Rules are there for a reason

I broke some rules, and now I'm learning my lesson. Suffice it to say, I plain overdid it this weekend without realizing it, and now have some lovely arch pain to prove it.

So what did I ignore?

Rule 1: New shoes need to be broken in. I have to admit, I was so excited about my new Vibrams (like a kid on Christmas), I went nuts and went for a long run in them the first try out. Never mind the great advice the staff gave me upon buying my first pair to go easy on them until my feet were used to them. I owned a pair already...what's to get used to? Um, A LOT. See, this pair has different soles, and a different covering. I first paid with some blisters (not unusual for a run), but then I made my muscles weak by pushing myself so hard. So when I went to treat my blisters that night, and pointed my toe a little TOO far to the side, I strained it.

Rule 2: Don't increase your mileage too quickly. Sure, I know the 10% a week rule. And I've been doing about 3.1 miles a week the past few for my longest run. But did I do the math right when I set my GPS? No. I thought my three 1 mile intervals, plus walking between, wouldn't add that much. I ended up doing about 3.8 miles. OOPS. That's 20% more, actually, more than 20% more. Which is why my muscles fatigued.

Rule 3: Always ice an injury as soon as possible. So, when I felt the twinge in my arch, did I do anything? No. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Should have iced it immediately.

Rule 4: Don't rush into activity too quickly after injury. When I woke up Sunday morning, I didn't feel any pain in my foot. I assumed everything was fine. I should have listened to the voice in my head that didn't feel like going to yoga. It was some wicked foreshadowing. Because all the toe pointing in yoga is what really messed up the foot, I think. Which is a great reminder...being stubborn and rushing back too quickly sets you back more in the long run.

Rule 5: Be patient. So here I am today. I have already decided (in consultation with my massage therapist, also a runner), I'm off running at least a week. In fact, I may not run again until the Rodeo 10k in about 20 days if I feel I need to hold off. And I'm okay with that. I've run 10ks before without training. I'd rather take this break than have to take one several months long like last year. I'm wearing my arch inserts in low heel shoes. I'm wearing the Strassberg sock at night to release pressure. The good news is that this little strain feels like nothing compared to the plantar faciitis pain I've felt in the past.

Rule 6: All is not lost. I can still cross train, so that's lots of walks, cycling and arm weights. I'm not letting this get in the way. Everything happens for a reason. To be honest, my next few weekends are quite packed, and I wasn't sure how I'd get those long runs in anyway. This relieves me of the guilt of not doing them in the name of recovery. And I can focus on getting baby biceps back.

Rule 7: Don't stop learning. Not only am I putting my lessons into place from treating the PF last year to mitigate this pain, I'm learning what else I should do as I ease back in to avoid this happening again. As long as we keep learning, that's what matters most.

It's all about keeping the bigger picture and greater goal in perspective.

Fabulous 50

Today was a record setting goal for me. I have worked out for 50 days straight, besting my last streak of 49 in early 2009. I am pleased that I set my mind to a goal that centered around my health and fitness, and in spite of several curveballs in the past 7 weeks (including the ice issues these past few days), I didn't give up.

So how did I do it? A few things I noticed that were key:

1. I made a plan in advance. I spent time reviewing my schedule for the week on a regular basis, making a mental note when the best time that day would be to exercise, and even deciding what kind of activity I'd like to do that day.
2. I allowed for flexibility. When something popped up at work, or I just didn't feel 100%, I told myself I could change my plan as long as I did SOMETHING.
3. I discovered new fall back exercise plans for when I needed to pull contingencies out of my hat. I have long had walks up and down my block as the ultimate back up. If I do it twice, that's about 20-25 minutes of movement. I have now added going to the gym and riding the recumbent bike for 20-30 minutes in (while catching up on news and social media). For days I'm really crunched, I'm getting a few things done at once while not neglecting activity. There were a few days I even took a book and read and pedaled!
4. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone. Over the holiday break, I discovered a love for hot yoga classes at YogaOne Houston. I love how I feel during and after the class ... very refreshed and accomplished. It also forces me to get a big chunk of my 300 minutes/week out of the way with the 90 minute class. But the only time I can guarantee I can make it a priority? 8 a.m. Sunday. Those of you that know me well know I'm a night owl, not an early bird. And it's a free class, which means getting there by 7:45 or there's hardly room for your mat. But I've done it for 3 weeks now (I snuck one later class in there when I went with Adam). As much as I love sleeping in, I know the greater goal is worth it in the long run.
5. I fought the "don't wannas." There were days I didn't want to do anything. Some days, I could find the internal motivation. Some days, it took a push from Adam that I could do it and keep going. I have to say, having a support system is key. If it wasn't for him being understanding and being cool with my nightly trips to the gym, or encouraging me when I didn't feel motivated, I probably wouldn't have made it this far. I am also grateful for my network of friends and family who posted a comment or "like" online. Seeing all that feedback also was encouraging!

So what's next for me in my fitness adventures? Here's a few milestones I have my eye on:

1. I'm running my next 10k in three weeks, the Rodeo Run. This will be my third 10k. I'd like to run several at this distance this year, and work up to a 10 miler and maybe, a half marathon in 2012.
2. I will continue on my quest to achieve the 100 Day Challenge. If I can make 100 days straight, I can keep tacking 50 more days on. It will be fun to see how many days I can go if all I have to do is about 20 minutes of movement. 100 days will take me to almost the end of March.
3. I plan to run on the beach in Mexico this summer when we go for our second honeymoon. My new Vibrams from Sun & Ski Sports will be a big part of this quest. If I can run on concrete with little or no pain in these, I should fare better on sand barefoot than I did when I tried it in summer 2008, when it made my knees ache.
4. I will keep on the Weight Watchers PointsPlus plan. I've already lost almost 6 pounds since starting it around Thanksgiving. I have not settled on an ultimate goal beyond getting under 150. I'm only 1.4 away! Part of this plan is a continued focus on maximizing fruit and veggie intake.

One of the best remarks I got recently was congratulating me on my progress on this lifestyle change. I think this truly sums up why I'm doing this. Sure, I want to lose weight and look awesome for my vacation. But this extends far beyond the next few months. I want to live as long and full a life as I can. And to achieve greatness, it takes hard work, and lots of it. I want to be the person at a 5k in my 70s that's still out there. But to do that, I have to start now. I have to make it a priority.

The best part is, I don't have to wait until I'm in my 70s to enjoy the results.