Finding new ways to workout

I had no idea how hard it would be to find things to do to stay in shape. I thought oh this will be easy. NOT! So I have resorted to water jogging. Which is funny since I am just learning to not be afraid of the water.

Tamara met me last night and we took to the pool! Me, my water belt and a kick board. Can you say I looked ridiculous. People were actually staring and laughing. I had my belt around my waist and the kick board under my chin to keep me afloat. It looked worse than it sounds and it sounds bad I know. Well I got comfortable enough to let the kick board go. It was funny though. I thought I might have to fight some old women doing water aerobics who wanted to stare and laugh.... Yes they were Tamara I don't care what you say! My good friend Jessica (my pregnant on-leave running buddy) is going to start working with me next week with swimming lessons. So hopefully in a few weeks I won't look so funny in the pool. Then when chicken of the sea starts, I will be ahead of the game!

I didn't realize it would be so hard to find other ways to stay in shape. I know what was I thinking with only one good foot. I am determined to not let this get the best of me. I have promised to stop complaining about the time frame it is taking and enjoy the rest. Like my new friend Wendy said, what is a few weeks compared to a lifetime of running! Thanks Wendy! Check out Wendy's blog through the ones I follow. She is inspiring!

I sent my membership in for TTT (Triad Triathlon Team). My goal this coming year to finish a marathon and compete in a Sprint Tri. Gives me something to focus on.

Dr. Update

I just left Dr. Bert's office. I love him but those two guys working with him today are not my friends! OK to have students but not when they are pushing and pulling on a foot that doesn't feel that great. Yesterday was a great day. My foot barely hurt at all. Then this morning I woke up and not such a good foot day. So to make matters worse Eric and Kurt got to do their almost Dr. magic on me. I told Dr. Bert to fire Eric. His bedside manner sucked. Something about asking me if that hurt one too many times while tears where welling in my eyes. Of course we are laughing the entire time! I got an A + for my pedicure and in my recovery it calls for pedicures every week until further notice!

The verdict is rest! The only way the tendons will repair is for them to stay put. I guess that is the best way I can describe it. We tried three things, an air cast (oh no that hurt really bad), a walking boot (no relief and awkward) and a good old ace bandage wrap (no relief whatsoever). So I am back to my brace and boot. No cute girl shoes yet. In the next two weeks I am to try moving my foot to the outside and all about. Strengthening is what I am told that will do. See how it feels and that will be a good indication on how it is healing. I can ride the bike (stationary) and I can swim. So I will let those two consume me until the first week of December. Then Jingle Bell Jolt(Dec 13th ?) here I come!

"Your MRI is interesting"

When the Dr. starts the conversation out like that, you don't know what to expect. I really expected good news to be honest. I had convinced myself that the pain was all in my head and nothing was really wrong. Because I got up this morning and only had twinges of pain, nothing like earlier in the week and on Sunday. I even contemplated not wearing my lovely new shoe. Maybe I will ask for a matching one next time. Being the fashion diva that I am you know. I wanted to hear him say you can at a minimum 3-5 miles at a time with the brace. That is what I wanted to hear. Not "I have only seen this happen a couple of times in my years of practice"! No fractures or torn ligaments. Two tendons are split right down the middle. Peroneus brevis and Peroneus longus (thanks to Marisa for the terminology). Treatable and will heal, I did hear that. I stopped listening when he said I may need to put you in a cast. Imagine, me, not listening.

It could be worse I know. I could of needed surgery or something crazy like that. But a cast really is not in my plans. Well none of this was in my plans. I cannot learn to swim if I have a cast on or ride my bike. Hell I don't even think I could ride a stationary bike with a cast on. Now I just can't wait until next Tuesday to see what my recovery plan looks like.

So much for my big plans of taking this stupid shoe off!

Hurry up and wait

That is what I am doing today. Waiting on the MRI results. I went to have an MRI at 7:15 a.m. Finally they took me back then when I was finished they said your Dr. will have the results tomorrow. I then quickly say "Oh no, not good. I have an appointment at 11 and I think we are expecting the results by then". Well you know how far that got me. Back of the line! Dr. Bert says he will call me as soon as the results are posted. I am guessing that will be tomorrow. What do you all think?

One funny thing did happen. I understood him to say I could ride the bike. Well here I was all excited. I had already made plans to meet a friend and ride this weekend. So I say to Dr. Bert today, at least I can ride my bike. He looks at me funny and says yeah with that boot on. I go how do I ride my bike with this boot, he then tell me, "I didn't mean your bike", I meant a stationary bike. He then said "I see I am going to have to be very specific with you"! Yes you are Dr. Bert! I don't follow rules very well. Just ask anyone who knows me.

So hopefully later today or in the morning we will know something definite! Until then, I am working on adjusting my attitude to this whole new concept of "no running"! Not coming along as good as I would like. But I will continue to try hard to work on it.

Marathon Training has come to a bitter end

Marathon training is over folks. I just left the office of Dr. Bert Fields and it is official, I am out for the season. The season of running that is. We do not know exactly as of yet, what is wrong, I have an MRI in the morning. But Dr. Fields has said those dreaded words "no running and definitely no marathon". I do not have enough time to recover from this is injury whatever it might be. If it is a ligament like he thinks it is, it will take a minimum of 6 weeks before he would want me to run on it and that does not mean 26.2 miles.

I kind of knew that this morning when I got out of bed and couldn't bear weight on it. But I needed to hear it from the professional. I think Dr. Bert felt just as bad telling me as I did hearing it. I am sick to say the least. Had this of happened in the beginning, it would be different. But I have trained hard. I have given up hours away from family, my kids teachers think I don't exist, all for nothing. Not for nothing I know. I have made new friends and gotten to know old friends better. I have ran farther than I ever thought I would be able to run. So I have accomplished something. Just not the goal I set out for.

There is next year! So for now, I will cheer my friends on from the sidelines and be proud of their accomplishments. I will just refocus on another goal for this year. For now, I am going to take some pain meds and lay down. Then I will try for refunds on all these races I won't be able to compete in!

So blogging Marathon Training 2008 has come to end. Thanks to all who have followed the madness. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as I have had a blast writing it! Funny how putting my feelings on the computer screen have made me feel alot better at times, but now is not one of them. Farewell!

I might have to rethink a marathon this year!

After a few weeks of injury it has come to be that I might have to rethink running a marathon this year.

I have done exactly what Dr. Bert told me to do and thought I really was on the mend. Then I went out to run today. 3 miles into the run I was stopped by the pain. He said it would hurt but if the pain was too bad to stop as to not further damage it. So that is what I did. We were at Salem Lake and I had planned on running one loop which is 7 miles and then seeing if I could make a second one. Yes I know that was pushing it but that was my plan. My foot had another plan.

Marisa and I have talked and I am going to stay off the foot as much as possible this week, except riding the bike and water jogging then see on Saturday the results. We will make a decision at that point. Is it the end of the world? No to those of you reading but to me yes it is. You might not think to look at me run that I have put my heart and soul into this, but I have. So the pity party started on the 4 mile walk back to the car. There is always next year........

For anyone who ever thought about joining a running group, I cannot tell you enough to go for it. You will get the training you need but more than that you gain a family. Team Evolve your the best! Thanks for all the support and encouragement that you give to everyone. It is an honor to be a part of such a wonderful team!

It feels good to run!

Since this "injury" most of you know I have either been not running or taking it easy. Last night was a hill workout, which just means we find a steep hill and run up and down it. I was afraid when I got there. Was it going to hurt me further or just what it would do. My foot did not hurt all day so that is why I was concerned. I thought oh no, is this going to be too much on my leg or what. We were to do as many as we could between 4 and 6. I took the easy out and only did 4 to not push it. Of course we warmed up and had a cool down. I walked my cool down just to not aggravate anything. Overall, I would say it was a good workout. I am feeling it today in my glutes! You would think my butt would be rock solid, NOT!

I did my 4 hill repeats with no trouble except I thought my lungs would explode. I think it is hilarious that I have run and exercised this much and within no time I feel like I just started. Oh well it will come back. I am focused on making this happen. This week I really watched my food intake (except for last night) and am going to over the next few weeks bust it out with cardio and running. Praying all along my foot is heeling.

Tomorrow me, John, Pam, John, and Chris are riding in Tour De Pig in Lexington. I am opting for the 30 mile course with Pam. I am sure the men will be men and pick the 60 miles. Have fun with that..... I need to be able to run on Sunday! Salem Lake here we come! I love running there. I am going to do one lap (7 miles) and see how I feel, if I am feeling good, yes I am going to push for a second lap, at the end of that I will see if I can run 4 more miles to get my 18 in for the week...... I need that 18 really bad. Marathon countdown is underway and I want to be ready.

So to all my praying friends keep me on your list!

Oh Yeah, I got to run!

I forgot how good it made me feel to run. Today of course I got the clearance from a good Dr. that with certain limitations I could start to run. Of course I had my running clothes in the car just praying that I got the green light.

There is something about putting on my running shorts, t-shirt and running shoes that just puts a smile on my face. I meet my group, which I have so terribly missed. They are just the greatest group of people you could ever want to meet minus some of my folks from last year (Jessica, Jill and Rod). We are given our instructions to do just a light run. No long, fast miles! Yeah that is just what Dr. Bert told me I could do. Kay and I get ready and we are OFF! Kay is still under Dr. Bert's care as well so we follow her walk/run program. 2 minutes of running and one minute of walking. There were times of twinging pain, but for the most part it felt great. The we incorporate some core work and now I am home. Ready to eat a good dinner which my daughters boyfriend is downstairs cooking and it smells good. So thanks Paul! I just hope he knows how to do dishes......

So unless something crazy and unforseen happens, I AM BACK! Oh and how good that feels. Dr. Bert says I will be able to run my marathon, my time may not be what I want but is it about time or finishing. Right now it is about finishing. This will not be the only one I run. So next time I will focus on time. Like when Tamara and I run the Nike's Womens Marathon next year.

Today is a good day

I just left Dr. Bert and I am reminded why I like him so much. OK today I love him. He is my new best friend and I don't care that I had to pay for him. He is just the absolute best! Of course I am only saying those things because I got good news.

Dr. Bert says it is a sprained/torn ligament. He also thinks I have bad ankles, but who cares if I can run. My ankles must be bad, he brought the medical student in to show them how they have space in them. Whatever that means. For the ligament I have a stabilization brace and new inserts for my shoes. I can run 5-7 miles this week at a time. If I need to walk do so, but an easy run and I should be fine. I do have alot of exercises to do but I can and will do that. If I am not feeling alot better by next week I am to return but for now I am very happy with the results of this office visit. Oh and yes I have called the other doctor who said there was nothing wrong with me. Either a phone call or a letter, which should it have been?

Now group, if you have never seen Dr. Bert he is very thorough in his exam as to your overall strength. Guess what, he says I have great core strength. He asked what I do to strengthen my core and I had to give Marisa the credit! So when we are complaining, ok I am complaining, we just need to remember how helpful it is and that is does work.

So I have started doing my happy dance, I will be back tonight! Can't wait! I am dying to run...well not dying actually but really excited to see how it goes....

A different kind of weekend

Well this is the first weekend since July that I have not had to prepare for a long run. I am not real sure what to do with all this time. I know I should be spending it with my kids doing something, but my kids are too old to want to do anything with me. Of course if I were taking them shopping they would want to go. But I can't walk around to shop. Last night John had to drop me off at the door of the resturaunt and pick me up. Then of course people stare at why are you limping like that. I just want to scream! No really I just want to run. I want my foot to stop hurting so that I can put weight on it and I want to RUN!

So this weekend, I am going to try and enjoy the break and I am going to see if my kids want to see a movie with me...

Team Evolve, I hope you have a great run tomorrow. I will be thinking of you all!

a

My Dr. is a Jack Ass

I am not sure that I can really say that on a blog, but since I didn't give you his name I think it will be ok......

I finally decided it was time to see someone when I had a hard time walking this morning. I make the appointment and all day I try to stay focused on the goal....

I go to the Dr. and of course wait to see him for no results. I get an x-ray and then wait some more. Of course he spends 2 minutes with me to tell me he thinks nothing is wrong with my foot. It is bruised he thinks. "Listen to my body"... I can bike and do the elliptical.. I knew all of that... but what I don't know is why it kills me to walk on it. That is what I paid you for. I did not take time off from work, hobble into your office for you to tell me what I already know. So should I send you a bill? Yes I am mad. Actually mad as hell.

I have made an appointment with Dr. Bert for Tuesday morning. I know he knows what he is doing! I should of known better! I always try to give this guy the benefit of the doubt..... failed me once again. Thank God he has the best PA in town!

I will not be there on Sunday. I am going to "listen to my body"!

Thanks again everyone for you support and well wishes.

Final decision

I have made the decision to see the Dr. today. I called on my way to work due to the pain when I walk on it. I am trying very hard to stay positive but boy it is hard being that I have a huge negative streak that runs through my brain! So everyone in blog land, cross your finger (only one please), pray, do something that will help the outcome be on my side!

I will let know this afternoon.

Thanks again for all the support and well wishes! It means a great deal to me to have such wonderful friends and family.

Not much to post tonight!

As you all know this has not been a productive week as far as running goes due to the ankle issue. It felt great today and I just knew I was going to run like I normally do tonight when I met my group. That is what my heart told me. My mind told me to be smarter. I never follow my heart. Yes I know none of you believe that.

Instead of pushing it, I decided early that I would walk/run with Kay. Kay suffered a stress fracture early in training. She has hung in there though. She still meets the group when she can and walks while we run and comes on Sunday to have coffee with us. All the while you know she wants to rip that brace off and take off! Good for you Kay for following Dr. Bert's orders. So we start of slowly jogging and we do good I thought. Then a twinge of pain here and there but I don't let it stop me all together until the last mile of I don't know probably 3 miles. Then the limp kicks in. Poor Kay, she even offered to come back with her car for me. I am way too prideful for that......Now that I am home and out of my shoes it is not as bad, but still painful. ICE IT! But that hurts also. I hate cold! I don't know how Dena did the ice bath. I think I would rather die....ok maybe not.

Well this just isn't turning out like I had hoped. I am going to keep my chin up and see how I am in the morning. I have promised myself if not better I was going to the dr. So stay posted, I will update you tomorrow.