Great news from the Doc.

Yesterday morning I had my follow up visit with my podiatrist. 

I was so nervous sitting on that table waiting for her to come in and give me the verdict.  I knew that the pain was gone.  Really, I can walk barefooted and no heel pain.  In shoes, no heel pain.  I can do a one legged calf raise on the injured foot, no pain.  I can walk on my toes, no pain.  All of the original symptoms I had were gone.  Thanks to REST, the stupid boot, meds, and physical therapy. 

Knowing all of that, I was STILL scared that she'd tell me to wait longer to run.  Or that she'd move my foot around and it would hurt somewhere new.  Ok yeah, I was being neurotic... I can't help it.

Survey Says:  Kat can start running next week!  She said I can ween myself off of the boot for the rest of this week and start walking on the treadmill for exercise.  I'm thrilled to know that the end is near.  My only fear now is that once I start running again the pain will come right back.  My remedy for that will follow.

I do want to go back and say that I've been keeping up with my non-running training nicely.

Week 3 of Injury (Jan 11 -17)

• Swimming Total: 1 Hr 40 Min. 2,000 meters
• Elliptical Total: 1 Hr
• Stationary Bike Total: 30 Min.

Total Cardio: 3 Hr. 10 Min.
*I also lifted weights and trained Abs 4 days this week.

Week 4 of Injury (Jan 18 - Jan 24)

• Swimming Total: 55 Min.
• Elliptical Total: 1 Hr. 30 Min.
• Stationary Bike: 30 Min.
• Arc Trainer: 1 Hr.

Total Cardio: 3 Hr. 55 Min.
*Lifted weights / Abs 3 days this week.

As of today, I'm on 5 full weeks of Rest.  I'm doing good at the gym so far this week too.  Tonight I teach my body blitz class, afterwards I'm going to treat myself to a nice 30 min. walk on the treadmill.  Fun stuff!

I think I did a decent job holding onto my cardio fitness as well as my sanity over the last few weeks.  I'm looking forward to running my first race of the year... the Sweetheart 5K.  I usually run the 12K, but this year I'm scaling back, not only on the distance but also on the speed.  I think I'll just treat this run as a tempo run.  Not all out race pace!

Now, back to my re-entry as a runner plans.  I'm following RC's direction.  I am going to start back to Daniel's Training phases.  This time I'll officially start with Phase One.  I've got Phase 1 - 4 tenatively planned out through the end of May.  More to come once those plans are firmed up.

My next post, should once again be a post about RUNNING!

A Fresh Start

As much as I've dreaded the arrival of Sat. Jan 16th for the past two weeks, the Museum of Aviation race ended up being a wonderful day for me!

If you have been reading this blog, you know running the Half Marathon {that I invested 12 weeks of hard training into} was sidelined by achillies tendonitis.  The only running I've done since Christmas is running my mouth, whining about NOT running. 

The day of my goal race (goal was to break 2 hours) snuck up on me sure enough. 

Last week Caryl posted on the Macon Tracks forum that she needed help stuffing packets on Friday.  Since I'm off on Fridays I decided to go out there and join in the helping.  Friday morning I got my workout in early, showered and headed out to the base.   I was quickly put to work folding shirts, then we teamed up and started assembly lines stuffing packets with the appropriate bib numbers and sized t-shirts.  3 hours flew by before I knew it and then I had to go pick up Shyenne from school.

While I was there on Friday I mentioned to Caryl that I might come in the morning, to help give out packets and do anything else they needed.  I KNEW that when Chuck's alarm went off for him to get up and get ready to go run, I would never go back to sleep.  I knew I'd stew and stew over not being able to run my race.  Why not go ahead and get up, get out there and at least participate in the race by helping out some more.

Mom was going to run the half marathon as well.  But on Thursday she started feeling very sick and had a chest cough.  On Friday when I mentioned going to the race she offered to watch the kids for us while we were gone. 

Saturday morning we got up at 4:30, got ready and headed to the base by 6AM.  I got to work right away handing out packets, taking ID's, and answering questions.  It was great seeing my running friends beforehand and wishing them a great race.  The announcers called runners to the starting line.  I gave Chuck a goodbye hug and good luck kiss and he left to go line up.  We were still putting everyone's ID's in alphabetical order.  Michele Archer said that she could use help handing out finishing medals, I had nothing else to do for the next 2 hours so I was on board.

Not only was volunteering at the race a rewarding experience, but I was able to see so much more by not running.  I got to watch the winners of the 5K and half marathon.  I got to watch RC and many other Tracksters finish. 

The best part was standing at the finish line when my sweetie Chuck came through.  Finishing in 2:07:17, a good 6 minutes faster than his half marathon time in Jacksonville this past October.  Being able to put the finisher medal on Chuck after his accomplishment made me feel great.  I would have never been able to do that had I run the race with him.    I found the sliver lining to my cloud : )

Now, that that's over with... I can stop whining and complaining!  Time to move on, focus on a fresh start. 

I go see the Dr. next tuesday, so I should only have a week left in this boot.  I should be able to resume my running soon after that.

I'm relying on RC's expertise as well as common sense this time.  I will start on Daniel's Phase 1 of training.  I will not over train.  I will focus on being balanced and staying injury free. 

Bring on the February races... even though I may not "race" them... I'll be there!

Heartbroken

You know how it felt when you were in highschool and your boy/girl friend broke up with you?  At first it hurts so bad, your heart is broken and you know you'll never love again.  A little time passes.  For the most part your ok... then a memory hits you and it feels fresh and new and hurts all over again.  You miss him/her.  You want him/her back so bad.  More time passes and you know your ok.  You can live without this person.  THEN, you see him/her again.  It all comes rushing back.  Ouch. 

Ok, well I feel like running broke up with me.  Dramatic?  Maybe. 

The feelings are so much the same.  I got injured and running left me.  I keep telling myself that it's no big deal.  I can survive without running.  It's not everything.. I have much more in my life than just running miles.  I know this. 

Then, I'll remember a race, or a certain running route I like... or what it feels like to be in the middle of an awesome tempo run, sweating, heart pounding, legs screaming... loving every second of it.

I miss it.  A lot.  I know, I know... I WILL run again.  This isn't forever.  It damn sure feels that way right now though. 

Running will take me back.  It just has to.

Enough of that.  I just needed to get out some girly whining that nobody really wants to listen to.

Last week (1/4 - 1/10) I was a very dedicated little cross training chick.

I did about 4.5 hours of cardio (elliptical, arc trainer, and stationary bike)
I swam a total of 1700 Meters (1 hour and 20 min. total swimming - yes I'm slow)
I did weight training twice and Abs twice

I am keeping my cardiovascular system in shape if nothing else.

This week started alright. 

Last night I swam 1000 meters and worked out back and abs.  Good workout.

I was hopelessly optimistic that I would be able to participate in the Museum of Aviation race this year, despite my injury.  Reality has set in in stages.  First I resigned myself to the fact that I would just walk the Half marathon.  No sub 2 hour goal would be achieved.  Then I realized that the half marathon was out of the question.  I couldn't walk across the room without limping... how could I walk 13 miles?  Not going to happen.  So, I talked to the M.O.A. organizer and she said I could change my half registration to the 5K.  Cool.  I decided that I could just walk the 5K.  OK, yippy.  I'm pumped up again.  At least I could do something, right?

Wrong again.  I went to see Dr. Onderko again this morning.  She is keeping me in the boot for 2 more weeks.  Then she said I'd "ween" off of it.  She said no walking (except for the obvious moving myself from place to place).  No impact cardio.  Just elliptical, bike and swimming.  Ahhhh.  I left her office and started crying, again.  Knowing I can't do anything on Saturday.  The first race I'd planned to run of the year.

I guess I'm ok now.  I know I have pleny of time once I heal to do all the things I'd love to do with my running goals.  I know I have years and years to run the Museum of Aviation races.  That doesn't keep it from hurting my feelings right now.

2010 Goals

2010 Goals…

I was going to wait until I was healed up to officially state my goals for the year. I was thinking it would be too hard, not knowing exactly how long I’ll be I.J. (as Chuck would say). I can’t wait though. I’m jealous of all these other healthy runners posting their goals. So, I’m going to go ahead and post mine as well. If I it turns out that don’t meet the specific running related goals, only if this injury is the reason, than I won’t hold myself accountable.

Here Goes:

Mileage: 1300
PR: in the 5K

Marathon: Complete 1 in 2010, with a 4:15 time goal

Health: Once I heal from tendonitis, not to get injured again.

Diet: Eat clean at least 90% of the time. Weigh 5 lbs. less by next New Years.

Tone: Do weight training exercises at least 2 time per week.

Core: Do Abs AT LEAST 3 times per week.
Explore: A Sprint Triathlon OR the Warrior Dash in May
Mind: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Try to chill out and not let little things bother me so much.

Injury Overview & Trip to the Foot Doc.

I’ve come to terms with my “injury” although I still feel some sort of denial or disassociation with the fact that I… ME… really have an injury that is keeping me from doing one of my favorite things, Running.



I think I’ve done a good job of keeping up with the progression of this problem. But, just for me and my need for organization, I’m going to sum it up from the beginning


Sunday Dec. 20 - I ran my 16 mile long run in training for the Museum of Aviation Half Marathon.


Monday Dec. 21 – I ran an easy 4 mile treadmill run, maintaining a 10 min. mile. The last .20 of a mile I noticed some discomfort in my left heel. Not enough to stop me in my tracks, besides, I was almost finished with the run anyway.


Tuesday Dec. 22 – I went to the track for speedwork. I ran about 3 miles to warm up. I noticed the discomfort had turned into pain. I tried to ignore it. I decided to do the speedwork, on my first 400 meter interval I was in so much pain that I couldn’t keep my pace where it should be. I decided to forego the rest of the workout.


Wednesday Dec. 23 – I rested today. Iced my foot a few times.


Thursday Dec. 24 – The Macon Tracks Christmas Eve run was this morning. I decided I was going to run 6 miles. When I got up Thur. morning my heel really wasn’t hurting. As soon as I started running there was pain. Pain enough to make me alter my stride. My hard headed self kept running and ended up running about 5 miles. I was in pain the rest of the day. Walking was more uncomfortable than running.


Friday Dec. 25 – Sunday Dec. 27 – RICE! I didn’t have to work these days so I iced and heated alternately as much as I could stand. I also did about 3 hours total on the elliptical machine on Sat. and Sun. Even the elliptical is somewhat uncomfortable.


Monday and Tuesday Dec 28. OK, I’m fed up at this point. Frustrated and upset. I WANT to run, but I can’t even walk without limping. Nothing seems to make my heel feel any better. I email Amy and she tells me to give Brian at Peidmont Sports Med. A call. He isn’t at work today so she emails him and asks him to see me ASAP. I limp through the day, pouting : ( OH, and I’ve decided to go the ENTIRE week and not work out AT ALL. Yes, total rest. Nothing. My brain and my body were just going to have to get over it.


Wednesday Dec. 29 – Brian e-mails Amy and tells her to get me to call him. He graciously fit me into his schedule for the day. I needed some answers, just for my mental well being. I was about to go crazy. He took a look at my feet. No pedicure and all. Yikes. Did some prodding and bending and said that it’s probably Achilles tendonitis or less likely a stress fracture. We talked a little about the shoes I was wearing (which I had moved to a Neutral shoe). He said I should probably be in a stability shoe like I wore before. He said that my left arch was a little lower causing some problems… obviously. He set me up with an appt. to see Dr. Onderko about my heel to find out for sure what the problem is. I will see her Tuesday next week.


Thursday Dec. 30 – Monday Jan 4 - A lot of “resting” icing and LIMPING. Oh, and Monday, after my week of no physical activity I worked legs & abs at the gym and went to the Cantrell Center to swim laps. Did a total of 800 meters in about 40 minutes.


Tuesday Jan. 5 – At 8:30AM I go see the Foot Dr.


Melissa, Brian’s sweet wife, did my X-rays when I first got there. It was nice just knowing that the person that was working with me runs too. Then I go to talk to the Doctor.


She checks out my X-rays and says that IF it’s a fracture, that it wouldn’t show up on the X-ray anyway. She feels around on my heel. Asking what hurts and what doesn’t. She does some weird little test where she hit a metal thing and put it on my foot. She said if it hurt, it would be a sign of a stress fracture. But it didn’t hurt, thank goodness. I will go back and see her in a week, and if it hasn’t gotten any better she wants to do a bone scan to be sure it’s not a stress fracture.


I took advantage of being there and using her knowledge, so I went ahead and asked her a few questions about my toes. The toes next to the big toes always hurt when I run long distances and get black toenail. Over time this lead to some ugly toenails on those toes. She explained that my bunions are the culprit in that scenario. Thanks to genetics. Thanks Dad!


She gave me a boot to wear on the left foot so I won’t limp so bad, and end up hurting other things by compensating my stride. She said NO running for at least another week. I got an Rx for some steroid that is supposed to make me feel better. Lastly, I have a few appointments with Brian. I should learn some stretches and strengthening exercises to make this better and keep it from happening again.


I can do the elliptical, bike, swim, and lift weights. That’s it for right now. Less than two weeks until the MofA Half Marathon. This isn’t looking promising at all is it?