Since my last post was so positive, it’s only fitting to follow it up with a negative post.

Remember how I am supposed to be on week 1 of  9-week half mary training? Yea, I’m already wayyy behind already.

I think I logged a total of 6 miles this week when I should have logged 20+. Heh heh. This is how NOT to train for a half, k?

I don’t really know what was up  at the beginning of the week, but I can tell you what happened at the end of the week…

For the past month I have been battling a stiff neck. It started a month ago and the pain runs from the base of my skull into my shoulder blade area. Although it stopped hurting after a few days, it never loosened up entirely. Well, now it’s back with a vengeance and I am beside myself with pain and frustration. It hurts to sit and drive my car—the slightest acceleration or turn causes severe pain at the base of skull! How can I even think about running a 20+ mile week?

Don’t worry, though, I did talk to someone because I was wondering who I should see: a chiropractor, a massage therapist, or an acupuncturist. She said to first try moist heat and work out the trigger points on my own. I probably am out of alignment, but because I am so tight, I’ll come right back out if I am adjusted. Fun, right? It even got to the point where I took medicine, which is so rare for me. I hate putting chemicals in my body, and low and behold, it didn’t help at all.

Good news: my abs are getting a serious workout. Anytime I want to sit up, get up, or shift the way I am lying or sitting, I have to use my stomach muscles instead of leading with my neck. Look out Jillian.

I’m trying to rest up today and hopefully I can push through 7 miles tomorrow. Wish me luck!

But in the meantime, does someone have a neck that I can borrow? Thanks.

With all that being said, I needed something in my life that wasn’t so disappointing. Diana and Ashley blogged about zucchini bread  and muffins the other day and I still had some zucchinis to use up. Since I’ve started this blog, I’ve used it for recipe experimenting—some of those recipes end up a lot like a stiff neck: not quite right, kinda painful, and hard to get rid of (enter: trash can).

Light Bulb! I remembered an old recipe that is a total hit + it uses up  my zucchini + it momentarily makes me forget about the world of pain I’m currently living in (I might be exaggerating…but only slightly).

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 ground cinnamon
• 1/4 ground nutmeg
• 1/4 ground cloves

Preheat oven to 375. Beat eggs then add applesauce, sugar and mix.  Add zucchini, cocoa and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices and mix again!

Fill greased or lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 18-22 minutes.

These babies are so good, they keep me happy while I’m an invalid. Mmmmm, so moist and flavorful! Kind of makes it ok to sit on the couch, feet propped, heating pad on my neck while my running shoes sit neglected by the door…

I’ll lace you up next week, darlings. I promise.

Today’s question: Who has a good remedy for a stiff neck? I’ve heard Tiger Balm is good, any input?

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