
Oh, I haven’t done a plank challenge in a while. Add it to the list of things I’d like to incorporate more into my daily routine (along with yoga, meditation, rides, runs, strength workouts and all other kind of things… I need more hours in the day LOL).
I am sorry about your rib pain… I am sure it’s just sore from all your strength workouts, but it can take a while to go away….
Yes, I always feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. You forgot stretching and foam rolling!
There is absolutely no way I’m doing a plank challenge. LOL. But I’ll cheer you on!
They did trick or treating in my town tonight and we only had five trick or treaters! Only FIVE! We’ve had dozens before and I bought SO MUCH candy. My husband’s students are going to hit the jackpot next week.
Ha… well maybe people were confused that trick-or-treating wasn’t on Halloween. maybe you better keep some of that candy for monday just in case!
Sorry to hear about the ribs but glad you could work out what the start of it was. I was like that with my back problem (below my ribs and didn’t hurt to breathe deeply so got it to the muscle one further out from the rib ones!) once I knew where it had originated. Hope it continues to improve.
Thank you Liz! And I’m glad your back problem has improved.
Gosh, what a weird injury! I’m sorry you’re dealing with that.
Thank you Jessie! Yes, leave it to me to get a weird injury like this.
Ouch! You poor thing w/ this string of injuries! I guess taking the advice from that book about lifting HEAVY was a bit too much! It’s hard to learn our limits!
My workouts last week were absolute crap. That is all. But I didn’t have my WFH mornings free as I had to take the boys for flu shots on Monday and did daycare drop off on Friday. I did do a strength training workout on Friday, though, and ran 4 miles w/ my neighbor on Sunday. Today I did another strength training workout – or that is what I thought it was going to be, but it turns out it was a HIIT workout focused on the legs. It was so hard and I kind of hated it while I was doing it, but it’s good to have programs that push me to do things I don’t like! And I felt great at the end knowing I was done working out for the day and worked my body hard.
The planksgiving challenge sounds interesting. I did a 30-day plank challege a couple of years ago and saw a big difference by the end of the challenge. They had you time how long you could plank at the beginning and end and I really improved. So I would do one again. I really want to get refocused in November and get more workouts in. October was pathetic between Will being sick and me being sick and work travel and such. I really need a quiet month but that is not happening w/ the holidays coming!
No, I wouldn’t say the next couple of months will be quiet for you! But maybe you should do a Planksgiving challenge. I don’t do HIIT workouts because I’m just focused on strength on my non-running days. But I know they’re really good- I’m not surprised you felt great at the end.
Ouch on the rib pain! I have been and it definitely takes a while to heal fully. I thought I was healed, lifted too heavy again, and re-injured it 🙁 Don’t be like me and definitely gives yourself a little grace and be patient with it.
Oh, that’s good advice Kim! It does seem a little better and I want to keep moving in that direction!
Boo to your pain!
I got you, though! If I’m in misery for myself, I might as well take on your misery too!
I hope you get to the bottom of this!
Thank you Jenn… it’s getting better but very slowly.