No I Didn't Tell You

My thigh.  My left thigh.

It decided to start hurting.  I finally told you about this the other day.

It was one of those things that I could find an excuse for every little twinge.

Excuse #1 - I started a new program.

Excuse #2 - I'm not 20 any more.

Excuse #3 - I need new shoes.

Excuse #4 - I'm getting used to the new shoes.

Excuse #5 - It feels better after I run.

Excuse #6 - Running on the sand just changed my form.

Excuse #7 - It doesn't hurt that bad.

Excuse #8 - I'm not stretching enough.

Excuse #9 - I'm stretching too much.

Excuse #10 - It'll just go away.

But ultimately I know my body and my left leg was not on board with the new program.  So after almost 2 weeks of shorter easier miles with no cross training, I went to the doctor.

After a very complete once over he sent me to the hospital for a load of tests.  Only to find out the my leg does not have a stress fracture (Worry #1) or bone cancer (Worry #2 thanks to the doctor planting that concern!). 

I am back this week to my full schedule and cross training.  Stretching, ibuprofen and warm heat.  I put in my fastest 6.5 in weeks and my leg felt great afterwards and didn't make a peep during Insanity.  I will factor in the need to make sure I allow for a day or two each week of purposeful easy runs to allow my body some active recovery time. 
It is a reminder that I need to remember how my body responds to changes in my routine especially when I am under stress as I was over June and July with loads of traveling, activites with the family and the disappointment of not having the required support to make my push to 100 this year.  But armed with the knowledge that I haven't broken myself, I am charging forward towards an improved overall fitness level that will get me to and through my next goal in 2012

100 miles in the woods.
Wanna come along?