Filling the Running Void

*sigh*

 

I know it is absolutely necessary to do for my training.  It doesn't make it suck any less though.  Every weekend since the beginning of March I have been able to do a long run, each run a little longer than the last.  Of course with this Achilles injury, I had to rest it this weekend, and probably do the same next weekend.  I've already decided to sadly pull out of the Soldier Field 10 Mile race at the end of the month.  I may still go and cheer on the other runners, or Jaz and I may take a quick trip somewhere that weekend with the extended Memorial Day weekend.

 

So since I wasn't able to run today I decided to try and do SOMETHING towards my training and something that was overdue.  Jaz and I went to Massage Envy by our place.  I requested for Christine again since she was who I had last time (2 months ago) and she was also a runner, so she was able to give me some advice on my workout, stretches, and training.  She was also able to target some common problem areas that runners.  God bless that woman! I ended up becoming a member at Massage Envy since I plan on going back there at least once a month during my marathon training.

After lunch Jaz and I went to walk around Lake Arlington.  This is the lake I have run around numerous times for my long runs.  I remember when we first moved to Buffalo Grove and we stumbled upon this spot, I thought it was just a forever walk just to get one lap in!  But now I just love running laps around it because I remember how far I used to think it was.  This training has really shifted my idea on what I view as "far" now for a run or walk.  Anyways, getting back to today, we played the roll of the slow walkers.  Haha.  Hey, I'm a slow runner, so it's only natural that I am a slow walker as well! We got passed by an old couple probably in their 60s.  I told Jaz that in 30 years, we'll walk that fast, but in the meantime, I'll walk like I have nowhere to go.  It really is a nice little spot there, so I was able to enjoy it!

 

To fill my addiction void for running, I had to go to an oldie, sports cards.  I didn't want to go to crazy, so I went with something that I knew I wouldn't want more of after I opened a box, so i went with Bowman Baseball Box.  Bowman is loaded with baseball prospects that I have no idea who they are.  Let's be honest, I know nothing about players who are in the majors!  I figured if I pulled anything of the guy on the box (Stephen Strasburg) I should be happy.  I ended up pulling his rookie card, so I was satisfied. But then, I also end up pulling his Gold refractor version of his rookie card out of 50.  I'm pretty happy, having no idea what I just landed.  So after I uploaded the videos to YouTube, I jump on EBAY to find out the worth of these cards.  I'll let the screenshot do the talking...

ummm...WHAT!?

 

Needless to say I will be selling this card.  I am thinking about getting it graded, but if I can $700 for it NOT graded, I might as well sell it! I need to switch to baseball.

A massage..damn I needed that!

Last Sunday after my first game at an open gym for IBL, I hurt my back. I have no idea what happened. I was able to finish that first game just fine, and since we lost I was just stretching on the sidelines chopping it up with Francis. And then all of a sudden I felt this SHARP pain in my lower back. I honestly couldn't breathe. It then resonated all up my back and practically paralyzed me while I hunched over. Since it was about a 40-minute wait till my next game [4-5 game wait] I was able to loosen it up while continuing to stretch and jogging in place. By the time I got to play again, the pain subsided. Thank God! I was able to play to play 3 more games that day with no issue. Well, I guess I just wasn't thinking about it when I was playing. That tends to happen when my adrenaline gets going. And now that I am 30, the adrenaline cannot protect me for long periods of time. After hoopin' I went to Alice and Eddie's place to hang for a bit where my back continued to stiffen up and then the next morning I was useless. Every way I turned, my back hurt.

So fast forward to today. My back had finally loosened up this week after icing and resting, so I decided to get a massage. I went to Massage Envy today in Palatine and Christine hooked me up with an hour massage. I thought my lower back was my only issue, but it turns out my upper back is all kinds of crazy too. She found knots all over the place. We talked a good amount about running since I saw one of her hobbies was running in her bio in the waiting room. She said she ran the marathon last year in under 6 hours. I hope to do the same this year. She told me some stretches I need to as well as techniques. I'll be sure to do those the next time I workout/run.

Tomorrow...a swim while Jaz is at her driving lesson. Then Monday, outside to run! I have the Shamrock Shuffle 8K at the end of March so I gotta be ready for it.

Sorry for the boring blog, just wanted to write SOMETHING for tonight :)