My 'er get it done plan!

Yes, I realize what I did there! First I have to say a huge thanks to everyone that commented yesterday. You all have no idea how much your words lifted me and (if your Kovas especially) made me laugh! It is just what I needed to hear to not all keep going, but also to remind myself exactly what I love about this bloggy world and all my digital friends. With the exception of my Mom, love you too Mom, I don't truly know any of you and only met you through this virtual world, yet you are the ones to offer me words of comfort. And not just empty words, but the right words. So thank you again!

Now onto my stellar plan! What I am finding most frustrating, is my lack of knowledge about my "injuries". I don't even know that they are injuries. My shoulder started hurting suddenly back in highschool, with no significant event to spur on the pain. After lots of doctors and a surgery, it was determined I had a bad shoulder and needed to rest it for 2 years for the pain to cease. Helpful. How do you stop using your shoulder for two years? It did cause me to cut back to 2 sports a year instead of 3, otherwise the pain was too overwhelming. Often my knees would also hurt, especially while bending in lifts and such, but same thing, no real problem could be found. When I started running this summer, my shoulders were the first thing to hurt, followed quickly by my hips, especially when I added in swimming. It was actually when taking a break to rest my hips that my knees started to hurt, and they have killed ever since. Depending on the day, one may hurt worse than the other and it can switch. If I totally rest (stay off my feet and ice all day) they will feel better, but as soon as I move again it comes back. So I haven't ran in two weeks and haven't biked in almost a week, trying to give them a bigger break. This is where the possibility for Lyme disease has come up. It affects the joints severely and worsens with time. It also causes fatigue, headaches, numbing in the hands and feet, and other symptoms I have been dealing with since highschool. I don't know that I have Lyme disease, I am just hoping so that I can finally figure out what is wrong with me.

With my lack of info I want to be careful, at least till I talk to the doc. I also know if I push things too far, my joints tend to just give out. So my plan is...

• Stretching- At least 10-15 min a night. I can't do yoga, bc of the pressure it puts on my knees but I can do some of the stretches. I can at least come out of this one limber chick!
• Hip Strengthening- Just in case my hip pain is unrelated, I want to strengthen that sucker up to prevent future injury. Runners world had a good exercise for strengthening the muscle. Do this every night.
• Abs- 3 days a week. There a few ab moves that don't hurt anything else, so I will focus on these, and do them till they burn! I definitely need a stronger core.
• Arms- 3 nights a week. I may be able to find a few moves where my shoulder stays stable. I will do these with light weights or a band.
• Keep dreaming- I want to come up with my race schedule for late spring and summer. I hope that will help me stay focused on all the great things ahead, even if I am missing out on some things now!

Thanks again for your words and blogs. They keep me going, I promise my sarcasm and whit and love are here to stay! And if you have any suggestions, please feel free to pass them on!

Don't forget, I am spreading the love right now with the CamBand giveaway! Today is the last day to enter! You have until 9pm PST! Clickity HERE to enter away!