treadmill

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Two for Tuesday Injury Update

1. Yesterday I went for what I thought was my last visit to the ortho.  It was not.  I have to go back again in 2 MONTHS.

 He cautioned me about keeping the swelling down so it will heal —compression socks, ice, elevation.  He said I could walk & run on the treadmill, use the elliptical and bike –BUT NO RUNNING OUTSIDE YET!!

He said I am ahead of his healing schedule but of course, not my schedule…it’s a long road to recovery…BE PATIENT.

I left the office depressed and headed to PT.

2.  There I ran for 2 MINUTES straight on the treadmill (with 1 minute walking in between for a total of 20 minutes)!!

No real pain, just the usual stiffness which results in a lack of rhythm and a feeling of awkwardness.

Happy Running!

 

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I Ran! I Ran Twice!

the PT treadmill is now my friend

This is exciting! But I’m not getting too excited.

My ankle is still stiff, it hurts and it swells throughout the day but my PT guy J who said I couldn’t run for 6 mos (which would be not until the end of June) told me to get on the treadmill on Monday.  (He may have been tired of  me repeatedly asking when I can run.)

This happened after the hot whirlpool, the usual stretching exercises, drills, machines, ladder, etc.

I was nervous…I whined that I was not ready… I wasn’t sure at all that I remembered how…but I did what I was told to.

I walked for one minute (3.5 mph), then I ran for one minute (4 mph) for a total of 10 minutes!!!

It was weird…it was hard to get a rythmn…I tried not to limp (I used the Black Knight’s suggestion of saying 1…2..1…2).  But I ran!

PT guy J cautioned me not to try this at home… (I obeyed!)

Then again yesterday, the same thing happened at PT but I did it for 12 minutes (increased my running speed to 4.8 mph).

So I have run twice!!!

Again PT guy J warned me not to try this at home… (I will obey…for now!)

When I asked:  “When will my ankle stop being so stiff?” He said that it is a hinge joint & I had a serious injury so a long time.  When I asked: “How long will it take to be able to run correctly & get some rhythm?”  He said that it will take many months…

I go back to ortho on Monday.  PT guy J said not to tell him that I am running…

This is my happy (will run again) face

 

Happy Running! Thanks for sticking around.

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Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

I was pretty psyched after my ladder drills at PT on Monday.

Yesterday I had PT guy R. He is the gentler, more cautious one who doesn’t push me as hard.

He asked me how my ankle felt after J’s ladder drills and I said “Fine.”  So he gave me some hoop drills to do.


It involved jumping in and out of the hoops on BOTH feet.  Definitely a reality check.  Very difficult for me to do …I put most of my weight on the uninjured foot when I land.  It is very hard for me to lift off of both feet. I also realized that is because I cannot hop with my injured foot. 

In other words, not moving as quickly to running as I thought.

So again R & I had the talk about whether or not I’ll ever run again.  He thinks yes (but won’t promise that it will be fast or long).  He says I am doing extremely well but that it is a long slow process.

We ended the session with 20 minutes on the treadmill (at less of an incline than usual).

The glass is half full…he said that next week after doing the ladder drills again, he may start me running A LITTLE on the treadmill.

On an unrelated note…Have you seen the new Nike commercial – I Will Run to You?  If  not, click HERE.

It’s great..the girl runs across the country to meet her guy.  The guy tries running to her but ends up in the hospital.

 

Do you notice how we BOTH wear a running skirt over our capris?? (I do it to hide my fat thighs.  That is obviously not her problem LOL) 

Happy Running!  Have a great weekend!

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Goals

March Goals:

  • Continue PT. CHECK! 2x/wk
  • Do exercises on my own, as well. CHECK! 2x/day
  • Start using exercise bike at work. CHECK! 1x/day
  • Walk with less of a limp. CHECK!
  • Lose that darn BOOT! CHECK! (didn’t really lose it, just don’t wear it!)
  • Burn those crutches! CHECK! (didn’t really burn them, just don’t need them!)

I am used to setting running goals – run faster, run longer, run more often…

So I set goals for March and never even looked at them.  I was just depressed about  not running.  But the good news is that I met ALL my March goals! 

That means that I should set goals for April (and even look at them after I post them.)

April Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week.
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day.
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work everyday
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week.
  • Lose that limp.
  • Run (on the treadmill) at least a few steps.

    of running again

Happy Running!  Do you set goals?

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Status Quo and a New Month

Wow — it’s April already?  Where did March go?

So here’s my March update:

  • no running hence no races.
  • no tennis so no tennis matches.
  • PT 2x a week so there a bi-weekly treadmill walks & elliptical use 2x a week.
  • stationary biking everyday and even some real biking.

This is fun but it is depressing seeing
ALL the runners on the trail…

  • limping less I think but still limited ROM and pain & swelling nightly.

Yes, PT guy R confirmed my plateauing. 

February was filled with big gains – weight-bearing, then bootless & crutchless events.

March is status quo.

I am hoping April brings improvement because something is wrong with my life and:

My next ortho appt is April 23 and after that,  PT guy J says I may be able to start running on the treadmill.

My New Compression Socks are anxiously waiting…

Happy Running!

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My New Lunch Routine

I didn’t participate in this challenge but it’s a great idea.

Before my injury, my lunch time routine was going to McDonalds or  Subway or Paneras or one of the 3 nearby school cafeterias.  My eating choices were fast food so no matter how healthy they seemed, we know that they were not.  While I ate, I usually read a variety of newspapers and magazines.

First after I came back to work from my injury, I couldn’t drive so I had to bring my lunch.  Then when I started driving, I still couldn’t walk so I had to bring my lunch.

Now that I am more mobile, my new lunch time eating habits have remained with me.

I eat at my desk what I bring from home. It’s usually Greek yogurt, a wheat bagel, a fruit & a drink. Then I go to our gym and spend 45 minutes on either the bike or the treadmill (watching TV on my iPad).

New  lunch routine:

  • save money,
  • eat healthier and
  • get exercise.

So there is something positive that came from my injury imposed running layoff.

Happy Running! Do you eat fast food or are you a healthy eater?

 

 

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Sunday in the Park

Daffodils bloomng early...mine are in the shade but are almost out.

70 degrees in March in the NE?? Unheard of.  But the great weather continues…

I started the day at Starbucks with my favorite running buddy.

together for a race in 2010

Then I was heading for work to ride the exercise bike when I remembered that I can ride a real BIKE!!

me on Saturfay but it's the same bike

So I drove home and rode my bike around the neighborhood.  (Does anyone’s butt hurt when you ride??) My hubby wants to get a bike rack so I can ride on the bike trails in Niskayuna and Albany.

Then I picked up Amanda and her sons to spend the rest of the day in The Crossings…Boy was it crowded!! Everyone else had the same idea.

Matthew enjoying the swing.

Richard and Matthew on the slide

Amanda & her boys

The day wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Kurver Kreme for soft ice cream.

Amanda's ice cream on the left, my medium on the right

That’s an old photo. But she always gets the Gran Pappy and I get a medium sugar-free vanilla/coffee twist with chocolate sauce or chocolate sprinkles.  (Oh to be young again and have that metabolism!!)

So the nice weather continues this week… I plan to use the exercise bike everyday during lunch and ride the real bike after work.  PT continues today and Wed.

Can’t wait to walk…(You thought I was going to say run..ha ha!)

Happy Running! Enjoy your training!

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First Sweat

Sorry Ali on the Run, someone stole your tee-shirt

Let’s just say that I hardly sweat. That means it takes a lot to get me to sweat.  I love the heat!! I love the sun!

Yesterday at PT, PT guy J made me work hard.  After an hour of many machines & exercises, he made me do 5 minutes on the ellipical and 6 minutes on the treadmill (2 mph & 10% incline).

Maybe I was overdressed but I SWEAT!!!

Yup, first sweat in 11 weeks!!

Happy Running!

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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!

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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!