Finally on the road to recovery?

Last night, Facebook told Jason (yes, a note popped up to tell him) that one year ago yesterday, I posted that I had done my first workout in ages and felt great.  That is super weird because yesterday, I posted that I had done my first workout in ages and that I was cautiously optimistic.

Last summer, while on the roads to my first post baby marathon, I began feeling so, so tired.  I thought it was increased mileage and I kept pushing the limits.  Turns out that I had mono.  So, marathon hopes down the drain and I set my sights on the Bourbon Chase and a half marathon.  My new goals worked out well.  I did so much better than I expected at Bourbon Chase and had a huge half marathon PR in Charlotte.

One cold night last December, I signed up for the Cleveland Marathon in May.  I didn't tell a soul for several weeks.  I played off the high mileage easily because I was running a half in Chattanooga at the end of February followed by leg 3 at Whitestone 30K and Relay the following day.

Things were going well.  The half went well considering I had done no speed work and I ran a great race at the Whitestone Relay with our women's team coming in first (of course the two speedier ladies ahead of me really set us up for the win!).

The following week, I did my first 20 miler in over 3 years.  I had something like a 30 minute PR for that mileage.  I was super pumped about my May marathon and knew I would have a PR.  Then came the pain about two weeks later and I ignored it.  I got out the foam roller and figured that I was just sore and that the increased mileage was taking a toll.  No big deal.

I did another 20 miler and it also went really well.  What could go wrong?  I had been doing strength workouts and was getting ready to hit the track and work on speed.  And I did.  Once.  A friend calls the Ye Ol' Workouts the Widowmaker workout.  I don't disagree.

After doing Ye Ol' 8K on the track, I limped a bit to the car.  I figured teaching yoga the day before plus the workout was just too much.  Keep in mind that all of my pains were easily explained and there was good reason every day for why I was hurting.  The pain was in my low back, glute, and hip and it got worse.  So much worse.

By the time I saw the physical therapist, all the muscles in my hip and glutes on the left side were firing non-stop in a constant spasm.  Krusenklaus said no speed work but that he could get me ready for the marathon.  Instead of taking a day or two off, I kept pushing.  I hit the Alter-G treadmill and the soft surface at Cherokee Boulevard.  Instead of 15 miles on Saturday, I ran 7 and then I ran 7 again the next day.

I didn't stop training but I did forgo any speed work and really just wanted to finish the race.  I didn't finish the marathon.  By mile 9, the pain was radiating through my hip, glute, and hamstring.  By mile 11, it had moved to my calf and achilles.  At 12.5 when I made it to Altman, I cried on the corner just two blocks from our hotel.  Heartbroken and hurting.

I have been on the mend since then.  I have gone to therapy and stretched and strengthened.  Today, I ran 7 miles.  I had a good workout yesterday and followed it up with a slow, easy 7 miler this morning.  And, no pain.  Am I finally on the road to recovery?  I sure hope so and if not, this time I will know to stop instead of trying to push through the pain.....