The aches and pains post

Six and a half weeks until the marathon!

It's going, well, OK. I did the first of three 20 milers last Saturday, which went about how you would expect -- pretty good throughout until the final miles, when I was tired. 20-milers have always been as much mental hurdles as they are physical hurdles in the past few marathons I've trained for -- they're the longest distance I run before a marathon. I developed what I'll call a niggle in one of my hamstrings that I felt again during this morning's six-miler. Let the mind games begin!

What's really bugging me, though, and it doesn't have anything to do with my running, is my poor back. My back is acting like pouty, like hey, I'm doing all this work, and what thanks do I get -- you know, like me if, say, my husband isn't reading my mind and doing what I want him to do. (Which of course I never really do... nope, never... ) It is really really crabby with me right now. The pain started before I left my old job a few weeks ago and had steadily gotten worse, spreading from my neck down to my right hip. I have rolled on the tennis ball, a foam roller, iced, taken epsom salt baths, gone to yoga, used the stick -- you name it. UGH. I wrench my back about every six months or so and it is so painful. I think I lift the kids wrong sometimes -- at 23 and 33 pounds a piece, I should be more careful. (But they are so cute!!! Love my toddler snuggles.)

So, last night was again what is becoming a nightly epsom salt bath ritual. I was reading one of my chick magazines (because taking a bath is so boring!) when I came upon this little gem, a study released earlier this summer that links frequent exercise to better pay. Yeah! But seriously, I always feel better during the workday after exercising. I love starting Mondays with a short, easy run, just to get the week going in the right way.

Studies are a dime a dozen -- there's probably a bunch of studies on this. But it was a nice reminder that yeah, these aches and pains are worth it, for many reasons. Especially the snuggles. Last night I laid on the floor of my daughter's room and let her climb all over me. My back was temporarily happy that I did, and so was she.

Now, time to ice my hamstring...