About Me

Monday, March 27, 2017

Pass or fail?

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We're our own worst enemy.

Have you ever been guilty of that scenario? Do me a favor...look away (as I meekly raise my hand). Thanks, I owe you one.




Daily goals for March

On a quest to remain injury-free, I came up with (what I considered) a no-fail list of daily exercises to strengthen my hips and keep my hammies happy. Sounds legit, no? My plan was to do these PT moves everyday for the 31 days of March, and, come April, I'd be ready for action!

How did my March plan of action go? Not so well.

And, what's happening in April? Official commencing of Grandma's Marathon training!

Well, after (not even) the first week, I had to bail. Maybe it was too aggressive doing these every day? Maybe I curtsied too deeply (or too wide).  Or maybe I curtsied too often? Or maybe I shouldn't have curtsied at all? UGH. All I know is that my hip flexors did not embrace my grandiose plan (and I have spent the remainder of the month, thus far, trying to rehab what those first few days did to me).

Now, I'll spare you the melodramatic details. These exercises did not land me in the physical therapist's office, nor did they keep me from running. In fact my March mileage has progressed nicely as I continued building my base back in preparation for the upcoming long-run weekends awaiting me.

So, although I did not keep up with doing all of these exercises daily, I did continue doing them in moderation. I may have temporarily bailed on the curtsy lunges (until my hips feel fully recovered), but all the other moves are feeling fine.

Also, anyone who knows me is very much aware that these are not the only "things" I'm doing, besides running, to stay in shape. There's the daily planking, daily push-ups, and weekly arm work...

...and (for a few more weeks) weekly stair-training (Fight for Air Climb happens April 9th!).
There's been all kinds of star-training happening

If this was a pass/fail assessment, I'd give myself a definite passing grade (there were too many variables to factor in an actual letter grade). Although I had my best interests at heart with my initial attempts at prepping for my next 26.2 excursion, I soon realized my March plan of action was not working for me. It was doing more harm than good, so I modified it to better serve my needs. I'm just thankful I had the sense to NOT continue with it in hopes of it getting better. I have not yet come up with a new set of monthly goals (for April), and my Grandma's Marathon training plan is still being tweaked...but here's a sneak preview:
still a work-in-progress...

So, there you have what's currently happening in my little corner of the universe.

Have you ever had a training plan actually produce adverse effects? If so, did you outright bail on it, or did you modify it to better suit your needs? Ever have to eat the crow on a plan you created yourself?


I'm linking up with Marcia and Patty and Erika for Tuesdays on the Run...we're talking about the month of March, and assessing our progress. Join the party!

Also, I'm linking with Suzie and Rachel and Debbie and Lora for the Running Coaches' Corner

And with Nicole and Annmarie and Jen for the Wild Wednesday Workout

40 comments:

  1. Well Im sure that was frustrating that the work you were putting in to avoiding injury was actually causing you issues! Sometimes lunges and I just don't get along. Its great that you were able to modify your plan!

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    1. I have always struggled with lunges... my knees kind of tun inward (?) so my thighs have a tendency to go their own direction (instead of staying above feet/ankles supporting them). Squats usually work better ...

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  2. Obviously, as you'll see from my post, this tends to happen to me on a fairly regular basis. You are not alone. And it's really frustrating!

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    1. It is frustrating! I know my hips need work, but they don't want to cooperate

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  3. This has been exactly my experience when it comes to hip strengthening exercises. For me less is more. I've had PTs tell me all these things I should be doing and when I do them? My hips are SUPER ornery. For me (and apparently you as well) some hip stuff is good, but it's very easy to overdo. Way to listen to your body and change course in time!

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    1. Yes, this was a big UGH. I really didn't think I was overdoing it, but that "pinched" twinge sensation just wouldn't go away

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  4. Kim, I'm struggling over here too. Last weekend I had really severe low back pain after a run. I'm going out to test it this morning, but I"m a little nervous.

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    1. All these unnecessary "aches & pains" need to take a long walk on a short plank...

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  5. I always think that. We really are our own worst enemy. Modifications are better than just not doing it at all. Sometimes we just have to find what works for us even though we had a different plan in mind.

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    1. I'm a huge believer in modification (as opposed to outright stopping). Trial and error LOL

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  6. I don't really use a plan. I just run during the week whatever I have time for 3-6 miles and then on the weekend, I run longer. 6-12 increasing 1 mile each week. So far so good at least injury wise. Speed not so much...

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    1. That's pretty similar to what I do (except for when I ave a 26.2 on the horizon).

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  7. Oh, I've had plans that did not go well at all. And had to bail on them. Yup. BTDT!

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  8. Lunges and squats are always weird for me. Sometimes they aggravate my knee so I have to be very careful. Kudos to you for training smart and changing the plan.

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    1. My knees kinda turn inward, so I have yo be careful, too.

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  9. A few years back I tried to follow a plan that had me running way too much and way too fast for me so I bailed on it. Got to take care of those knees! I'd say you had a pretty great month

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad I had the sense to stop doing the curtsy lunges.....I guess not every "strengthening" maneuver is good for me LOL

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  10. Um yeah... I've overdone it with lunges before. It was no good. No good at all. But I learned and now if something feels off, I stop before it produces negative results.

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    1. Lunges are tough for me. Even though my balance has gotten better, there's something about them that are just so "unbalancing" for me....lots of wobbles, etc.

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  11. I admire you for doing your daily planks! They are so hard, but so rewarding - I love how my abs feel when I do them! Also, - we all know what happened to me when I pushed my limits too hard. I've really had to modify my leg work at kick boxing so I can actually complete my long runs! Happy Training!!!

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  12. I've been in the same boat. The strength routine I do for hips/glutes sometimes makes my groin area sore! NO.CAN.DO. NEED.TO.RUN.

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    1. It's frustrating because I know my hips need work...but it's almost like they're revolting against it LOL

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  13. I'm sorry the hip strengthening exercises didn't work out so well for you! I strength train only 2-3 days a week when I teach my class. I've been injury free almost 2 years. But I've only trained for one marathon which is what got me injured in the first place. I hope your training for Grandma's goes smoothly!

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    1. The curtsy lungis are what did it for me...the problems, that is. I think I was either doing them too "deep" or something, because my hips hurt every time I attempt to do them now. Thankfully, I don't feel much discomfort while running.

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  14. Glad to hear you listened to your body. I am stubborn and have a tendency to stick to the plan even if my body might tell me not to.

    And I've had my fair share of self created plans blow up in my face. :/

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    1. I'm usually pretty stubborn, too, about finishing a plan, especially if its' just for a month. This was the first time (maybe in EVER) that I've bailed.

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  15. Curtsey lunges are always tricky - if you go too deep you can definitely aggravate something! Great job listening to your body and not just doing it because it was on your training plan :)

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    1. Thanks!! I do think I was doing something wrong with those damn curtsies LOL

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  16. I've bailed on plans that I just didn't find motivating.

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    1. Well, I was motivated to do this....but it just was NOT working. ((**poof**))

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  17. When I worked with a physical therapist to strengthen my hips and glutes, he made sure I didn't have any pain as I did the exercises. When I did, he made modifications so I can strengthen the same muscle group without pain.

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  18. Glad that you were able to modify you plan! I have had to change things up that just didn't work too. Looking forward to following your marathon training!!

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  19. YES - listen to your body. I trained for a full marathon and followed the training schedule to the T and then the week before the marathon found out I had multiple stress fractures. :( Stay healthy!! Do what works for you.

    And wow - that stair training is impressive. I don't have any stairs in my life - none in my office or my work. I definitely need to get in more stairs/hills!!

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  20. Wow it sounded like those exercises would be awesome, sorry it wouldn't work out for you, lesson learned. Glad it didn't affect your training too much!

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  21. i'm sorry they didn't work for you. I'm always afraid of starting too much too soon. Glad it didn't derail you.

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  22. I totally get it. I also came up with a brilliant plan to strengthen my core, hips and glutes and had to bail on it. It was making my back worse. So. no running improvement (but my knees don't hurt, yay?) and total bail on the non-running activities (with the exception of biking, but I do that all the time). still I think you did great, there's no way with all that you DID do that you could have failed!

    good luck with Grandma's planning and training!!

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  23. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Sometimes things in our head just don't play out right, no shame in that game! Good luck with Grandma training (that sounds funny!)

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  24. I love clam shells! I always feel them. :) My hips tend to get tight from running also. I need to start incorporating some of these!

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