A brand new day

Today was our Girls on the Run day. I knew I needed to get some miles done today one way or another but after the fiasco with my left shin yesterday I thought about not even changing into my workout clothes. I decided I could at least walk at GOTR so I changed. The other leader and I take turns doing laps since one person stands at the start and encourages the girls and gives them lap counters, etc. Today I let Kim go first and I took the 2nd and 4th laps. I didn't expect to be able to run but I decided to give it a try. My shins have been sore, i.e, bruised feeling, during the day for weeks but I never really know how they will feel during a run until I run. When I started running I didn't have pain. I was very happy about this but still expected it to come on after my first walk break. I was shocked that after I took a short walk break and started running again that they still didn't hurt! The track at school is almost a half mile and I ran the most of a half mile in one sitting (that doesn't seem like the right word) that I have ever done. It helped to know that I was going to get to stand and rest for a lap while Kim took her turn (Kim walks her laps). When Kim got back I decided to see if I could do it again. I had a sweet girl keeping me company this time and we stayed together the whole way (running and walking). I ran probably the 2nd most of half of a mile I have ever run at one sitting on my 2nd lap! Yea! I have no idea why my shins felt like burning fire and pain yesterday and didn't bother me today. Yesterday was one of my most frustrating runs and today was a great run. I seem to go in that cycle of good workout then bad workout over and over. I thought about doing more work when I got home but I decided not to push my luck and just logged the one mile today.

Today I decided to consult my doctor (Web MD) about my shins. I was trying to find out if I have shin splints/shin pain or if I have a stress fracture on my tibial. The only way to tell if I have a stress fracture is to see my (real) doctor and get x-rays. However, sometimes the fracture is so slight that x-rays can't see it. It turns out the cure for stress fractures is taking time off from running...the same cure as for shin splints. My 'doctor' recommended Ibuprofen. Gee thanks doc! Since the getting better process is the same (and not something I am totally willing to commit to right now) I'll just skip the x-rays and keep on keeping on with the Ibuprofen.

Web MD did say that a stress fracture will feel better when exercising. That wasn't very helpful to me because sometimes running makes the pain worse (like yesterday) and sometimes it makes the pain better (like today).

I guess each run is a brand new experience and each day is a brand new day.