Mel On...Well Crap (yet another doctor visit)

My knee has been burning pretty badly since my last three mile run walk on Sunday.  I expected it to bother me a bit but I didn't expect the tingling in my left shin (which has been constant for a while now) to also head up into my left breastbone and now my left elbow.

The tingling in my breastbone was off and on for a little over two days, then last night I started having troubles with my arm. (It feels like you laid on it wrong and you should just be able to straighten it out and it will go away but it doesn't go away).  It was hard for me to fall asleep and then when I woke up this morning all three were constant and have been constant all day.

It freaked me out enough to go to the ER (especially when you Google tingling on one side of your body) and the doctor wanted to send me up to a neurologist for a MRI of my spine...BUT we are leaving in six days...so he gave me Naproxen and told me to make an appointment in VA as soon as we in-process because I really do need it checked out.

I've had quite the luck here with MRI's...anyway, he doesn't believe that the pain in my knee has anything to do with my actual knee but inflammation of some sort in my spine.  I guess we shall - again - wait and see.... #funtimes

Mel On...Sole Sisters

Well, yesterday was it.  My last official "run" with my running group...

and when I mean "run" I mean walk because I had to W-A-L-K my last "run" due to this darn knee!

Mel On...Knee Update (No news is...well, no news...)

82.  It's been 82 days since my last race and my last real run. Eighty-two.  

I apologize for not updating sooner and I want to sincerely thank all those who have asked me where I have been and encouraged me to keep writing - even though there is nothing really to write about at the moment!

So here it is...my little update...

Mel On...Strong Knee, Weak Everything Else??

Well, I just got back from another visit with my primary doctor today.  Still no official diagnosis on my knee pain but between the two base doctors I have seen and my physical therapist we have discussed everything from the meniscus, ACL, and IT band to runner's knee, Baker's cysts, angry hamstrings, and inflammation, etc.

I did have several x-rays done this morning and the initial review was great.  The guy said my knee bones looked flippin' fantastic so now it's down to issues with the muscles/tendons/ligaments.  AGH! Not that a bone injury would have been good news, it's just that I feel like I won't ever get an answer as to WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY KNEE.

Mel On...Rock'N'Roll Madrid Half Marathon

After getting over my pity party the other day and finally being able to stomach something besides bananas and chamomile tea, we left for Madrid on Friday.  I still wasn't feeling 100% but the excitement of traveling to a new place, the whole race atmosphere (and maybe a few pitchers of Sangria), finally qualifying for my World Rocker Medal, and my husband convincing me (in his own loving way) to "put my big girl panties on," I snapped out of it!

Mel On...Pity Party for One

Well, I still haven't been able to get myself out of this "funk" I've been having.  I have a lot going on behind-the-scenes and I think it's starting to really affect me. Our veterinarian recommended we put our 9 yr-old dog down soon.  I always feel so weird calling her our "dog."  She has always been way more than that.  She is our friend, our girl, our Sadie. I know it's the best thing for her but it still sucks a fat one knowing that we have to make that call, to set a date...it breaks my heart even thinking about it.

Mel On....Running Happy (and then completely slacking)

We just got back from a week long trip to Pula over Spring Break and I totally fell off my little training bandwagon.  Probably not a good thing to do two weeks before a race I am hoping to PR for...neither were those three bottles of wine I also consumed during that trip...

BUT, I did do one run while we were there. Just an easy 3 miler along the coast of Croatia...no biggie...

Talk about #RUNHAPPY.  I only thought the fields in my village were my "happy place."  THIS.  This is my happy place!

Mel On...Strong Butt, Weak Hamstrings

That is basically what my physical therapist told me today.  (Yes, mother...I finally kept an appointment for my knee).  He warned me that I could be angering my meniscus and that I still have some swelling but the good news was that we weren't at a damage control stage yet.  He wants to work on more preventative/strengthening measures (to include R-E-S-T) but, he did give me the go ahead to continue training for Madrid (like that was going to stop me).

Mel On...Official Times and Photos (9th Deutsche Weinstrasse Half Marathon)

I am so glad I was able to run Weinstrasse before we left Germany!  (You can read more about the race here).  I am even happier that I was able have my family and BFF's cheering for me (and running with me) along the way!  

Mel On...Plans Change and PRs Happen! (9th Deutsche Weinstrasse Half Marathon)

Last night I was too excited to sleep!  We had a hectic, early morning (thanks time change) but we made it to our meet up point somewhat on time and caravanned to one of the designated parking lots outside of Bockenheim, Germany for shuttle pick up to the 9th Deutsche Weinstrasse Half Marathon!

Mel On...RACE NIGHT!

Tomorrow morning we are heading down the German wine road for another half marathon! Hello, Deutsche Weinstrasse! This race only happens every other year so I am super stoked I get to run this one before we leave.  SUPER STOKED!

I didn't think I would be this excited but I should know better by now. There is something about the night before and the morning of a race that is just, well, exciting!  It's like Christmas...you don't know what you are going to get.  It could be a PR!  The stars could align and tomorrow could be your day...or, the weather can go to crap, your Ipod could die, and you could DNR...anything could happen!

Mel On...Didn't See That One Coming

This week has been a little hectic.  We've had craziness going on on the home front and a lot of things have been weighing on my little old mind.  I was reviewing my training logs and this past month was nothing but 7's and 8's on my "head" and "heart" scale.  "Legs" and "lungs" were ranging from 7's to 9's (minus the pain in my left leg, THAT is still happening).  I just haven't been feeling into it and I have gotten myself into a little funk.  

Well, well, well....what better to get out of a funk than to a) hit autopilot on a 10 mile solo run b) buy new running shoes, c) hit up a new trail with an old friend, and d) treat yourself to some FemFusion Fitness and then a lady's lunch!

Mel On...New Shoes (new very bright blue shoes)

Well, I finally broke down and got me some new running shoes.  Let's just say you will be hard-pressed not to see me coming in these bad boys...man, are they blue!

They are also 10x more comfortable than my old running shoes and are way less "restricting."  I've had a hard time with running shoes.  The very first pair I bought were Asics but they made me feel like my feet were lopsided when I ran and I couldn't go very far in them without something hurting (but, then again, I was just starting out running and EVERYTHING hurt).  I tried a new pair of Asics but I was still having problems with them and was now having hip pain.

Mel On...Runner's World Just Gets Me (Chicken-Quinoa Soup)

If I haven't said it before, I will say it now....I LOVE MY RUNNER'S WORLD COOKBOOK.  Like, for realz.

Yesterday was kinda icky and what is more comforting on a rainy, cold day than a big bowl of scrumptious soup after a lonely 10-miler?  Not much, my friends...not much...

Mel On...(Another) Friday Night Wine Run

It's 4:28 p.m. I'm pacing in front of my window.  I have a 4:30 p.m. group run. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?!  He pulls in and I quickly kiss him goodbye as I strap on my watch and head out the door...didn't care it was upper 40's, didn't care it was rainy, didn't care there were 18 mph winds, didn't care about the fog or the fact that it was going to be dark by the time I got home.  Didn't care.  All I cared about was getting to my group run...I JUST WANTED TO RUN!

Mel On...I Guess It's P.T. for M.E.

Well, well, well....I guess I owe you $5.  I went to the doctor the other day and was referred to Physical Therapy for the pain in the back of my knee. My first appointment is in two weeks...

(Actually, I had to strong-arm a referral out of the man because he did try to recommend the whole pop and Motrin and wait three weeks deal so we will call this one even).  

Mel On...The Breakdown Before the Break-Through (hopefully)

Ok, not going to lie, last week was rough.  I just felt completely BLAH, my kids were sick, I was dodging it back and forth all week, my head wasn't in the game, I ate like crap, didn't have the energy to exercise, it was just rough.

I went from 4-hrs of cross-training and a 28-mile week to a 2-hr of cross-training and a .5-mile week!  It really hit my conscience and I honestly think the lack of exercise coupled with a week of crappy eating is what made me feel so blah...anyway...this week I AM IN IT TO WIN IT!

Mel On...A Maddy Run

My little girl loves going on runs with me (and by running I mean me pushing her 40 lb body in what feels like an 80 lb stroller).  Every time I go out the door, "Mommy, can I go with you?!"  I love taking her but it is KILLER trying to get around the hills in our village with that darn stroller.  SOOOOO...I kicked her out of it.

Not really, not really...but really. 

Mel On...The Trail Less Traveled

Went on another trail run with Sarah today!  We started off going through the trails near my daughter's school...then decided to "veer off the beaten path."  Adventerous, we are.

The weather was perfect this morning, in the mid-40's and sunny.  Unfortunately though, neither of us were "feeling" it.  We kept it at a nice, easy, conversational pace with no other expectations than running about 7 miles...good thing because we had to walk, leap, and crawl for part of our "run!"

Mel On...Um...YUM! (Spicy Sausage Mushroom Soup)

My husband surprised me with The Runner's World Cookbook last month (he loves me!) so I've been trying new recipes out the past few weeks!  One of my FAVS is this Spicy Sausage Mushroom Soup recipe: