Still struggling with right hip pain, going on 16 months. Been doing PT regularly since August 2020, focusing on gluteal, hamstring, and adductor strength – basically lots of hard work on strengthening the muscles that contribute to pelvic stability. I met recently with an orthopedist and got a hip MRI with contrast in order to see how that joint looks, after determining by x-ray that the there weren’t any skeletal/hard tissue issues. Verdict: fraying of the labrum, the cartilage that lines the hip socket.
“Fraying” to me is a super grey term.
“Frayed” like a pair of acid-washed jean shorts from the 80s? This would seem really bad from what I recall from surviving the fashion of the 80s.
“Frayed” like the ends of my ponytail because I refuse to cut my hair? Maybe could use a little work, but nothing to be overly concerned about.
After reviewing the MRI images with the doctor, he thankfully indicated I’m on the ends of the ponytail side of the spectrum. No need for surgical intervention, and no need to modify my current workout intensity (which is unbelievably good news).
The last few weeks going into this imaging appointment have led to a lot of deep thoughts about how I want to spend my workout time and what my priorities should be, and I keep coming back again and again to two things:
- Strength = EVERYTHING
I know this as an athlete, as a scientist, and as someone getting older every day. That said, strength work is my least favorite part of being active. It’s. So. Boring.
I’ve committed to my PT routine 3x per week and have been very consistent in hitting those workouts, but I know it’s not enough. So I’m adding one Pilates class a week (nothing like 60 minutes of core work + multi-plane movement) and one Recharge strength class (because I need the structure of a group class to actually do a strength workout and not just give up and take a nap on the floor with the kitties). - Trail runs should be fun
Red flags have been popping up for me left and right on my trail runs for the last few weeks, most notably at the Mt Hood 50K. I’m just not having fun running long on the trails. It’s so hard to say that out loud, and has been even harder for me to recognize. I love the trails, I will always run trail miles every week, but what is making me HAPPY at the moment is (gasp) road miles and (shock and awe) track workouts. It feels wrong to even type that, but it’s true. My name is Kori, and I like track workouts. So instead of putting my head down and continuing to follow my training plan and hating it and feeling my soul die, I’m going to change course and have some goddamn fun. I’m going to run trail on my easy days, and run road/track for the hard workouts and start following my Chicago Marathon training plan a few weeks earlier than originally planned. And I’m not going to run the Haulin’ Aspen trail marathon in 2 weeks, because I just don’t want to. For the first time in weeks, I feel free and I feel excited to train.
