The little {walker} who could.

Yesterday, I mentioned that I'm missing running as well as not eating or working out the way I should.  I've been on a bumpy road with my stress fracture.  At the beginning of June I decided to give running another try.  My doctor didn't really give me a specific plan to follow, and I had walked with practically no pain (aside from normal transitional pain related to not walking for a month and suddenly walking again) all over Chicago.  I decided to try Pete Pfitzinger's return to running program.  The walking was fine, but the running portion gave me that same tight, "stress fracture feeling" that I felt when I first got injured.  I continued the run and attempted to convince myself this was just transition pains.

In conjunction with my first run, I had been doing the 30 day squat challenge.  Between the both of these, I felt that pain in my leg for the next week.  I finally connected that the squat challenge may be adversely affecting me, so I stopped that as well as running.  I'm taking this week to try simply walking.  I'm only going to do it on the track, and I know I need to take it slow.  Since I'm a little worried about Pete's plan, I'm going to try this one next week (assuming I have no pain during or after walking this week).  I'm planning to go get fitted for new shoes next week as well.

One of the hardest parts about listening to my body was knowing that this extra delay means I will not be able to run the Esprit de She in just ten days.

I've literally been looking forward to this race before it was even announced.  I'm unbelievably disappointed, but I know it's for the best.  I know I can not risk re-injury.  Not to mention I refuse to be on that scooter ever again!  I still plan to go to Esprit de She and be a part of the festivities.  I love cheering on other runners, and I know the atmosphere will be worth it.  Want to know a little more about the race?  Watch the video below!

Registration is still open, so go find out more about the Raleigh/Cary race!  In the meantime, I'm giving away an Esprit de She gift pack that includes a cool t-shirt!

This shirt is amazingly soft!  I wear mine from the Commitment Day 5k all the time!  Enter the giveaway and let me know if you end up registering for the race! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Getting back to running + Esprit de She.

Today is the big day.  I go back to the doctor after being on crutches and a knee scooter for 3.5 weeks.  It was supposed to be four weeks, but we conveniently leave for Chicago today as well.  While I don't quite know what this doctor's appointment will hold for me, I do know that there will be quite a bit of walking done in Chicago. I do know that I'm ready to get back to running.  I also know that I have a 5k lined up in a month.

I've been eying the Esprit de She race series since Katie mentioned it a while back.  This is a women's only race series that not only involves running but also cycling, tris, and duathlons.  I'm thrilled to be an ambassador for this series*.  One thing I love about this race is the fact that it's a week day "happy hour" race!  After the race, there's drinks, tapas, and music.  The entire community gets involved as well with a night market.  I can't wait to be a part of this race!  The charity associated with the NC race is Girls on the Run, which I am a huge fan of!

As much as I wanted to run the 10k, this injury has set me back much further than I had anticipated.  After speaking with the doctor, I'm hoping to make the slow transition back to running.  I'm ready to tackle this challenge.  I ready to be a part of another race.  I'm ready to learn how to balance running with other forms of fitness.  After we get back from Chicago (and with the assumption that I'll get the go ahead to start the slow transition back to running), I'll be posting about my training plan.  I'm already scared of re-injury and how slow this transition will be...

Interested in running the Esprit de She Cary/Raleigh?  Check it out here!

*As an ambassador, I was provided with a free entry to the Esprit de She race, but all opinions are my own and I am not being paid to promote this race.