Merry Christmas Eve, and my hip!

So remember that hip issue I mentioned last time, well it made a major appearance since that time.  This is how my training week has been going thus far…

• Mon: Rest day, I rocked that!
• Tues: 4 easy miles – hip felt OK (slight tightness) when I started, but was sore at the end.  boo
• Wed: 4 easy miles plus 4 miles at half marathon pace.  Well, the first 4 easy miles were OK, but as soon as I got up to half marathon pace (8:15 vs the 9:40 I had been doing), I got a *sharp* pain in my left hip and immediately cut my run short at 4.32 miles.  My hip was in a BAD mood after that.  I spent the afternoon icing it.  My pain has been dull and tight, but that pain was PAINFUL and made me sad.

Persistence pays off because I had called the Dr’s office back again and was told my Dr DID have two appointments open this week.  Yahoo!  I went to see him on Weds.  I was totally ready for him to tell me that I had hip bursitis, and I should stop running for 1 or 2 weeks, but sure enough he told me I had TFL syndrome (Tensor Fascia Lata) and it would be OK, although sore, to run on it.  I wouldn’t tear or break anything.  Say what??  You can tell he’s a sports Dr, he totally gets me 🙂

I’m pretty sure what my Dr. said was code for, “yes, it’s OK to wake up really early and get your 12 mile long run done before work tomorrow so you can rest a few days afterward”.  And that’s just what I did.  Sure, my hip was tight for the first 5 miles (aka, I can feel it tug with every step I took), but after that it just kind of went away (maybe aka, it just went numb or something!).  It actually felt OK after I got off the treadmill too.  Sure, it is no where near being “fixed”, but with some icing, Motrin, taking it easy and just being smart(er), I think I will get through this.  It’s a Christmas miracle!!!

So that’s my running for the week.  Short, and sucky, but “long run done” – and that part makes me feel pretty good 🙂  Now it’s on to family, fun, and Christmas celebrating!  I finished up wrapping gifts last night, and made a craft with my daughter…and speaking of my daughter being handy with scissors, I decided I needed to cut my hair, and she was in charge of evening it out!  Yes, it’s good to have a tween daughter 🙂

It started with this –

and ended with this.  I think we did an excellent job!

It’s even more impressive when you look at this video she did (she cracks me up!!).

On that note, enjoy your holiday and families!  A safe and merry Christmas to everyone!

*********************************

Q:  Do you celebrate Christmas at home or do you travel?

We are home for the holidays.  Especially since the warm weather has caused us to cancel a ski trip we had planned!  But don’t worry, we have lots of other fun things to do!!

Q: Have you ever cut your own hair, or family member’s hair?

I am in charge of cutting my family member’s hair.  I’ve even cut my Mom’s hair before.  No, I have no training in that field at all.  But I did watch a YouTube video before I cut mine!  I just dislike taking the time out of my schedule to sit around in a salon, and dislike paying $$ someone to cut my hair in a straight line!  I think this could be my new thing.

Q: Does Santa visit your house at night, or do you get to open some presents on Christmas Eve?