The bad new, this training cycle did not go as planned. It all boils down to post pregnancy running, basically my body decided it really could not run the miles in its current state. Honestly speaking, I have known something has been off for a while. But the thing with runners is we somehow think everything will just click if we keep at it long enough. We just have to hang on for dear life. Unfortunately that is not how it works. I know that is not how it works. I have been at this long enough to know when things feel off, you need to stop and fix the problem.
I am not one to preach cadence. However, I do think it is important to be aware of your NORMAL. They say the golden number is 180 steps per minute. I have never been a 180spm runner, my normal is about 174-177spm. Post pregnancy, my cadence has slowed down to 163-166 average. I have been aware of the decrease, but for some reason I just figured if I kept running my cadence would eventually go back to normal. Guess what…. THINGS DO NOT MAGICALLY FIX THEMSELVES….. Surprise, surprise.
It takes work.
Due to this slight change in my cadence post baby, my foot strike is a little off, my muscles are not firing properly and other muscles are taking the load which they are not equipped to handle. All of these little malfunctions have caused some major hiccups in this training cycle. My post tibial tendon/ muscle decided to flare up. As well as my soleus and gastrocnemius. lower leg complications takes work to heal and maintain. Basically I feel as if I am reteaching myself how to run again. Looking back through my training log, the past 8 weeks have been filled with test runs and lots of cross training. Therefore, I
missed the half marathon for this spring cycle.
It happens. You win some, you lose some, you make some, you miss some.
Bumps and detours are part of this journey.
Currently I meet with the Human Performance Collective to have soft tissue work done to the calf area as well as rehab/ prehab exercises. The outlook for the week looks as if I will be getting back into running. It’s a work in progress. This particular journeys just takes time, patience, and lots of hard work to accomplish.
I believe it has to do with being present in the moment. Wearing the hat for the job at hand. I think the most successful people are able to switch between their different rolls/hats very efficiently….. I wear many different hats. I’m a wife, I’m a mother, I’m a daughter, I’m a coach, I’m a shoe salesman, I’m a runner, and honestly the list could go on and on and on and on and on. I have many tasks and roles to fill each day. Most of us have many tasks and roles.
Running has always been the fire burning inside me. And it will always be that way. It’s what I love Very very much. It is my passion. It’s what I believe I’m supposed to do. However like I said earlier my priorities have changed or shifted. I have a child who definitely takes precedence over most situations. So with that being said when I have two hours a day to use to run or to go to the gym or train in order to reach my personal goals. I have to try very hard to shift my mind to be truly focused on the task at hand. Which is running. Or training. I trust that the people caring for Augie are taking care of him and there’s nothing I can do when I’m not with him. What I can do and what I have control over, which in this particular example would be my training.
time limits or restrictions. That is no longer my lifestyle. I can’t wish for things to be easier because wishing doesn’t get you anywhere. What I can do; I can be present in each moment. I can be mindful of each situation. And I can complete each task at hand. So when I have my two hours a day to run and train to prepare for my Olympic trials standard. That is where my focus is. I concentrate only on what I have control over. I run. I run when it’s 
time to run,I’m a mother when it’s time to mother, I’m a wife when I need to be a wife. It’s not the easiest balance. Those of you who wear all these similar hats can relate. I’m definitely not a professional when it comes to being mindful. However, if I know being mindful is important in my success as a mother, wife, and as an athlete, Etc. Keeping “mindfulness” in the back of my mind is going to be the key to becoming the best version of myself. It is just going to take a little bit of effort.
and get myself into therapy within a few months and stay proactive about it (ha, as much as you can when you’re talking about depression). I have several close family members who struggle with depression every day, so I had a good idea of what could happen if I let things slip any further out of my control. Anyway, I bring this up to illustrate how exercise plays into my treatment. It was incredibly helpful for me to be able to speak to a mental health professional about my concerns and to come to a plan for keeping my mood balanced. For me, this plan includes goal setting, exercise, and a lot of compassion for myself when I mess up. Running is my anti-depressant right now.
Pole dancing surprisingly does wonders for my self esteem. When I’m feeling self-conscious about my thighs, my stomach, or any other area, an hour of pole will bring my mood back up. It’s hard not to lift yourself out of a funk when you are literally lifting yourself up! I gain such an appreciation for how my body works when I practice coordinated spins, climbs, and inversions on the pole.
dancing, it’s hard to feel down about myself when I am able to physically conquer the goals I set out for myself.
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