Running Journal ~ week 16 (I think)

Well, it's been a while since I have written on here.

Training is going well, though I have had a bit of a set back this week. Last week as I was rejuvenating in Cannon Beach I did something to my lower legs, especially the left one, so now my coach tells me I have to go see a physical therapist to make sure I didn't tear something. I thought it was just really tight muscle cramps, but sometimes when I walk it feels like something is ripping inside, so I agree with her that I should see someone. I put heat on it this morning and that seemed to release the knot a bit, but it's still there some and that tearing sensation is not a good sign. Other than that, I completed my longest run before the race last Friday. Gloria and I ran 3 miles up the coast (well she walked rapidly and I walked and ran by her), then decided my legs were bothering me to much on the city streets, so we cut down to the beach and I took my shoes off (suspected source of the problem) and ran back those 3 miles (she actually got to run then). She left me about the second mile for a bathroom break, and I got back to the conference center with 10 minutes left to eat breakfast before they started packing stuff up. Shweh! Later that day God graced us with clear skies, so we headed up to Crescent Beach for one more attempt to see the beauty there and take pictures. The first time we went it was GORGEOUS!! Then we took Erik with us the next morning and it was socked in with clouds. The only reason we didn't turn around and go back the way we came was that we knew we could walk around the rocks to get back to the conference center, but we couldn't SEE where we were going at all. We just knew we had to go "that way"! The cool part was there were footprints in the sand leading the way toward our destination, even though we couldn't see the rocks until we were almost to them. Is that a spiritual lesson or what!?! God says "follow Me," and we say, "but God I can't see where we are going", and he says "that's okay...I KNOW which way to go, just follow me, and if you lose sight of me follow my footsteps." I love those lessons!

Anyway, It's a mile and a 1/2 up (and down) to the beach and we went back the way we came that day because the tide was in too far to go around the rocks, plus the mile or so we walked and ran up and down the beach before we left. So all together I got in the 10 miles I was supposed to do that week! Wow! I could run on the beach all day. I love the ocean!

So now since I probably did too much while I was there, I am convalescing with ice on the muscle that is giving me trouble and trying to figure out which PT place to choose from the list of 19 that my insurance says I can go to. I should call my doctor and ask him where he would go.

I have just over a month before my race! WOW!! I can't believe it. Pray that whatever is going on with my legs God will heal them so I can run. New shoes will help, but His touched would be MUCH BETTER.

Here's a photo of the beauty of Cannon Beach (so named because a Cannon washed ashore there a long time ago in the 1800's). Enjoy.