The Things We Do For Running

There are things we will do as runners to improve performance. We work on form, speed work, try different fuels and shoes, use music and/or metronomes, eat a balanced diet. We even go so far as to give up the things we love, or at least enjoy them in highly limited quantities: diet coke, fries, cupcakes, candy, all of it gone. We survive on things most people wouldn't even think of putting into their bodies: green shakes with algae, coconut water that tastes like mango juice(my new favorite actually), grilled proteins with no sauces and oils, veggies that are grilled or steamed and flavored with lemon juice. Well, tomorrow I embark on ridding myself of pain and discomfort. Allow me to explain.

This past season, beginning back in September 2008, I participated in the following races:
Disneyland Half Marathon, Long Beach Half Marathon, San Gabriel Turkey Trot, Rose Bowl Half Marathon, Children's Hospital 5k, Surf City Marathon, Catalina Marathon, Pasadena Marathon, LA Tri Express Sprint TriathlonLA Marathon and the Disneyland Trek Women's Duathlon. Here's the thing: some of those races I was thiiiiiis close to finishing but couldn't. There was always pain in my abdominal area or sides, or the chaffing, God the chaffing. See, before I had my daughter I never ever had these problems. Heck, I was finally convinced that was the time to work towards my first half Ironman. THen, I found out I was pregnant. I thought "oh, I can pick it up after I have my duaghter". Little did I know it wasn't that simple. Yes, the working out was hard and initially demoralizing. Your memory kicks in when you start running again and your brain reminds you that visially you are going so slow because you remember what it was like to run at 9:00 miles for hours. Now, you are averaging 13:00 miles for 2 miles and cry at how painful and horrible it all was. I thought I was never going to love running again. My swimming came back so quickly, and for those that know me they would tell you "of course it did". My cycling, well, I've always hated hills, and yes, it was difficult, but with very little training at all I still average 15-17mph. I just need to learn to love the hills.

Then I decided that in 2008 I was going to run a half marathon. See, a marathon sounded absolutely insane to me still, but 13.1 miles, totally manageable. I saw a coached training group for this particular race and signed up for it all. Over the course of 6 months I learned Chi Running and went from averaging a 12:45 mile (lots nad lots of walking folks) to averaging 11:02 mile....with still walking. I FOUND MY LOVE OF RUNNING AGAIN! I credit a lot of it with my running group and coaches: http://socalrunning.com/group-coached-marathon-training/
I credited myself for finding the joy and love in something so simple as running. I credited my daughter and boyfriend for inspiration. But no matter how much faster I became and how much I worked on my form, running was still painful, and not a good pain. I have six pack abs but you wouldn't know it underneath the additional abdominal skin from pregnancy. After a run over 8 to 9 miles if I bend over and stretch my hamstrings well, my ab muscles spasm and cramp on me. As I have come to learn it's not for a lack of stretching or strengthening, but because my abs have to work double duty of supporting my core AND my stomach. Painful doesn't begin to describe it. When I tell you I have had bruising because I this it's hardly and exaggeration. Next would be the inner thigh chaffing, or rather bleeding. Shorts, pants, whatever, people it still happens when you run if you have inner thighs that, well, touch. After the LA Marathon and my absolutely ridiculous decision to walk so i could "see the city" my feet and my thighs took 3 weeks to heal. I have the war wounds to prove it all.

So, the choice came down to quitting running or doing something about it. Well folks, I tried it all, this is why I actually have a six pack of abs that nobody can see. So, it's time to call in the calvery. I am having mini abdomnioplasy and well, it's just called a minor thigh lift. Let me tell you that very little has to do with vanity and maybe 90% is really about running. I have goals, I want to run ultramarathons, I want to actually do a Half Ironman (just maybe not WIldflower), I really do recover from races so close together well, but I want to be able to say "I actually only do three marathons.....just the same marathons every single year". To many, this is excessive and vaine, to me it is what will actually help me reach my athletic goals. Should I have to give up what I love doing because I have poor genetics? Not so much. I'm not embarassed about it, in fact, I'm proud. Now, granted, the first day I plan on being in a world of pain, however, in about 2 days I will be walking, albeit very slowly, 10 minutes every hour. By 3 weeks I should be able to walk for a good amount of time, and if I recover properly be able to sit on a spin bike and just spin. By 4-5 weeks I should be able to starat to slowly run again and 6-8 weeks back on schedule.

Sometimes, we make compromises for what we love, but at what cost? Last time I checked, hurting myself over and over for what I love doing wasn't wise. However, making it so that I can do what I love that much better and feel good about myself I what it truly is all about. Yes, I miss my running friends and spin class to which I haven't really need able to go to because the pain was too much. In a matter of weeks I will have that all back, and more.