I slept in until 7:30 but have yet to do anything vey useful. I did play some Playstation 2 while I had my coffee and my team had a workout.

I think they should call you guys the PS generation . . . Ran another 4 miles this morning. The asthma is getting a bit better but still an issue.

before races

I like lattes. Good way to get calcium.

Suzanne likes lattes too!!!

Caffeine does have a significantly negative effect on calcium and iron uptake and metabolism. That didn't prevent this biochemistry student from chasing her morning's calcium added OJ with two cups of coffee noir.

All things in moderation and enjoy it. :D

of hearing different theories about what's up with my hip / legs

It leaves me confused and frustrated.

1. Doctor: tendonitis, lets try prednisone.
2. Athletic trainer: your glutes are really weak and that's causing it.
3. Massage therapists: (a) tight psoas muscle. (b) really tight low back, piriformis, psoas. (c) tight IT band on the opposing side causing the left hip to rise if I stand on my right leg (the sore hip).

I don't even know what to do anymore.

A few thoughts . . .

-The body will heal if allowed to.

-Diagnosis is made partly by history, exam, tests and images, partly by the experience and intuition of the health provider.

-As a patient even if confused and frustrated, being involved means following the diagnosis and advice that most seems to fit.

-Illness and injury can be an opportunity to learn about oneself, one's responses to stresses and vulnerabilties, how to prevent it all next time.

I suppose part of the multitude of answers is people getting to know me better; IE a massage therapist who has seen me a couple times now, tried a couple different things as far as what's tight/what's not, is observing new things that could be contributing.

I know this for a fact: muscles responsible for sideways movement (ab/adduction, external rotators) are weak in my body. This makes sense because I have spent all my time moving forward not sideways; symptoms are also consistent with weaknesses in those spots.

Thus some combination of strength and stretching should sort this out. And those strength exercises need to be for 'sideways' muscles.

I know that swimming does not seem to make this worse (or better). Cycling right now is a question mark.

Preventing it next time? Run outside (treadmill = less of a pushoff = glute muscles don't develop as much). Do some strength work for "accessory muscles." Get massages on a more regular basis and not just when I get hurt / go to yoga (either seems to keep me stretched out). Swim/bike more, run less. Don't take running for granted. Take more naps.

As for knowing about oneself I've had 6 years of therapy working on that and I'm quite tired of it to be honest. I know way too much about me and far too little about anyone else. (that sounds snappy. It's not meant to be; it is, however, the truth.)

Anna, I wish you were closer.

of everything I've decided to run 200 miles this week.

Starting tomorrow and ending on my birthday next week I'll be averaging almost 30 miles a day.

Let's see who the crazy one is.

No one can talk me out of it, so don't try. First run tomorrow from Eagle lake at 8am with Susannah Beck and we are running for 4 hours on the carriage roads. Come join us if you want.

To go boldly go beyond what you've done before, that's Star Trek crazy!

Once for a three week break in college me and a buddy took the train to Seattle with our bikes. Our goal was San Diego or over 100 miles a day. We made it to Santa Cruz. Wind and weather and mechanical, everything on that trek. About 500 miles short but hey, what a trip. Another week and we would have had it easy.

Good Luck.