Anyone Know of a Water Running Race?

I am still officially on the DL with my foot injury. Grrr. I almost think it's worse now than it was 2 weeks ago. Storm Trooper Boot is off, but I've developed peroneal tendonitis (on the outside of the foot and up the outside of the ankle) and the heel still hurts, even after a cortisone injection. Biking is starting to bother it. I walk with a limp. I have several experts "guessing" as to why I have recurring problems on the left side...one says it is due to a former car accident injury (neck damage)...one says there is possibly a leg length discrepancy...then there are the naysayers who say it's my body's way of saying I shouldn't run. Huh? It hurt like hell to have my first baby come out, too--that didn't mean I was quitting and never having more. People say some really dumb things sometimes. No one seems to have any solutions thus far. Anyone ever try accupuncture? That's about where I am right now--willing to go non-traditional.

In the meantime I am able to do some deep water running. I can swim laps, too, but can only do that when I don't have to also watch the kiddos--not really smart to swim while making sure they stay safe. It only hurts when I have to get back out of the pool and actually walk again.

I still miss running.

My First Triathlon!

I did it. I just signed up for my first triathlon. . .Grand Haven Triathlon on July 13th. . . . only after having done a rehearsal of one this past weekend. I went to the gym and did a 1/2 mile swim, hour bike and 3.1 mile run. The run on the tm was my fastest yet on the tm! I seem to run faster after a bike. Those legs just want to keep on truckin'! It all felt really good and I had no soreness at all. It was kind of easy. I know it won't be so easy in Lake Michigan, on a road and running in the heat, but I was pleasantly surprised that distance running has kept me in pretty good shape! Now all I need is a wet suit and a road bike. . .minor details! I am prepared to brave the cold waters in just a swim suit and use my mountain bike, but hope I can find equipment that won't make my look too much like a novice!!!

Don't ya just go out and run?

When I was on my way to the Riverbank Run (the 25k run for my SoleSisters and 5k for me) in May, I was driving two of my friends from another city that were also running the 5k. I started talking about my Running Sisters and how much more into running they are than I. One of my friends said astonished from the backseat, "Wait a minute. Don't ya just go out and run?" I said, "Well, I do. But they actually READ magazines about running, and books, and stuff. To try to run better." She was baffled about how someone could run better, and frankly, I really couldn't explain it to her. But during my run yesterday, I came up with an excellent analogy for her. Running is like golfing. Some people do go out and "just do it" with no consideration to form or performance. But like golfing, running has it's share of participants that want to learn to improve and feel strongly that everyone else doing the sport should be trying to improve also. Since she is a golfer (although I think casual golfer would best describe her) I thought this analogy would perfectly explain it to her. And then it hit me that it really explains it to me also, and that I am a casual runner. So now I can't wait to tell her the analogy so I can see the dawning of understanding on her face as she comprehends why some people do more than "just go out and run."

Ok, I Take It Back

I need to officially apologize to all the cyclists in the world out there whom I may have offended in my previous post. I ventured onto a new trail yesterday morning, knowing it would be further from traffic and a bit more peaceful. And flat. My heel likes flat right now.

Yesterday's cyclists were downright great. I was actually supposed to meet up with some runners from a local running group--many of them had done the Bayshore Marathon or Half last week up in Traverse City, so they were using this week to recover and had opted for a long bike ride. I missed the group due to some early storms but caught up with them eventually. But in the meantime, I rode for awhile with a very nice retired gentleman -- a runner-turned cyclist named Tony who moved up here from St. Louis at some point in his life. Turned out we knew several people in common, so that was kind of fun to chat and realize just how small this world is.

He went a bit further than I did, so I had to eventually say goodbye. On my way back to my staging point, I came upon a woman whose bike chain had dislodged from the crank, so I stopped to help her. Wasn't much help, as I foolishly didn't have any tools with me, but I did have some Wet Ones so she could wipe grease off her hands. Within about 7 or 8 minutes, another cyclist stopped to help--he had more experience with these problems and was able to fix it for her (and I was able to learn what to do sans tools!). So I had about a 15 minute delay in there, but I found friendliness, so it was worth it.

In all, my ride was a bit over 24 miles. I made sure to keep my gears harder so I had to pedal the whole time--great calorie burn! It was nice to have the endurance workout I am so used to receiving from my long runs. It was nice, too, to prove myself wrong on those cyclists.

I still miss running though.