Rehabbing the hip

I set myself a goal to run a 100 miles in February. It might seem like a lot but it's completely within the realm of possibility for an amateur runner such as myself. Well, it did until I ignored all I knew about the importance of post run stretching and gave myself a weird hip pain. I'm not sure what's going on but it feels pretty tight and the pain actually caused me to WALK on a downhill segment during my attempt at a long run on Saturday. I never walk on the downhill portions.  I firmly believe in taking advantage of gravity to help me out. Anyhow, my long run had to be cut short to 6.61 miles. Normally, when a long run falls to incompleteness, I try to make up the miles the following day. However, this time it seemed more important to cut my hip some slack. So instead I went for a couple of 3 mile hikes the following two days. At least the weather was gorgeous. I've gotten a little tired of running in the rain. 

Speaking of which, the rain came back today. I hemmed and hawed about running in the rain again but I got it done. I did my 3.18 mile loop in 32:14. It was only a light sprinkle but it was enough to make me focus my concentration on my footing. It gets pretty slippery on the sidewalks and roads in these light drizzles. 

Anyhow, to date, I've run 53.26 miles this February. If I meet my 100 mile goal, I'm buying an exercise arm band for my iPod Nano as a reward. I think I can do it. I think I can I think I can I think I can!