And It All Falls Apart

I hit 35 years old and my body falls apart.  Back pain hits (or right butt pain, take your pick).  Running is excruciatingly painful.  Which means marathon training is on hold.  And frustration is all I'm left with. 

I just can't catch a break with my training.  Bronchitis hit a week in and hung around for 6 weeks.  In spite of that, my marathon training kept going.  My top training run was 16 miles in very humid Michigan weather.  It ended with sopping clothing that I literally wrung the sweat out of, but overall it went well.  And I was actually feeling healthy for a couple of days until it all went downhill with an attempt at a jet-lagged 17 mile long run, right off the plane.  Matt had to come pick me up (at mile 3, I was hurting; at mile 10, I was over it; at mile 15, I stopped). 

It all stems back to not having physical therapy post-femur break.  I thought my own regimen of hitting the gym for 6 months and going back to running and riding bike right off of crutches would do the trick.  Think again.  Phenominal PT Jeff, laughed at me (in a nice way) as he tested my very weak right glute status last Thursday.  Yep, I couldn't produce any resistance to his strength testing.  So, I have apparently managed to overstress my Piriformis muscle, causing a spasm, and something like sciatic pain.  Thursday, I saw the pelvic physical therapist in our department, the chiropractor, had an hour long massage, and had a session with PT Jeff.  So far all is for naught.  I'm still not back to running (I tried this morning and limped home after a couple of tenths of a mile).

So cross your fingers for me, say a few prayers, and send good thoughts my way.  I only have 8 weeks before go time!