Feeling a Little Discouraged but Mostly Confident... about Running anyway.

I had a great week of getting back into the swing of things regarding exercising.  I completed two walks in an allotted time thereby completing phase 2 of the walk-to-run program given to me by the physical therapist.  I also spent some time on my bike in the trainer catching up on the seasons of Law & Order and 30 Rock that were on the DVR.  It felt great to log some 'miles' on my two-wheeled baby.

I went back to PT on Friday.  I'm making good progress according to her though I am feeling a little discouraged at times.  One of the exercises that I do at PT is one-legged heel lifts on the "shuttle" machine. These were very painful last week so this week I only had to do 20 versus the 30 I did last week.  It was still painful but more manageable.  I thought that maybe this was just a tough exercise.  So, I tried the same exercise with my right leg (the one that wasn't in the boot) and I had no problem at all; it didn't even feel like I was exercising.  Lisa says this is totally normal considering my foot was locked in the one position in the boot for 6 weeks.  Because of my great progress, Lisa said that I could move on to Phase 3 on the walk-to-run program:  walk 1/4 mile, run 1/4 mile, walk 1/4 mile, run 1/4 mile.  I tried that out yesterday and it felt great (& terrible) to run again.  Feet and legs felt great.  The huffing and puffing I was doing while running felt terrible.  That's ok: this is the 'terrible' that I prefer :)

Because of the physical advancements that I have been making, I was able to make some major mental advancements regarding future running events.  Yesterday was our Napa Ragnar Team's first training run.  Although I couldn't take part in the first run, I was happy to be there with my mind focused on taking part in the event, not wondering *if* I could.  The Napa Ragnar is September 14-15.  Our 12-person team will run from San Francisco to Calistoga.  Calistoga/Napa Valley is one of Steve and I's favorite places in the world.  I'm so looking forward to experiencing that part of the country in this runcation.  We'll spend a couple of days in wine country after the race as a reward.

This week I also got an email containing my Peachtree Road Race number.  "The Peachtree" is basically a 6.2 mile block party in Atlanta that takes place on July 4th.  Most people run it but you enter it for the experience.  Last year was my first time and I had a blast.  I was also coming off an injury last year but that didn't matter for this race.  People of all walks of life enter this race.  Live bands play along the route.  Restaurants toss out t-shirts and coupons.  "Runners" cart wagons full of beers behind them.  Private citizens set up bloody mary bars.  Folks dress up in costumes and dance for the runners. Runners dress in costumes and entertain the spectators.  The Catholic church along the route sprays holy water on the passing runners.  And then you get to "Heart Attack Hill"which is right in front of Piedmont Hospital and the Shepherd Center.  The Shepherd Center is one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the nation for the treatment, research, and rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries.  The Shepherd Center patients line the "Hearth Attack Hill" portion of the route.  Just when you think that you can't run and/or walk any more, you are being cheered on by these brave folks.  It is such an inspiring moment and the best kick-in-the-pants to get up the hill and finish this race.  I'll have to walk the majority of the Peachtree this year but I can't think of a better way to start out Independence Day.

I hope you all have a great week!  What are you going to do to "get moving" this week?

These Shoes Are Made for Running... Without Injury!

My High-Heeled Orthotics

Tuesday I picked up my new orthotics!  I never dreamed I would say those words at 44 and never, ever thought that I would be excited to say them!  But, picking up the orthotics signifies another step that gets me closer to pounding the pavement again.  So it's all good!

I had no idea what to expect regarding the orthotics: what they would look like, what they would feel like, or what they would sound like (yes, there's a definitely squeak when I walk - anyone who has any fixes for this, please share.  It's not often that I need to walk through my house in stealth mode but it does happen. 'Nuf said!).  My orthotics are considered the 'soft' kind although parts of them don't feel so soft.  At least, not during this break-in period.

Immediately after picking up the orthotics from my doc's office, I rushed to my favorite local running store, The Big Peach.  Upon arriving, I sat myself down and eagerly waited for them to open.  Not everyone is on the early bird schedule that us moms are on.  The good folks at The Big Peach found me a new shoe that is similar and as comfortable as my running shoes but in a neutral style.  They even slipped my new orthotics in and checked the shoe for fit.  My orthotics have a 'high heel' and because of that I feel like I'm stepping out of my running shoes.  So, my peachy friend taught me all about the 'runner's lock' style of tying my shoes.  This alternative method allows me to tighten the top of my shoe without tightening the laces all the way down the front of my foot.  Does that make sense?  When the shoes are tied this way, I feel like the running shoes are more secure on my foot.  I'm not sure how it will feel to run with the shoes tied this way; however, my peachy friend said that he prefers this method of tying his shoes because the back of his foot is very thin.  I wore my new kicks with the orthotic inserts home and for 2 hours as the schedule for the first day of break-in recommends.  The inserts felt very hard and odd around the arch area of both feet.

Wednesday was day 2 of breaking in the orthotics.  I wore them for 4 hours.  The inserts felt less weird on my foot than the day before.  What felt strange was wearing my running shoes to run errands and during my other daily activities.  Since taking up running a little over 2 years ago, I have worn my running shoes for just that: running.  Nothing else.  Running shoes that have lots of mileage on them and therefore 'ran out' are what I'd use for errands if I were up for wearing a sneaker-type shoe.  I had to keep reminding myself that these new Brooks will be road-ready when the time comes.  I just have to get to there.

On day 3, I wore the orthotics for 6 hours.  They felt so fine that I forgot about watching the clock to time when to change shoes.  During all of my 'break in' days, I continued to do all of the stretches that my physical therapist laid out for me.  Some of the stretches are definitely more difficult than others:  the achilles/calf stretches are more of a challenge than the toe stretches and exercises.

Today is day 4, the last day of the orthotic break-in period.  Today I am to wear my inserts all day long.  I attended physical therapy this morning to check in and get some new exercises.  Today we talked about strength-building exercises opposed to stretches.  I'll continue to do the stretches but need to add the strength-building exercises to my daily routine.  I did some heel lifts and drops on one of the machines at the office that produced an unbelievable burn in my achilles area.  Lisa said that she wasn't too worried about pain in that area but recommended a different type of heel lift/drop with resistance for me to do at home.  We don't want pain in that area but we do need to isolate it to work on strengthening that area back up.  Lisa did ultrasound and massage again on the plantar fascia area to continue to break up the scar tissue build up.  I even got to ride the stationary bike today.  It was only 10 minutes but I was thrilled.  One of the other patients commented that I needed to take it easy on the bike.  I just smiled and said that I was too excited to take it easy.  It felt great to be back in the saddle.  Even if I did only have a parking lot as my landscape.  Lisa said that I can ride to my heart's desire this week as long as I'm in the trainer and I'm clipped in.  I can hardly wait to start building up my cardio again.  Speaking of building up cardio, I also get to start my walk program this week.  I can walk up to 3 miles at a time at a comfortable pace and I need to avoid inclines and declines which is pretty impossible in Atlanta but I'm willing to give it a try.  I report back to physical therapy next Friday.

This all sounds good and is good.  I know that I'm on the right path to getting back to what I have learned to love to do, but at the same time, I still have my moments of frustration.  At times, I feel like a horse at the starting gate chomping at the bit to race.  I have great run racing plans coming up that are paid for and that I need to train for.  At this point, I'm afraid to even talk about them for fear of jinxing myself.  I think I'll feel better about all of it - about everything - once I can run again.  Then I'll be sure to share my upcoming runcation plans!

Have a great week!

A Small Step Backwards

I started physical therapy on Friday.  I returned to PT extraordinaire, Lisa, who helped in my healing from the tibia stress fracture last year.  Lisa pulled the rug out from under me, so to speak, when she told me that I need to hold off on the walking program for now.  She said that once my orthotics come in (which could be any day now), I get new running shoes, and I break the orthotics in, THEN I can start a walking program.  The good news is that we briefly discussed the walking program and where I would have to be in order to start to run again and I believe I'm in pretty good shape.  I'm hoping my first run is a couple of weeks away.  In the meantime, Lisa gave me some new stretches and reviewed some old stretches with me.  She did some ultrasound and massage on the plantar fascia of the injured foot to break up some of the scar tissue that has formed from being immobile for the last few weeks.  I return to PT on Friday hopefully with my orthotics and new running shoes!  I'm chomping at the bit to get at it again!  Hope you have a fantastic week.

Bootless in Atlanta!

I visited Dr. C. on Wednesday - 6 weeks to the day since he put me in "the boot".  Since my heel is looking good and feeling good, I no longer need to wear the boot!  I was confident and came to the appointment prepared with my other sneaker :)  My custom orthotics should be in next week.  I will have to break them in before I workout or run in them.  I misunderstood what Dr. C. had told me at an earlier appointment.  I will need to be fitted for Neutral running shoes (not minimalist) with the orthotics placed inside of them.  I plan to go over to Big Peach, our local running store, as soon as I pick up my orthotics.  I start physical therapy next Friday.  After that evaluation appointment, I hope to have a better idea of when I can start running again.  I'm itching to put together a new training calendar; I've got big running plans!  In the meantime, the doc gave me the ok to walk and exercise which I did today; it felt great!

Today, I visited my dermatologist for a full body scan.  I have been going annually for the last four years. All spots look normal according to her so she recommended I return in 18 months for the next scan.  She also recommended that I return in the fall for another laser treatment.  I had a couple of treatments done on some scarring that I have from radiation.  She would like to try a different type of treatment to fade the area.  Have you gone for a full body scan?  It doesn't take long and it could save your precious life!

Life is good!