Where's my noodle??

As I have previously mentioned, I joined a gym. I wanted to have access to more options for cross training, as well as weight machines.

Another goal was to start swimming. Especially now with a healing injury, I figured it would be a great way to workout with less stress on my joints. My gym has adult swim as well as family swim times. Last weekend I took the kiddies to the family swim. It was my first time in the pool. It is small, only 3 lanes, but warm and clean. There were only a handful of people there. The kids LOVED it!. MissyMiss wears a floaty suit and with it, can freely swim laps back and forth. She will take lessons again this summer. Bubby liked being in the water, but I had to hold him the whole time. Even when I showed him how to use a noodle to float, he wanted me to hold him. I figure it will take time for him to feel more comfortable in the water. Overall, the kids had a blast and were very tired when we got home.

Yesterday I decided that I would try to actually swim alone. When I take the kids in, I just walk around trying not to mess up my hair and make-up.

I was a bit nervous, as it had been a long time since I had actually swam. I got to the pool and there were only 2 other people there, so I got my own lane. I put on my goggles and got in...so far, so good. Then...I dove under the water and FREAKED OUT! It had been so long since I had been underwater that I think I had a little panic attack! I have no idea why. I grew up on Long Island and lived at the beach and in the pool all summer. In high school I even learned to surf....I would never have expected to freak out the way I did.

I ended up doing breast stroke without going under and then slowly going under water for more and more time. I tried a crawl stroke, but could not coordinate my arms with putting my head above water to get a breath.

I know I need a lot more practice. Does anyone have any suggestions for me as to how to figure out how to coordinate my breathing when doing a crawl stroke?? Every time I tried I ended up swallowing water. I ended up doing the stroke without putting my head under water.

I was a bit disheartened, but am going to embrace this challenge. The swimming didn't bother my back and felt like a good workout for my arms. My goal is to swim at least every other week.

After about 10 minutes I really just wanted to grab a pool noodle and float around, but I stuck it out for 25 minutes. Go me!

Sunshine Times Two!!

Michelle over at Let's Roll Mama has given me the Sunshine Award...thanks Michelle!

Time to spread the sunshine to some amazing blogs! I love reading each and every one. They make me smile, inspire me, make me laugh and just make my day a happier one. I would like to give a Sunshine Award to:
Cheri at Gamma's Gab
Running Diva Mom
My Stitchalong
Life at the Zoo
Last Place Runner
Rookie on the Run
One Step at a Time
Gotta Run Now
21 Days

My back injury continues to improve, but is still not 100%. I ran 3.5 on Thursday and had 5 planned for Sunday. The weather on Sunday was SUNNY when I got to the path...what a nice change! When I looked down to get the Garmin started I saw that the last run I had on there was the 9.5 I did 4 weeks ago, before I hurt my back. It was so sad to realize that at that time I was on top of the world...way ahead in my training and feeling great. 4 weeks later I am battling a back injury and hoping to be able to run 5 on Sunday and praying I will be able to get my mileage up in time for the half in May. I won't lie, I cried a bit when I saw the 9.5 on my watch.

I just can't help it....I am passionate and emotional about running. When I first got back into running after having my daughter, it was my hobby, but not a passion. If I got injured I took time off and figured I would get back to it when I was feeling better. Now, an injury is a big set-back and every day not running makes me crabby. I don't know exactly when running went from a hobby to a passion, but I know there is no going back now.

Another Great Giveaway

Zoe over at Run, Zoe, Run is having an awesome giveaway...a Champion shirt, jacket and pants. Yep, that's right, a whole outfit!!! Check it out!

Gym Mishap

I finally joined a gym! I have been thinking about it for a while. I have a treadmill and some weights in the basement, but really wanted to be able to also use an elliptical, weight machines and a pool.

I went for the first time the other day. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill and my back felt great! I then ventured up to the weight room. I had planned to do some upper body. I did some pull downs, tris and bicep curls...no problem. Then I laid down to do the bench press. I had put the pin in at what I thought was a reasonable weight. I grabbed the bar, tried to push up and..NOTHING! I couldn't get the darn thing to move!

I figure I will very nonchalantly get up and switch the pin. As I look to my left side I see a guy watching me and realize he had watched the whole thing unfold. He smiles and me and I laugh, loudly, and blurt out "That wasn't what I had planned!" Yep...I'm smooth like that.

Unstoppable!

First, I ran 3 miles today without any back troubles.....YEAH!!! It feels great to be out there running again. I ran very cautiously and slowly, as memories of the pain I had are still very fresh. But...I did it! I am a much happier person when I am running. When I got home I had a slight ache, so I took some Motrin and did some ice and rested and it was quickly gone.

I have blogged before about my love of Rascal Flatts' song "Unstoppable" and applied it to my running. Well....they just released an Olympic version of the song with some changed lyrics and it ROCKS!!!

Enjoy!

New Read

I got my package from Amazon yesterday and these 2 books were in it....yeah for new running books! Has anyone read either?? I am trying to decide which to read first.

On the injury front, my back continues to improve every day. On Monday I tried to run very slowly on the treadmill and there was no way. The minute I started, I began to have pain. Instead I walked 30 minutes and even struggled with that. I have a disc problem with nerve root involvement, and the walking caused symptoms down my right leg.

I took off for 2 days and then walked tonight. I had no trouble walking and was able to do a full 30 minutes pain-free. I ran very slowly for the last two minutes and things felt o.k. At least I am making progress! Hopefully I will be back to full running in no time!

Giveaway!

Beth over at Shut Up and Run is having an awesome giveaway courtesy of Champion. Her blog is one of my favorites!!! If you can't handle talk about running and bodily functions, you may not like her. If you, like me, find is hysterical...you will love her too!

Just Dance!

I have been looking for more ways to burn calories in addition to my running. One of my facebook friends had written about getting Just Dance for the Wii and how much she loves it. So...I had to have it!!!



It is FUN!!! You hold the remote in one hand and then follow the moves on the screen. Your score is based upon how closely you are able to follow the moves. There are over 30 songs to dance to and each is rated on difficulty and effort. I tend to go with the ones with the highest effort, as they get my heart rate up the most. It is a lot of fun and a good way to burn some extra calories.

My 6 year old LOVES it too! We can compete against each other, which is fun. I am not normally a video game person, but when it is 10 degrees out and you are looking for a way to get yourself and your kids moving around, this is a great option! My mom was also doing it last time she was over and really enjoyed it too.

Funny side story...one night after the kids were in bed I was dancing with myself and having a grand ole time. I was getting down to "Eye of the Tiger" and looked over and caught my husband recording me. Before I knew it, the video was up on facebook and people are still laughing about it. :)

I hate walking!!

So..my back is slowly improving. I can do my day-to-day activities with little to no discomfort. I tried walking on the treadmill yesterday and had to walk pretty slow. When I tried to up the speed I started to feel some pressure right where I had injured my back. Today Bubby and I went mall walking and my back felt pretty good. My plan is to walk a but faster tomorrow and then hopefully try running the beginning of next week. I am desperate to get back to running, but smart enough to know I need to be very careful with this.

Not being able to run is HARD. It downright sucks like a Hoover (still love that one Tanya!). I keep telling myself that I need to be patient, but ya know what, I am just not a patient person!

I started thinking more about it, and I had gotten to where I was able to run and follow my training plan easily. If I had 8 miles on the schedule, I got out there and did 8 miles. Sometimes it was pure joy and other times I schlogged through it, but I did it. I was gradually increasing my mileage without much difficulty. But...I think it is times like this, dealing with an injury, that help me to become a tougher person. THIS is challenging. THIS helps me to grow and develop. THIS is character-building. But ya know what...THIS still stinks!

Thanks everyone for all of your sweet and positive comments...they have meant the world to me!

A Set-back

I have worked my butt off this month. I have my highest monthly mileage ever (73), have done lots of cross-training and lost 2 pounds. I was thrilled with my progress this month...until yesterday that is.

About 18 months ago I hurt my back. I was reaching forward when I felt something pull and ended up with awful back pain and muscle spasms. I healed from this and have been careful with my back ever since.

Yesterday I only had 5 miles planned, as it was to be my fall back week. After about 3 miles into it I felt some twinges in the right side of my lower back, the same place I had previously injured. They were not too bad, so I kept going and finished the 5. By the time I got home I could barely get out of the car, the pain and spasms were AWFUL!!

It is better today, still tight and a bit painful...but much improved over yesterday. I had to spend the day on the couch, which I despise. I am not someone who does well just sitting around.

So...right now I am just annoyed. This messes up my training for this week. I hope to do some walking in a day or 2 and then see how the running goes. I am concerned because I have no idea why this happened...I was just running along, slowly, when it started. Since I don't know what triggered it, I don't know how to prevent it in the future.

I am a physical therapist, but before I took a break to be a stay-at-home mom, I was working with kids with developmental disabilities...so orthopedics was not my area of focus. I am going to call a friend I went to school with who specializes in sports and see what he thinks. Hopefully I will be able to get around a bit more tomorrow...am trying to stay positive, but man is it hard!!