Thursday, August 30, 2012

Elephants, California Dreamin, and a Piri-WHAT?!


As you may have heard, the Republican National Convention is in town this week causing a ruckus. The city is full of patriot-clad delegates, VIPs, VVIPs, and VVVIPs from around the nation. 



I immediately decided that since my hotel was hosting a delegation (amongst some other miscellaneous big wigs) that I needed to be dressed appropriately - decked out in the red white and blue, of course.

The problem with wearing red white and blue (and anything with an elephant on it) is that I don't own much red, and I don't own anything resembling an elephant. The white and blue, no big deal. But I mostly avoid the color red and elephants altogether, due to Auburn's arch rivals the Crimson Tide, whose colors are red/white and have an elephant as their mascot. 



Plus red just ain't my color. Makes me look washed out.

After a trip to Payless and the thrift store for red items, I was able to accessorize enough with my white and blue pieces that 4 different cute outfits were born!

I'm leaving for California tonight so won't physically be able to wear my Day 5 outfit. 

I was sad for about 2 seconds them remembered I would be in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA instead, so then I got happy again.

Doing long runs in the dry cool air along the strand from Hermosa Beach all the way to Marina Del Ray and back are the things that dreams are made of, y'all. 

The sunny 75 degrees hanging out on the sand with a drink in my hand watching a beach volleyball tournament isn't so bad, either.



And, speaking of running....

Moving on to something I've been mute about -- my hip.

At first we (my running coach and I) thought it was probably just a tight IT band, so iced/stretched/took advil/strengthened for a solid 2-3 months and stopped my speed/track work altogether. And it's still not better. 4 or 5 miles into my runs, I get this sharp pain in my left hip and can't shake it unless I take way over the recommended dosage of Advil and stop once every mile to shake it out.  

On a 15 mile run, a stop at every mile past the 5th is an average pace cold-blooded killer.

I finally succumbed to the fact that I needed to see a specialist.

 *Cue scary music*

Sports Specialists: Where runner's dreams go to die.


The doctor thinks its my Piriformis muscle, which connects to the hip joint as well as the sciatic nerve. See highlighted area below for details.



 Yes, I just posted a photo of butt muscles on my blog. Who doesn't like butt muscles?!


I told him I'm running the Chicago Marathon in October. He said he'll get me there, but I may not get a PR. Although I was hoping to get in the 3:40's timing wise this year, I was content with this diagnosis. 
At this point, just get me there!! 

He wants me to do Physical Therapy for three weeks then come back. At that point if I'm still in pain he may shoot me up with some Cortisone I hope he shoots me up with some Cortisone. I can't lie. 




Happy Labor Day/College Football Opening Day weekend, and War Eagle! 















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