Backstreet’s Back Alright

Guess who’s back. Back again

You are probably singing one of the two songs… You’re welcome. If you read my post from March of this year, you know I have back issues.  If you didn’t read it, go back now.  I’ll wait. https://runningwarriorsarah.com/home/2019/3/24/chronic-injuries-suck

Waiting

Waiting

Waiting

Thanks for coming back!

I am nearing the end of a recent flare up.  I went for a run in September and noticed something didn’t feel right.  I went home and iced my back.  I tried to stand up a little later and wasn’t able to.   I spent the next three days on the floor waiting for the pain in my back to subside enough to let me move around.  The one thing I noticed is that I need new carpeting.

I got back into physical therapy with Hulst Jensen. (Jess at the Cascade location is amazing!!!). Same issue, same root cause….I’m too bendy.  Same course of treatment.  After a few weeks I went back to my trainer at Stalta (Lauren is the bomb.com).  If you have a trainer, please make sure that they will always take your injuries seriously and adjust your workout plans accordingly.  Honestly, I was VERY scared to meet with Lauren.  What if I made the flare up worse?  What if I caused more pain?  What if I couldn’t do enough to feel like I got a good workout?

Each time I have this issue pop up it plays havoc with my mind. I question running, I question working out, I question everything.  This time was no different.  I have my fall goal race in just over a month, would it be possible?  Should I even be running?  Why is this my life?  Why can’t I get better?   While some of these questions are completely irrational, I can’t stop them from coming. So, I decided to answer just one of the questions.  What to do about my fall goal race, the 12 hour Ultra Bird.    12 hours is definitely out of the question.  I can hardly stand for 2-3 hours.  I decided a quick day trip to Chicago would be my test. If I could stand the entire time without getting pain, I would move forward with the 6 hour race instead of the 12. Well….. I made it further than I anticipated….I was able to stand/walk for four hours until my back started to hurt. So, 12 hours was off the table and 6 hours would be a stretch.  What to do, what to do?

Acceptance is hard.  Especially accepting that you may not reach a specific goal that was set. I did some major thinking and pondering of my next steps.  I paid for the 12 hour.  I trained for the 12 hour.  My trail buddy was signed up for the 6 hour.  A friend from Run Camp also signed up for the 6 hour.  What was my number one priority for this race day?   That was easy.  I wanted to see Beth complete the 6 hour race.  The second goal was to support Emma on her 6 hour race.  Anything on top of that would just be icing on the cake.  My trail buddy, Emma and I went out to Pigeon Creek for the course preview.  I knew what my plan was at this point.  But, I only told a few people.  Honestly, I was hoping for a little trail magic to just fix my back so I could do 12 hours.  Realistic possibility, absolutely not.  But,  I just hoped something would change.   It didn’t. So my plan was simple.  I would walk the first three miles (1 loop) of the course.  If I felt good, I would go out again.  If I didn’t, I would be done and switch to my spectathlete roll.  You’ll have to wait until my race recap to find out how the race went.  But, I will say, I am happy with everything I was able to do at the race.

You may or may not be wondering what am I going to do next? How can I schedule goal races when my back’s schedule takes priority.  Have no fear, I have a plan for that…..  Just you wait and see…..

Until next time….