Why I wanted to come back to the Loop. At that time, things were different. The year of Wonder Woman was coming to a close and I felt like I didn't have a reason to keep blogging about running in my own little world. I'd moved from Kansas City to the Denver area, so the combination of the two, along with the fact that my 3 loyal readers are Loop Kings, make me think it's time to come back to the place that helped fuel my passion for running: The Loop.I talked about how running in Colorado has been an adventure.
I tried a trail running group after only living here for two weeks. That run quickly turned into a hike. I wasn't used to over 700' of gain in less than a mile and at 5280+ feet.
I had planned to make my way back to the Front Range and the awesome trails.
Then I joined a road running group, and I also got myself a personal trainer so I can have some accountability in my lifting and nutrition for 3 months.
I got stronger, ran longer (instead of run/walking!) and started thinking about doing another marathon.
Then, in late December, things took a turn.
Something was not right with my hip. Again. Whatever I did, probably trying to push too much on the leg press, really aggravated an already finicky part of my body. Still, I kept at my training, and bragged about losing two pounds over the holidays (mwuahahahaha).
I didn't think I would be sidelined as long as I was. Plans, like the 10 Mile Cherry Blossom Run and The Avenue of Giants Half marathon, were cancelled.
There were positives - I became a much better swimmer, I got stronger in the weight room, and I lost a very unwanted 20 pounds in 3 months of hard, hard work, despite being injured.
I was struggling with recovery from my hip issues. I thought it just meant I couldn't do long distances. But hey! I could be a 5k and 10k specialist! That could be fun!
But then, one day in April, I'd just had enough. I couldn't stay in my happy running blog world and deal with what I had to deal with.
I took the rest of April off. Cut back on weight training, no running, only swimming for cardio or short walks, and lots of hip and core strengthening from workouts found through runnersconnect.com (great site, btw).
In mid-May, I tried a very conservative return to running. Things had been going ... ok. I thought I could at least be able to run/walk a 5k I have in honor of a high school classmate who is living with ovarian cancer, but I'm not even sure I can do that. The past few days, I have been in so much pain, I am not even sleeping well. 500mg doses of Aleve are not helping the way they should and I even called to see if I could move up my appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to next week, rather than the following week.
Ugh. It's frustrating. Based on discussions with my chiropractor here in Colorado, I likely have a torn labrum in my right hip and probably some hip impingement issues. Based on how I feel and where things ache, I'm hoping that will be it.
I'm also hoping it will be at least that. For me, as someone who has setback after setback over the years, it can't be nothing. A simple "overuse" diagnosis will destroy me, because then what? The answer can't be don't run, don't squat, don't do anything that you've been doing. I've been doing those things because I love them. I miss finishing a workout, dripping with sweat. I can't remember the last time I've felt that way. Or stunk that way. In my world, that's a sad, sad thing.
That's what's been going on the last 5 months. Up until this week, I really thought I was in the clear. That I could at least do this 5k and a 10 mile trail race back in Kansas that I've been planning with a friend for a really long time. Now all I can think about is when this pain will stop. I hope it stops soon. In the meantime, I'll try to manage it the best I can. Today, it's just really wearing on me.
