Feeling old...!

Saturday 06/01/07:
When I got up this morning I noticed I had a really sore spot in my left glute as well as the area to the outer side of my left knee. On top of that, both hips were really quite sore, but my "sartorius" (thanks Shane & Beki for providing the name!) felt really good. Therefore, I really took the recommended "rest day" to the extreme! Not only did I not get out for any exercise whatsoever, but I had friends over in the afternoon and evening for a bbq and I ate and drank waaaaaaay too much! Oh well, it was all just too yummy to resist! I made my famous homemade "Summer Sangria" and had a little trouble remembering when to stop drinking it! At least its full of fruit - I told myself that went some way to balancing the alcohol! The only good thing about starting early in the afternoon is that (hopefully) it doesn't go on too late. In this case I was in bed at a decent hour and was glad, as I had to be up fairly early to get my run in. Courtney had a friend staying over and I could still hear them giggling and whispering at 10.30pm!

Sunday 07/01/06:
Had asked Mum to keep an ear out for the girls for me so I could go out for my run. Left at 7am and it was already quite sunny and warm (for Auck!) Unfortunately the hips were feeling even more stiff than yesterday. About 1km into the run, I was wondering what the hell I was doing out there... not only were my legs feeling sore and achy overall, but what I surmised was my lower back, was really uncomfortable. It wasn't until I hit a downhill section and felt it even more, that it suddenly twigged that it was not my "lower back" at all, but my glutes that had been massaged to within an inch of life! I stopped for a quick stretch and then slowed the pace when I continued, but it wasn't until about 2kms from the end of the run that I started feeling really comfortable. Of course then I didn't want to stop, but I did anyway... Discipline is a virtue!

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Easy paced run: 38mins (7kms)
Brisk walk warmup: 5mins

So the longest run in some time and a 24km week. Not bad considering I did less than this the whole of last month due to the injury. But obviously a far cry from where I want to be too!
I'm longing for a really long, comfortable and enjoyable run, but know I have to be patient and it will come.

Have spent the last 4hrs working like a trooper around the house and in the yard. Legs are feeling like they belong to a 70yr old now and a warm bath might be in order this evening. Bout to go and drop Courtney's friend home - they've been so happy playing away that when her mother rang this morning to ask what time she should pick her up, I offered to keep her for the day!