We’re winding down on Week 9 and I’m still recovering. I’ve been trying to keep myself active with going to the gym, but I really do miss my runs. This morning I went to the track with a friend and did a jog/walk for 3.25 miles. IT WAS FANTASTIC and I felt great! Unfortunately, my calf is still sore, so my doctor has ordered an MRI.

I’ve been in freaked out panic mode all week as I keep looking where I’m supposed to be in my training. I have a 20-mile race in 10 days. TEN DAYS!!!!! I reached out to my coach who just a few minutes ago talked me down from the rafters. Everything WILL be okay. I’m still a little ahead of the game for MCM and I finally came to be at peace that it will be okay to miss the 20-miler. Besides a great time with my peeps, I won’t be missing much. I did it last year and the trail was actually a little boring. (who am I kidding…I so want to do it!)

One of the things that I haven’t been doing this training season is keeping a regular sports massage schedule. My muscles are always tight and my fascia is so adhered that it’s ridiculous. I was unable to get on my Massage Therapist’s schedule, so I just put off finding another MT until now.

ENTER THE BUTT MASSAGE

Today I tried a new MT. She’s fairly new and I found her on one of those Groupon deals. Ya’ll know it’s a hit or miss with the Groupons. Well, the MT was really nice and the place itself left something to be desired, but I wasn’t there for the ambiance, I was there for torture. When she asked about how much pressure I like, I said, “Dig in. I feel no pain.” She said she’d like to concentrate on the glutes since I was a runner and I said go for it. Ummm…BIG MISTAKE! BIG BIG MISTAKE! That woman DUG the *F* in!  My toes were curled and my butt cheeks doing their own thing trying to get away from her heavy hand and when she asked how I was doing, I eeked out a “fine!” She massaged, kneaded, and elbowed and then I had that feeling. The raw broccoli I had earlier in the day were making it’s way in gas form. I cannot let this happen! The room is too small and her face is practically in my butt as she’s elbowing me. After the longest 5 minutes of my life fighting it…it happened. Pffft. To make things worse, just two seconds later she decided to lift the sheet. <sigh>

What do you do? My face is smashed into the face pillow that reminds me of those padded toilet seats so I don’t have to make eye contact with her. My little a-hem was pretty quiet, and frankly…I couldn’t smell broccoli or anything that resembled it from my end. What if she didn’t notice? If I said “excuse me?” and she’d reply “for what?” do I say “I just farted?” Or, do I just ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen and do my best not to look her in the eye when I leave?

I chose to ignore it. And when I left, I added an extra $5 to the tip I was planning on giving her. Yep…a $5 fart.

Next run…who knows! Tomorrow, back on the recumbent bike or elliptical.