Smiling!

Okay, so this is an old picture.  But I remember the totally ALIVE feelings that I had on this trail run.  Enough to make me do the trail run happy dance.  I'm doing this Happy Dance today too!

Honestly, it feels like it has been forever since I've run.  Taking two solid weeks off of running and exercise in general has been a much needed break after Boston.  I've embraced it.  Enjoyed it even.  I've indulged in eating some really yummy foods, slept in, lazed around on the couch, read a book, had girl nights with my mom, enjoyed more wine than normal, and tried not to worry too much about what is going on with my pelvic bone. I've taken extra care to just listen to my body and follow the advice from my coach in telling me that we would not be moving forward with training until I had proof that this pelvic pain/discomfort is not from a stress fracture or stress reaction.  He could not stress enough that I needed to take some time off to just rest, recovery, love my body, and seek rejuvenation!  If I hadn't had the pelvic pain and the threat of a serious injury that could put me out for months (oh, and someone telling me that rest was critical to moving forward)  I might not have been patient enough to really pull my head out of the post-marathon cloud and truly rest.  But thanks to the strong advice I was given, the time it takes to schedule appointments and wait for results, and my body's LOUD plea for rest, I surrendered.  I rested.  Completely.

Then today
I
got
THE CALL.

My Doctor.
Telling me that there is
NO
Stress reaction or fracture.

I had obviously hoped for this.  Even assumed that it couldn't be a stress fracture because it didn't hurt badly enough.  But I wasn't willing to take chances.  I only have one body and I have big plans.  I need this body healthy and strong.

This phone call was the green light I needed.  The peace of mind.  The PEACE.  The flag that went off in my head signaling that
I could slowly start back up again.

2.5 easy miles.
Heart rate increasing.
Sweating.
Body feeling springy and FRESH.

And now I can't wipe this stupid SMILE off my face!!  My whole body is singing.  I didn't even realize that life had taken on kind of a dull grey color until now.  There is color everywhere.  Guess I'm a cheap running date.  Didn't take much and now I'm floating on this little, or rather BIG, runner's high.  Off of only 2.5 miles!

2.5 easy miles,
A promise of good things to come.

My pelvic bone is still whispering at me.  Rather than a pain, it is more of a discomfort.  I can tell something is a little off and I'm guessing it is from my abdominal strain that I had not too long ago.  It just feels so good knowing that I don't have any issues with the actual bone.  My doc referred me to sports medicine where I will be able to get further information about what could be causing the pain in the pubic bone after hard exercise.

So, what's next? Well, for now, it is just one day at a time.  A slow and easy build up.  And really, I'm all about waiting for what my coach tells me the plan is.  He hasn't officially given me the green light yet so I won't get ahead of myself.  This next time around, I'm all about listening and being open to guidance from someone else.  I can do the running, he can do the coaching and together we can make decisions about what is best for Amanda.  I like this arrangement. Post note (years later):  This coach, Ray Hauck was so far from being what what best for Amanda.  I should have listened to my gut that was practically yelling at me to stay away....  I should have known that coaching "for free" definitely deserved the eye raise it initially gained.  

In the meantime,
I can't stop
SMILING.

Amanda

Friday Quickie

1. I love Friday
2. I love wine.
3. I love wine on Friday
4. I'm going to be a spectator at the Eugene Marathon this weekend.  So many of you running!  I'll be at mile 18.  Look for me.  Let me know if you want me to hold a sign, water bottles, flash you (Ha, kidding), shout a special phrase, etc. I'm there for you!  I'm excited to see many of you but there is a special somebody who has come to mean a great deal to me that I'm specifically driving down for.  Love you girl!  I've got numbers for Meredith, Tasha and Raina.  Would love your number too if you are running Eugene. Not sure what I'll do with them since my phone isn't so "smart" even though it thinks it is.  I'm super excited to be on the spectator/supporter side of things.  I hope you feel my smile at mile 18!  
5. In all my post-Boston Marathon afterglow, I was honestly entertaining the idea of running the Eugene marathon myself.  Ha!  My new coach put things in perspective for me about that one.  Ha ha.  Not that I could have run it if I even tried.  Not running for 11 days now is a sure sign of this.  What a wise coach who has helped me pull my head out of my a@$!
6. I had my MRI today.  Results won't be available to me for another few days.  
7. Honestly, I'm pretty peaceful about things right now.  Things are as they are supposed to be.  I'm surprisingly grounded considering I have had little to no exercise the past 11 days.  If you don't count running around after 3 little kids and being an extremely hyper person that really doesn't slow down a ton.  
8. The MRI will show what it shows and I'm prepared for whatever comes through.  I don't think it is anything too severe since I'm moving around quite well despite the aching in my crotch (pubic bone).  
9. So MUCH to be thankful for in this life.  So much possibility.  Even in the moments that catapult us off our desired path.  When one door closes, many more can open.  
10. So excited about being on the Nuun Hood to Coast Team.  I just know that this will be an experience of a lifetime and I will make some lifelong friends in the process.  I've already learned so much about Nuun that has given me a new perspective and appreciation for the product.  Not only is it environmentally friendly by eliminating wasteful plastic bottles, but it just MAKES SENSE when you think about what the athlete needs to stay hydrated and fully stocked on electrolytes (while still being able to take in carbs separately when needed) for the best possible performance. And it is kid friendly so the little sips that my kids insist on taking won't cause them to turn into some shriveled up blob of not-so-good-for-you.  
11. As eager as I am to get back into training and try to BQ before September so that I can be in Boston with so many of you next year, I am enjoying this down time.  I am embracing the moments as they come.  And hoping that I don't have an injury that will keep me from running for too much longer.  
12. Pizza is here.  Time for family movie and pizza night.  One our favorite traditions. 

Happy Friday Friends.  Thank you for YOU.  Each and every one of you has touched my life in some way.  Thank you for all your wonderful and supportive words lately. 

Amanda

I've Been Quiet but Happy

The past week or so has been kind of quiet.  Hard to believe that the Boston Marathon was just nine days ago.  Hard to believe that we ran it in almost 90 degree weather.  And hard to believe that I haven't run even a mile since then.  But certainly not hard for me to believe why.  Boston took more out of me than anything I've ever done before. Unlike many of you that ran it, I did not just bounce back right away and start running ten mile runs and training for the next marathon.  My body has taken a hit and I'm trying to be patient as it heals.  Lots of rest, love, and caution here.  I'm desperately hoping that my body is just tired and there isn't anything serious going on.  However, the aching pain in the front of my pelvic bone (off and on since January) is telling me that I need to be extra cautious. I was pretty sore after Boston but the one thing I ended up icing was my pelvis due to the pain. My new coach encouraged me to get an MRI.  In fact, he insisted.  And he has strongly suggested that I rest as much as possible until the results come in to rule out any sort of stress fracture or stress reaction.  I did try to run just a bit yesterday (nice and easy) but stopped as soon as I felt the pain in my pelvic area again. After just a walk to the school today, I'm feeling it again.  Praying that this is nothing and that I can start training again in just a couple weeks.  


Despite, my body being so run down, there are so many positive things going on in life and I'm thankful for this break from running so that I can soak it all up.  I'm thankful for the time I have to just BE.  I have been enjoying the extra moments with my kids and honestly, I've loved not having something on my training schedule.  Having these down times in life are so necessary for me to feel a balance between the intensity of training for a race and the lull that comes with just waking up and planning my day as it comes.  With this comes lots of extra time to be present with my kiddos.  Now, if I'm injured and don't have a choice as to whether I workout or laze around....then there might be some issues!  Ha!  For now, I'm focusing on the positives and "choosing" to be quiet and still.  Being optimistic seems like the best approach.  


Some things that make me smile lately:


Team Nuun
I'm happy to announce (and most of you already know) that I was chosen to be part of the Nuun Hood to Coast team for 2012!  I'm certain that this experience will prove to be a wonderful lifetime memory where I will be able to run my heart out while representing a great company and making some awesome new friendships.  For more information about this you can read here. 

New Coach
Starting Runninghood was a decision that has led to so many wonderful opportunities, friendships and connections.  With each new friendship I make, my life gets richer.  So many doors have been opened. And as time goes by, new opportunities to grow, get involved, and gain strength as an athlete have occurred. Right before Boston, a friend of mine passed on a name of a coach to me that she thought I'd work well with.  One e-mail led to another and now I can officially say that I have a coach.  We'll see how things unfold once I can start training again but just from the phone calls and e-mails we've already exchanged, I'm really excited about things.  We seem to click quite well and he has already given me SO MUCH advice, direction, and encouragement. I'm ready to trust, listen, and work hard to reach some new levels with my training.  For now, we are in rest and recovery mode but I am eager to test "our wheels" together.  Soon enough.  I'm so thankful that he has come into my life. He really seems too good to be true. 


I love how things unfold.  Even during the times where we feel our lowest and things seem a bit dreary, there is hope that good things are yet to come.  



Amanda