Let me self diagnose my pains.

So I have been working out - not really running - but working out.  Pure Barre, Blast900, walking the dogs ... all the jazz.  Not sure why I have not really embraced running - I think I want to blame the fact that it is dark when I get home from work {works for me} ... but I have been trying to stay active and this week I have noticed some pains.  All in my right leg.  In my ankle and my inner knee.

So my ankle. It hurts where I put the arrow.  Something called the calcaneo-fibular ligament. I don't know what that thing is or what it does and google isn't really helping me self-diagnose the pain and where it came from but all I keep seeing is the word sprain.  So I am thinking I tweaked it Monday at Blast900.  That's all I can think since we were sprinting and doing hill work and treadmill work for half the class.  Or I could have messed it up on a transition from the treadmill to the floor.  I got nothing, but it hurts.

And then there is my knee.  Again. with the picture and the arrow of where it hurts.  But I will tell you again I have no idea how or why.  So per this picture, the pain can be one of three things. 1. meniscus tears. 2. collateral ligament tears. 3. arthritis.  None of which sound all that great so can I just call it something less. But I am thinking that if my knee had legit tears in it I would KNOW.  So I of course went to google again to self diagnose and thankfully, I do not have tears.  If I had tears evidently I would be bruised and swollen.  And I am not.  Nor do I feel like my knee is going to give out.  Therefore I think I am just getting old or just have the normal aches and pains that come along with working out. 

So needless to say: I am not broken.  Nor will I be walking down the aisle on crutches {awkward} ... but I do need to take it easier.  But... I have a half marathon next weekend in Birmingham.  And we all know I am the queen of running marathons and half marathons unprepared.  But I have never run a half marathon both unprepared & with a knee and ankle that have ganged up on me.  So this should be interesting.  ;)

three things thursday

1. have you read about how they're thinking about making the new york marathon a 2 day race.  If not... you can get all the details HERE.  I have not run the NYCM but it is on my bucket list and when the lottery opened up for this year I toyed with the idea of trying to enter it {and man am I glad I did not}.  ....but I (may be alone in this thinking) but there is something about this marathon and the excitement and suspense of knowing if you did or did not get in. And I understand that the demand to run this race has and is growing, but I don't think that should change the process of getting in.   But I am not a fan of how they're getting rid of the guaranteed entry... guess I will have to get lucky. ;)

2.  I am still really shocked at how EASY the 5k I ran this weekend was.  Running 2 miles in my 'hood is hard - I blame the hills, but obviously the hills have helped a lot.  Now I am looking for a 5k for November and a 10k for December.  I actually have the Run Georgia web site pulled up and am trying to decide what to run. I am *hoping* to be amping up the miles soon.  I registered for The Mercedes Half Marathon for next February in Birmingham and I WILL RUN THIS RACE.  No more DNS.  

3.  I am so excited for everyone running Savannah this weekend but I am also so bummed that I am not running it.  There is always next year...  I kinda regret cancelling my hotel room and kept thinking I should just go to spectate... but that is a lot of money to just spectate.  But I hope everyone has a lot of fun and has a great race this weekend!!