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Injury Update

good thing I kept those critches
I just spent 2 depressing days at home. I am already tired of TV and books and CRUTCHES…wah..wah

Today I went my orthopedist.  I got an appointment with the same guy that did the surgery on my ankle.

Well, obviously Monday is the busiest day at the Bone and Joint Center. I waited 2 hours to see the doctor.  He looked at my foot and said it didn’t look broken but he would look at the xrays.   Then he said that he didn’t see anything in the xrays so he ordered another set. Another hour went by and he came back and said:  “It’s broken.”

5th Metatarsal

He said the (fifth metatarsal) fracture was stable which is good.  I asked if it was a Jones fracture or an Avulsion fracture (I did my Google research and they are the most common) and he said “Neither.”

He pointed to wear the break was and it is mid-shaft.  He said it is not displaced and that is why it doesn’t hurt and is not swollen.

This doc is the same guy who replied after I broke my ankle “No promises” when I asked if I would run again.

So he gave me no info on my injury other than, “come back in 2 weeks so I can see if the bone remains in tact.”  In the meantime, I have to wear that ugly shoe and use crutches.

It seems pretty senseless to be depressed.  Tomorrow, I am going to the funeral of my neighbor who is also a fellow tennis player.  He is 63, his daughter just had a baby and his son is getting married in July.

So I have a broken foot and I cannot run.  But I am alive.

Happy Running!  Thanks for your support.

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Sad Running Roundup

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Last Week:

  • Mon – rest, boating

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  • Tues – 3.4 mile run (after work)
  • Wed – 6.6 mile run (after work)
  • Thurs – 2 walks – too hot to run, Mother Runner party

some of the group

  • Fri – walk at lunch, mah jongg
  • Sat – 5K race and broken foot
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I did manage to finish the race – I am the one in blue with black cap

  • Sun – walking around NYC cancelled due to INJURY

13.1 total miles (hey I ran a half )

This Week:

  • Monday – O miles
  • Tuesday – O miles
  • Wednesday – O miles
  • Thursday – O miles
  • Friday – O miles
  • Saturday – O miles
  • Sunday – O miles

Happy Running! Feel free to join my pity party!

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Freihofer Run for Women Race Report and on the DL AGAIN!!

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This race is always so exciting for me. (I posted why here.)

This year as I did last year, I walked over from work yesterday to pick up my bib and goodies (shirt, bread & cookies).

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It was so quiet on the street. Believe it or not I actually saw Joan Benoit Samuelson running up the hill in the 90 degree heat.

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After I picked up my goodies, I struggled up that hill (walking.)

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oops I may have bought a pair of compression socks….

It was warm already when I got up this morning. I had my usual running breakfast (oatmeal & coffee) and drove to work where I would leave my car and walk the 1.5 miles to the start.

me, Courtney and her aunt MaryPat my friend)

me, Courtney and her aunt MaryPat my friend)

I wanted to get there early so I could meet friends and take a photo with the other SRMs (the group keeps getting bigger and bigger).

Look at the group in 2010!!

Last year was such an emotional race. This year, I was relaxed about it. I wanted to do well but I know that it is so crowded.

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some of the SRMs

Around 9:30 or so, I pushed myself into the crowd. It was so hot that I moved up and it was cool because I got to see the elite runners go by and head to the front. Joan Benoit Samuelson offered a moment of silence for Boston. And then we were off.

I tried to get moving. It was difficult but since it was a hill, going slow was ok.

It was warm and all I wanted was to run the whole race and finish strong.

Mile 1 was great. I felt strong and heat really wasn’t bothering me. I was just trying to save it for the end.

THEN IT HAPPENED!!!

I was approaching the first water stop. It was crowded and wet and I was debating whether or not to stop. Somehow I lost my footing or my weak ankle gave out…I am not sure what went wrong exactly. But in trying to remain upright, my foot twisted in my shoe. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!! (Deja vu! The same thing happened 12 years when waterskiing)

Of course, I did what every smart runner does. Stop so I don’t make it worse.

NOT!

I continued to run…my gait was way off and my foot hurt with every step but I ran on….. until I crossed the finish line.

And I did meet my goal. I finished at 29:41!!!

Splits:

mile 1: 9:17 (even going up that hill in the crowd)
mile 2: 9:35 – it hurts
mile 3: 9:40 – it hurts more
.17 – 7:53

After I finished, I headed to the Medic tent to ice my foot. The doctor there suggested I get an xray (not what I wanted to hear) Many women were throwing up, passing out, and staggering in so I limped out of there.

I tried to find my friend but there was SO MUCH SECURITY. I could not get to where we agreed to meet.

So I limped 1.5 miles back to my car.

I was still in denial but my foot was starting to turn purple and I knew what that meant.

Xray results: clean break of the fifth metatarsal

good thing I kept those critches

good thing I kept those crutches

Non- weight bearing for…. a long time. I have to now see my ortho.

There are no words to express how BAD I feel……………..

Happy Running! Enjoy your weekend! Anyone ever break their 5th metatarsal??

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A Belated 5th Blogoversary

March 25, 2013

I’ve been blogging for FIVE YEARS!! That means I’ve been running for FIVE Years!

  • Year 1 – starting to run for the first time and completing many 5ks
  • Year 2 – after taking the winter off, running again and completing even more 5ks (Anniversary post)
  • Year 3 – running through the winter, completing 5ks (and a 5k PR), 4 milers and a Half Marathon (Anniversary post)
  • Year 4 – completing some 5ks, a 5 miler, 15k and FOUR more half marathons (plus an achilles injury and a broken ankle 😦  ) (Anniversary post)
  • Year 5 – recovering from a broken ankle, running my 1st 10k and some 5Ks, suffering a foot stress fracture, running my 6th Half Marathon

Freihofer's 2012

Freihofer’s 5K

Camp Chingachgook 10K

Camp Chingachgook 10K

Sarasota Half Marathon

Sarasota Half Marathon

  • Year 6: ???

Optimistically speaking, I am hoping that this next year brings NO INJURIES and lots of running and racing…

Happy Running! Thanks for stopping by!!! How many years have you been blogging?

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2 for Tuesday

tues21. If you remember, the ankle that I broke started to hurt for the first time during my long 12 mile run on Sunday. It didn’t even hurt the first time I ran on it and it didn’t hurt during the 10 & 11 mile runs. So this was pretty scary. Things from stress fracture & bent screws to OMG, I can’t do this half marathon went through my head.

So my cure: ice, ibuprofen, recovery sock, prayers… then last night, I wore an ankle brace to play tennis. It was fine.

Today, at lunch I wore the brace and ran 3 miles on the treadmill… the ankle felt fine so after work, I ran 3 miles outside (the sun was finally out!!!)

The ankle was stiff but not painful! The real test will be on Sunday when I run 8 miles….

2. I am taking the day off and going to NYC.

Eileen & I with Anna in 2006.

Eileen & I with Anna in 2006…7 years ago!!

here we are again

here we are again

Tomorrow the 3 of us will be re-united!!!

I get walk my poor ankle and foot around New York City. The forecast is for rain/snow…hope they are wrong.

 

Happy Running!

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Bring on March!

March is supposed to be the windy month but it seemed to me that it was February this year!

February Update:

  • 2 Races – one 4 miler and one 7K
AJH got 2nd place...we won a lunch bag which matches the race shirt

AJH got 2nd place…and I got 3rd!!

  • I finished knitting a pair of socks
3rd pair

so what if it took almost a year…

  • I played tennis every Monday…that’s 4 times in one month!
  • I did a better job of following my half marathon training plan by adding an extra day of running…
in Jan, I was worried about my foot & only running every other day

in Jan, I was worried about my foot & only running every other day

  • This month I ran 84 miles! The most miles in a month since 2011!
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Nisky Bike Trail – one of my favorite places to run

  • I tried to eat fruit and vegetables everyday!
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love mandarin oranges & craisins in my salad

  • I even used the treadmill several times when the weather wouldn’t cooperate.
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ipad & water required

  • I read quite a few books. In addition to my YA fixation (I finished Insurgent & started Matched), I read 3 Joy Fielding mystery thrillers.

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  • I did not do any yoga…I did not use the exercise bike during lunch…I did not see my mentee… oh well, there’s March!

Hope we have nicer weather in March (and an early spring!!!)

MonthMarchWd

GOALS

  • Complete my 6th Half Marathon (and 1st since the 2012 injuries)
  • Take a running break to heal my aching foot (only a week or 2…next race is a 5k on Mar 30 or a 5 miler on April 14)
  • Do yoga instead each week
  • Continue tennis once a week
  • Sign up for another half marathon
  • Continue to eat healthier

Happy Running! How was your February running? Anything new planned for March?

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Bunions Anyone?

bunion

I have that familiar feeling again…pain on the inside of my right foot.  ( I even got interviewed for Good Houskeeping about it.)

Although I have a bigger bunion on my left, it never hurts. Just the right foot.

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it feels worse than it looks

The last time it hurt was while training for the FIRST half marathon (in January 2011).  It started feeling pain once I went over 6 miles.  It gets inflamed and then needs to be rested.

For some reason after that race, it never hurt again (and I ran 4 more halfs) UNTIL NOW!!!

It started to hurt toward the end of my long run on Sunday and has continued to be sore!!!

I haven’t run since Sunday and will try today wearing an older pain of Asics.  Wish  me luck!!

Happy Running!  Anyone else suffer from bunion pain?

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2013 So Far..So Bad

The one thing about blogging is that I can keep track of things.

So I know that since March 2008, I had a cold in Sept 2009 and in July 2011.  That’t it.  Until now…

Achoo2
I started feeling a sore throat on New Year’s Eve.  Then Thursday evening, it started appearing…A COLD!  It was in full force at work on Friday.  No one wanted to be near me.  So I skipped my run and Mah Jongg Friday eve and went to bed early.  Saturday I was supposed to go to NYC with 2 friends to spend the day with a girl I met in Russia.

I woke up Saturday am feeling even worse & knew I couldn’t go (I did have to drive to the train station at 7 am cuz I had all the tix.)

Sunday was supposed to be my long run –  5 miles.  My mega cold had progressed to adding a headache and nausea…Great!  No running for me!!!

As I write this, I am on the road to recovery and will go to work tomorrow.  Tomorrow nite, I go back to playing tennis and hopefully I can go back to running on Tuesday!!!

So this Half Marathon training thing is not off to a good start:

  • Week 1 – 3, 3, 5 – 11 miles
  • Week 2 – 3, 3, 0, 0 – 6 miles

I will try not to stress about it.

What ever happens, happens.

I had planned not to run 2 days in a row so I don’t get injured but we’ll see.  I also want to increase my long runs gradually so that means 6 miles this Sat or Sun.

That’s enough of being a Debbie Downer.  My injuries and illnesses are over for 2013!!!!

Happy Running!  Any advice for injury-free training for a Half Marathon?

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2012 – Thank God It’s Over

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322 miles in 2012

Broken tibia & fibula & surgery to repair in my left ankle and then a stress fracture in my right foot= NOT A GOOD RUNNING YEAR

Jan 2012

Oct 2012

I had running goals for the year and then I re-wrote them after my first injury. Then I was doing better than expected so I re-wrote them again. When I had my second injury of the year, I gave up on running goals and left them as they were at the time:

  1. Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside) Follow doctor’s orders and stay off ankle until allowed, go to PT and do the recommended exercises, and start to run when & as often as recommended. 5 MONTHS of PT and then STARTED RUNNING in JUNE.
  2. Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training) Same as above, start tennis & yoga when allowed, join a gym to do crosstraining/machines to stay fit. STARTED TENNIS IN AUGUST BUT DID NOT JOIN A GYM OR CROSS-TRAIN. GOT RE-INJURED BEFORE STARTING UP YOGA.
  3. Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!) Run a 5k race before the end of the year, if I am able to run several, get faster with each one. RAN 9 5K RACES AFTER MY ANKLE INJURY (GOT FASTER) AND THEN RAN 1 AFTER MY FOOT INJURY.
  4. Get an Age Group award – NO
  5. Run a 10K race – YES.
  6. Run a 10 mile race. NO
  7. Run at least one half marathonNO4. Start to train for a half marathon in 2013. DELAYED START BUT STARTED LAST WEEK.
  8. Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible) (DID NOT RUN ANY IN JAN-MAY and NOVEMBER)
  9. Run a race in another stateYES in PA.
  10. 5. Run a NEW race. YES – RAN 8 NEW RACES!!
  11. 6. Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get re-injured…) UH OH…TOTAL FAIL.
  12. 7. Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) YES, YES.
  13. 8. Volunteer at a race. NO 😦
  14. 9. Bring a cell phone whenever I go running alone. YES!

10. Run a 10 K race. YES! in August.

11. Finish a 5K race under 30 minutes. YES! 1 in Sept.

12. Run 12 races. YES!

So it wasn’t the year that I had planned but I guess it could have been worse. Here are the highlights:

ran a 5K in June – earlier than expected!

met Joan Benoit Samuelson!

ran my 1st 10k

crossed under 30 minutes in a 5K (1st time since 2011)

ran a new race in a new state (& with a stress fracture)

waiting inside before the race

race #12

Stay tuned for my 2013 Goals!

Happy Running! Did you have goals for 2012? If so, how did you do?

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Week 1 & My Anniversary

Yes, half marathon training has begun and 2 snowstorms have happened as well.

  • Sun – 4 miles
  • Tues – 3 miles
  • Thurs – 3 miles
  • Today, Sat – 5 miles

But I successfully ran every other day… 11 weeks to go!!

Last night was my annual tennis party…it was fun but I over ate again!!

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several entertained us by playing the piano

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one of our friends moved to Florida so we skyped with her

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lots of appetizers and desserts!!

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we had a Chinese gift exchange which is always fun

This morning I slept in and barely made it through my run before the snowstorm.  I had planned to go the Nisky bike trail (the scene of the accident) but decided to stay local due to the impending snowfall.

I went to the same neighborhood but ran in a different direction.  I didn’t wear my Yak Trax but stayed in the road looking for dry turf and watching for black ice.

And I succeeded but after 3 miles my stomach started growling.  I haven’t done a long run in a year so I need to remember to drink water and bring some Gu.

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4.5 miles done and off for some nourishment

I went back to my car and got some money and headed off to the coffee shop.

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this did the trick!

But I left the coffee shop to this:

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SNOW!!

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glad I only had .5 mile to run/slide.

and today is my ONE YEAR Anniversary…a year ago today, I fell during a 10 mile run.  I slipped on the ice and broke my ankle in several places & had surgery.  I didn’t run for 5 months.

I wasn’t sure I would get through it but I did.

Yes many people said to give up running.  I knew that I would not.

I am running again.  I may never get the speed back but I am running again!!

To celebrate, I ran today and I even wore almost the same outfit.

Happy Running! Have you ever had a run-threatening injury?

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