May 03, 2005
Thin Threads
This is my first entry. Feeling somewhat uncertain about what to write and where to go, I begin. With those same feelings I started running about 4 years ago. Soon after that I was running more and more miles each day. I continue, even today, to wonder when those feelings about running will change and as I am slowly realizing I think I will always feel a certain wonder about running. Perhaps that is why I go chasing all those miles.
Some brief background about how this all started. Up till and after playing soccer in college I'd always been pretty active. I made it along just fine until one cold and rainy spring day I decided to run a 10k, just to see what it was like. Well after an ok race my life went from fine to exceptional when I met a girl who is now one of my most favorite people. We talked. I gave her a ride home. We began running together. Starting off with 8 miles every other day was just the beginning. By fall I decided to do my first marathon here in Philadelphia. I finished in a shocking to me 3:17. After that my mileage went up to 100 miles a week. My mileage stayed at 100 through 5 other marathons including a 2:54 PR in NYC. Around a year and a half ago running seemed to become more and more of a struggle. Pain in my groin got so bad I finally had to stop running because it was extremely painful to even lift my right leg to put on jeans. After a year and half of completely frustrating and exhausting health dysfunction I finally am in the midst of recovery. i do hope.
to run a fast marathon in the fall would be a dream.
making my way toward this i woke up a little later than the usual 5:30 am since i don't work till later in the morning on tuesdays and thursdays. my run took me down to the sparkling schukyl river in philly and out to kelly drive (here in philly we have this 8 mile loop starting from behind the art museum. "the drives"). I continue to do this run in as many creative loops as i can as my recent memories of running have been filled with complete physical and psychological fatigue and frustration. I was feeling not so bad this morning. The whole groin thing turned out to be a torn psoas muscle. For anyone wondering what this muscle is.....it's one that attaches to your spine behind your lower ribs and runs all the way down to meet the top of your thigh at your hips. It's the muscle that enables you to pick up your leg. Love this muscle. Stretch it if you can. Make sure it's loose and strong. The tears i have in it are at my groin and top of my thigh. Little micro-tears that have cause major floods of tears through many miles and countless sleepless nights. Well, I am getting healing for this from an applied kinesiologist who has been such an angel for me. While I still feel it, I have been doing better, thus running more. Running faster. I ran for about 65 minutes this morning. I don't want to over do things to quickly. Plus I will run home tonite from work. I work in north philly and it's always an interesting "commute" home down broad street. Especially in the spring when the shout outs become colorful and crude. I recently got a "Hey, can i take you to Friday's when your done running!!!!"
That's my tuesday as far as running goes. The many more things that occupy my time and essentially fuel my desire to run will be revealed as I write on.
Posted by E-Beth at May 3, 2005 12:05 PM
Comments
Welcome to blogging! I'm glad to hear that you're recovering, and look forward to reading about your progress towards a fast fall marathon.
-Jessie
Posted by: Jessie at May 3, 2005 10:24 PM
Hello! It's nice to hear from you! I look forward to hearing more about your running. How exciting for you to finally be getting better. Have a good week!
Posted by: Audrey at May 4, 2005 07:22 AM
Hey welcome and looking foward to hearing more about your progress! It's good to hear you are slowly feeling better, I don't even want to imagine how hard this must have all been for you. Yoou have some amazing fast times though and I'm sure you'll go back to them eventually!
Posted by: Nanda at May 4, 2005 09:50 AM
welcome to the running/blogging community! i'm excited to hear about what fuels your desire to run. it's a fascinating and different story for each of us.
Posted by: jeff at May 4, 2005 10:05 AM
Enjoyed your comments. Very fast times! You have me thinking of that muscle though. I hope it heals for you quickly!
Posted by: Andrew at May 4, 2005 07:08 PM