After much talking to myself, pumping myself up for 13 miles, I got out there and was surprised to find it all going very, very smoothly.
There were many things I was worried about and baby boy #6’s 2 horrible nights in a row (I think I slept 4 hours last night and about the same the night before) was on top of my list. #2 was the toenail on my left foot that I cut too short (how stupid was that?) # 3 was a muscle I pulled in my back wrestling baby boy #6 back to sleep at 3 am. #4 was my slightly stiff muscles from some weight training I had done on Wednesday.
But! I was a gorgeous day- and I convinced myself to not focus on the 13 mile distance but rather that I would be out, by myself, for close to 2.5 hours. Peace and quiet. Doing something for myself.
I was chugging along with M.I A’s Paper Planes playing over and over in my head (no ipod ,I just couldn’t get it out of my brain…) “I fly like paper get high like planes, if you catch me at the border I got visas in my name, if you come around here I make ’em all day, I get one down in a second if you want…” and I’m coming up to 6 miles when I see Pacific Spirit Park and decide I’ll go run trails for 1.5 miles or so before turning back for home. But early into the trail my knee starts to hurt- I ignore it..”we pack and deliver like UPS trucks, already going hell just pumping that gas… all I wanna do…” But the pain is not going away and in fact it is now also in my right hip- I am so disappointed because I was so excited to be running in the trails, running under the big trees- I turn around for home and now all the negative thoughts are crowding my brain- “I’m through, my body can’t take it, call the ol’ man to pick you up- you’ll never make it.” By this time I am running about a block until I can’t take it and then walking a block (it doesn’t hurt when I walk!) I pull out the phone to call the ol’man but decide that I will feel much better run/walking it, than having to get picked up.
So that what I do ,sometimes running a little longer then a block- but now my foot is also very sore.
It takes me 2 hrs and 40 minutes to do just under 13 miles. I am of course discouraged and a bit depressed and not sure what to do next. From everything I’ve found to read- I’m thinking it’s IT band syndrome- which requires rest ( I read to go 3 full days before trying to run again, icing and stretches)- so I will try it. It doesn’t hurt now or when I walk- it’s just when I run on it. I’m hoping that’s a good sign and that with a little rest I’ll be back at ‘er.
Again, I am sure my body is revolting a bit against be pushed so far on so little sleep and so I will try to somehow, to work on that as well.
Dr. Mamalegato 
Oh! Sorry to hear about the injury, and the continued lack of sleep. As hard as it might have been, it was probably good, both psychologically and physically, to walk back home and get the 13 miles (by hook or by crook) under your belt. Take care! Get better.
PS – couldn’t ask for a better song to be stuck in your head!
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Wow Mama L – that is so amazing to run 13 miles! I am so proud of you! I hope you can summon up a very encouraging inner voice – maybe a voice that sounds a lot like you would sound if you were encouraging one of your kids to continue. And how you would sound if they got a pain and had to stop – how impressive it is they went as far as they did, how proud you are to see them trying so hard (especially if they had so little sleep!) Just say it all to yourself!
As for the IT band… I know my soccer-playing bro used to have some issues with that and showed me some of his special IT band stretches once. Ah this body made of bands and sinews and tubes! Amazing what it can do!
Go Mama go!
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