My Hips Are My Weakness

No, it doesn't mean that everything I eat goes right to my hips.  Everything actually goes to my gut!  Anyway, I've gone to physical therapy a few times to help with my leg and I'm learning a lot.  I'm learning that my hamstring was injured because my hips are sadly out of shape.  Not only are they very weak muscle-wise, but it causes me to dip my pelvis and run with a jerky gait.  This made other muscles work harder, and boom!  Pain in the hamstring.  

So, I'm learning new stretches, and most importantly, how to strengthen my hip muscles.  So, no running until my hamstring heals (already feeling much better) and my hips are stronger.  Wow.  I realize now how important weights and strength training are going to be for me the rest of my life.  I am looking forward to seeing how my running differs from the past year when I am in shape again and everything is strong!  I will never train for another race again without incorporating strength training every week.  The two go hand in hand, and make the running enjoyable.  I know this, but this past year I must say I ignored what I knew and just ran with hardly any weight work at the Y.  I think I felt overwhelmed with the running, and just couldn't bring myself to do any more work out stuff than that. 

I am also learning the cruel joke that is Mother Nature:  even if you never have children, your boobs droop, you get stretch marks, and you have trouble with your hips!  Dang it!  And, if you don't use it, you definitely lose it.  Lesson learned!

On a happy note, I did manage to enjoy a bike ride/walk with C-Joy on Saturday.  We got caught in the rain the last few miles, and ended up soaked, but I enjoyed the time spent with C-Joy.  I rode my bike for about 4-5 miles, and walked the rest of the 12 mile goal.  Now we've walked in the rain, we're prepared for inclement weather at the Des Moines Half Marathon.  I'm pretty sure it will be cool, unless we get a freak heat-wave.  It's been know to happen!