I suppose it was inevitable, that I would injure myself in some way.  I may have overcommitted to performances this month, but I feel like ordinarily I play so RARELY that I really wanted to take advantage of every opportunity.  While lifting pretty heavy weights…and then there you have it.  Boom.  Concert over, and I just barely made it through the week.  I’m taking a week off violin, and depressingly I have made the decision NOT to run the half tomorrow, because running and walking seem to exacerbate my shoulder pain.  No, I haven’t been to the doctor.  The last few times I’ve gone to the doctor for an injury from playing, they tell me to rest and ice.  Then I go back and they tell me it’s getting better and I need to keep resting, or stretch it, or do something exercises to strengthen it.  I haven’t really rested yet, so that started last night after the show.  I’ll consider it if things don’t improve in a week. 

Got the shirt, got my bib.  I got a little upset (yes, I may have cried) that I have such an awesome number and my name is on the bib…and I’m not running.  I’ll be there cheering Jen and Steve on—Melissa and I are going down super early to cheer the beginning and the end, and I’m sure that will be just as exciting as running.  I’m sure the food at the end tastes just as good, right?

I have to remind myself that I need my shoulder for my career.  If I didn’t need it as much, I’d run/walk and then deal with it afterwards, but by tomorrow my shoulder could already be healing a bit and then I’d reinjure it like I did this week.  Based on various thoughts, it seems I might have a tear in my rotator cuff.  Sounds pretty hard core, right, like something Greg Maddux would do?  Doesn’t feel it.  I kind of feel like a loser.  Hurts to play at the frog.  Last night it hurt every time.  I have an amazing ability to play through pain.  That’s not necessarily a good thing.  (Oh, and it’s not just my shoulder than hurt…just that my shoulder hurt most.)

I need to learn to run through discomfort…

We had a big crowd at the Chamber Project St Louis concert last night.  I was too stressed out to get any pictures.  One of my students, Adam, came (shout out, I know he reads my blog) and my trainer Mike came as well.  Mike was surprised by how physical violin playing was—I’m glad now he knows what it is that I do.

The Brahms was stressful.  We could have used more rehearsals.  It went okay.  I was in so much pain and so relieved when it was over.  I think we’re playing it again in two weeks.  (Don’t ask me how that fits into my rest plan, it does.  It’ll be fine, it always is.)

After the expo today, Jen and I decided some shopping was in order.

I thought this would be nice for Leslie’s wedding—it’s orange and pink! (Maybe a little short?)

Potential 80’s race outfit?  I thought the shorts might be a little short to run in (and pretty unflattering)  I also thought they might be a little short for the blog, but I’m too delighted by them to really care, and it’s important to OWN one’s thighs, right?  Most of that is muscle anyway. Plus, the shorts are pink lace!  With an elastic waist band.  You’re welcome.  I also got that dress to the right, which is actually pretty amazing.  (Also, as in I couldn’t pass up the Tainted Love shirt.  H&M is awesome.)

So I’ll be cheering tomorrow, like I said.  Today I’m trying to get more stuff done.  I’m still feeling overwhelmed, but I think once I get started next week at City Academy (taking over some teaching for about 6 weeks) and once (hopefully) my shoulder starts to feel like it’s healing I’ll be better. 

I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I?  I just feel like such a loser.  I wanted to redeem myself for this race, and it’s just not happening.  But it wouldn’t have been happening, with my training being a mess as well.  It makes me sad.  Must be April.

This race was a lot of fun last year, and I’d love even more friends to come out and run (and hopefully it’ll be less rainy.)

Oh, and it should go without saying, but if you don’t at least make a valiant attempt at a costume of sorts I probably won’t speak to you until a few weeks later.  Who’s in??

Did I ever show you these pictures?

This was my meal from Home Wine Kitchen last weekend.  I took the picture because a) I’m a blogger and b) it looked like my meal was smiling at me.  It was delicious:  Arctic Char (try saying that three times fast…or once) with broccolini (no, spell-check, I do not wish to correct that to broccoli, it is different) and olives.  I would eat it again, but probably won’t get the chance because they change their menu weekly.  The restaurant was definitely an excellent choice—good food, good service, and nice ambiance.  No, I’m not a restaurant reviewer so that’s all you get.

She would have enjoyed the fish as well.  She’s sitting on a wicker laundry basket that was a wedding gift, one of the few we’ve started using yet.  We need to do some work on the house but right now Chris is just too incredibly busy and stressed out to deal with it.  Honestly, we just need a bigger place, and we’ll be looking for one come this summer.

Today: 8 mile run at Forest Park.  It was good.  I was tired, yes, and it was hot, but the run went decently, albeit slow.  Today turned into a no-shirt day for me…I wasn’t planning on it, but it is just so much cooler to run without a shirt!  Naturally my tan lines are reappearing more quickly than I would have thought possible (rare occasion I wish I were a guy and could truly run shirtless). I’ve decided I’m glad about that because (I’ve said this before) it makes me look more hard core.  I don’t feel hard core so looking the part will have to do.   

This is my spring break.  Between now and a week from now, I will teach FIVE students.  FIVE.  Rather than five hours of students a day.  I’m looking forward to relaxing a bit, practicing a ton, and catching up on stuff around the house (taxes, cleaning??).  Then life gets pretty darned busy until June, so I’d better relax while I can.

Things I learned today that I really already knew:  You can’t treat your body like crap the night before and then run 10 miles.  It just doesn’t work that way.  We ran 6 incredibly slow, painful miles, with way too many walk breaks.  6 is better than nothing, but I’m pretty annoyed with myself.  I’m just chalking last week up to a disaster of a week for running, and tomorrow is another day.

(That’s not actually me.)

Tonight was a great success though!  Chris and I found out about a "Registry Completion Event" at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, where everything on your registry is 20% off.  We had gotten a lot of cash gifts from the wedding so we made a list of what we wanted to buy off the registry, and got EVERYTHING on it plus a little more because it ended up being cheaper than we thought.  The salespeople were very helpful, and we came home with a car full of pots and pans, knives, and towels.  Some other stuff is being shipped, for no additional cost (some things from the Beyond section that were out of stock in store.)  I know some folks had trouble buying in store from our registry at Bed, Bath, but online was easy and tonight they were just great. 

Alright.  I’m going to watch Shameless and hit the hay early tonight.  Time to start a new week off on the right foot. 

(for previous post, click here)

They finally posted my pictures from the race—nothing from the finish line (which is FINE) but plenty of me running across that darned creek.  I almost enjoyed it.  Almost.

What I like about these pictures is that I am most definitely running.  Not in a graceful, gazelle-like manner, but…most definitely running.

My calves are still sore from that darned race.

Oh, and Happy Leap Year Day!  On my way home from rehearsal last night I heard a bit on the BBC World News during which they interviewed a woman who was a “leap year baby” and only has an official birthday every four years.  I thought that sounded really neat.  My mom was born in a leap year, but on February 24…she should have waited five days…she’d be so much younger 😉