PT Week 5: PT is Like Dieting

By | February 9, 2020

I’ve come to the realization that PT is like a diet. You may lose 5 lbs or have the sore muscle stop hurting, but there’s lots of long term adjustments. I don’t say that to knock PT. I love my PT, but one of the changes in PT as an adult is I realize it’s a lifelong thing. A good PT (which Greg absolutely is) teaches that these are long time changes. I am determined to keep the exercises up, and graduate with a better running form and less propensity for frustrating injuries.

Speaking of graduating, I’m actually not going to PT this coming week due to my schedule and that of my PT, but I feel confident that I can do the exercises and am hoping the week “off” will tell us whether I’m close to graduating or not. I’ve packed a set of my bands and have Deborah’s wonderful post as my “to-do” list around sightseeing and running in Bermuda. I have not packed anything but bands and the sunscreen I just bought. Oops. This week was a wonderful kind of crazy, which is also why I got nowhere near done with my race recaps for last weekend. Maybe time to add in the Manhattan 7.

I can safely say I’m not running the NYC Marathon in 2020. It was tempting for half a second. I have guaranteed entry via 9+1 and the idea of running the 50th intrigued me — but I don’t feel it in my heart and marathon training was hard enough when I was excited for my first. This was confirmed when I spent Wednesday at the NYRR Charity Managers Forum. Marathon mania was all around and I love their anniversary campaign, but I’m content to spectate it and help “my” runners with their marathon journey.

Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim:

Mickey, sporting MIckey. What, you didn’t sport a grunge Care Bear look at 20?

 

  • never miss a Monday: surprisingly after two days running five+ miles apiece I wasn’t too sore. The knee was tender, but no worse than any other morning. After PT on the other hand? It’s unnerving to watch the quad shake as it works. And it worked. Split Squats. Banded semi circles. Stork. Balance Board. Step ups on a Bosu. OUCH. But definitely hurts so good. Today would have been Dad’s 81st birthday. Like too many, gone way too young. I had fun chasing my step goal home in the form of finding Dots, his favorite candy. Miss you, Dad.
  • Tuesday: ridiculously warm for February so I headed into the Park after work for our “office run group” route. I didn’t have my vest with me as I hadn’t planned to run outside, so used my lighted slap bracelet to be sure I was visible. The run felt good.
  • Wednesday: I spent the day at the Harmonie Club, a fascinating space. I wasn’t there for the architecture though, but to learn the best practices for managing a team of charity runners for the marathon. I have a great job and I love what I do, but I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite projects. I expected to be out of place with my legal steno pad, but yay, the giveaway was a new notebook. The day culminated in a “group run”. Yeah, I couldn’t keep up, but I enjoyed getting to know some of the other charity managers and learn about their teams. All great causes, but the “winner” in my book was Guiding Eyes who brought two puppies under training.
  • Thursday: evening PT, which was just weird for my routine. A lot of the same exercises as Monday with Greg giving me leeway to suggest ones I wanted to work on. Side plank clamshells will never be a favorite.
  • Friday: I wanted to run commute home when it cleared, but it was a long day at the office. Great long day, but way too late to run or walk home.
  • Saturday: much needed mental health day off. Just to the gym for PT and some errands and a haircut.

Just a few thousand friends

  • Sunday: a cold, but beautiful day in Central Park and a real test for Bermuda. Between the race’s seven miles and the 1.5+ to the start, I ran nearly nine. The race itself was a run/walk due to the hills and wanting to spend it with a dear running buddy, and I felt strong. I’m not going to drop to the 10K – the cushion is such that I shouldn’t be swept. And if I am? Well that’s a great story to tell.  I’m not sure a race recap for this will happen given vacation and general busy-ness so for now I’ll just say I’d run it again, and February > original August date.

Plan for the week:

I don’t have one. Get in my PT exercises and running. Enjoy Bermuda. Finish smiling. See some caves. Take lots of pics. Life is good.

29 thoughts on “PT Week 5: PT is Like Dieting

  1. Renée

    I hope you enjoy Bermuda! I’ve never been! Is there a cut off?? I must have missed that.

    PT is like a diet and I’m failing miserably. I need some of that old self-motivation and discipline I used to have.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It’s 3.5 hours. I did just shy of 9 in a run/walk just under 2, so I think I’m OK.
      We both do. I need this vacation re-set badly. Wish yuo lived closer

      Reply
  2. Marcia

    Cannot wait to see you in Bermuda! Guess I should signup for the cave tour.
    My dad always ate what us kids thought was the “grossest” candy at the time: Black licorice.
    I runfess black licorice has grown on me. You know you are grownup when you enjoy it. Haha!

    Reply
    1. Wendy

      Ha, Marcia–I must not be grown up because ick–I don’t like black licorice!! Remember Good ‘n’ Plenty? Ewwww

      Reply
      1. cari Post author

        Team not a grown up either! Not a fan of Good n’ Plenty or really any licorice. I’ll eat red in a pinch

        Reply
    2. cari Post author

      Yes on the cave tour! Darlene and I are doing it. And someone is unofficially organizing a Hamilton field trip for Friday. So excited even though it kind of snuck up on me.
      Don’t like licorice – I’m OK not being an adult
      Family friend used to say when you stopped believing in Santa you got socks and underwear. I asked for and got socks last year

      Reply
  3. Wendy

    Congrats for graduating PT. The trick will be to keep up the exercises! Great job on your race. Anxious to hear how you do at Bermuda. Have so much fun!!! I’m so jealous!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I learned that from last time. I kept the achilles from re- flaring but didn’t fix the underlying issues. This time I think I know what I did wrong.
      Wish you could join us!

      Reply
  4. Darlene

    I hate my diet. Meaning. I’m spending money and see no results.

    You will not be swept!!

    We will have an awesome time. Can’t wait.

    Reply
      1. Darlene

        Almost. And it’s snowing again today.
        And No on black licorice. Yes on socks.

        Reply
        1. cari Post author

          No snow here. Was raining when I woke, but it has dried
          Team socks forever

          Reply
  5. kookyrunner

    I like your comparison of PT to a diet because that is exactly what it’s like!

    Hoping that you, Darlene and all the other running bloggers going down to Bermuda have an amazing time. I’m going to live vicariously through you!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I can’t believe how long it took to click, it seems so basic yet it’s not
      Wish you could join us

      Reply
  6. Kim at Running on the Fly

    Congrats on all your PT success! I love your attitude…getting swept would make for a good story 🙂 Kind of like my one (and only, thus far) DNF…it really wasn’t that bad, and it was a good lesson for me (and I hope for others, too). Have fun in Bermuda!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      It’s like my finishing last. It happened. I survived. Now it’s a good story – especially when I met the Charity Manager for that race on Wednesday and told him part of the reason they need to bring it back is so I can have a Not Last finish in it. Mostly I just want it back since it was a sunset summer evening run over the Statue of Liberty. One nice thing about this post-marathon recovery is I truly Do Not Care about pace. It’s there but other then if you asked me about it right after I stopped the watch. Couldn’t tell you. It’s a good mental break.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Deborah Brooks

    Ha so true about PT and diets. I am really trying to stick to my exercises and I am glad you are finding them useful as well. Nice job on the run today and you can do this. As you know, I was in the same situation. Just go slow and steady and walk when you need to. Have a fantastic time!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      When I was texting Darlene this morning I said I couldn’t wait to see how you’d done since you were the first of us walking wounded to go back to a Half this month. I’m so excited to run somewhere new that that excitement is drowning out the “can I finsih?” nerves. So happy for your finish today. Hope you got your massage
      I still have your Core one to read but I save all of those wonderful Readers’ Digest of PT exercises.

      Reply
  8. Coco

    I do try to integrate lessons from each round of PT — some stick more than others. I definitely think ENJOY BERMUDA should be your main goal! #jealous but also #excited to see you when you’re back!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Yes. Cannot wait for that. What a wonderful re-entry into the “real world”
      I decided I didn’t want to think about the mountain of stuff I needed to do before Bermuda, so there went the “plan” 🙂

      Reply
  9. Lisa

    Injury prevention is such a commitment! Its great that you are learning so much in PT so you can continue with your exercises long term. It sounds smart to pass on the NYC marathon this year. You need to be really invested for it to be worth it I think!

    Reply
  10. Shathiso @thegaboronerunner.com

    You’ll definitely not be swept (though yes, that would make for an awesome blog post, LOL). Can’t wait to read everything from your Bermuda Trip!! Travel safely and just enjoy the whole experience. Awesome photo of you and your dad xx

    Reply
  11. Chocolaterunsjudy

    The hardest part about PT is keeping up. Good luck using those bands in Bermuda (which is beautiful, btw, I’m totally envious). Sounds like you’re ready — running a half is always the best way to see a new place and I doubt you’ll get swept.

    Hugs about your Dad. Obviously I’ve been lucky with the longevity of my parents.

    Reply
  12. runswithpugs

    Oh, Bermuda is going to be so amazing for you! I’m excited to hear about it!

    PT can very much be all about adjustments. I feel like I am always doing PT and that can be frustrating, but I know it’s a long game and I just have to stick with it.

    Reply
  13. Debbie @ Deb Runs

    Enjoy your time in Bermuda and good luck at the race! Have fun with Darlene and Marcia! Can’t wait to read all about it!

    Also, that’s a great comparison between PT and dieting – so true with needing to stay focused going forward.

    Reply

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