By doing 5 instead of 4....

RUN 5 miles in just a few seconds under 50 minutes

No bike commute today, had to drive to therapy.

The plan called for 4 miles but I ended up doing 5. The goal is 25 miles midweek, so I do 13 tomorrow and 7 Thursday to hit that number. I've checked the math on that a few times. In fact, I just pulled out my calculator again to be sure :) Now watch I'll do 13+ tomorrow. Because.

My right shoulder blade/scapula and upper mid back were pained today. I'd like to think I'm seeing improvement, but I'm not sure. The flexibility I had just 10 or do says ago seems again limited. I've been hurting (hurt, discomfort, depends on what level of denial I'm exhibiting at the moment) since last Tuesday's therapy, maybe more accurately since last Wednesday's long run. Is it another injury? Therapy pains? Soreness due to the strength training and manipulations or kinesio tape? So hard to say.

Today's therapy manipulation was short. It was uncomfortable to lie on my belly due to the right-lower rib 'discomfort'. On my back, she manipulated what felt like a rod or rock in my back. When asked, she said it was a tight muscle. It felt solid! And I confirmed the 'missing' muscle I mentioned in a recent post. What ever it was that began with an 'i', I had guessed it right.

I did my on-hands-and-knees twists this time with a 2# weight, moved up from a 1# and unweighted. Those definitely improved over time. New strength moves were the T, Y, W, and I: on the belly holding arms in a position, thumbs up, thoracic region up. When I did these last week I had trouble keeping my right shoulder up as high as the left. Today that wasn't mentioned. And I confess I forgot to do these over the weekend! Honestly. Forgot!

So where am I with this? Not feeling great. Still want to rest the upper body a lot and lean or slouch. I'm wondering how this last long weekend of running will go -- pained, shortened, just fine? Am I re-injured?

When I'm really honest with myself, I know that I've lost so much strength and flexibility due to this injury over the past months. That's hard to swallow.