Anouchka Talks

Please forgive me for moaning and groaning...yet again. As many of you know, I have recently experienced a few physical health issues over the past couple of years that have really set me back.  Between baffling patellofemoral pain syndrome and severe diastasis recti , I feel that I have had my share of ailments that, two short years ago, I had never even heard of. Last month marked the latest chapter in my PFPS saga:  I finally broke down and went to an orthopedist.  After over a year of bilateral knee pain, I'd had enough: I had been to my family physician (who also happens to specialize in sports medicine), an osteopathic specialist, two physical therapists, and consulted with an athletic trainer (whose services I could not afford out-of-pocket - thousands of dollars, just when I learned that I was knocked up). I religiously performed multiple sets and reps of every exercise they recommended:  inner thigh, outer thigh, quads, hips, glutes...only to be inf...

On November 19, 2012 I sustained a running injury that has benched me for an entire year.  After running my usual route for (at least!) the bazillionth time, my right knee painfully protested even one more step.  My left knee shortly followed suit and, since that time, I have been condemned to the stationary bike. Oh, the shame of pedaling and pedaling and never getting anywhere. As November 19 rolls around this year, I find myself reflecting on the one year anniversary of my running tragedy.  After insisting on working my body to the breaking point for the three months following my injury, I felt that God was nudging me to stop obsessing over working out so that I could focus on some other areas of my life that needed work.  No longer was I to obsess over food (well, I still do, but not to the same radical degree as before) or the number of calories burned on a 13-mile run (over a day's worth - think of the pancakes I could eat with a day's worth of calories!!!...

Today is a sad day at Anouchka Talks .  Exactly six months ago, on November 19, was the last day I was able to run.  While I have seen some improvements since that time, I am still unable to train for any sort of competitive running.  Furthermore, my cardiovascular stamina has greatly suffered -as most aerobic activity has been aggravating on my knees- and I feel like I will have to start from before  the proverbial "square one." It has been a frustrating and downright depressing journey.  After stumping various specialists on the subject, I am at somewhat of a loss myself.  Last spring, I could happily pound the pavement for miles.  Now, sometimes I feel a painful CRUNCH in my knees just squatting down to tie my shoes.  I can't seem to wrap my mind around that... "I am a cipher, a cipher wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce."* Thank you, Jimmy James. Sorry to be a whiny complainer.  I don't want to be like one of th...

I want to rant and rave about my injury frustrations.  As the merry days of spring and extended sunlight brighten the northern hemisphere with cheer, I find myself wanting to bang my head against the wall until my body will cooperate with my mind. I know.  Effective. If you will recall one of my more recent posts about running, I had a few hypothetical diagnoses.  Turns out, I was right on the mark with Option #1:  Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS, a.k.a. "runner's knee").  Basically, this injury involves a knee cap ("patella") that doesn't track properly in the "patellofemoral groove," which is the space between the knobs ("condyles") on your thigh bone ("femur").  What happens as a result is a painful grinding of bone on bone (patella on condyle).  PFPS is a treatable injury but, as with all running-related injuries, it takes time.  And sometimes, that "time" is indefinite. %#*^!#$%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, ...

I like running.  I like being active.  In general, I like motion.  Sadly, many things that allow me to be kinetic are currently off limits. If you have kept up with any of my running/fitness posts, you will know that last September -one week before my half marathon- I had a case of peroneal tendinitis.  I felt like Chris Traeger from Parks and Recreation .  It sucked, BUT God is good and allowed me to run the race all the same.  (Not only did I get to run, but I set a new record time for myself AND got to go out for my favorite pancakes afterwards!  It was one of the best days of my life.) After the race, I took a little time away from the pavement and spent a little more time revisiting some of my other favorite fitness activities that had been cast aside during training:  weight lifting (baby weights, mind you), kickboxing, dancing, etc.  I would still go out for a light jog every now and again, but only at leisurely paces and nothing ...

I had pancakes today, but not just any pancakes.  Today, my darlings, I had my most favorite of all time pancakes.  These bad boys aren't for amateurs though, so if you don't like pancakes (hater), then please stop reading. And never speak to me again. No, for real though.  I had the bestest granola pancakes in the whole wide world that come from the most fat-/sugar coma-inducing factory in town:  a little brunchery called Le Peep. Easily, one of these pancakes is over five billion calories but, when you get them as your meal, you get TWO steering-wheel sized flapjacks of joy.  Seriously, these 'cakes will change your life.  I truly believe that they hold the key to world peace. But why all this writing about pancakes lately?  I mean, they're gifts from Heaven, but isn't this a bit much? No. But I digress.  Today I ran my first half marathon.  I have been training for this bad boy since the beginning of July and have (not) loved ...

Well, bad news, my little chickadees. Both of you know that I have been training for about two and a half months for a half marathon.  Although I'm not new  to running, this is my first half.  Naturally, I have been hyped up ever since I officially registered for the pre-race spaghetti dinner.  (I mean really, that's why we do it.  Right?)  Anyhow, during my training time, I have seen myself progress to levels of speed and stamina that I never thought I could attain.  This all culminated in my final (and most recent) distance run last week. On Friday morning, my training guide had me scheduled to run 13 miles. Prior to that, I had run 12, so it wasn't as though I made a sudden leap in effort; I had been building up to this.  As I wrapped up the final mile and climbed the stairs to my apartment, I felt a sense of relief.  The hard part was behind me; only a few taper runs and the race lay ahead.  I looked down at my watch and was ecs...

Allow me a moment to brag... This was a running record weekend for yours truly!   On Friday, my long run increased to my new distance record:  11 miles.   Saturday, I participated in a local 5K and set a new speed record for that distance:  approximately a 7-minute mile. For those of you who are distance runners or sprinters, this will seem like nothing to you.  However, I feel like I deserve a party.  With cake. And ice cream.

It seems to me that a post about running is long overdue...especially since it is a significant reason for my neglectful blogging. Summer running this year has proven to be a bit of a challenge.  With the violent winds of June ( mistral , perhaps?) and the unrelenting heat advisories of July, I have felt less than motivated to run outside.  Nevertheless, I have continued busting my butt and recently  signed up for my first half marathon. Between now and September 23, I have a few things to accomplish and hone.  Today I ran my last "long run" of 8 miles.  Next Friday, I get a little break where my distance run dips to 4 miles, before increasing to an even 10 (my current distance record) two weeks from today.  Here are a few of my concerns: Time.  No, I'm not talking about personal records or speed.  I'm talking about something much less important:  how much of my valuable time it takes to do all this running when I could be doing thing...

I broke 10 miles today!!!!!!!!!!  Yippee!!!!!!

I have a new fan.  (The human kind, not the oscillating kind.) Now that it’s beginning to warm up, I’ve started running outside again.  Since my last outdoor run of the fall, we have moved to a different part of town and I have found a new route.  (Yay me, I’m up to 6+ miles per day!!!!!)  Part of this new route takes me along a somewhat busier street in town and I am cursedly fated to face the oncoming traffic.  (For those of you who run, you are likely to agree that it is far preferable to run with the flow of traffic, so that your flushed/fatigued face isn’t as blatantly obvious to those with the luxury of being behind the wheel.) Over the past three days, I have twice encountered the same red Ford Focus.  Both times, this individual has honked at me.  For those of you who have read my posts in the past, you will know how irritating I find this gesture.  (See Winners Stalk At Daybreak .)  Mind you, this particular horn honking...