My Achin’ Back!

What would a training cycle be without a non-running-connected injury to report?  At least the shin splints that bugged me a little while ago were running related…

Back Story (HA!)

In the fall I started lifting weights 1-2 times a week to jump on this cross-training bandwagon I had heard so much about (I felt so trendy!).  Generally I’d hit some weights on a night where I was leashed to the house for one reason or another, then fit in some bodyweight exercises (pushups, chin/pullups, planks, etc.) in front of the tube or between some of my daily tasks (putting kids in baths & bed, doing dishes, cleanup duty, yada yada yada).  Everything was progressing well, I was taking it slow and focusing on form over performance until I was sure I had each exercise dialed…that was until 3 weeks ago.  During my last weight session I was in a bit of a hurry trying to squeeze everything in and get to bed early, so instead of completing a proper warmup I dove right into things where I had left off from my previous workout. Being the rational, intelligent, talented fellow everyone knows and loves I figured I’d be fine…I’m sure you can see where this is going…during a set of deadlifts the bar weight pulled my center of gravity over the front of my feet (instead of the heels), my back rounded and I felt a sudden twang in my lower lumbar region.  Workout aborted, I was on the couch with an ice pack tramp-stamp within 2 minutes.

Fast-forward to last week, my back had been fine (a little tight) since the incident but I was able to run without issue, and even return to bodyweight exercising…that was until I played hockey one night.  At one point I lunged for a puck that was just out of my reach when that familiar sharp pain rushed in and kicked me in the spine.   Wonderful…

In the past I’ve had issues with a tilted pelvis….wait…what?  Yep, when I started running my body reacted in all manner of wonderful wacky ways.  My lower back/glutes would get tight and my pelvis would tilt; left side higher, right side lower, which in turn caused my IT band to shorten and probably explains the hobbling mess I reverted into by the end of the Ottawa Marathon in 2010.    Since that time, I’ve tried to strengthen things by Cross Training off and on, and things were coming along.  Until now.

As far as I can tell, now my pelvis has a posterior tilt/rotation caused by weakened/injured lower back muscles and tight hamstrings (from all the cross training goodness), which feels like someone is sticking razors into my lower back when I sit for too long.  Luckily I have a desk job, and sitting all day is the majority of my day…(sigh).

For the time being I’ve simply been trying to loosen things up with a combination of stretching, romantic sessions in the hot tub, and then making sweet love to my foam roller.

 

It usually works for a bit , but every day has been a different experience in terms of pain/immobility.  At least tonight I get to visit my Athletic Therapist/Osteopath buddy for a treatment.  Maybe he can put Humpty Dumpty back together again?

How about you?  Ever had an “other sport” injury hamper your progress?

Take it easy kids…

Race Schedule Frustrations

You may remember my post Plans for 2012 (or maybe not, what am I a mind reader?) where I listed a few races that I was thinking about running this year? Well…it’s only mid-February and already my list has experienced a few…“setbacks”.

So far this year:

Grimsby Half Marathon – Due to the unfortunate passing of the race director (Jerry Friesen) in Nov. 2011, the Grimsby Half Marathon was cancelled for 2012.  At least at this point, the Peachbud 10km and Twenty Valley Half Marathon still seem to be a go, but I was hoping to use the Grimsby race as a tune-up for March’s Around the Bay 30km.

Rattlesnake Point 5 Peaks Race –  I have some extended family commitments that we were trying to schedule, and apparently the only weekend we can fit everyone in is the same weekend as the Rattelsnake Point race.  If it was a local meeup, I’m sure I could sneak away for a bit but unfortunately it’s out-of-town.  Perfect…good thing I hadn’t signed up yet…

 

 

The Limberlost Challenge – When I found out that I wasn’t going be able to run Rattlesnake, I started fishing around for another trail race to punish myself with.  In my search I came across The Limberlost Challenge.  The race has multiple distance options, and the fantastic scenery typical of Ontario cottage-country.   Since we were planning a vacation near (kinda…no, not really) the race location I was intrigued; “Would my string of race disappointment continue or would Lady Luck shine on me?”.  In the end, Murphy’s Law prevailed and the timelines didn’t match up.  No race for you!

Bruce Peninsula Multisport Race – A good friend of mine has signed up for this race and he’s looking for others to join in his pain.  As soon as I heard the format (40km mountain bike, 15km trail run, 16km kayak, 20km mountain bike, 5.5km trail run) I was sold.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time on the Bruce peninsula rock climbing, and (some) mountain biking so I have a pretty good idea what the terrain will be like; rough, tough…awesome!  Despite my excitement I won’t be able to race this event because I’m on solo parent duty that weekend…(sigh).

Ultimately, I don’t NEED to race to enjoy myself but I’ve found that if I don’t have a clear goal in mind my mileage takes a nose dive.  Less mileage = loss of fitness = less enjoyment on the run because it hurts.  Go figure, being in shape makes exercise easier and more fun, who’da thought?  Regardless, I was hoping to do some really cool events this year, and it’s a bit disappointing when things don’t work out.  Maybe it’s time to get a new hobby?….nah….

Have a great weekend kids

Speedwork Earworm

An earworm is a piece of music that sticks in one’s mind so that one seems to hear it, even when it is not being played. Other phrases used to describe this include musical imagery repetition and involuntary musical imagery. The phenomenon is common in normal life and so may be distinguished from brain damage which results in palinacousis. – From Wikipedia

I’m no stranger to the ear worm phenomenon, I can’t recall a day going by where I haven’t had a song of some sort going through my head.  Sometimes it gets so bad that I’ll wake up singing the song from the day before like there had been no interruption at all (OCD much?).  Most of the time it’s not a problem but every once in a while you’ll end up with a song that irritates the crap out of you, and it ends up so deeply embedded that you’ll consider exploratory brain surgery with a drill and salad tongs just to purge the cursed tune…think of the infamous RickRoll

For some reason I had the chorus of the song embedded below, (not Rick Astley) repeating in my head during Monday’s speedwork session.  Every time I started an interval, that peppy snare drum roll would pop, and I’d find myself bobbing along in time with the beat.  Then, once the interval was done the song would slip away, especially when conversion ensued…but when we started running again, the snare drum roll would pop back up and I was right back where I started.

So, without further adieu; as my gift (or mental prison sentence) to you dear readers, may I present: Modern Art by the Black Lips

What about you?  Do you have a tune repeating in your head?  Right now?  What is it?  Let me know what it is in the comments below.

Have a good one kids

Makin’ Chili

Double batch o’ goodness. Used Every vegetable we had, local ground beef, and BACON…mmmm, can’t wait.  For running content:  I’m wearing my VFF Komodos while cooking 😉

VFF Komodos

Eat well and enjoy life kids!

Photo Post

Took my family to a Hamilton Bulldogs game last night and snapped this from behind the net.  Great value for the price, especially when the home team wins, 4-3! Again, click the image to get an uncompressed view.

Running Blog Database?

Apparently the uber-blogger (yes, I just used the word uber) 2 Slow 4 Boston has started compiling a Running Blog Database which allows users to connect with running blogs they may be interested in reading. You can search by name or location and sift through the results to find a blog that fits your specific tastes/interest.

So far he’s compiled over 500 blogs and the list is continually growing! Give it a spin and see if you can find something enjoyable…(but not as enjoyable as this one)

Have a good one kids!

Catch Up?

Every once and a while I stumble in life, and especially in this blogging thing. Occasionally, I’ll be surfing along and suddenly realize that I have posted anything on here in days, of course it’s usually right in the middle of some major work crisis and I’m unable to remedy the situation. That happened last week, shit hit the fan with one of our major projects and I was in full-on damage control mode…which didn’t really help because during my efforts I found even more issues (ever feel like you are just continually spinning your wheels?), since then my motivation has been almost non-existent. Monday I skipped my workout, and last night at school (night class) I can’t say I was exactly engaged. Things are getting back on track but it’s still going to take some time.

I’ve been getting all/most of my running workouts in but not much more. The regular/easy runs have been really good, but the long runs have been suffering a bit with weather and timing issues. This past weekend winter finally decided to show up which put a damper on the higher intensity portion scheduled in my long run (10km easy, 4km half-marathon pace, 2km cooldown). I simply couldn’t get my feet moving that fast without the risk of serious injury, not to mention I had to cut the run short due to a few commitments, which forced me to split the run into a 10km during the day and another 7 that night; sure, I got the distance in, but I’m pretty sure the point of a long run is to have a long continuous effort. I really shouldn’t complain about the weather we’ve had this year, it’s been superb from a running standpoint, but the snow/ice seem to culminate on the weekends which is long-run time. Guess I’ll just have to keep plugging away and hope for a reprieve.

In blog news, there are a few posts in the cue that I have to finish up, but they should be up soon. For now, here are a couple fun pics to tide you over:

Photo Post

I love urban/rural decay photograhy, and I’ve made an attempt(s) to do the genre justice. This is a shot I took a few years ago and I hope you enjoy it; I took this one in 2009 in SW Ontario, Canada.

If you are here for the running content, there is some coming unfortuntately I’ve been busy with work as of late and unable to post more substantial post prepared. Even so, enjoy the photo and let me know what you think.

Have a good one kids

OK Go’s Fun New Video For Needing/Getting

OK Go set up over 1000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took 4 months of preparation and 4 days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; Damian took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they’d play the right note no matter where they were struck.

Enjoy it kids, have a good one!

New 37min Neil Young Jam Session Streaming Online!

Neil Young has posted up a 37min recording of a 2012 jam session he and his former band Crazy Horse completed on his website (www.neilyoung.com) for free listening.  This is hopefully the beginning of a new full length album for the group…but only the band knows for sure.

I’m not sure how long this is going to stay up for free,  Neil Young has always done his own thing when it comes to corporate pressures so I’m guessing it’ll be around for a while, but I could be wrong?

Regardless, throw it on while you work and let the warms sounds of the guitars and tube amps wash over you.  Enjoy.

Have a good one kids!