In which I have a stupid leg.

Back in August I did a sprint triathlon and then started doing some heavier training and it was then that my left leg first started whispering to me that it might have had enough, thank you very much. Then on August 31st I did the New Mexico relay it turned into a loud murmer. As a former teacher, I've learned to ignore loud murmers and so in mid-September, I did another run - the Colorado Relay - and it seemed to be annoyed, but I could still run at my usual pace.

I was banking, of course, on the fact that my legs seemed to be invincible. Slow as well, yes, but sturdy. That's me. Sturdy. Every woman's dream is to be described as "sturdy" isn't it? But anyway.
Then, of course, I tried to do a teensy weensy run in my neighborhood about a week later, and, well, that was it. Pfffttt. Game OVER. Stupid leg.

From then on, it's been this pain that is very localized in my left shin, a bit toward the inside, about 3-4 inches above my ankle. I've had it x-rayed, but is was negative, which means it's either broken or not broken, according to what I've read and heard from people who know a lot and people who know a little. Helpful.

The problem, as many people have unfortunately discovered, with a leg or foot injury is that you develop all sorts of ancillary problems. You hobble a bit, so maybe your hip gets sore, or maybe your knee aches, or your back gets spazzy from the uneven gate. The possibilities are endless.

In any case I in October I did a 50K on an injured leg because YES, I'M JUST ABOUT THAT STUPID and after that my feet and hips hurt like hell and, well, I couldn't do much of anything, except hike on trails. Stupid leg.

So I've finally taken it easy during the rest of October and finally, now, it's November 12, and I can still feel an ache there when I walk but I can finally run, at least. I'm only running on trails until I can't feel that ache any more. Sunday I ran 5 miles continuously, about as many as I've run since I did the 50k at the beginning of October, and a fairly decent pace for me, but my hips and feet hurt.

So now I'm back to building up endurance in all those other places: hips, knees, back, feet - that go with running long distances. I doing the elliptical hopefully twice a week and running twice a week and spin, as well.

I did the elliptical before work this morning and it was AWESOME - I watched the news and worked out and now I'm all informed and hyper and feeling good about myself. I told Baboo I want to do it as often as possible.

Then I went and had a huge gut-busting lunch but, ok, I'm still on the right path.

...