relief in the x-rays.

I've been dealing with lower back issues since I ran my last half-marathon in April.  I don't believe I ever told you guys much about it because I was waiting on some pictures from the race and then suddenly, well, now it is late July!  Oh well.

I'll say Race for the Roses was a good race, but only with some hesitancy.  There were three contributing factors to this: 

1) My Army-man-brother-in-law stepped up to help me conquer the run and finish with a great PR--which he did and he did great!  However, I had never had a running partner until that morning.  We had never trained together.  I felt a little bit out of sorts, like I was meeting a new friend for the first time--but on race day!

 2) Brother-in-law didn't bring headphones.  Do you know what this means for a girl who knows the line-up of songs on her Ipod play list by heart, and never works out without music?  13.1 miles just wouldn't be right spent in conversation.  How do people do this anyway?  So around the fourth mile, I explained to him that my head wasn't quite in the game yet, and I had to plug in, or else...I'd never find my mojo.  Still love ya brother.

3) Husband was out of town.  I was so bummed to be running this big new run without him there.  In fact, I was feeling so out-of-sorts with the new course, the above mentioned, and missing Husband, that I really, really struggled up till the seventh mile.  I recall almost crying around this time because of it all.  I also remember this pivotal and frustrating mile because it was then that I FINALLY saw my first mile marker.  Let me be the first to tell ya, if you don't already know, that running seven miles without mile markers whilst knowing that in total you are to run 13.1 is SCARY.  Mile markers people!  Big, HUGE mile markers wanted.  Always.

But we finished and we prevailed.  Brother-in-law did so because he had never ran a half-marathon before, and he'd only spent five weeks or so training.  Crazy guy.  But he also prevailed because he pushed me to finish that baby in 1:58 minutes with a personal record (PR) time of exactly 9:00 min./mi. for 13.1 miles! It couldn't have done better and I couldn't have been happier with the time...well a little...because I did drop off around mile ten.  We were running an 8:40 min./mi. until then, but the pushing became ridiculous.  I was training just under 9:00 min./mi. so I was pretty pleased that I could keep up with him!  I told you Brother-in-law pushed me!

Unfortunately, ever since this run I have been dealing with on/off-again back spasm/strain issues.  It has  sidelined me so much that I cancelled all my summer runs and training for the 10/10/10 Portland Marathon.  Hence the reason you haven't heard me mention a thing about running since.  It has been a huge bummer.  But today, after three long months of back issues,

there was relief in the x-rays! 

My brother, who is my chiropractor, found that my aggravated back issues are due to the fact that there is a 10mm difference in my hip placement.  Otherwise, my hips are out of balance.  He believes we can fix it with specific adjustments.  I am so grateful to be in the clear for any more serious injuries.

So, today I will take it easy and be kind to my back for all the cycles of workouts that I wanted it to endure without proper alignment.  I'll rest easier and be more patient for a full recovery, and look forward to the next time I can run 3, 5, or 7 miles without inflammation.  Running has saved me--my mind, my body.  I can't wait to come back and feel the triumph, the energy, and I'm not going to lie--feel the pounds fall off.

Running.  It does a body good.

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