Update...

I haven't posted much since Saturday because I've been in a pretty crappy mood for a variety of reasons. I know there is a hormonal element to the moodiness this week, but there are still very real stressors that I am dealing with. And, when my primary support system (K) is on the fritz, then things get even harder for me to deal with.

After the abbreviated painful run on Sunday, I wasn't in the best of moods. But, we went to the Rogue Halloween festivities to meet friends and support a good cause. Apparently they did too good a job transforming the Annex into a Haunted House and traumatized a few children in the process. If I was still in private practice, I could have started handing out business cards to the parents as the kids came out of the Haunted House! :)

We went to dinner at Homeslice with Holly and Chris afterwards. I always enjoy spending time with Holly, so this was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Yesterday was another frustrating and stressful day at work. Coupled with the bad weekend runs, I wasn't in the best mood when I went to the doc for ART yesterday. I started out using the TP equipment as usual while the doc finished up with another patient. While I was doing that, an "assistant" came over to check on me and see how things were going - um, not good. Then, I felt like he started to overstep his bounds by asking me a ton of questions to get the lowdown on my injury and running history, etc. Um, I've been through all this already. I really didn't appreciate him butting in offering advice when (a) I already knew much of what he was telling me, and (b) my doc knows my treatment and what we've been working on. He was trying to get me to do some excercise for my glutes - hello, the problem is my lower legs not my glutes, buddy. I didn't buy into it and refused to do it. I guess you could say I was being a difficult patient yesterday. My doc was eyeing us the whole time that the other guy was talking to me - like what the heck is he doing with my patient? So, when my doc finally came over to rescue me, he was just as disappointed and frustrated as I was about the reemergence of the pain over the weekend. I explained about the shoe issues (new style of neutral shoes on Saturday and old worn-out Mizuno's on Sunday). Same treatment regimen - ART followed by anodyne on both legs. Next session is on Thursday.

Hopeful, I went for a short run when I got home from the doctor yesterday. I ran the 3.5 mile Congress loop from the house. I gave the new Saucony's another shot, but I don't think they are the miracle shoe that I am hoping for. I had to stop and stretch about a mile in - K happened to come running by shortly after I stopped. I continued on and stopped to stretch 1 or 2 more times after that. The pain was mild to moderate, and it seemed to get better toward the end of the run again (similar to Saturday's run). I'm eager for my Wave Creations to come in at BettySport - they will be the new version (VIII), which I haven't run in yet. At some point, I'd rather dance with the devil I know, I guess.

I didn't run tonight. I figured I'd take the day off and try again tomorrow with fresh legs. If it's pain-free, then there is a half-marathon in Dallas that we may go up for this weekend. Stay tuned.

I finally went back to get my BP checked today. Still significantly higher than it was a year ago, but slightly less than when I originally had it checked last month. I'm going to go back in to have it checked again either Thursday or Friday - if it's comparable to today, then I will be able to continue taking the pill. I have mixed feelings about that.

I wanted comfort food for dinner tonight, so we went to Threadgill's. Mac and cheese, yum. I finally broke down and opened the Halloween candy that has been staring at us for weeks now. I'm proud that I held out for this long! It's chocolate after all!