WebEmilyD

If you're like me, whenever something is happening with your body that isn't normal, you retreat into self-diagnosis mode. You also know that one of the best and worst websites of all time is webMD.

Going back a couple of weeks to that recurring foot issue I have during long-distance runs, as a cheapskate self-diagnoser, I did my due diligence. After much research and discussion with my PT Technician friend, I've decided I may have sesamoiditis. 

I don't know that it's all related, but the pain from the bulging disc in my back always occurs on the right side of my body and I've always had foot issues with my left foot. I know. I'm a freaking genius. 

To get relief from this strange...condition, in lieu of just not running (been there, done that), I've purchased a couple of these bad boys:

The idea is to take pressure off the sesamoid bones while running. I'll be testing them out today....along with not wearing heels for a while. If this all helps, I may need to get rid of the heels forever (DARN!)

Now that the foot mystery is diagnosed, a new issue has emerged. Two weeks ago I had two chipped teeth/fillings repaired. It was the normal process of numbing, drilling, etc. Blah blah. But ever since, I've had a consistent dull ache in my jaw and a never....ending.....headaaaaache. 

One thing that happened during the "procedure" that I didn't recognize as strange until later on is that, when the dentist did the numbing, immediately I noticed my heart started racing and I was shaking. I chalked it up to being nervous and not having enough to eat for breakfast. A couple hours later at work, I CRASHED big time. My mom told me later that sometimes when the dentist is injecting the numbing...stuff, they hit a blood vessel. And that's bad. It makes your heart race and then you crash. Well then, mystery #2 solved.

I understand now what Jason Statham went through. Except, you know, I'm not armed with weapons and handsome good looks. Oh, and his face wasn't numb.

Have you ever had a strange ailment you successfully diagnosed using the internetz? 

Epiphany

I've been absent from blogging for a while now. Basically? Life happened. Life, and me working through some things. Getting back to running after an almost five-month hiatus while dealing with a back "injury" has put a lot of things into perspective.

It feels like I'm starting over. My first run back was ok, but the resulting muscle pain was ridiculous. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I guess I figured maybe I'm lucky and I'll bounce back quickly.

Nuh-uh!

Endurance is earned, not given. You have to earn that shit back, guys. It's no joke! My training plan for my next race doesn't start until next week, but since my first long run (next weekend...already!) is six miles, I knew I needed to work up to it and put in some base miles so I decided I wouldn't wait for the doctor's ok and started running again about a month ago. I'm quite the risk-taker.

I'm in LOVE with my shoes. Sorry, Brooks. I'm a traitor.

Before my running hiatus, I'd gotten to the point where I felt like I was comparing myself with my running counterparts (who are much more competitive and better runners than me) and it wasn't enjoyable anymore. I was almost ready to throw in the towel.

Almost.

This past Sunday while I was running with my friend, Lindsey, we discussed this issue and I realized I wasn't the only one who'd experienced this "runner's guilt." We didn't have a particularly fast run and we weren't competing with each other. We ran at a comfortable pace and walked when we needed it. It was stress-free and, dare I say it, enjoyable! But we were still putting in the miles. I can't remember the last time before this year that I actually enjoyed a run. No, seriously.

Why was I comparing myself with everyone else? Why did I let it bother me that I'm slower than they are and not wanting to run longer races? Epiphany: Why not be in competition...with only myself? I know, novel idea, right? Welcome to adulthood, self.

Yes, my goal at my next race is to PR (and at the one after that and the one after that) but I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't. I'm just going to enjoy the journey...and embrace my inner tortoise.

Of canine injuries and awesomely bad 80s jams

This past weekend I was tasked with the duty of dog-sitting Rocco again while my brother and some other mutual friends of ours went camping...and didn't invite me. But I'm over it...whatever!

An overview in pictures because, you know, if you can't say something nice and all that.

Lunch with the lovely ladies I'll be running City of Oaks with in November.

I didn't take a picture of it, but I also got a $50 parking ticket, which I've contested. Parking in Chapel Hill can suck it.

 Pippi vs. cat.

I made this one small. You're welcome.

(She got out the door to chase a cat while I was bringing Rocco in from his morning walk. Just from running at full speed a short distance to chase the damn cat into a sewer, all her claws started bleeding. I don't ever have to trim her back claws because they stay short, so she must just run with her claws at an odd angle).

Also, ever since this incident, every time we go for a walk she has to check out every sewer we walk past. She learns her lessons the hard way, this one.

high-tech dogshaming

Yes, that's how I spent my Sunday, followed by lots of wiping up of blood spots and washing rugs and blankets and towels. Dogs are AWESOME!

The high spot of my weekend?

iTunes is my hero.

I may or may not have sang out loud with headphones on...to the dogs (ha HA...payback!) 

Did YOU enjoy your three-day weekend?

A pain in my running mojo

You guys, I'm in pain. And I'm pretty pissed off about it.

My right knee hates me.

I'm not exactly sure what happened, but my knees have both been a little sore, so I've been icing them off and on. My biggest fear is that my knees will keep me from running. I'm very worried about my knees! (This reminds me of the time I was dropped on my face on a cobblestone driveway and the only thing I was worried about was my teeth...they all survived, BTW).

My right knee has had an off-and-on pain when I bend it while walking, and a little pain while running but I didn't worry about it too much, because I wanted it to just be my legs getting used to running. Yesterday I was supposed to run three miles, but then Kara The Enabler was like, "Hey, you know what? Make up the six miles you didn't run on Saturday". And, since I'm always up for a challenge, I was like, "Yes, I can do it!" So I did 5.5, wanting to save the 6-mile PDR for this Saturday. 

As usual, I stretched and then, while eating my cereal for dinner last night, I iced both knees. And then while I was walking Pippi I got a shooting pain through my knee that came back every time I took a step and bent my knee. I hoped that, after a good nights' sleep, I'd wake up and all would be right with the world again. Yeah, I was dead wrong. I walked into work this morning like a cripple. I've noticed the pain is on the right side of my right knee. When I put my hand to the area while trying to bend my knee, it feels like it's "creaking" (for lack of a better term).

Possibly something with the collateral ligaments?
(also, yes, it annoys me that they spelled muscles wrong)

For today I'm just going to ice it off and on and hope for the best. If it feels better by this afternoon, I'm still considering doing my 4 miles after work. I'm an idiot, aren't I? 

I'm considering purchasing a knee compression wrap or sleeve of some sort. Suggestions?

Anyone else had this kind of thing happen to them? I need assurance that I won't be sidelined for long. It's severely crippling my mojo.