No Snooping

Things are definitely looking up. Even Lucky, the three legged, one eyed, ball-less dog knows it (at least he hasn’t yet lost his tongue). I am not a professional photographer, but clearly I should be.

My week:

Monday: Ran 5.35 miles (run 10 mins, walk 2 mins)
Tuesday: Rest  + 1 hour of PT
Wednesday: Ran 5.5 miles
Thursday: Swam 2100 yards
Friday: Ran 4.1 miles
Saturday: Will bike 90 minutes
Sunday: Will do 90 minutes hot yoga

What is a girl to do when she can finally run again? Get new shoes.

All you minimalist shoe lovers, I see you cringing. I’m not ready to go there yet. These are actually the shoes (Mizuno Wave Inspire 6) I have been in for awhile now, including running very successfully in them pre-injury (BQ). I was told during my gait analysis that they are a good fit for me. Since I have increased my cadence I am working on moving towards a more mid foot strike and I can do that in these babies.

Plus, they have a lime green color in them and that reminds me of margaritas and vodka tonics and that makes me happy. And, the shoes were reduced from $100 to $53 (Running Warehouse), so I have an extra $46 to spend on margaritas in Costa Rica next week.

Can you freaking believe I am running? I am still pinching myself. Four months from yesterday I was diagnosed with my hip stress fracture and could barely walk. This week I ran 14.95 miles and I’m going to round that up to 15 miles because I deserve to round things up after the hellish past four months.

I am here to tell you that if you are injured, it will get better, but you have to be very diligent about your recovery. Strength train. Stretch. Do any and all cross training that is safe for your injury. Eat well. Sleep a lot. Cry when you need to, but don’t stay there long. Persevere. Know it is temporary. Have goals and meet them.

I sent my Boston or Bust training plan to my exercise physiologist and doctor to review. I wanted to make sure of two things:

1. This plan was conservative enough to not hurt me
2. This plan would prepare me adequately so when I run in Boston I won’t be comatose on a stretcher with my hip in a plastic bag at aid station #6.

Basically, I max out at 24 miles/week with my longest run being 13 miles. And, then there is shit load of cross training. Feedback from the exercise physiologist was informative:

“I think this plan looks very good, I would encourage you to continue with walk breaks throughout your runs, especially your long runs. I think a 9 minute run, 1 minute walk or 14 minute run 1 minute walk would serve you best for your training and the Boston Marathon itself. I think 13 miles is adequate for a long run for you as well.

I’d encourage you to lengthen some of your non-running workouts in order to do some workouts in the 3-4 hour range.  The purpose of these longer workouts is to prepare your body to exercise for that duration. I think you’d be better served to add duration to your cross training than to add more running.

If it doesn’t bother you, you could also add in a longer walk or hike. The Japanese and Korean style marathon training programs typically include a lot of long walks to build up time on the feet with a low impact activity. I think some 45-90+ minute walks or relatively flat hikes could be a good addition so long as they don’t bother you. I would have you do any long walks on Mondays in place of or in addition to water running/swimming.”

I was especially interested in the Japanese/Korean style of marathon training. This was new information for me.

And, as if it couldn’t get any better, tonight is my birthday party, so if you could be there I’d appreciate it. Ken sent out an Evite saying, “Leave the kids at home and come celebrate all things Beth!” Guess that means we celebrate running and bodily functions and social work and Athleta and mothering and drinking coffee/wine and blogging and hot baths and Dean. But not hot baths with Dean, unfortunately.

Don’t get all carried away. Today is not my birthday. It’s Tuesday, 2/22. You can save your birthday wishes for then when I remind you again.

One final perk of the day. Got this email today from a reader. It was simple and to the point:

“I sneezed so hard I pooped a little. Would that be considered a snoop?”

Hoping I don’t snoop at my party,

SUAR

PS: Don’t forget my Butt Shield Giveaway!

I’m Too Tired To Resist

I will not let this blog become a forum for whining, complaining, and moaning. Yet, sometimes this girl has got to BITCH!

You all know me well enough to know I’m a fighter. No doubt. Give me a goal, a challenge and I show up, gloves on, ready to rumble. I honestly can’t think of a time I set my mind to do something and didn’t complete it or have my “happy ending.” ( not in the massage parlor sense, although that sounds fun).

That said, this hip stress fracture has taken me to my knees. It has been nearly four months since that fateful day when I went out to run eight miles and hobbled home knowing something had gone terribly wrong. Four stinking months. During that time, you have been witness to my attempts to keep up my endurance. From endless water running sessions to yoga to dates with my bike trainer to  laps swum up and down the pool. You watched me attempt eight minutes of running on January 10, and cheered me on the whole way. You gave words of encouragement when the pain returned and got behind me again (although not too close) when I had my first “good” run on January 24.

Today I sit here discouraged and humbled. I am reminded that healing and recovery are not linear processes. There are bumps and swerves in the road. I can be the most motivated and disciplined person, but that does not mean I can run on a hip that is still damaged.

Giving up? Never. This week I kicked some ass in the pool and on the bike. Today was 3 miles of run/walk, 21 minutes of that running. I’m still busting it out and hoping for the best.

My lesson for this week, however, is acceptance. Mind you, acceptance does not mean apathy or giving up.

“Some people confuse acceptance with apathy, but there's all the difference in the world. Apathy fails to distinguish between what can and what cannot be helped; acceptance makes that distinction. Apathy paralyzes the will-to-action; acceptance frees it by relieving it of impossible burdens.” – Arthur Gordon

Acceptance simply means a willingness to stop resisting what is. My unhappiness this week has stemmed from me trying way too hard to make things different. Trying to control it all. In order to stay sane and to be content, I need to let some of that control go.

I’m injured- and so it is.
I’m limited - and so it is.
I’m  frustrated -and so it is.
I’m in pain -and so it is.

I accept these feelings and the situation because it's there, it's happened.  Now, I decide what I want for my future and what steps I will take to create it.

“If you relax your mind into every situation exactly the way it is and accept that fact without any ifs, ands, or buts, then you can gain peace, self-acceptance, and the ability to allow solutions. Otherwise, you are locked in that place of your past behaviors which created your present reality.” (source)

I’m sick of this injury shit. And, so it is.

Good news! Bright spot! We will be headed to sunny Costa Rica at the end of the month where we will climb the Arenal volcano, bathe in the hot springs, zip above the forest canopies, take a catamaran out to see the sea turtles and whales, eat fresh fruit until it comes out our asses, drink some of the finest coffee on earth, and take time to heal in all senses of the word. This makes me happy. This I can accept.

What do you need to stop resisting and start accepting? Cause you know there’s something.

Keeping it honest,

SUAR

PS: Reading a great book, The Room. Anyone read it?

Play By Play

It’s a wine, Chipotle and movie kind of night. I took a hot bath, cut myself shaving and put on my short robe. That’s when the neighbor decided to come over to talk about his lost hearing aide. Did you know he dropped it somewhere near our backyard? Seems the minute you put on a robe and settle in for the night, there’s a knock at the door.

I’m not one to ignore a neighbor at the door, but I’m also not one not change my appearance for a neighbor at the door. So, I answered in my short robe and with blood dripping down my leg from the shaving incident. Hair in ponytail, glasses on. Hell yeah, it’s Friday night and I’m ready to rock and roll. It takes a very confident woman to post this photo:

The day? How did my day go?

6:30 a.m.: Put on running clothes, woke up kids. Woke up kids again. Fed dog. Fed guinea pig. Started coffee. Took fish oil, calcium, multi and my newest addition - Move Free. No, it is not a stool softener. It’s a joint helper. Glucosamine and all that.

7:00 a.m.: Waffles with cinnamon sugar and bananas for the kids. Cinnamon raisin bagel with almond butter and coffee for me.

7:30 a.m.: Checked emails. Blogs. Glanced at the Denver Post.

8:00 a.m.: Tried to finish up a report for work and organize a running clinic I’m hosting.

9:00 a.m: Met Joie at a local trail for a run. Did 5 x (walk 4 minutes, run 6). I had some pain, but my form was okay. Total of 4.5 miles with 30 minutes of running. Progress? I think so. I may just beat this damn hip stress fracture.  Love this timer shot that makes us look like giants since the camera was sitting on a low tree stump. Me on the left: today is not my photogenic day. But, really, no day is.

10:30 a.m.: Starbucks for coffee and girl conversation. Tits, ass, periods.

11:30 a.m.: Contemplated a family trip to Mexico or Costa Rica for a mid-winter sunshine and bikini break. Started researching options and immediately felt better about my life.

Noon: Lunched on spinach salad and zucchini rice casserole. Plus one chocolate chip/butterscotch chip cookie. Bad gas pain after. Wondered if I’m lactose intolerant.

12:30: PT exercises while watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion. Thought Camille seemed particularly psycho and I obsessed over Taylor’s lips.

1:00 p.m.: Peppermint tea. More vacay research. More report writing.

3:00 p.m. Picked up kids.

4:00 p.m. Almost ready to book Mexico. But, wondering of Costa Rica would be better.

5:00 p.m. Aforementioned bath and shaving incident. Discussion with neighbor about hearing aide. He will pay my son $100 if he finds it. His dog threw up in our yard. No problem, I’m sure Lucky will eat it for dessert later.

6:00 p.m. Placed Chipotle order online. Chicken burrito with pinto beans, cheese, rice, guac. About 96,000 calories. I don’t care. Poured a glass of wine and sent Ken out for food.

7:00 p.m. Blogging for your entertainment and boredom.

You don’t have to tell me. I know my life is fascinating. Every minute of every day.

Ever been to Mexico and/or Costa Rica? Recommendations?

We’re thinking about the west coast of CR in an area called Manuel Antonio. It’s a national park with all kinds of cool stuff to see and do. Before I die I want to watch monkeys and sloths swinging around while I eat fresh fruit and stare at the ocean.

Off to bite into my Chipotle,

SUAR