Back Pain. AGH

So, I'm having some troubles at the gym, & I'm going to work on figuring them out, starting tomorrow.

The last couple times I've tried to run or do the elliptical at the gym, my back has started killing me.  My back has been fine when running IRL. 

There has also been a shoe switch.  Shoes that were fine for running IRL are actually shot to hell & I shouldn't be wearing them.  Newer shoes w/only 100 or so miles on them are the pain ones at the gym.  Tomorrow, I will go to the park & run in the newer shoes to see if back pain follows. 

gym

Tuesday night I was planning on going to the gym, but then I was soooooo tired.  I even went ahead and drank a little, because I had decided to stay home.  But then the stupid Biggest Loser started again and I knew I needed to go, so I packed up my stuff and trudged off at 10pm. 

I need to add another minute or two to my biking time, because I keep ending up at 9.6 or 9.58 miles when I'm done with my 40 minutes (+cool down) and that's really annoying.  My right leg was hurting a bit, and I was glad to be done, so I didn't push through to the 10 miles.  I started out doing random hills, but I just wasn't feeling it.  So, I did hills for about 20 minutes, then went to a flat level 5. 

After? Some abs, hip adductors & abductors, a little stretching, then I went in the hot tub.  It was lovely- empty, clean, and hot.  I floated around by myself for a while, then I played in the pool for a few minutes, which was glorious. 

I had taken my stuff to do laps, but I didn't feel like it.  So I just floated with my hair around me, a did 2 laps half-heartedly for fun.  It was great. 

An update

I actually feel like I've had a little running success, so I figured I should write it here a little bit.
I've run twice in this new year, and it was good. As I said before, I'm not pushing myself, I'm not doing lots of miles, and I'm not registering for races.  Oh, but all of these things are hard, I tell you.  Especially when I do well on a run- I want to push next time.  But I shan't.  I see races and they look like so much fun!!! But I won't.  Maybe towards the end of the year, but not yet. Part of me really wants to enter the lottery to get into Nike, but I don't have the money anyway, so that answers that.  And I don't want to push.

Today and Saturday, I just ran for a half hour, and both times I ran for 18 minutes out of the 30.  I did 3 minutes of running & 2 walking, which is pretty good.  I'm going fairly slow, but it's working.  I had a dream 2 nights in a row that by just doing that barely running thing, I could go and go and go.  So I'm trying to chill. Just chill. My calves hurt a bit, but they get over it.

I've gone down to to soccer fields where I like to take the dog, and I'm really enjoying it.  It's a place where both the dog & I can safely run in the evening. I go on the creek trail a little bit, and then I circle the parking lots.  When I'm done, I throw his ball for a bit while I stretch & do push-ups.  It works & I like it.  Tonight, I had a stray minute to run, so I ran all out for that minute. I was glad when it was done, but glad that I did it. 

Then the dog ran off, like an idiot, so I actually ran a bit more.  It's good.

I don't know my distance- probably at least 2 miles- but I'm not even going to start checking for a while. I'm taking baby steps.  I'm trying to get stronger.  I'm enjoying myself.  I'll get better at the short runs for a bit, then maybe set a distance goal or up the time.  We'll see. 

Tomorrow? I'll head to the gym, hoping there aren't big crowds.  I plan on either swimming or biking. Or both. I hatey hate hate swimming, but I should practice once in a while. Heck, when I was training for the tri, I did all 3 when I went to the gym, in the order of the tri. 

I have a good outlook and I am determined to keep it.  I don't care what my friends on twitter are doing. I'm not them.  I will keep my brain focused on me and my own race.