No Exercise For 1 Week: Place Your Bets

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So. It seems my body is falling apart, piece by piece. It started two weeks ago with a sprained lower back muscle, moved into bicipital tendonitis in my right shoulder, progressed to a rolled left ankle with accompanying shin pain, and has morphed into a bruised muscle on the opposite side of my back, side stitch, and muscle spasm in my left arm. 

To say the least, something isn't right. Today's 10-mile run cemented that fact when I was practically unable to bend over to pick up Gatorade at the water stop, had to keep my body in straight alignment with zero twisting so as not to cause back spasms, and still had such a strong sensation of a bruised rib that I almost quit the run halfway through. 

I may be thick, but I can take the hint.

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Face Plant In The Dirt

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Wild Turkey Trail in Greensboro, NCI've started a weekly trail run with a friend. Yesterday was our third run together and we were both pretty tired. Me because I'd done 5 miles of speed work the day before, and Kathi because she'd raced (and won her age group) that weekend. 

Here's the trick to trail running: You have to pick your feet up. Sounds obvious, but...

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I'm Not Wonder Woman: A Reminder

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Running does things to you. It builds stamina, increases confidence, improves mental health and has a profound effect on your overall fitness.

Or, in my case, it gives you one overweening ego. 

I don't know why I think being a runner makes my lower body invincible to the pain ordinary mortals may experience, but it does. It's why I continue to remain shocked at how horrible I am at spinning. It's also why I'm reluctant to admit--at midnight on a Friday--that my glutes, hamstrings, and thighs are KILLING me, compliments of Jillian Michaels. 

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