… has been thrown into my plans.
But just so that you don’t get too bored too fast by too many words, here’s another mini Tale of Expansion from my coworker Nitza, who had the honor of experiencing an authentic homemade Ethiopian feast at a friend’s home a couple weeks ago.
OK, it’s not so much a tale as a photograph, but I wanted to share because Nitza has been showing me this photo for a week, and it has made me drool every time. Ethiopian food is such an adventure.
So, back to the wrench. Kate and I did our 10 miles on pretty much the same route I did last weekend, through Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, over the Brooklyn Bridge, and back. Stats: 1 hour and 49 minutes, 916 calories, average heart rate 152, max 173.
Now the bad news. I have had some slight inner thigh muscular discomfort for a couple of weeks. I figured it was probably some minor tug or tension or something due to the increase in running, and I’ve been focusing more on stretching and yoga this past week to make sure that nothing gets too out of whack. I started the run really slowly and gently today to give my body time to warm up, and it worked. Discomfort seemed a thing of the past by mile 3.
In mile 7, however, the muscle pain flared up again! I kept going because it was manageable, I wasn’t feeling fatigued, and I had a lot of things on my to-do list that I wanted to get home for! This may have been a bad idea. When I got home, I immediately did the 20-minute Yoga for Runners #1 from yogadownload.com because I felt in serious need of stretching and injury-prevention. After yoga and a shower, I was finding walking through the apartment to be an abnormally painful and arduous endeavor. I tried to bend down to get something in the fridge, and I couldn’t. My analysis is that I may have pulled or even sprained my right groin muscle somehow. I know — very cool, right? This could be a disaster.
I tried to carry on as normal and sat on an ice pack while I ate my muesli brunch.
The muesli consisted of 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats, 1/4 cup unsweetened soymilk, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, and about two tbsp chopped dried fruit (berries, apricots, prunes, and raisins) from Newman’s Own Organics (yet another thing I had no idea that Newman’s made before yesterday). I let that mix sit for an hour during yoga and shower, and then I ate it on top of a cup of my tropical fruit salad and topped with some trail mix:
And the pain persisted. I thought of the haircut, the laundry, the cleaning … everything I was finally going to do this weekend since I don’t have a ton of homework for once. But I couldn’t move!
I got up briefly from my ice pack around 4 to heat up linner. Here it is between the petals of the gorgeous roses Myrna gave me yesterday at work:
I had some of Myrna’s chicken lasagna topped with homemade parmesan:
And the rest of the Granny Smith apple slices from my work meeting on Wednesday with cinnamon and homemade almond-cashew butter:
And then I hobbled to my room and napped for four hours because there was nothing else to do. I woke up a little after 8, got a new ice pack, took 3 ibuprofen, and called my mom and cried for an hour. I’m thinking I may need to go to the emergency room tomorrow? I’ve never had an exercise-induced injury before … and especially not a sprained groin which seems like the most awkward-possible location of a muscle sprain ever. Do you have any advice for me?
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things look less bleak in the morning. I don’t know what I’m going to do about this!
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 
HEY have u read angela’s blog- oh she glows?? I ‘m pretty sure she had THIS exact injury, aka groin-al, crotch, inner thigh pulled muscle! Maybe check her blog posts and e-mail her, b/c she went to a special doc and got some scan or something! YIKES i hope you’re okay! In happier news, i looove ethiopian food so so much!! I had with a bunch of college friends a couple months ago- it was sooo fun and i didn’t even know WHAT i was eating but i just scooped it all up, so good i want to go back!! AND i came home with TONS of leftovers just yo style 😀
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ah I’m sorry about all the pain!! and yes, check out angela’s blog or definitely go see a doctor!! get it checked out soon, the sooner the better! your breakfast looks GOOD! always!
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I hope you feel better. I wouldn’t put off getting it checked out though as it prolongs it healing.
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I hope you are feeling better this new morning! Your muesli looks delicious btw…
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Looove Ethiopian food.
Oh no!! 😦 Would you be able to see a physical therapist??
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Ethiopian food looks interesting!
sorry to hear that you’re having pains … hope it’s nothing serious and you feel better soon! 🙂
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Never commented before (*love* your blog), but it was too coincidental….I’m recovering from this injury. I’m not training for anything but have really upped my mileage lately and then randomly, a pulled groin. (Hurts more than anything to start putting weight on and taking weight off that foot, right?) I had to stop running completely for a week and a half, and I’ve been slowly adding it back (it’s been 2 wks now). Definitely see a dr is you can, but otherwise:
-stop running for 8-10 days. (And seriously stop. I tried to do a little too early and made it a lot worse) Do other kinds or exercise and consider it cross-training (I’ve been fine with walking, elliptical, biking/spinning, yoga and pilates)
-stretching…down dog and a butterfly stretch pushing down on my knees w/ my elbows has worked
-ice packs will remian your best friend
And
-smack anyone who laughs at you for pulling your groin. Such an unattractive sounding injury name, right?
Yikes!! So sorry for the massive comment! Good luck!!
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Yeah, I remember Angela at Oh She Glows talking about a groin injury. You may want to drop her a line. That sucks big time!!! I think going to the doctor is a good idea, if it is something serious, you should know now in case it gets any worse and takes longer to heal. I hope it’s not though and goes away soon!!!
p.s. You totally have me hankering for some muesli now 🙂
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Sorry to hear about the injury, hope you figure everything out soon. I’ve never dealt with a pulled groin before, but I would say definitely rest and stretch and take some time off long runs.
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Ohmygosh, I hope you feel better in the morning! I’ve had lots of running injuries over the last few years (and I am running 3miles as opposed to your rockstar runs) and I know how frustrating it is! Whatever happens today good luck!
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I’m so sorry about your injury – DEFINITELY get it checked out asap and let us know what the prognosis is!! I’m glad you have a variety of exercise besides running in your rotation – I’m sure you’ll be able to stay active through your recovery. Good luck!!
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ah! dont die!
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Get it checked out and take it easy!!!
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mm m cashew butter is something i need to try now with apples and cinnamon…sounds so good.
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oh no! I hope you get some professional medical advice on this muscle situation 😦
Those flowers look beautiful! And I LOVE Ethiopian food, I know an incredibly cheap and delicious restaurant around Union, we should go 🙂
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That happened to me like 5 years ago, one day I woke up and could barely walk. I paniced. It took a few weeks of hobbling and then it went away. I probably should have seen a doctor.
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Oh, no!! 😦
Your injury sounds similar to one Angela over at Oh She Glows just went through! You should wander over to her blog to see what she did for hers!
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Oh, no! Please go to the doctor — you don’t want to ignore physical pain and risk letting a simple injury devolve into something more serious. Hopefully the doc will say you need nothing but rest and time, but better to err on the side of caution (and at least that co-pay will have bought you some peace of mind!)
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Oh no. I have been working myself on stopping when something is bothering me so it doesn’t get worse (I have knee and shoulder inuries). I would take it easy for a few days if I were you, and if it doesn’t feel better, go see a doctor. I have an ortho I can give you the name of.
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Oh So sorry to hear about your problem! I hope you feel better soon and that its nothing serious. Take it easy!!
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oh no, that doesn’t sound like fun
get it checked out! that’s the best advice i can give, that way you know the best way to heal the right way! pt helps alot, too!
ps- ethiopian rocks 🙂
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Sweet Sarah,
I am so so sorry, and I’ve totally been there…twice. When training for my first marathon, I had a stress fracture in my pubic bone (nice, huh?). I didn’t realize I had it despite the sharp pains that would occasionally shoot from my butt down my leg. I made it through an 18 mile run feeling it every so often but just ran through the pain. 2 days later, I set out for an easy 8 miler, and my groin felt tight from the very beginning. At about mile 6, I HAD to start walking. By the time I got home, I was limping and could barely lift my leg to get out of my running tights. The groin only took about 3 – 4 weeks to heal, but the stress fracture side-lined me for about 4 months! My advice – ice now as there is probably inflammation, and then if you can afford it, find yourself a GOOD massage therapist, one who specializes in deep tissue & neuromuscular therapy. I went to 2 different orthopedic doctors and did physical therapy. Massage is the only thing that truly helped me. In fact, I was so impressed with my therapist that I quit my full-time job in non-profit event planning and started massage therapy school a month later.
It sucks, but no more tears, okay? If it’s just a pulled muscle, you’ll heal in a few weeks. The pain sounds pretty severe, and going to a doctor sounds like a good idea. I like to know exactly what is going on with my body and need definitive answers.
Pool running IS great when you have this type of injury. Definitely a good way to keep up your cardiovascular fitness, but I would stay away from any cross-training that irritates the injured muscle.
Please email me if you need anything. Sending healing thoughts your way my friend.
P.S. – I love Injera bread with all my heart, and I love your new banner. 🙂
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I wish I had some advice for you but I don’t. I just hope the pain gets better!!! I would say go see a doctor if the pain persists though.
Thanks for the super sweet comment you left me tonight, it definitely made me smile, and sounds like you need a hug too!!
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