But first, this week has been quite a big running week for me, the most I've run since the NYC Marathon. I ended up doing a longish run on Saturday with Mikey B. He had originally planned on doing a 12-miler, and I wanted to do 10, so we compromised at 11. Matt also joined us on the first loop, which initially made me a little nervous since I didn't want to push too hard on my first longish run. But in the end, I think we ran at a good, comfortable pace, and I didn't feel like I overdid it. I barely even noticed any ankle problem at all. My butt and hamstring, on the other hand, did have some noticeable discomfort towards the end of the run, but overall, I finished the run with a good feeling.
I felt so good, in fact, that I ran five miles the next day. I'll be the first to admit that this probably was not the brightest idea. It was so hard to resist, though. More than 65 Front Runners had signed up to run the special fun run sponsored by the Under Armour, which has a new pop-up store on 57th and 5th. If we showed up, we got a free technical Under Armour / FRNY jersey. And I'm a sucker for swag.
Well, it might have been a combination of the 11-miler the day before, and my late night on Saturday, but I immediately settled in towards the back of the pack. Even then, it seemed like an ordeal to even finish the loop, which Dane thought was at a 10-minute pace. Anthony and I thought it was closer to 9, but either way, it was not speedy. I was so happy to be done.
And so I spent the next two days paying for this run, as I limped around the city, feeling the pain of my hamstring and butt area. (I've discovered a newer region where I feel the strain, but I feel like I can't reveal it in too much detail, both because it will be overly graphic and because people will make it the "butt" of their jokes). Because of this, I've decided now that I won't do another run the day after a long run, at last for the next several weeks.
Monday evening I went to a spinning workout that the newly formed FRNY Multisport arm is running (led by Rachel C.). The plan is to have spinning and swimming workouts alternating every Monday at the Long Island City YMCA. I'm really happy the club is doing these workouts, particularly since it gives me something else to do while I should be keeping my running to a low level. Also, I guess I should learn how to bike and swim since I'm signed up now for at least two kinda-scary triathlons this year (Metroman and the Mighty Man Half Iron). Between these workouts on Mondays, the Tritons swim clinics on Tuesday and Thursday (which I hope to start next week), and Yoga to the People, I think I can manage running just two or three times a week without going crazy.
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So today I went back to Dr. Babiy to discuss my MRI results. First off, I admitted to her that I've been running (although I didn't exactly say how much). She said I shouldn't be running, and she also had that "I knew you would do it anyway" look on her face.
After taking a look at my slides and the MRI report, Dr. Babiy concluded that my two herniated disks were small and not likely to be the cause of my butt pain. She believed that the pain was "localized" (ie, did not originate from the spine), and that it was likely a muscle/tendon strain or tear, which is pretty much what she thought all along. She told me that I should get "aggressive" with my PT on my hamstring and butt. If it didn't get better in 3 more weeks, I should return to get localized imaging on the area.
I pressed her on whether it could be a stress fracture, and she said she didn't think so. She said that if it was a stress fracture, I would feel the pain while running or putting pressure on it. Instead, I can stand on one leg, run, and jump up and down without any pain--it's only after running and sitting down that really bothers me. Still, she said if I wanted I could get a butt x-ray just to be safe. Her reasoning seemed pretty sound, and I already got a butt x-ray when I was seeing Dr. Metzl, so I'm in no rush to get another. But still, I may go again next week if I have nothing better to do.
She ended the session by saying that I shouldn't run for three more weeks, but that I am free to do non-impact activities like biking, swimming, elliptical, and yoga. I think I will keep taking it easy the next three weeks, BUT Boston is less than 14 weeks away, and I promised Mikey B another longish run this weekend...
* * *
Mike Terry got John some sushi supplies for Christmas, and I was able to get them to throw a sushi-making party for some of the runners this past weekend. I was so excited for this, as (1) I love sushi, (2) I love audience-participatory dinner parties (e.g., hot pot and dumpling fests), and (3) one of my two food-related New Year's resolutions this year is to eat more omega-3 fatty fish, which includes both tuna and salmon. (My other food-related resolution, to eat fewer refined grains and more whole grains, does not fare so well in a sushi fest).
Mike and John did most of the heavy lifting--I did most of the heavy eating, haha. We had so many tasty things to fill the sushi with. Shrimp, sauteed shiitake mushrooms and sauteed spinach, an omelet made with mirin and dashi, cucumbers, super creamy ripe avocados, and tuna and salmon. Here are the boys at work:
Our biggest surprise discovery of the night came when we wanted to make spicy salmon and tuna rolls, but realized that we didn't have (or know how to make) the spicy sauce that makes it so delicious. So we improvised with mayo and sriracha ("Cock") sauce. OMG, it was soooooo perfect!!! Better than anything I've had in a restaurant. So creamy, tangy, spicy and delicious! I'm still thinking about how good it was now.
Here are some more pics from the night:
Eventually, I decided it was time for me to take a crack at it. My parents had a sushi mat when I was growing up, but it was one of those things that was always sitting in the back of the drawer that no one knew how to use properly. Besides, it had been about 20 years or so since I last touched it. My first attempt at real sushi was a spicy tuna avocado roll. It tasted good, which I guess is the most important thing, but it definitely wasn't much to look at. Somehow my fillings were all off-center, and my cutting job was atrocious.
My next attempt was slightly more successful--a spicy salmon cucumber roll. I miscounted when cutting, though, and made only six pieces instead of eight, so each piece was a mouthful. I didn't mind, though--they were tasty!
The only unsuccessful dish of the night was one of my two side dishes. The first one, a tofu salad, people liked (at least those people who ate tofu). I wish I took a picture, but it's really easy to make. I just took two one-pound blocks of tofu which I diced, poured some soy sauce and sesame oil on top, and sprinkled with loads of chopped scallions, red pepper flakes, fried shallots, sesame seeds and bonito flakes.
The other dish, I had a feeling I'd be the only one eating--my spicy mini anchovies. I just took a bag of dried anchovies (about two cups, available in any store in Chinatown), and sauteed it with some garlic and ginger, red pepper flakes, and fermented black beans. My dad would always make sure there was a ready supply of these when I was growing up, as they provide a fun salty/spicy/fishiness to any meal. They weren't so popular with the crowd that night though. I suppose they're an acquired taste...
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No picture of the Under Armour jersey??
ReplyDeleteYOU GO GIRL!
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