So what’s been going on? I completed yet another round of P90X. Still not seeing the results I want to see, but geez! I am strong! I’ve seen some progress on my log, but no physical difference. I’m a little disappointed about it, but, hey…I’m not going to bug out about it. I’ve been where I am weight-wise for the past…year (?) and it doesn’t seem to want to go anywhere so I’ll let it hang around for just a bit longer, then it’s outta here.

Running! You might remember I seem to have a problem running. I believe I have chronic exertional compartment syndrome but is it worth going to see a doctor and getting an official diagnosis? I’m not sure. It’s not like I HAVE to run, although I do enjoy it once I get past the pain. It doesn’t always happen, however, sometimes I have to cut my run short because my feet just won’t work anymore due to circulation and nerves being cut off.

Very simply put, chronic exertional compartment syndrome is where the fascia surrounding the muscle isn’t elastic enough to allow the muscle room to expand during exertion. Usually happens in the lower leg or forearm. In my case, of course, it’s the lower leg. Sometimes the muscle can herniate through. If you remember one of my earlier photos after running, I have that very thing going on. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. I tried running in my 20’s but had the same problem. Of course, back then, I just thought I needed more training, but it hurt too bad and didn’t continue. Now I’m pretty sure of what it is.

A proper diagnosis would require an invasive procedure requiring needles to be stuck into the compartments and testing the pressure, both at rest and after exertion. I’ve heard it hurts a lot. Not that I’m worried about that, but if it is compartment syndrome, apparently the most effective treatment is surgery. I’m not sure it’s worth it, although it would be nice to know what it’s like to run without the pain and burning in my lower legs.

So, I’m not writing to whine about it! I’m writing because although I’m not sure I’ll ever be a long-distance or fast runner, I have managed to enter two races: my first one was a 3K just to see if I could do it. My second one was a 6K. That one was actually easier!

The 3K, being only 1.86 miles, had a lot of hills (killer on those outer shins!) and I ended up with shin splints because I didn’t stop to massage my calves and shins along the way. I pushed as much as I could to where I could barely walk, but I finished!

The 6K was much easier because after about 1 mile, I stopped to massage my shins and calves and it was a mostly flat course in downtown St. Louis. And after 2 miles, my shins and calves quit hurting! A miracle! Like I said, some days are good runs.

Here are a couple videos about the races.

This one is the 3K:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrbf1kPZM18

This one is the 6K:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JSQ5ZhVyrw

I’m just going to make this easy and start by saying that I finished 90 days of P90X. I didn’t see the results I wanted, however, I did feel much, much stronger, which came in handy for our move. I didn’t accomplish my running goal, however. More on that in a minute.

I didn’t mention the move before, did I? Not here on the blog, anyway. Well, hubby and I have been moving for almost a month(!) Who does that??? We do. We’re still moving as of this writing. We’ve been slowly moving from our house an hour away, just a bit at a time every weekend. Mostly because my husband is a pack-rat, but don’t tell him I told you so. I was going somewhere with this. Oh, yes…

So I did finish my P90X, but now that we’re somewhat settled in, albeit still moving, I am starting another round today. And I started running again last week. I’m becoming familiar with my surroundings and have been running in the neighborhood with my dog and it’s been good. I love it here.

Now about the running. This time I decided to just start running in my Vibram Five Fingers. The problem with my calves hasn’t been nearly as bad as the last time I started running, and so far I’ve not gotten any shin splints. Yay! That’s a bonus right there. I actually LOVE to run in my Five Fingers! However, I’m still having a bit of a problem with my calves swelling and the anterior compartment, although last week it wasn’t too bad, but I increased my run time this week and my calves were a bit more of a problem.

That being said, I even have a problem with them when I walk. It’s not just running, but although the problem does eventually go away the more I train, I noticed a couple days ago when I wore a pair of Skechers sandals, I didn’t have the problem AT ALL! The sandals are very ugly, but one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve worn. The bottom of the sandal looks like a running shoe, while the top looks like a neoprene thing over the top of the foot with a thong-thingy for the toe. Anyway, not practical for running, but man, do I love to walk in them because it’s pain free! Why can’t I find a pair like that to run in???

So here I go again, training, training, training. Week 2 of running, week 1 of P90X and this is my attempt to document my progress.

I forgot to mention that I started actually working out last week with weights. I went to a gym, which I hate to do, but I went out of necessity and even though I hadn’t technically worked out in a month or so, I was just as strong as ever. No soreness afterward, either. I’m pretty sure all the moving, carrying stuff up and down these steep steps has contributed to helping me stay fit, but I still want to SEE a difference.

Tomorrow I’ll be talking about diet in all this.

So I’m off to see if I can find some 5k events to set my sights on. Talk to you later.

I have honestly forgotten what week I’m suppposed to be on for my running training. I think I’m supposed to be on week 5. Or was it 4? Either way, it doesn’t matter, because it’s not happening. I tried to run this past Monday, but had to stop. Much as I hate to do it, I have to go have a doctor look at my toe this week, because it’s not really getting better. The bruising is gone, but it hurts worse now than it did in the beginning.

Anyway, last Monday, after finishing P90X, I was moving my weights around and by this time, I was cooled down and had kicked off my shoes. That was not smart. I picked up a 5 pound weight, tossed it onto the sofa, gathering all my weights together, and look out!!! It bounced right off the cushion and landed right on my toe. It looked like it was moving in slow motion but I couldn’t seem to get out of the way fast enough. So a little 5 pound weight had the inertia of a bounce behind it, making it more like 50 pounds. Not really, but it felt like it.

So where was I? Oh, yeah. I can’t remember what week I’m supposed to be in running, but I do know I’m in my 8th week of P90X. This is my recovery week, where my muscle starts to rebuild itself after all the tearing down I’ve done to it. Unfortunately, I’m forced to recover from running, too.

Did I mention I’m now the proud owner of a brand-spankin’ new pair of Vibram Five Fingers? Yeah, but I can’t wear them because of that toe. I even bought them a few days after the weight dropping incident. I just didn’t try the left one on.

More on that later.

P90X - Going good so far. I’m not seeing any physical differences, really, but I am stronger. I continue to make improvements in that department. I’m just waiting for the physical results to catch up! I have one more week of breaking down muscle and then I start my second recovery week. Then on to the final stretch of 4 weeks. Yay!

Running - I’m seeing a big improvement in my ability to run. Though I’m technically on week 4, I thought it might be a wise move to do week 3 again, so I’m running for 90 seconds, recover for 90 seconds, run for 3 minutes and recover for 3 minutes, then do it again. What I’m noticing is that my calves and shins are doing okay. I’m able to get through my run without pain and swelling. I don’t know if it’s because I switched to one of my older pair of shoes, or if it’s the length of the run…I’ll find out next week when I have to increase my run times. However, I apparently need to work on my endurance because I can’t finish a 3 minute run without becoming winded. I’m doing something wrong. I’ve even tried focusing on even breathing - one inhale for every 3 footfalls and exhale for every 4 footfalls, and even switching it up. I can go for about 2 minutes before feeling like I’m going to collapse.

All in all, I’m pretty pleased with my progress. I still do my yoga but not as often as I like. Eventually I think it’s going to get to a point where I have to decide which workout is more important time-wise. This is a LOT of workout time and I can’t continue doing it indefinitely. Yoga will always win out in the end. However, I’m sure I can continue running (if I can get past my own limits) and weight training, maybe just not weight train as much as I’m doing now.

Stay tuned!

Monday was week 3, so it was 90 seconds of running followed by 90 seconds of recovery walking, then 3 minutes of running followed by 3 minutes of walking. Did that twice. Well, not really. I could only run for about 60 seconds on the last 3 minute interval before my calves and shins quit. Not so bad.

The best part about it, though, was that I could smell Spring in the air! I had my 2 boys with me - my dogs Cubby and Vader - and even though there was still some snow on the ground, and some of it was pushed into dirty mounds on the streets, and it was only about 32 degrees or so, I still smelled Spring in the air. And I was very happy! I have this thing where I can smell the weather. Is that unusual? I can smell a rain or thunderstorm coming a day or two before it’s due to arrive. My husband has learned not to doubt my sense of smell, because usually I’m more accurate than the weatherman.

Anyway, I digress. I’m just very excited about the coming Spring. Not so excited about trying to figure out what to do about this running. Well, I am, but I want to run so I guess I just have to figure out a way to make it happen.

P90X is going awesome. I’m in week 5 and today is legs and back. I’m not seeing much difference physically yet, but I am stronger and I can do way more pushups and pullups than I could at the beginning.

I know that was probably not a wise thing to do, being that I’m still “training” to run, but I’m so frustrated with my lower legs and feel like they are defying me…not supporting me in this thing I want to do. Today I ran on the treadmill because it’s too cold outside and I really didn’t feel like putting so many clothes on.

However! That being said, I was able to run full 60 second intervals relatively comfortably. 90 seconds in the beginning was okay, but by the middle of the run I was feeling the agony of my swelling calves and outer shins and toward the end, I couldn’t even do the last interval because my legs hurt that badly.

Maybe I need to just go slower and do another week of 60 second intervals and 90 minutes of recovery? Hmmm…I feel like I’m never going to get anywhere, but I think that’s just what I’m going to have to do.

I don’t see any point in seeing a doctor about this. I’m almost sure it’s anterior compartment syndrome, and from what I’ve read, conservative treatments are rarely effective. Surgery seems to give the best results, but since I’m not a hardcore runner and running seems to be the only thing that brings this on, it’s not worth it to me. There are other things I can do if need be, but I really want to RUN!

I’ve read that accupuncture may work, so that might be worth looking into. Also, I think I’m going to go shoe shopping.

See that picture? That’s my left leg. I’m pointing the camera down at it hopefully to show these knots on my outer shin. The arrows are pointing at them. This picture was taken immediately after running, but it goes away after a bit. I’m pretty sure this isn’t shin splints. I don’t know what this is, but I have an idea it may be “compartment syndrome”. While running, my calves become very hard and painful, and these muscles on the outside of my shins, particularly the left one, bulge, become numb, and the left one tingles if I touch it, as if it’s a nerve. If I continue running when this happens, eventually I can’t move my feet. This has always been the problem I have with running.

Speaking of shin splints, I’ve only gotten those twice and they’ve been recently. Once was caused by high-impact cardio, and today is the most recent. I know what shin splints are and they hurt, too.

Anyway, today was Day 2 of my second week of running. 90 second run intervals followed by 2 minutes of recovery walking. I couldn’t get a full 90 second run on the last interval before my calves and shins gave out. I grabbed the camera before I cooled down hoping to be able to get a good shot of this leg.

If anybody has any ideas on how I can deal with these calves and shins while running, I would appreciate it.

I don’t want to be sidelined again when I’m just getting started. I’ll see how they feel by Friday. Meanwhile, I can keep doing the P90X workout and yoga.

I’m excited about running.

I mentioned in my previous post that I started running because it’s something on my “things to do” list, also known as my bucket list. Running goes on my list of things to do mostly because I’ve never really been a good runner. I’ve always had a problem with my shins - not shin splints, but something else - and I’ve never had great endurance. However, that’s never stopped me from WANTING to run.

I ran off and on in my 20s and 30s. Never really got good at it, but I tried anyway. This time, I’m going to stick with it “just to see what happens”. That’s the mantra that plays in my head as I get through my running intervals. Just see what happens. It’s what got me to stick with working out in my 20s and I didn’t stop. I liked what happened. So it will be with running, I’m sure.

I started the C25K program. I’m not a couch potato - never have been - but I thought it would be a good start for somebody like me who just can’t seem to master running. I’m on week 2: run for six 90-second intervals, followed by 2 minutes of recovery. Last week, week one, was 60 seconds of running followed by 90 seconds of recovery. This week seems just as hard as last week. I can’t help but say to myself, “when will this get easy?” Well, I’m pretty sure if it gets easy, it will lose its appeal. I guess. I hope it doesn’t get “easy”, but I do hope I can at least run 3 miles before feeling like I need to collapse.

I’ve been looking at ChiRunning with the hope that I can avoid shin and calf problems and so far, so good. I almost feel like I could die by the time I get that last interval run, but in a good way. I’ll get there. I’m just sticking with it “to see what happens”. And yes, I have heard of the POSE method, so no need to run that by me again, thank you. I really appreciate it. I haven’t discounted it, I just can’t do 2 different things at once.

P90X is still just as hard as the first time I did it. Every time I work out, I get sore. I think that’s kinda the point. I have figured one thing out with P90X…I have to work out before I start my day (well, yoga comes first), or I just won’t do it. I’ll find every excuse to not do it if I have to come home in the evening and work out. So here’s my tip for you: find the right time to work out for you! If you’re anything like me, it will help you stick with the program.

That’s it for now. Maybe I’ll post some pictures of my progress after this recovery week is over.

I have to say, I had some pretty rockin’ abs back in the day. Not only that, but I could purposely come within 1/2 inch of your nose with a roundhouse, spin or side kick, grapple you on the ground, or get you in a joint lock if I so desired. Not that I wanted to, but I’m just sayin’. I was in pretty good shape. So I thought.

I LOOKED like I was in excellent shape. I was strong, flexible and could do 60 pushups in 60 seconds. But thankfully, I was young, because I didn’t eat the healthiest diet ever, plus I was a smoker. My body could fight off the toxins I put into it, but who knows what would be going on if I continued down that path.

So here I am, on the later side of my 4th decade and I’ve been inconsistent with my workout routines. I eat a healthy, mostly raw diet now, I quit smoking almost 5 years ago, gave up the coffee habit and now I want to get back into shape. I never completely quit working out, but I sure let it slide down my list of important things to do.

I have to admit that 2 years ago, I decided, after about a year of not weight-training, to pick the dumbbells back up, and I worked out on a regular basis. But working out in your 40s isn’t the same as working out in your 20s or 30s. I wasn’t seeing the results like I used to back in the day, and in fact, I was putting on weight. I’m not talking about “muscle”, either. I was adding some fat to my thighs. Tired of feeling like I was working for no results, I gave up and just continued some light yoga asanas.

Then came P90X! Yay! I thought maybe that was the kick in the pants I needed! I did that for 2 months, only to see more fat in my middle. I found the P90X to be too time-consuming and seeing my clothes get tighter (not from muscle…again…fat!), I gave that up after 2 months.

So here I am. Again. Determined I’m not going to go down without a fight. I mean, come on…if I’m eating healthy, I’m not a smoker, I don’t require the kick of coffee to wake me up in the morning any more, I should be able to stay strong and in shape, right? But can I really do it? Can I at least get a little bit of the abs back that I used to have? At the very least, I want to say I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in - that is, healthy, happy, fit, and doing it all with a healthy diet and no smoking or coffee addiction.

We’ll see. I’ve started P90X again and am on week 3 - it’s amazing. I also started running again 2 weeks ago. That’s another story for a later post, but for now, let’s just say I was on the treadmill last week when the “can I do it” question came to me. I felt that click, like I did when I first started weight-training in my 20s, the one that made me say, “just stick with it to see what happens”.

So in addition to NOT letting myself atrophy and fall apart, I’ve added running to my list of things to do in this life. I’m going to start with a 5k and work my way up.

I’ll explain more about the running in a bit, but for now, I just want to track my progress in my health journey. I’ll be posting some pictures and my progress to hold myself accountable.

I feel better than I ever have. At the very least, I can say I feel AS GOOD as I did in my 20s. Only better

Notice I said this one is mostly raw. The obvious ingredient that’s not raw is oatmeal. You can, of course, omit the oatmeal and just increase the buckwheat or add more nuts or apples, or anything else your heart desires. I’m just not that picky about a little oatmeal, myself.

One thing I’ve noticed, though, and this is not just for granolas: I have to be careful not to over-dehydrate my food. But granola especially is hard to chew if over-dehydrated! You know, like, break-your-teeth kind of hard. I equate over-dehydrating with over-baking or broiling. Difference is, one turns food black, the other makes it like trying to chew leather or rocks. Whenever I would put Italian bread in the oven to brown, I would inevitably forget about it while it turned a lovely shade of black. I tend to do that sometimes with the dehydrator.

So take my advice on this one. Dehydrate this particular mixture only about 18 hours or so between 110 - 115 degrees. Let it cool before you bag it or put it in an airtight container.

Per my usual method of cooking and un-cooking, I eyeball everything, but this is a close estimate. Also, feel free to substitute any ingredient you see fit. This is just what I happened to have on hand at the time. No big deal, I’m sure

Tasty Mostly Raw Granola!

What holds it all together:
1 cup raisins
6-8 dates, pitted
Honey to taste
1tsp. vanilla
Pinch of sea salt
1-2 tsp. cinnamon or to taste
Juice from 1 large orange

Place all ingredients into food processor with “S” blade and process till liquid-y. It’s okay if it’s not perfectly smooth.

The crunchy goodness:
3/4 cup buckwheat, sprouted and dehydrated
1-1/2 cups almonds, soaked, dehydrated and chopped
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, soaked and dehydrated
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds, soaked and dehydrated
2 or 3 cups rolled oats
Cinnamon, to taste

Add the liquid to the above ingredients and spread in dehydrator so it’s about 1″ thick. Dehydrate and break into pieces when cool.