My Next Book: A few paragraphs

Here is another sneak peek from my current writing project. This book has a different focus than my previous works. It’s coming together and on schedule to be released shortly after the beginning of 2015, just in time to get everyone excited about the racing season – OR NOT if that isn’t your thing.

 

Time to take a rest

This excerpt is from the Back Spasm Lesson ...

On one sunny summer morning I was out for an easy three mile run.  The word easy is relative here.  I always say, “If running were easy it would be called walking.”  I call this one easy because I was not using a watch to keep track of my pace.  It wasn’t a training run in preparation for a race.  It was just a run. 
 
Things were going along nicely when about a mile and a half into the run I felt a small twinge in my lower back.  “That was weird,” I thought.  I kept running.  A few yards later I felt another twinge – and then another. The third twinge stopped me short. It was more like someone was grabbing part of my back and twisting it.  I slowed to a walk and attempted to take deep breaths.  With every breath, the spasm grew stronger.  I told myself that I could walk it out for a minute and then try to run again.  I should have stopped running when I felt the first twinge. The spasms persisted even as I slowed my walking pace.  I could not get a deep breath, nor did walking ease the discomfort.  Discouraged, I had to slowly stroll home.

I treated the condition for several days before I was confident that I could try to run without aggravating the problem.  Ibuprofen, stretching, sports creams, warm baths, and rest were constant companions while I recovered.  I don’t know what caused the spasm and fortunately it hasn’t recurred, but I do know that the only way to get rid of it was to stop running for a time.

What did I learn from the Back Spasm Lesson?

There are times when the behavior that is causing yourself or others sorrow should be stopped at the first sign of recognition.  Unfortunately, it is easy to reason away the danger or severity of the pain ...

You can read the rest of this lesson in The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny, due for release in January 2015.  Order it now at an introductory price in my Etsy shop.

Happy Running!

Everybody needs one of these!

Why didn’t I know about that!

This expression often comes out of my mouth when I discover that someone else has a piece of information that would make my life better in some fashion and I feel cheated that I had not known about it sooner.  Such was the case when I recently visited friends/relatives and my friend was carrying what looked like a large hook for a hanging pot.  I paid little attention to it until a noticed she had it slung over her shoulder while sitting on the sofa watching TV.  Now I was curious.

TheraCane

“What IS that?” I asked.

Her hubby chimed in, “It’s a TheraCane.”

“A what?”

“A TheraCane … for massaging your back.”

I finally understand the Amazon smile. 
I was SO HAPPY to get this box!

I watched as she held one end of the cane and worked a knob on the other into the knotted muscles in her back. I have a pretty good massager of my own (Hubby), but his hand tires quickly and he can’t always find the right spot between my shoulders, so when she offered, I jumped at the chance to give it a try. Incredible!  I shopped Amazon and bought one of my own.  I really hate to deny Hubby the chance to serve, but it is easier to find the knot than to explain to another where it is AND I get to control the pressure. My TheraCane has become a permanent fixture in my living room this week.  I highly recommend getting one of your own.  If it doesn’t work for you, you can always use it to hold a hanging pot!

P.S.  Runners:  The shorter knobs work great for massaging arches!


Happy Running!

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