March 12, 2012 by Darlene

Staying Positive…Ain’t Easy

Look at this week’s weather!

Perfect for outdoor activities, right?

But I cannot walk, bike, play tennis or run!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I am DEPRESSED!!!!!

I am trying to stay positive…

I have been riding the exercise bike everyday for 20 minutes (catching up on the show Revenge). I even drove to work on Sat & Sun to do this. (Exercise makes me happy.)
I have been “walking” on the treadmill everyday as well.
I have been stretching, icing etc. as per PT advice.
I have been knitting (almost done with sock #2 and bought wool for two more pairs)
pretty colors on sale = happiness
I went grocery shopping by myself.
I have hit up Marshalls several times (it’s not the mall but they have shopping carts/walkers) and bought many cute tops.
inexpensive cool tops = happiness

I went out to dinner with friends at my favorite restaurant.
creme brulee = happiness

However, every time, I get in my car, I see someone running and those negative thoughts creep in. Everytime, I go online, I read about my friends running, playing tennis and training for a marathon, those darn negative thoughts come back.

I
NEED

I am improving each day.
A broken ankle is not a fatal disease.
6 months isn’t forever.

Today I go back to my orthopedic doctor. Hopefully nothing is wrong with my hardware and bone healing and he will release me to the care of my PT.

So my plans include:

but it would be OK if the weather weren't so nice(Sorry runners)

as I work total toward a FULL recovery. This means that I will walk without a limp, I will do yoga, I will run and I will play tennis.

Of course, there will be:

But there are always challenges in life. It will make me stronger. (Gulp!)

And finally:

Stick with me as I vent. Writing things down helps me believe it!

Happy Running!

March 8, 2012 by Darlene

3 Things Thursday at 10 weeks

Almost the weekend…

1. Last Thursday, I had a snow day. Today it is in the 60s…Crazy weather!!

3-8-12

2. And I am dying to do something outdoors… so I hobbled to Starbucks (it’s across the street from where I work though it felt like walking miles). It was worth it!

green tea frappuccino - yum!

3. 10 weeks from here:

elevated & iced 24/7

to here:

walking on the treadmill

A side note about the treadmill – After work on Tuesday, I planned to use the exercise bike at work but I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on (Seriously!) so I decided to try walking on the treadmill…20 minutes at 1.5 mph…it’s a start! (Later I asked someone and found out that there is no on/off switch. You just get on and start pedaling…duh!)

Happy Running!

March 7, 2012 by Darlene

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday – The Brochure

Guess what just came in the mail – the brochure for 2012 Sean’s Run – http://www.seansrun.com/pdfs/2012Flyer_spread.pdf

ME on page 2

2011 was the first year I ran this race. This year, I can’t run in it because of my injury.

The funny thing is that the 2011 brochure had my friend Mary’s photo in it (from the first year she ran the race.)

Mary in the 2010 race and on the 2011 brochure

And then last year at race time she was coming back from a serious injury.

So I think it is bad luck to have your photo on the Sean’s Run brochure!! It leads to injury LOL!

Happy Running!

March 6, 2012 by Darlene

Changes in Perspective

If you’ve read my blog at all, you know that I HATE running on the TREADMILL. I find it boring…I run so slow on it … and can’t do it for very long. In fact, I only have run on it if it has been raining. (Yeah I’m a wimp about that!)

This winter has been a dream come true as far as snow, ice and cold weather. I would not have used the treadmill at all …IF I WERE RUNNING!

This injury has changed my perspective!!

My PT guy R told me yesterday that tomorrow he may put me on the treadmill!! Granted, I will be walking and holding on and it will be very slow but I am psyched!!!

He is trying to help me walk…put weight on my left foot…stride…limp less! Sounds good to me…even if it is the treadmill.

So I will be loving the treadmill because eventually after walking on it, I will be running on the treadmill!!

Happy Running! Do you use a treadmill?

March 5, 2012 by Darlene

Running Update

Yes, I am wearing a running shoe & a compression sock at work today.

So I am still a runner…ha ha…even if I can’t run.

Updates:

I am working on the swelling…ice..ice..compression socks
I am NOT using the BOOT.
I am NOT using my crutches. (I still bring one along just in case)
I am walking slowly with a limp… hopefully limping less (it’s hard when you don’t have much movement in the ankle yet.)
At PT, I did level 4 on the bike and even did hills!
I went to TARGET and shopped (shopping cart can be used as a walker!)..I went for socks and bought everything but.
I met my running buddy Mary at Starbucks…haven’t seen her since the injury. We talked running, of course.

Me & Mary - the healthy days

Happy Running! How was your weekend?

March 3, 2012 by Darlene

March Goals

I mean that literally. Limping will lead to walking and that will take me closer to running (my goal).

March Goals:

Continue PT.
Do exercises on my own, as well.
Start using exercise bike at work.
Walk with less of a limp.
Lose that darn BOOT!
Burn those crutches!

Happy Running! What are your goals for March? I hope yours involve RUNNING!

March 2, 2012 by Darlene

Friday in Bullets

I shouldn’t really say TGIF. I only worked Wed and today. Mon & Tues I was tech support for the bar exam and had to do NOTHING. Yesterday I had a snow day and today I leave at 3 pm for PT.
It’s been NINE weeks since I had surgery on my ankle…it feels like forever ago that I ran or played tennis or did yoga!
I haven’t used my crutches in a week. Outdoors I wear the boot and indoors I drag my foot around in a shoe or sneaker (I can’t say “walk” because I can’t bend my ankle yet.)
On Wed, I didn’t get my fav PT guy R. Instead I had J and he HURTS!!! Today I have R again. (But maybe pain is a good thing if I get better faster.)
At PT, they let me use the exercise bike!! It’s the first type of exercise I’ve done. I almost even sweat. I started at level 2 but went to level 4 for 2 minutes and then ended at level 1 –20 minutes total. It felt great!!! I plan to use the bike at work on days when I don’t have PT.
I am excited to play mah jongg tonite. I haven’t played in 2 weeks – many of my friends have been in Florida.

Happy Running! Anything exciting planned for the weekend?

March 1, 2012 by Darlene

3 Things on a Snowy Thursday

1. We finally got snow yesterday…not cool when you are limping around in a boot and have to clean your car off. But today I have the day off!! (Unfortunately I got up at 7am, and had breakfast before I found out.)

my friend Terry's backyard

2. I “leaped” into shoes yesterday. I had to buy these because my foot swells as the day goes on and I can adjust…I had to forgo fashion 😦

cute shoes?? not!

3. I finished one sock (2 boring days at the bar exam helped.) The problem is that now I have to do another one and it has to look the same. Good thing I have today off…

Happy Running! Did you get a snowstorm?

February 29, 2012 by Darlene

Happy Leap Day

Yup, February is over! Normally I don’t like to rush time but with this injury, each day that passes is a day closer to being able to run!!

zero miles for February

Yes, that’s ZERO running miles again for February!
Zero tennis played
Zero yoga sessions attended
Cross-training = crutching, hopping, hobbling, knitting, typing…
Non-running activities – knitting socks, still reading Mockingjay, driving, back to work, started PT, exercises to get the ankle moving…

There is progress to report:

first half of the month

2nd half of the month

March and beyond

Unfortunately March running looks much the same. But I see walking ahead!!

Happy Running! What do you have planned for March?

February 28, 2012 by Darlene

Two for Tuesday and My Epic Comeback

1. From wheelchair to running a 5K – check out the story HERE. In 10 months, Kimberly Sheerin went being a paraplegic to running 3.1 miles. AMAZING!!