Debbie Downer

I have been avoiding you or is it the other way around? I'm tired (quite literally) of writing about the physical challenges my running body has endured since Boston in April. I hate to be a "downer Debbie" by continuing to write about it, but life isn't always fluffy dogs and apple pie. Sometimes it's dog shit and sour apples. Glad to have got that off my chest. Phew! Two things have been kicking my ass; fatigue and a sore left hip. I've been actively working the former, and in denial on the later.

After taking a month off from running, I jumped in with the only speed I know, and quickly felt "back to square one" on the fatigue. I was going to say, it's hard to explain, but it's really not. I'm just tired and don't have the speed and adrenaline I'm used to on faster runs. I've written here about the nature med Dr. I've been seeing that's trying to get to the bottom of the fatigue thing; lots of blood work, infusions of iron, and a spit test. The only thing they haven't asked for is a sperm sample. At least that would be funner than the other tests (was that my outside voice?...I forgot this is a family-rated blog.) I'm scheduled to discuss some of the results this week with Dr. Boulder, but a work trip may be shifting that around a bit. At least I'm working through that one. The sore hip...yes...I've been holding out on you on that one. It has been hurting for two months now and even my infamous foam roller hasn't done the trick. I've hit the chiropractor, massage therapist, and physical therapist, but the hip is still "pist."

Last week, I went to take pictures of the hip. I can handle the minor stuff; pulls, sprains, strains, but I wanted to make sure there was not something else going on. X-Rays were negative with a diagnosis of hip trochanteric bursitis. Due to all the above, I have all but eliminated any notion of running in the Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half Marathon in August which pains me. My run PT suggests I take the rest of the year off with emphasis on cross-training and maybe 3 runs a week at 70% of my maximum heart rate. I'm in the fourth week of that delightful program. I got biking gloves for Father's Day. Not sure if that was a heartfelt gift or a cruel joke for a runner to get on Dad's day.

Sooooo, "other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

I'd like to put a positive spin on this so I don't lose the few people that read this so here it goes;

I haven't heard anyone say, "you're too skinny" lately. (I've put on a few pounds.)

Saturdays without the alarm clock going off at 4-5AM. What a concept. There's lots of things to do on a Saturday morning I've discovered.

I haven't had to buy a new pair of shoes in six months. Think of the money I'm saving!

Shot bloks. I used to go through them like a college kid goes through cheap beer. A six pack goes a long way when you max out at a few four mile jogs a week.

Strength training! I'm considering this an extended off-season so I'm working on core strength; arms, abs, hips, quads, hammies.

So if you've wondered where I've been, you now know. It's difficult to hang out with runners when I can't train for marathons or hang in my virtual world and talk about "not" running on DailyMile and Twitter. Once again, the blog name seeks appropriate, "Seeking Boston Marathon" as I'm on a quest to get there again.