Still not there yet...

Well, I've made a few strides (or, more accurately, baby steps) toward working out again. I'm actually thinking about it now! lol! It's hard in this weather (in Michigan it's begun to turn very cold, if not almost wintery), so it's not an easy thought to have, to go outside and exercise. My husband and I have begun discussion on purchasing a piece of workout equipment and now we're just trying to decide which would be the best thing to get. I'm fairly certain that with a new elliptical or treadmill in my basement, I would be pretty excited to hop "back on the wagon." Or, at least, baby step onto the wagon.

Just can't get back into it

I'm having trouble lately getting back into a workout routine. After I ran my last 5k (where I set my personal best), I just haven't been feeling like running. Right afterwards, I put it down to being tired from the race, and after that it just seemed that it wasn't part of my routine anymore. It's so hard to get started again. Hopefully soon.

Running Alongside Everyone

Two and one half weeks post surgery. Not feeling too confident about ever running again. Pain in calf getting better, but I'm noticing the pain in my heel is pretty prevalent. The arch feels better, at least, but I'll rescind my adjective choice in the last post saying "amazing." ; ) Super, I'm sure, but if this has really done not-much-of-anything, I'll have to figure out what was worth it.

My friends are still running. Two Sole Sisters are gearing up for the Grand Rapids Marathon and Half Marathon--I'm sure they will post on their training soon. One Sole Sister is back into training for a 5K, and one just ran a 5K and set a PR for a run benefitting our local schools -- (great job, Chris!!!). Some other friends are figuring out their Garmins, running for local causes, triumphing over illness and still out there. I feel lost, lagging behind, too far removed from the trails.

Some silver lining--The Boot is off, so perhaps in a few weeks I'll be back at it. They gave me a 6-12 week timeframe (that seems pretty vague, doesn't it??), so we shall see. I hope the rest of you are keeping up the great work and training strong.

The Amazing Dr. A

Surgery this week seems to have been the right choice. Though I'm in the healing process now, and I'm back in this stupid Storm Trooper Boot, the pain in my foot is miraculously gone. I'm still curious as to how exactly one lenghtens a muscle, but so far so good. I'm hoping January 1st will be my Running Renewal. 'Til then, I'm going through the recovery process with patience, though insanely bored with having to sit at long intervals with my foot up. Trying to get the kids to help out without complaining is wearing on me, but hopefully at the end of two weeks they'll get it--or they'll be drowning in dust and clutter.

Hope all of your races and running is going great--I'll still be at the races cheering you all on!

No More Races for Me This Year

It appears my running days are done--for 2008, at least. I'm scheduled for surgery next week to lengthen the tendon in my left leg. I'm told I have the best doc around and that I should notice less pain in my foot almost immediately...we'll hope so! Physical therapy has helped with regaining strength (that I hadn't even realized I'd lost!), but it hasn't done anything for the pain I go through every day.

Thankfully, I got in three fun races for the year, but I am bummed to miss out on the great fall running weather and fun races ahead. The cooler weather is my favorite--autumn in Michigan cannot be beat in my book! In fact today is rainy and cold...and I am wishing I could go outside and run! Is there such a thing as REVERSE seasonal affective disorder? ; )

So through January, I will be there at the races still, but cheering on my Sole Sisters and complete strangers, as well. I know how great a little sideline support can be toward the end of a long race. Some runs are better than others, so when someone shouts out "You're doing an awesome job!" when I'm ready to throw out a curse word or two, I know it makes a difference in my mojo!

Triathlons and Marathon training don't really go hand in hand.

Let's see, since June I have done a duathlon, 2 triathlons, and have been maintining my mileage for the GR Marathon. It was tough and confusing at times. But I think I am in pretty good shape right now to do just about anything. . .even wear my bikini! However, I will have to say that cross-training is only good to a point. Substituting a triathlon race is NOT a replacement for long runs 10 miles and up. At some point, the body just needs those long runs and a two hour workout of swim, bike, run doesn't cut it for a 13 mile run! I ran 13 miles last weekend after alternating tris and long runs for about a month. It wasn't the best long run I ever had except that it was flat and gorgeous scenery. I felt like my body hadn't done that in a while and it was like, hello---what are you doing??!! So, what I am learning is cross training is good to a point and running is still by far the best overall fitness one can get. It is good to use the others in recovery from an injury or to maintain fitness during off seasons, but it is NOT a replacement in times of tough training, i.e. a marathon. So, although I really, really, really want to do the last triathlon for this season in our area next month, I think I will just need to stick to the plan of an 18 miler that day.

PT, DXA, and MRI, Oh, my!

Well, I'm still on the mend...kinda starting to get me into a funk. My orthopaedic doctor doesn't think I have a "normal" case of plantar fasciitis. Fan-stinkin-tastic. So I got to have an MRI done of my foot to rule out the possibility of stress fractures still, got to have a bone density scan (I AM WAY TOO YOUNG FOR THAT!) to rule out early osteoporosis (and should all that milk guzzling and ice cream eating I have done for all my years keep my bones strong?), and now am in physical therapy to help strengthen the entire foot.

My therapist, Pam, is a hoot--thank goodness. Otherwise I think I would be giving her some stink-eye upon entering the office building twice a week. I end up leaving in more pain than what I had 24 hours prior, which I suppose means I am working the tendons and muscles that have so weakened over these past few months. I miss running so much, but I cannot imagine being able to get back out there. Hopefully I'm wrong!

In the meantime, I get to attempt biking for 5-10 minutes at a time, three times a day, on top of my other therapy. We will see. If anyone else is in the Injury Boat--know you are not alone, and that feeling in a funk about it is normal!