Patience & the Pubis

It's been a while since I've checked in with a blog. That's because I've been busy! Busy healing and doing fun summer things: friends, family & food.

It was Memorial Day weekend, and I had headed out for my last long run of 16 miles. Ten miles in, I started to get some side stitches, not all that uncommon, but as I got to 13 miles, I noticed the pain was moving south as was my pace. By mile 15 I had run a 9:26... not a good sign. The pain was so severe in my lower abdomen, it was making my hip flexors, butt muscles, upper hamstrings and of course my stomach muscles all cramp and hurt. I walked it home certain something in my belly was creating all this mayhem. Everyone on my moms side of her family including my brother has had their appendix removed, so this seemed like the most logical answer for me. That or perhaps an alien baby. 

You're not having an appendicitis," Andy told me adding "that's not the right spot, and it would feel different. You probably pulled a muscle." Whatever the diagnosis was, I knew it wasn't going to be good and my hopes of running a marathon in 8 days were slipping sideways. 

A few hours later, I still had the soreness in the lower abdomen, but the bulk of the pain had stopped when I stopped running. I tried to stretch the area. Ouch. And I checked to see if there was any strength left in my ab muscles, by lying on my back and lifting my legs. Crap, I couldn't and it hurt. The next morning, I went out for 4 easy miles with Andy. It felt like a gut punch. Every. Single. Step. That "oh shit" feeling pulsed through my body. I knew deep down something was really wrong. But, being the ever optimist, I truly hoped it was a pulled muscle (or alien baby) and that the race in Calgary June 1 would still be on. 

Before I get to the diagnosis, I should back up a little.

Post Boston recovery was going very well. I took some time off, drank a lot of wine and slowly returned to the roads. After about two and a half weeks I was the little kid on the bench demanding "Put me in coach! I'm ready to play!" With his hesitation, I persuaded my coach to let me run the Riverbank Run, a spring classic here in Missoula. Because of other spring races (and also some strong feelings about the disorganization of this event), I hadn't raced since 2008. I signed up for the Tri-Fecta race, which combines all three distances 10K, 5K & mile which are spaced out enough so that you can race all three. 

My coach had to set boundaries for these races. He didn't want me just blowing out of the start and hurting myself or falling apart a few miles in. We decided these would be progression runs. Starting out slow and building to unleash in the final mile (... which isn't much for this one-speed pony). The 10K was good, not great, but after a slow start, I jumped from a 6:10 to a 5:55 mile too soon. I missed the 6:05 and 6:00 miles. I think I was a bit too excited. So for the 5K I really focused on staying on the paces given to me. I ran a 6:01, 5:53, 5:44. So success! (Regarding one small part of the disorganization comment above, the "5K" course isn't even 3 miles. The last mile my watch said .94 but 5:44 pace.) The mile I just wanted to go sub 5:40, which I did, but I'm not certain if that mile is really a mile either. Either way, I was happy to be back racing and feeling solid!

Last mile of the 10K course. Photo from the Missoulian

The next weekend was one of my favorite trail races, 11 Miles to Paradise. Although this race is not quite 11 miles or finish in Paradise, it's still extremely well organized, beautiful and fun!  There's a reason this one sells out quickly. Who doesn't want to run fast trails which finish with a meal and a soak in the hot springs? This race was two weeks from the Calgary marathon, so I was really looking to get in a hard effort. The competition was stiff and at mile 9.5 I found myself duking it out with Nicole Hunt again. She passed me on the final climb and went on to best me by 25 seconds. It was still a good effort and the top 3 women were all under the course record time. I had started my period the day before the race, so the sharp pains in my female parts during the final mile of the race, I attributed to my monthly friend. I even told Nicole after the race as we chatted "I felt like someone was stabbing me in the vagina!"

The top three women hit the single track. Photo by Vo-Tography

Had I only know then that the pubis getting angry.

That following Saturday was the back long run as I previously mentioned. So what the heck was wrong with me?!?

I was able to get an appointment the Tuesday after the holiday with the local sports doctor. I told him I thought I pulled a muscle and I hoped he could clear me for the race later that week. He did a few tests and it didn't take long. OSTEITIS PUBIS aka inflammation of the pubis symphysis. Or a stress reaction on my pubis symphysis.

Huh? Giggle, giggle, pubis what? He busted out the pelvis skeleton and gave me an anatomy lesson.  It's the hard cartilage right in the center of your pelvic bone. What causes it? Overuse. (Insert sex joke here). But really, overuse by training. 

See it? Pubis Symphysis.

An MRI the following day confirmed his findings that this girl's pubis was angry! Lots of inflammation.

• No race.
• No running.
• $#!T!!!
• PUBIS!!! (It truly is fun to say)

So for the last 7 weeks, I've become very familiar with telling my pubis story and pointing to my lady parts, riding my bike, I spent a wonderful week with family in Oregon, indulged myself in some other activities than running (say what?), helped beginners train for their first marathon and relaxed... a lot. It's been surprisingly nice! Then I feel gross and get irritated that I can't train... then I sit on a patio and drink a beer with a friend I haven't spent enough time with and it's nice again. ....But then I see my friends racing, ahhhh! It's just up and down. I'm practicing patience, something that doesn't come very easily to me.

I do have to say 'injured Trisha' is WAY better than 'taper Trisha' for two reasons. #1) No scary important race looming. #2) Red wine. Plus, mix the red wine and me talking about my pubis all the time... just good, clean fun. 

After 10 day of zero running, I started adding back tiny runs. First week back - 8 miles, wohoo! Then the next week 12. Biking didn't hurt the pubis at all, so I've been bike commuting a lot to and from work (20 miles round trip). It's not a workout... but helps me feel like I'm doing something productive. I ventured out to try pool running, which might be the more boring than watching women's basketball. (I didn't think that was possible.) I have friends who have been pool running for months due to stress fractures. I don't know how they do it, much respect. 

A lot of people have asked me why I came back to running so fast... 10 dasy off? Why didn't I let the pubis heal completely? Both my doctor and coach (and me and my husband) agree active recovery is best. As long as the pubis didn't hurt after a run or during the activity it was ok to continue to run (or jog actually). No speed, no hills (uphill seemed especially bad) and no yoga or any weird strength training that made the pubis shift. It was a slow and gradual build up, continuing to run and continuing to let the area heal. First time in a very long time I was under 100 miles for a month.

Missoula Aquajogging Team - L to R: stress fracture & angry pubis

SEVEN WEEKS LATER - WHAT'S NEXT?

This weekend is the 8th Running of the MISSOULA MARATHON! Christmas in July for runners :) I love this race. I am so incredibly proud and bursting with excitement over my hometown marathon. We do it up right! I've been involved with the Marathon for 3+ years now. I've sold sponsorship for the race, been a vocal member of the race committee and consider myself a running ambassador for the city of Missoula the second weekend in July. Although, I've raced the marathon 4 times, the half once and 5K twice... last year I dove in and gave pacing a try. I paced the 3:20 group. I didn't think I could have more fun than I did race day in 2013... it was pretty incredible. I was a bit nervous I wouldn't hold the pace or would be erratic with my splits, but once I got into the groove, the miles clicked off. My core group of guys (pictured here) all made it very close to the 3:20 mark, some a little before, most a minute or so back. I think I received more cheers as a pacer than as the first female in previous years. I actually hear "Go Balloons!" from one spectator. 

The question I get asked the most about pacing is "are the balloons annoying to carry?"... and the answer is no, I really didn't notice them. However I did use them as a baton like I was the conductor of my own 3:20 band. So this year, BP (or before pubis), I made the commitment to pace again. I had dreams of going to Calgary, getting my OTQ (sub 2:43) and pacing in my home town 6 weeks later to the cheers and congratulatory hi-fives from my running community. I probably jinxed by thinking about it so much! I'm good on my word this year. I'm going to pace again. I ran 17 miles last Sunday... so I'm hoping that plus my endurance from the previous years of running will carry me to the finish line. I do know there is a good chance I can hurt bad too. Dropping out will break my heart and would be tough for me to get over, but breaking my pubis officially would ruin any chance I have of running a fast late fall marathon. 

Some where on the hill of the marathon course 2013,
 I'm guessing mile 14 or so. I love this picture. I'm pretty
sure the guys were making painful faces on purpose.... I hope.

So what did I do with all that free time? 
Here's some pics of my mini-adventures!

With limited running, I took to my trust steed!
A lot of bike rides these past few weeks.
 I never got good at the biking selfie though.... 

Awe.... the Missoula Marathon training class - LOVE these people. 
This is only about 40 who showed up on a nasty, cold rainy June day. 
There's more than 300 signed up for the class.
 I'm going to miss them. Tear!

We gathered on the last day to share words of wisdom
and to hopefully get everyone pumped up. I shared you never
forget your first... marathon, that is. But really, so much of
marathon training isn't about running. It's about setting a
goal and seeing it though. I can not wait to celebrate with all
my new friends at the finish line!!! It's been a rewarding and
inspiring 18 weeks with the 300+ class.

Biking took me to some beautiful places!
Including the Deschutes River with
Mt Bachelor peaking out in the background

Golfing with my friend Holly on the Summer Solstice. 
We are both really good at golf... I mean driving the golf cart.

In Central OR visiting my family helping this 
adorable 7 year old make his way to
 a top 5 finish in the Kid's Splash, Pedal & Dash!

The day after the Kids race, Andy kicked butt 
in a close finish for the Long Course Tri at Pacific Crest.

I practiced my pacing skills and helped my mom finish
her 5K with a 4 second gap to clinch
her age group victory!  And Evan crushed the Kid's Mile.

Cross Training.... MT style ... on the Fourth of July

And of course! Cuddling and taking 
LOTS of photos of the monkeys :)

What can I say... they are a good looking pride. 
It was a real shocker to come home one day 
and all four chillin' together.
 I don't think that happens too often! 

Haaaaaaaaaaave you met Taper Trisha?

           (Disclaimer: this is incredibly long winded report. Enjoy!)

Well if you haven't you may consider yourself lucky. Taper Trisha is needy, emotionally erratic, at times mean, impulsive and scared. Coined by my ever patient husband, Taper Trisha is a slight resemblance of my former 80+ mile per week self. In-training Trisha is too tired to walk downstairs and clean the litter boxes (yes there are 3!) and just hungry enough to convince my husband to drive me to Dairy Queen on Sunday night. Taper Trisha usually appears about 8-10 days prior to an 'A' race, but due to the enormity of the 118th running of the Boston Marathon next week, she reared her ugly head a bit early this. 

Examples from this past week:

• My two week out Sunday long run had a minor setback when I found myself in someone's yard crying because I didn't hit my splits. I know I was tired. It was windy. I know it wasn't that bad. I know the pitch was steeper than that of Boston. I'm not an idiot! I am just irrational. (There is a difference people!) I just couldn't keep the dark thoughts of doubt from creeping in. I needed a good cry to release some pressure. After a few minutes, I composed myself and ran back to my car. 
• Disagreement with my boss an which I ended the conversation with slamming the phone down to hang up. Not good on any level.
• Road rage! On my morning commute, a minivan drifted over the white line into my lane, only to erratically swerve back into her lane. I thought it may have just been an over site, but as I drive by her, I saw her texting on her phone on her steering wheel. Not even hiding it! I hung out the window, honking and pointing at her to not text and drive. If the cars had been stopped, I am sure I would have knocked on her window. 
• I cut my hair.... For the first time it's short in more than six years. Not just cut, chopped. About 7 inches! No more ponytail whipping me in the eye. 

Who is this impulsive person? Unfortunately, I have to admit it's me. An emotional hot-mess. So, what gives? I don't remember being this unruly before my race last fall. Probably selective memory. I think it all comes down to pressure and fear. A wise (and British!) woman told me only I can control the pressure I put on myself.... And I have laid it on thick here in the early parts of 2014 leading up to Boston.

Fear is also a powerful motivator in life, good or bad. I have had a lot of people ask me if I'm afraid for my safety or my mom's as she spectates. And my answer to that is no. I truly believe last years attack was an opportunistic one that won't be duplicated. The BAA is organized and prepared for the new security measures it will have to endure in our new era of marathoning. 

My fear is failure. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about failing as much as succeeding. I have no excuses, no outs if I fail. I have trained hard, remained injury free and now I just have to stay calm and rested. Easier said than done... Clearly as demonstrated by previously noted actions! (Perhaps my 'No alcohol for six weeks before race day' challenge I issued myself, should be revisited as a big glass of Cabernet would really nice right now!) But, I also know, deep down, the biggest failure would be not to give it my all. If I go for it, give it my all and come up short, is that a failure? No. Just fuel for the fire I suppose. 

But, as I approach the final week, I am feeling much better than the last, more calm anyways. My nerves are lessening as my body regains some freshness. There's still a bit of panic as the legs are still fatigued, but I know I have seven more very easy days to recover. (Again, not an idiot, just irrational.) 

Ok, so enough about my mental state, let's get down to crunching some numbers (for you Taco Bell Timmy) and other fun stuff that's happened in the past few months. 

Let's talk build ups. Here's a breakdown of the past three race marathons and then Boston's build up. (For consistency - 10 weeks total for each, not including race week or prior week, so starts 12 weeks from race) 

California International Marathon 12/2/12

719 miles

Half marathon 10 weeks out

One 5k in there and an 8K 10 days before race

No over-distance runs

Cleveland Marathon 5/19/13

764 miles

25K trail race 4 weeks prior to race

No over-distance runs

Twin Cities Marathon 10/6/13

804 miles

Half marathon 4 weeks out

2 over-distance runs

Boston Marathon 4/21/14

809 miles

Half marathon 8 weeks out

4 over-distance runs

Although its the same miles almost for Twin Cities and Boston, logging miles in August and September is a whole lot easier than February and March. If I go add up a 16-18 week build up, there are almost 100 more miles for the Boston build. 
Total mileage for 2014 = 1,163 (average about 79/wk)

March was also a big mileage month for me, I think my most miles in a single month to date. 392! And I had two back to back mid-90s weeks just recently. That's new! Makes me think this summer I will have my first 100 mile week! Now I know this is baby stuff for pros and much more dedicated and experienced runners alike. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it was just shy of three years ago that I broke thee hours for the first time and was running about 50-60 miles a week. So this is big for me!

Here are some highlights to training this year so far!

Seaside Half Marathon 

2/23/14 PR! 1:18:22

So not to be overly dramatic (which is an every day occurrence for me- see above taper rant), but February or Snowbruary, in Missoula was out of hand. Yep, 26 of the 28 days had snow accumulation. The last week of this month was just straight up ridiculous. I was so freaking excited to go to Ventura, CA! It wasn't a very long trip, but a productive one and a much warmer one to boot.

Jenn and I left the snowpocolypse on Friday afternoon and arrived in 70 degree Burbank later that evening. We switched to flip flops and grabbed the keys to our sick (POS) Crystler 200. We hit the road heading west, not stopping until we hit the Pacific. (Only one near death experience on some giant CA highway.) It was dark by the time we arrived, but I could smell it. Salt. Ocean. Humidity. Green. Blue. Life. Yay!

Both Jenn and I scored PR's and it was Jenn's B-day!

Fairly good race, can't be bummed about a PR in the middle of training!

Indoor 26 miler 3/2/14

Sunday long run inside because Missoula got four feet of snow in 3 days! Damn you SNARCH! 13 on the treadmill and 13 on the 200M track. It really wasn't that bad! And it was nice having all my Hammer fuels right there on the t-mill or nearby, not digging through a pocket or dealing with a frozen water bottle.

Thanks to my buddy David for keeping me company on the last half! 

Run For the Luck of It 7 miler 

3/15/14  42:02 (ran faster in 2012)

This was probably the worst I have ever felt racing. I should have slept in. Culmination of exhaustion from work travel, then Seattle weekend for the stair climb, hard training, worst female cramps of my life and did I mention lack of sleep? It was a grind. 

Bright spot: I had a sweet cat/leprechaun shirt that said 'I feel so lucky right meow.' 

I can't finish this talk about training without mentioning my Hammer fuels.
They keep me on point, help me recover and train harder!

Daily: 3 Premium Insurance Caps 

          2 AO Booster

Pre-workout: Hammer bars 2 hrs before

              Anti-fatigue cap one hour before

During run: Tropical, orange, huckleberry, apple-cinnamon gel

              Anti-fatigue cap half way through

Post-workout: Recoverite with extra scoop of whey if necessary

I did try Race Day Boost for my half marathon in Cali, I don't think it effected me and it was a hassle to take it so much. Not going to try it for Boston. I will maybe try it again this summer for another race. 

Looking forward to Boston!  

Getting to see me moms! It was a decade ago the Miller women descended upon Bean Town. It was my third marathon. My time was 4:27...something. It was 86 degrees, started at noon with no wave start. And it was AWESOME! We had the best time. I can't wait to spend some QT with my mom in the city again.

Me on the way to the finish line in 2004 - my number was 8,XXX something!

Baby face at the finish line - I was 23! Thanks to my mom for texting me these pics and making me laugh!

KATH! Yay Kath. My lovely and brilliant friend who keeps me laughing and understands my neurosis, because she's crazy too! She's running Boston and is primed for a great performance. 

Elite start! By the skin of my teeth, I get to run with the big dogs! Elite Women's Start is a HUGE honor and I am going to be star struck being in close proximity to American's Flanagan and  Linden and last years winner Jeptoo. I can't even begin to talk about the talent in this years competition. Hashtag epic.

Well, I think that's enough for now. I hope you enjoyed hearing about the ups and downs, both physically and mentally, of my training.