Week of 9/21/15 to 9/27/15
No, someone has not hacked into this blog to spread such heresy. It’s really me. And I’m really playing it by ear.
UGH, argh, fuck.
I have a new friend/injury/reminder that I’m no youngster. This must be the month of bizarre injuries. Earlier this month it was a freak upper body injury as the result of an overzealous and undertrained masseuse, and now I have a butt problem. I’ve never had a butt problem other than the obvious Asian Butt Syndrome. See Exhibit A “Pancake Booty” below.
So after a successful post-marathon week of recovery, I went to push it a little on Wednesday and do a short tempo run. Oops. I felt a dull ache in my right rear. No sharp pain, but it was annoying enough to make it so I couldn’t really lengthen my stride. I took a day off, tried to run on Friday…lasted .75 miles before I got freaked out by the dull ache and stopped. Repeated this on Saturday and Sunday. It’s not painful, and if I was fifteen years younger, I’d run through it, but I’ve decided to wait until I see my ART (Active Release Therapy) therapist next week before I start running again.
Ugh, ARGH, fuck.
I had already planned on going somewhat planless for the next training cycle, which was supposed to be for the Santa Clarita Half Marathon in November. I had a vague idea of 10-16 mile long runs, a tempo run, a speed run, and staying in the 30-40 mile base. But I knew I’d be picking up my cross-training by working with a trainer, and I wasn’t sure how my body would handle that in terms of sticking to my runs, so I knew I’d be playing it a little bit by ear. But now, well, now, it’s all up in the air.
I’ve read a couple articles – OK, it’s ridiculous how many various iterations of “butt pain running” Google searches I’ve performed this week – and this butt pain could be one of two things. So until I see my doctor and find out what it is and the treatment, I have no idea if this is a 10-day thing or a 4-6 week thing.
Ugh, argh, FUCK.
Despite this setback, there were some positives fitness-wise. The needle finally budged on my upper body inflammation, and although there is still some pain and discomfort, things are moving in the right direction. I imagine that barring any setback (read: me doing bench presses and incline flys), it should be gone in two weeks.
I also was fairly diligent about doing leg and ab exercises, and did several days of rolling and stretching too. On days I do ab-work, I choose two from five types of exercises:
- Planks: One minute each of regular and each side.
- Crunches: Combination of 100 standard, obliques, lower abs.
- Weights/Medicine Ball: 15 reps each of three exercises with a weighted ball and one set of side bends with dumbbells.
- Core Balance: These are done on my knees while stretching out alternating arms. One set I hold opposite arm/leg for 20 seconds; one set I bring in my knee when I bring in my arm; one set I extend my leg while extending my arm. And then one exercise I am in plank position and curl alternating legs.
- Standing: Tracy Anderson – Gwyneth’s trainer and fitness center partner – has a standing ab series that addresses the lower abs. Most people don’t think of doing ab work while in a standing position, and this is a fun way to break things up.
Anyway, in lieu of running news, I’ll go ahead and add some personal filler.
In a rare school night outing, Husband and I went with friends to a one-night performance of theater (Wicked) and TV (Smashed) actress Megan Hilty at the Valley Performance Arts Center at CSUN. She has a lovely voice, but her “impromptu” banter was off-putting. Just sing, please! Strangely, this was Husband’s idea. I married a dude who manages multiple fantasy football teams, lives in t-shirts and flip-flops, AND enjoys musical theater. Who needs girlfriends?
Also…Book Binge. Silver lining: more reading time because less running time.

This week’s tentative plan is to stay off running and go hard on cross-training in the hopes of staying in decent shape until I find out what’s wrong with my bum. Winging it is not really my go-to position, but perhaps this is where experience comes in. I’ve had enough nagging injuries to know that I can fight this and try to struggle through my runs only to have to eventually take a break, or I can rest now. Hence, my seemingly easygoing wait-and-see, let’s-play-it-by-ear stance. I think I just threw up in my mouth.
Hope everyone has a great running week!
Total weekly mileage: 7 miles
Cross-training:
-10 sets of ab exercises (up from 6)
-29 sets of leg exercises (up from 11!)
-3 sets of stretching, rolling, and yoga poses
-I also made an appointment with my trainer. Baby steps.
Hope you are feeling better soon!!!!! My hubby sounds like yours…we are lucky indeed!!!
Thanks! Yes, show tunes and ESPN. Haha
HEHE!!
Ugh! Argh…hope whatever it is it’s not serious and you’re running soon!
Thanks! Me too.