Time Marches On....

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ...A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 3

So much has happened since my last blog. I suppose I felt compelled to draw inward for the past several months. Scripture tells us that there will be times that we will laugh, cry, reach out, draw in, embrace, let go, break down, build up.

Last August I experienced the bittersweet joy only a parent can understand of bringing my oldest two children to college. Within a few weeks life settled back to our 'new' normal with just four of us at home. I love to visit my college kids, and love their trips home. Setting the table for all six of us is such a simple pleasure, and an immeasurable blessing. Mostly, I love seeing my college kids happy, thriving, and emerging as smart and competent adults. It is an equal joy to see my third born 17 year old daughter flourish and mature as the "new" oldest, and son number four, at 10 years of age, continues to keep me young. And, I even see the bright future that awaits my husband and I as our children grow. It really is all good!

On the running front, by August I was extremely frustrated with persistent IT band pain in my right knee. Then, along came pain my my left knee. I finally went to a well known orthopedic/sports medicine group. I was terrified waiting for the x-ray results. Praise the Lord, my knees were given a clean bill of health. However, that didn't change the fact that I had runner's knee combined with IT band issues. So off the physical therapy I went!

During three months of PT to address muscle imbalances in my quads, glutes and hips  I was benched from running. Thanks to my stationary bike, I was able to maintain a decent amount of cardio fitness. Daily strength and core exercises, stretching, icing and doses of patience have finally led to a resolution. I had no idea runner's knee and ITBS can take up to a year to heal! It has been a two steps forward, one step back process, at times I wondered if I would ever run again. One thing I knew, I would never give up.

I am now a devout cross trainer incorporating my bike, strength and core training plus yoga stretching. My foam roller is my best friend, but I really love "The Stick" for digging deep in my quads and calves, working those nasty knots and tightness out.

I've also changed shoes, after it was determined the Brooks Adrenalines I've run in for over a year are now too supportive for my gait. I'm trying to adjust to Brooks Ravennas, but I'm not convinced they are the right shoe. Anyone reading this: no matter how sure you are that your shoes are correct for your gait, if you start having pain, consider having your gait re-analyzed. Over the last year I have gone from being a moderate pronator, to mild on one side, and stable on the other side. I honestly didn't know something like pronation can change.

I am very gradually increasing my distance, running 3 days a week and spin/cycling 2 days, with continued dedication to my core and strength work. If the Lord is willing, I should be back to marathon training in mid-June, with plans of running a half marathon in August, and a full marathon in October, quite possibly with Team in Training (that's another story!). Though I have a lot of miles to add back to get to my previous level of training, thanks to the strength/core and cross training I have done faithfully for over 5 months, I feel like a stronger runner now than I did at the peak of my marathon training.

God has surely shown me that every step I take really does come from Him. His will be done.