Yes, let’s talk about my back shall we?
When I arrived at the Saint Mary’s University Lifemark location, my RMT asked me the usual questions: How are things? What have you been up to? What are we working on today? Welllllll…
December is a hard month. More so for those of us who suffer from depression and anxiety. The lack of sun is a mood crusher all on its own. You add in the social events, the gift purchasing, and the cooking, some sort of meltdown is inevitable.
For me, everything needs to be perfect: the tree, the food, and the presents. My need for everyone else to be happy trumps all. Everything else goes out the door: the gym, my running, the things that keep me centered. I know what it feels like to hit the bottom, so my desire to make sure that those around me have a great holiday is strong.
This year my body got me through various races. I was 2 minutes off my 1/2 marathon personal best in May (coming back from a knee injury, I was so happy!), I ran a 10km in the hottest weather I’ve ever run in (not my best, lol), I ran a 5km personal best, and I got through 2 calf strains (each leg).
My RMT is amazing (so is my PT and Chiro) and has gotten me back on my feet more times than I can count. When I told him my body was shutting down, he knew exactly what I meant. I was tightly wound AND my right calf was still not 100%. Also, my desire to sleep forever and eat all the food was starting to become an issue.
He suggested cupping. I am game to try new things, and I have had friends who had cupping done, so I said sure!
Holy Hurt Batman.
I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. It was a weird experience at first, but once I got used to the suction ‘zlurp’ noise and the feeling, I focused on my breathing and cursed when required 😉. I could feel the release in my calf, and as he worked on my back, it was then I realized juuuust how tight I was. Stress had my upper back all tied up.
He took the above picture and had me look at it before he left the room. I had an idea of what it might look like, but that is intense, lol. Biggest hickies EVER. Still tender today as write this post, but boy did I ever had a great sleep!
He left me with post massage/cupping instructions and we discussed what I was going to do to get myself through December and prep for my half training in the new year: Weight training. I felt great when I worked with a trainer and had a plan. It will also prep my body for running. I need this for my mental health as well.
So until Crazy Mama starts to run, Crazy Mama’s gonna lift!
For real. Just watch me 🙂.
@crazymamaruns
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Category: runner
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Cupping, Christmas, and Weights
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Remembering Who I Am
Pic courtesy of George Inglis Photography It’s been a while since I’ve posted.
I wanted to wait until I was “situated” in my “new home” to do so.
I’ve moved the blog from one platform to another. So feel free to let me know what works and what doesn’t work! Feedback is appreciated while I continue to tweak some things 🙂
TeenThing has a job and is working. She is finding her way and I need to find mine again. I’ve been a mom for so long I forgot who I am, lol. So now I begin the whole process of “Finding Amy” and remembering what it is that I want to do with my free time (this is outside of running, lol, that I got covered).
In other news, I have been slowly getting my physical fitness back. Early morning yoga and HITT workouts have been keeping me going until I rejig my gym schedule and get some classes/swimming/track time figured out.
Half Marathon training begins full force in January. I will be running inside and outside this year. So when it’s full on bitey wind and bitey snow, I will be at the Canada Games Centre busting up the track. A nice option to have this year, lol.
I should be back to regular posts this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled, I have LOTS of stuff to share!
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October: Time for a Reboot
A BIG reboot.
After my last race(s) during Maritime Race Weekend, I took a break.
There I am! 2nd from the left during the Sunrise 5k 🙂 I needed this break. Needed to take a step back.There has been a lot going on in “the background”. TeenThing finally has a job (yay!). As I sit here writing this post, she is at her first shift (training). I am just over a full month and a half on low dose hormone for perimenopausal joy. (This is something my doctor and I discussed when I was in to see her for my shingles.) There was some residual fatigue from shingles as well. Work has been busy (which is good, because my brain needs that for survival, hahahaha).Things are better since I have seen my doc, especially for the perimenopausal joy. I am not as absent-minded or moody AF (Which, astonishingly, I knew wasn’t my mental illness. This is a whole other beast. A weird, WTF kind of beast.) Can’t get rid of those hot flashes though, lol. Took some time for me. Got some new hair (actually this colour is extremely close to my “before gray” hair).
Who IS that mama?? I also needed to step back because I was losing my running mojo. I had two great races but I wasn’t getting that “HELLZ YEAH” feeling on my runs. I also wasn’t feeling GOOD. I felt off. I needed to find my mojo again. My love of feeling the burn 😉I found it today. Fighting a head cold, on the couch, I found it.I watched From Fat to Finish Line on Netflix. Remembering the way I felt during my last two races: the people, the atmosphere and the support of everyone who runs. How much of an accepting family runners are.With this new month I am doing a reboot. I need to really, because I run a 5km race later this month, lol.So, nice and easy goes the train. I signed up for the “new” Bad Yogi 30 day challenge, will head back to the gym on a regular schedule, and start kicking those kms in the butt. Also, I bought Run Fast Eat Slow to get my cooking mojo back![For anyone who needs to have someone kick their butt to get their mojo back, check out Carey (A PT and Coach) with Running Moms. She has great programs and is a fantastic motivator. I was kicking ass before I got sick and hormonally screwed, lol. I am also pretty sure that was how I made it through my two races with great times!]What do you do when you lose your mojo? Take a break? Work harder?What works for you? -
Our "Last Year of School"
Class of 2017
It seems like just yesterday I was getting TeenThing ready for Primary.
This year, she is graduating from High School. On September 8th, she starts Grade 12.
Vacation Dessert = Happy TeenThing We’ve been through a lot throughout her school career. Intense conversations with teachers, moving from one part of the city to another, toxic friends, her mom’s trip down the rabbit hole, etc.With “the odds” stacked against me as a single parent, I must say that all in all, I’ve kicked some parenting ass. I mean, if you look at all the old “stats” out there, my kid should be a hot mess.But she’s not. Why? Because I was involved in her life. I asked questions. I left her to be who she wanted to be. I didn’t force her down a path she was not comfortable traveling on.Did I guide her where I could? Yes.Were there yelling and tears? Yes.Did I sacrifice a lot? Yes.Was it worth it? You’re goddamn right it was. I passed up quite a bit over the years, but to have her turn out the way she is, right now, it’s the greatest reward as a parent. Even more so because I did it on my own, with a fantastic support system.I wouldn’t change a thing really.Now to navigate our way through this last year with Graduation photos, parent meetings, Prom, Graduation ceremonies, Graduation Trip planning, and trying not to go bankrupt in the process, lol.(Side Note: Back to running this week. Slow but sluggish progress to get my kilometres back. Happy to be able to get back out there!)Happy Back to School Everyone! -
When Life Gives You…..Shingles
Yes, You Are Reading That Correctly
Pic courtesy of Bitmoji 🙂 This is NOT an “old people” thing.Your risk of complications increases over the age of 70.TeenThing had them when she was 10/11 years old.They appeared on the right hand side of my stomach, just across from my hip bone, just over a week ago.At first, I though something had bitten me in my sleep, as I discovered them within an hour of waking. I stripped my bed looking for the culprit. NOTHING.They were itchy, and warm. So I took a picture and sent it off to my mother. She told me I needed to get to the doctor, because it looked like shingles. So off I went.My doctor (she was on duty at the walk-in clinic, yay!) confirmed that I did indeed have shingles. She wrote me a prescription, which I filled (and started taking) right away.Now, before this happened, I thought I was getting a chest cold. A day or two before that I had a sty in my eye.Those shingle things were itchy and burning. They also “tingled”, like electric shocks. I, thankfully, did not have much pain. I was very, very fatigued.Everything came to a grinding halt
My training had to stop.I had to rest.I had to try and bring down the stress levels.(I know what you are all thinking: Exercise is supposed to eliminate stress. It does. But sometimes you are burning the candle at both ends and you are blind to it. As a single mom I can sometimes get tunnel vision thinking I can do it all, when I can’t.)I am still following the group I was training with on Running Moms. Still watching the running form videos. Still downloading my workouts and the meal plans. Carey’s HIIT workouts and running workouts were really showing me what I was neglecting in my training. This is going to come in handy for the rest of my running season and when I start my half marathon training in January.For now, I am slowly going to work my workouts back into my day. Being on vacation for two weeks is going to make this easier 😉So, anyone else out there had shingles?
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Week 1 With a Coach and a Plan – Not Dead Yet!
Holy Crap I Am Still Alive…
Also, still able to walk. Hahaha.
I received my workouts for the week late last Sunday eve.
HIIT workouts with running workouts, a rest day, and a cross training day.
What I loved about the HIIT workouts is that I could adjust to my level of fitness. I chose to do modified push-ups on the floor.
My speed workout was a killer. I live where there are hills EVERYWHERE. Some of my sprints were UPHILL, lol.
I tried to do my HIIT workouts in the morning as our weather has been hot and humid.
I slept in Friday. Hot sweaty mess after supper workout. Blargh. No more sleeping in 😉
Being accountable to a coach and a group of people works well for me. I made sure my workouts were done each day.I took my rest day on Thursday (it was supposed to be Saturday) as my muscles were sore. Carey was glad that I was listening to my body and totally endorsed the rest day on Thursday. I am feeling the muscles I was definitely neglecting, even with my gym workouts.Saturday’s workout was a pyramid (5 min warmup – then x2 of each one fast and one regular pace -> 1 minute , 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute). This is what I was supposed to do on Thursday. I really enjoyed this run. It was hard, but I felt really good and aware of my running, my form, etc.I was asked to track my food for a couple of days. I used My Fitness Pal for this, which I used during my half marathon training earlier this year. I learned then that I was not eating enough during my training. This time I also made note of what made me feel good and what made me feel not so good. (I still ate my feelings a couple of times, lol.)Today was cross training day. After I watched the Olympic Women’s Marathon I did some yoga for 30 minutes. I was tight for sure, lol. Felt really good afterwards though.I was given a meal plan for the week ahead. Can’t wait to see how I feel after this week is over with different fuel for my run 🙂Being aware of my body and being told every day to be aware of my body is really making a difference. I don’t ignore pain, I am noticing the muscle groups I am neglecting and focusing on my plan.I am currently awaiting my workout plan for next week and I am super exicted!If I am still alive next week, you’ll be seeing another post, lol.If you went from doing your own thing to a coach, what differences did you notice? Let me know! -
August: Training, a Plan and a Coach!
Yes, You’ve Read That Post Title Correctly 😉
Last week I signed up for a 5 Day Faster Stronger Challenge at Running Moms. Carey is a physiotherapist and running coach looking to get moms into badass running shape with her programs. Last week was HIIT, strides, hills, core and just straight up running 🙂 (Want to try a few of her HIIT workouts? She has 3 of them, FREE, right here: 3 Simple HIIT Workouts)
I did my strides on the indoor track at the Canada Games Centre. 
I did this HIIT at home with TeenThing. It kicked our butts! Carey is super supportive and was ready to answer any of our questions in the challenge (there was a Facebook page for us to talk/vent/share our experiences). Her workouts are made to fit into a busy mom’s schedule (she IS a mom, so she gets how hectic we can be!) She even had a quick Q&A with a nutritionist who gave us tips for what to eat before and after a run. Carey also has a Running Moms Facebook page (you can sign up for free through her website) where we can post our successes, our not so good days and get support.I am now signed up for Carey’s 28 Day Faster Stronger Challenge.This challenge starts tomorrow and I am super excited! I am ready to have someone tell me what to do, lol. This Challenge comes with a workout/running plan, nutrition plan and Good Form Running Series.As a runner, I am stubborn and will not always fall back on my own personal training knowledge.I am sometimes also less inclined to kick my own ass, lol.I really needed something to push me (wisely) to get over my current running/training plateau. I have two back to back 5km races in September (Maritime Race Weekend – WOOHOOO!) and this was the perfect avenue to amp up my fitness.Having a plan set out for me and knowing what I will need to eat each week will make my life so much easier!So, the road to a faster and stronger me starts tomorrow.Stay tuned for my weekly updates, I will be sharing everything here on the blog!! -
Why I Will Sometimes Run Tech Free
I Get Caught Up.
In looking at my Garmin.Checking my pace.How much time has passed.How far I’ve gone (and sometimes I have not even hit 1km before I am looking down).When the anxiety kicks in I get caught up in things that are out of my control: the weather, my body, etc.
FitSnap works for my tech free post run pics 🙂 I forget why I am out on the road.I get concerned with things that steer me away from what I love: that feeling you get when it’s just you and the road. The early morning air. The feeling of awareness. Seeing things you may not see later on in the day. Deer, muskrats, herons.Being able to work out your issues before you start work, look after your family, or just kick back and enjoy the day.Running tech free takes the expectation off of myself, I don’t log much in my apps or online. To me it defeats the purpose. I started out running as an addition to my workout routine and loved it. When I can recapture that feeling, it charges me back up again.Then I remember Garmin/Strava/Social Media are tools, and not definitions of who I am as a runner.Let’s face it, I don’t want my most favourite tools to end up like my FitBit.@crazymamaruns -
Lessons Learned from a Less Than Ideal Race – Canada Day ‘EPIC Canadian’ Edition
My 10km Epic Canadian Race on Canada Day was Hot and Humid!
Post Race Me 🙂 We went into the long weekend here on the East Coast of Canada (Nova Scotia) with some hot and humid weather. This was my first summer race. Ever. My previous 10km races were a while ago. A Bluenose 10km and a Valley Harvest 10km. I was a sub 1 hour 10km girl then. Three years ago for the last one, lol.Lesson #1: Keep on hydrating the night before, even if you think you are adequately hydrated and keep an eye on the weather.I woke up a little late on Friday, had my usual coffee and oatmeal and got dressed. The meal was a little later than I would have liked, but I needed food.Lesson #2: Stick to your alarm and get up on time to make sure you eat long enough beforehand. Also, drink more water.I met up with some friends after hanging around the post party area for awhile. We chatted and then it was time to head up to the start line. I was feeling the heat and my body was sore from increasing my weights at the gym. We hopped in close to the front and soon we were off!Lesson #3: No matter how excited and pumped you may feel. STOP STARTING FAST! For some reason, at at least one race, I forget this lesson and start out faster than I should.I ran with a RunAtCan Twitter bud and did 10 and 1s with her up until 4kms. Then I was not feeling so great. With the heat, the late breakfast, and going out fast, it was a recipe for nauseous stomach.Lesson #4: Always have 3 “goal times”. One for an ideal day. One for an okay day. One for a “Oh My God I May Not Make It Through This Day Alive” day.At 4kms with my stomach wanting to empty its contents, I knew I was not going to pull out a good time. It became an “Oh My God I May Not Make It Through This Day Alive” goal time day. I took water at every water stop after that. Some for me, some over my neck. I had electrolytes in my water belt (Nuun).Lesson #5: All races teach us a lesson. Good and bad. Embrace the run and if you can, finish strong.I got a little of my mojo back in Shubie Park and felt okay. Hit the turnaround (with some tunes being played on the race route) and started back downhill.Cruising along and hit 7kms.Bottom of the hill.PAIN IN MY CALF. Similar to the pain during my training run for the Bluenose Half. I was pretty close to crying. For real.I stopped for a minute. Walked. Ran a bit. Walked. Ran a bit.Chugged along in the gross hot and humid conditions. Water and Nuun when I needed it.I sucked it up after my freezie fix about 500m (give or take) out from the finish and ran to the Finish Line.My chip time was 1:08. Two minutes less than my last goal time. And really, not a bad finish at all considering the conditions. But I will admit, in that moment, I was so upset that I did not finish in under an hour.Final Lesson: STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP. (For me: Remember that your surgeon told you to run and enjoy it. You are NOT going to pull out a fast pace like you used to do with the OCD in the knee.) Run because you love to run.So, I am back to my physio exercises for my calf. Will continue to do my gym workouts. Back to yoga classes at the gym (I need a teacher to guide my form). Keep my weight training going and ease up on myself. Do some nice easy runs once the calf is happy and enjoy the ride until the next race in September 🙂What lessons have you taken away from your bad race?? -
My Love/Hate Relationship with June
The Month, Not a Person
June:The month where summer starts.We (kind of) get warmer weather.Kids are gearing up for their summer vacation.Everything is in full bloom.June:The month I was diagnosed with a mental illness 5 years ago.The month I was lost.The month I broke down.
Photo courtesy of the American Psychological Association Every year I mull this over. Awful, right?Yes and no.I take time to try and remember the signs. I want to remember so that I never forget. Knowing the signs reminds me of how I felt before I broke down. This is important. If I remember then I know when I need help.That being said, there are times that I have a bad day. As someone with a mental illness, I can say that I worry about that day becoming the next. And so on.This is where Anxiety is a big jerk. This is when I take some Ativan.But you’ve said in the past that movement is medicine.
Yes, it is.But sometimes moving itself is a struggle.Every day is different and it is on the days I DON’T want to move that I struggle to move the most. Getting out of bed, getting dressed are sometimes the biggest ones.Making sure I keep moving is why I have been signing up for more races. Having a goal, a target, works best for me. Keeps me moving forward.“The Plan” to keep moving.
I have signed up to do Maritime Race Weekend in September to give me a month to work on my 5k pace after Epic Canadian 10k on Canada Day.Will be looking for an October/November Race of a smallish distance and will probably end off the year with the Resolution Run.After those races, I can plan for 2017. No half in the spring though, lol. Will save that for the fall. Smaller distances so winter training isn’t so daunting 😉What does your race calendar look like until December?
The Midlife Reframe 