Good morning!  It’s gray and dreary here, which I happen to LOVE! Isn’t it so nice to wake up to the sound of rain drops?

I felt a little queasy this AM from last night’s beer and pizza, and I debated going back to sleep…. but sometimes it’s just beer to get UP and GO!  I knew I needed a warm bowl of oatmeal and a big cup of coffee….

My oatmeal contained:

• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 sliced banana
• Toppings: 2 tablespoons raisins and 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

And I drank a perfect coffee with half and half and Vanilla Stevia.

Bone Scan Aborted

You might remember that after my disastrous doctor’s appointment, I was scheduled for a bone scan this AM.  I ended up canceling my appointment because I know I don’t have a stress fracture.  The only symptom I had is "leg pain," but it was so intermittent and dynamic that it couldn’t have been a stress fracture.

Since I’ve backed off running this week (three days of cross training and one 3.0-mile run from Mon – Fri), I’ve noticed a tremendous improvement not only in my knees, but also in my legs.  Between the 15K and the Half Marathon, I think my body was just beginning to cry UNCLE!  I barely rested in between my races, and I prepared for the Half in an extremely short amount of time.  I suffered from a classic over-use injury.  Honestly… I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner!

So, I’m going to continue with my Modified 10K Training Plan to get ready for the November 9 10K, and after that I may try to up my running so I’m doing 3 – 4 days of running and 2 – 3 days of cross training.

I’m actually very glad I had this injury experience because it taught me a great deal about training, which will benefit me in the long run. I want to be able to run for many years, and if that means I can’t be a 5-day a week runner, that’s OK with me!  And, now that I know I have Chondromalcia in my knees, I can continue to take steps to improve the condition of my cartilage.  I’ve been doing my isometric knee exercises and wearing my knee sleeves religiously! 🙂

Joint Care – An Amazing NEW Supplement

Future Husband brought me home an amazing new joint supplement.  It’s by Metagenics and it’s called "ChondroCare – Advanced Joint Support and Protection."  This new supplement provides the same amount of glucosamine that my old supplement (Standard Process’ "Glucosamine Synergy") contained, but it is chock full of EXTRA good stuff.

ChondroCare contains (in 1 daily dose, or six tablets):

• MSM (methylsulfonyl methane): 1000 mg
• D-Glucosamine Sulfate: 1500 mg
• Chondroitin Sulfate:  1200 mg
• Also contains: Zinc, Selenium, Copper, and Maganese

MSM (methylsulfonyl methane) supports healthy connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, and muscle.   People taking MSM may notice additional benefits such as softer skin, harder nails, and thicker hair (yayyyy!).

Glucosamine Sulfate increases the strength and flexibility of the cartilage in your joints.  It works by stimulating the production of a very important structure in your cartilage called the Glycosamine Glycans ( GAG). Your GAG acts as a nutrient base for the growth of your cartilage, thereby increase the production of your cartilage over time.

Chondroitin Sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage and provides much of its resistance to compression.  It prevents other body enzymes from degrading the building blocks of joint cartilage.

I am so excited to give this new supplement a try! I REALLY noticed a difference after I started taking glucosamine (about 6 months ago), and I’ve read a lot of research that MSM, Glucosamine Sulfate, and Chondroitin Sulfate are excellent for runners, especially when combined!  Future Husband says it takes about 3 -4 weeks to notice any improvements, so I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes!

When we launch the holistic supplement online store (TWO WEEKS!), this will be one of the products you can purchase, if you’re interested!

Plans, Plans

We have soooo much to do today! I have LOADS of wedding stuff I must get done!  Plus, Future Husband and I need to work on the holistic supplement online store.  We’ve also got to go to the gym, the grocery store, AND open up our first joint bank account! 🙂

HAVE A WONDERFUL SATURDAY! See you for lunch!