The Healthy Bride

Today I called the Physical Therapist Murray recommends.  They are performance specialists and I hope they can help me figure out why I am getting injured – regularly.  My right butt cheek is still on fire.  They told me I can not schedule an appointment until I have an RX from my doctor.  I just saw her a week ago…but back I must go.

The process is a time consuming one.  I have to go into the Dr. office just to ask for a referral….but I guess that is the system we live with.  I hope to get into the PT before Scott changes jobs and we lose our WAMU insurance.  It’s odd and funny to be in a situation where both of us are soon self employed and will no longer have a group insurance policy to join.   We are now on our own, will have to pay out-of-pocket for our insurance. Should be interesting…..and expensive….for less.

My hope for my butt problem is that they can diagnose the problem and then send me home with a program I can do on my own, toward a cure.  If you are looking for a really good PT, let me know and I will send you the names.  (I don’t want to post them here, but would be happy to pass them along).

Happy Halloween! Boo!

piriformis

Now that my knee is feeling better….and I ran a race on Sunday….seems the pain has moved to my right buttock.  I have had this pain before, just not for this many days (about 7) or this intense.  Ouch!  It appears to be either buttock syndrome or piriformis syndrome.  This feels like your butt is burning from the inside out.  I am right now sitting on an ice pack.

I found a really, super cool web site while doing research on my problem.  It has fantastic information on a lot of topics.  Since many of you are training for marathons, I really recommend you check out the information on this site. 

From shoes, to stretching, to race pace/training pace information, I think this site rocks.

Keep youself healthy!  See you out there.

Today was my 2nd day of swimming the masters workout at Medgar Evers Pool.  It really does kick my butt every week, but it feels so good! Today we did the following workout:

400 warm up
8 x 75 kick (fly, back, breast) 10 sec rest
16 x 25’s  (4 each free, breast, back fly) 10 sec rest
3 x 200 pull
16 x 50’s (4 each free, breast, back, fly) on the minute
200 cool down

We didn’t make it through the whole workout.  We cut things off at the 1st 50 of free, but it was still a great workout.  The group takes up two lanes in the pool.  We had Bryan, Kimberly and Erika in the center lane (they are all fast), and Pat and I were in the lane next door.  When more people come, we can take another lane, but until more show up, there is no need. 

It’s super fun to swim with this group and REALLY pushes me.  I need it. When I swim on my own, I just keep things comfortable.  That is not enough to move me forward. My upper body has been a bit neglected (other than doing pushups) and it’s about time I did something about it!

If you want to join a comfy, friendly masters workout come join us!

I went to the dr last week to get my annual flu shot. I don’t really fall into the category of those who need a flu shot every year, but two years ago I got it BAD!  Scott, my husband, had it too and at the same time, and at that moment I swore I would never go without my flu shot again!

While I was at it, I thought I would get my vitamin D levels checked.  I have been chronically low.  My last reading (March 08) I was at 17 Yikes!   Levels in the 50’s is considered a good level these days, (although the labs consider the 30’s “normal”).  I have been taking my D pills daily for months, so will be interesting to see where I am.

The Dr. (who I love) also told me that I should be taking fish oil.  I am a vegetarian, so fish oil is out and I asked for a recommendation.  She told me to go to Pharmaca or Rainbow Pharmacy and ask the person on staff for the best substitute.  I went to Pharmaca and they gave me great advice.  I ended up getting Spectrum Essentials Flax Oil with DHA.  The person there told me that the DHA is the important part, so I just accepted his advice and walked out with my DHA solution. I am now adding a tablespoon of the oil to my morning smoothie.

Why fish oil?  Lots of reasons.  The wikipedia information does a great job explaining the details.  I trust my Dr. and agree that there is a lot to be gained from eating good, healthy, natural food.  Our food supply has been so manipulated that we are no longer getting the basic nutrition elements our bodies need.

If you are really interested in this topic, I recommend you read The Omnivores Dilemma.  It might scare you, but knowledge is power.  I am a firm believer that we have to be our own health advocate, and eating well gives you the best bas

nw trail run

Michael was kind enough to invite me to join him on a trail run at Soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish.  I had never been there, and thought the 10 mile trail run would be a good test for my over-use injured knee.  Running was off the table for 5 weeks, and I have been running about 5 times since coming back. 

The day started out a chilly 36 degrees, with clear blue skies overhead.  The colors in the woods were amazing!  The race was hosted by NW trail runs.  About 100-150 people were there.  A reasonable number for sharing the trail. 

The run was so fun!  In some places the leaves were covering the trail so much, you couldn’t see the way!  Luckily the person in front of me knew where he was going The race took me 1 hour 26 minutes and I was the 1st female to finish!  I was excited.

Michael did well too!  He finished at around 1:30.  We had a fun, fun morning.  Thanks so much MIchael!

If you are getting married, you really need to check out Wedding Podcast Network. 

Holli Erlich and her husband run the show over there.  I have known Holli for a couple of years.  She interviewed Colleen Kaku Kamikawa after her wedding.  It’s a great show about making a lifestyle change during your wedding planning stage that resonates for you and your husband-to-be and lasts long after the wedding day.  Listen to Colleen’s interview here.

Holli is super excited about Battle of the Betrothed! We are looking into ways to work together in the future.  I am excited too.  Holli has amazing energy!  She is in New York City and in the thick of the wedding scene. 

Be sure to check out their site and their shows!

Went to a fundraiser lunch today (thanks Tracy!) and got to hear Al Gore speak. 

It was super cool, and Al Gore was really very funny.  He had a few important things to say (duh, he did win the nobel prize), but especially optimistic is how green energy and renewable energy is goingto be bigger than our last industrial revolution.  Even better:  Washington is one of the leading states in this industry. 

The economy looks pretty scarry right now, but really the future is exciting and bright.  We have several companies off the ground and getting big support from Maria Cantwell, Christine Gregoire and Jay Inslee.  Did you know that Jay Inslee has supported the “Appollo energy” initiative?  It has not gone far…yet, but if Obama gets into office, it will be off and running.

This is all great for jobs in Washington – and for our environment.  Personally, I want there to be clean water to drink and big glaciers to climb beyond the next election.  

Go Washington!

There are two runs on Sunday that look SOOOO fun!

One is close to home through NW trail runs is at Soaring Eagle Park in Issaquah.  There is a 5 mile and a 10 mile loop.  The weather on Sunday looks like it will be great. 

The other option is with Seattle Running Company.  They are hosting a run through the enchantment lakes.  This area is one of the most beautiful places in Washington, and especially this time of year.  The Larch trees will be a bright orange. 

Oh!  I want to go!  But, my knee is still not back 100% and I think the 22 miles will just be too much and I don’t want to have to take another 5 weeks off running.

So, see you out at Soaring Eagle on Sunday morning!

Last night was our last Hard Core class of the season.  I will miss seeing everyone.  It’s just too dark to be out running with a group at this time of the year for us to continue through winter.  At the finish of class we all set some winter goals to keep us focused.

Some of the group’s goals: 

Maile is going to continue taking dance classes.  Her goal is to attend an intermediate dance workshop to follow up her beginning dance workshop she completed last summer.

Rae is going to continue training for the Seattle Half Marathon and keep up her long runs, even in the harsh weather of winter.

Nancy is signing up for a ski conditioning class at her gym.

Alicia is running and doing weights consistently for the winter.

Carol is continuing to work through her injury and get back to running so she can compete in another half marathon.

Allison is running and getting back into yoga.

As for me, I am targeting two races in May, which means focusing on endurance running, and swimming/water activities.

Hard core will start again in March. Hope to see all of you guys from this year as well as a few new faces!

Becky (8 months prego) was a brides maid in Annika’s wedding last weekend. Annika is such a cutie!
Both of them are long time members of The Healthy Bride Hard Core class.

We have missed both of them in our current session – but understand they both have perfectly good reasons to be absent and we can’t wait for them both to come back soon!  Congratulations Annika!