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It’s All About the Ankle

Yes, I had a great time eating, drinking, socializing, laughing, shopping, tanning… and just plain relaxing.

But…

Doesn’t this look like a nice place to run??

and

isn’t this even more inviting??

I just wanted to be running!!!! 5 months of NO RUNNING!!

I’ve had enough!  Anyway, enough said…

  • I rode a bike every morning  between 8:30 and 10:30 am. 
  • There was a gym with an elliptical, bike and treadmill but the weather was too nice to be indoors.  I kept waiting for rain but it never happened.

  • I hit the tennis ball one day between lessons and it felt fine so I hit with the instructor for 45 minutes on another day!! Of course, he didn’t make me run for the ball.
  • I found  2 paths with crushed stones and then one with clay (hard tru) and I ran out and back on them everyday…not sure how far (maybe 1/2 mi?). My gait is still awkward since my ankle is not fully bendable but I RAN!!!!
  • I walked a lot…in town…on the beach.

  • I wore sandals…yay!

Yesterday I went to PT for the first time in 2 weeks.

They said they saw a big improvement…I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes as usual but I was able to run for 3 min and 4 minutes at a time without walking!!!! 

They said:  “You are no longer sounding like a Clydesdale!!”

Of course, I replied, “When can I run outside?”

The answer: “We’ll watch your ankle on the treadmill next Wed and maybe you can run on a track!”

It’s all about the (still stiff) ankle!!  Arghhh!

Happy Running!

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Vacation is Over!

I’M

8 days of vacation went by so fast!!  Here are the highlights:

bike riding every morning around World Tennis Center

my birthday – 59 on 5-9

birthday dinner at my favorite restaurant – The Turtle Club

cooling off in the pool

shopping trip in Saint Armand’s Circle – Sarasota

playing Scrabble at the beach

It feels great to hold a racquet

heading out to see a play – Steel Magnolias

our annual group photo at The Dock

hitting a few tennis balls

hosting a dinner party in our villa

group photo with our tennis instructor

More details in my next post.

Happy Running! It’s good to be back blogging!

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Happy Birthday to Me in Florida

I am 59 years old today!! That’s 59 on 5-9!

I don’t feel it (and I hope I don’t look it!!) I don’t think I act that old, either.

As far as running goes, if  you asked me 5 years ago if I would run in a 5k race, I would have laughed in your face.  But I have run 50 of them (taking 10 minutes off my finish time in the process.)

If you asked me two years ago if I would run a half marathon, I would have done the same. And I have run 5 halfs, too.

my proudest moment

However, on the flip side, a year ago, I never would have thought that I would not be running today.  I may have even though that I would have run my first marathon by now.

Besides my ankle, I am healthy.  It will heal.  I will run again. So…

I have my family and awesome friends.  I am on vacation!!! I feel blessed.

Happy Running! Thanks for stopping by!

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Vacation Time is Here!

This is our 8th trip together to Naples, Florida. (For some of us, this is our 16th tennis trip – 1 Palm Springs, 5 Las Vegas, 1 Dominican Rep, 1 Delray Beach)

our group & our coach – May 2011

There are 10 of us and we rent 2 villas (from the same lady) in World Tennis Center.

They will be playing tennis everyday from 8-11 am.  I will be bike riding, walking, swimming, photo taking and a combination of these activities while trying not to be depressed.

The highlight of the vacation used to be running every morning and then playing tennis & taking lessons from Billy Bob (love him!)

getting ready to go for a run

 playing tennis

I considered not going but staying home & working while my friends are away having fun would be even worse.

If I get though the mornings, we will be busy the rest of the day with a variety of fun activities such as shopping, eating, theater and of course, hanging out at the beach.

So my vacation will not be perfect but I will be away and with my friends and in a sunny warm climate.  What could be better?? (You know what I would say…)

I won’t have a computer so no posting on this blog for 8 days but I will bring my iPad and if there is wifi, I will be able to post to FB and read your blogs.

I will post pics here when I return.

Happy Running! I will Miss you all!

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Recovery Monday

Not from running … but

  • from a day in NYC
  • and a day on the lake….
  • from nervously tracking my marathon running friends (and THEY ALL DID GREAT!! WooHoo!)
  • and from trying to get things done at work so I can leave tomorrow for my 8 day vacation

Here are the highlights from the weekend:

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Happy Running!  How was your weekend?

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An Exciting Weekend Coming Up

No –I am not racing. (Now that would be beyond exciting.)

I know many local runners racing this marathon: Felice, Tami, Melissa, Elisa, Bridget, Janis, Karen, Gail and Mary.  For Bridget & Janis, this will be their first. SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!

Felice & Elisa

Tami, Janis & Bridget

Mary B.

 GOOD LUCK GIRLS!! I’ll be tracking you!

I won’t be racing but I will be spending the weekend with my favorite Russian – Anna.

me & Anna

 On Saturday I am taking the Megabus to NYC to see her. She has been working in NYC this past week. We have plans to eat lunch at Gordon Ramsey‘s restaurant, the Maze. (Anna works in real estate in Moscow and is a Master chef).

I always look at the desserts first

After lunch we are going to see Ricky Martin on Broadway in Evita.

 Anna is coming home with me and we will spend Sunday together.  My plans for her stay will not be elaborate as the day in NYC but it will be fun.

cruise on Lake George is planned

Happy Running!  Any exciting plans for the weekend?

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My First Un-Race

Right before my injury, I paid for this race:

The normal registration price is $40 so I wanted to take advantage of the early discount of $25.  And since this is one of my favorite races, I decided to splurge and buy the medal.

This would have been my FIFTH Freihofer’s Run for Women – the race that I’ve run the most.

the 2011 running group and then some

So…… I hope to be walking without pain by then… (21 weeks post surgery…maybe even running a few steps?????)

Do I bite my tongue and do it as a WALK or Un-Race?? And get my first Freihofer’s medal for a finish of more than 60 minutes?? (Last year the slowest was 75 min so I hope to beat that.)

Suzy wearing last year’s tech shirt

Sure…why not?  I paid for it and I ‘ll get a cool tech tee-shirt and chocolate chip cookies.  Next year I will try to beat my 28:14 finish time.

Happy Running!  Have you ever walked a whole race?

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Things Happen For a Reason

When I planned our annual tennis trip last fall, I thought Mother’s Day was May 6 so being away May 8-15 wouldn’t be a problem.

On Mother’s Day:

  • I run one of my favorite races: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
  • I celebrate my birthday.
  • I go to the annual Tulip Fest in Washington Park.

Guess what?  I am missing Mother’s Day this year.

Not to worry…

They moved the race. It is no longer run nearby.

  • I am injured and not running 😦
  • The race is not in Delmar as it had been for 31 years.  They used to give away awesome schwag but the sponsorship has changed also.
  • I will celebrate my birthday with Anna & my hubby on May 6 and then on May 9 with my friends in Florida.
  • Due to the warm winter, the tulips will most likely be gone by May 13.   I have already seen them several times in full bloom last week:

So things happen for a reason…

(Maybe I broke my ankle so that _(fill-in-the blank: I could start knitting, cook dinner every night, spend more time with my hubby, become a biker, do some cross training, spend my race entrance fees on PT co-pays OR come back a stronger runner!)

Happy Running!

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Yay, It’s May!

April has ended…still no tennis or racing but things are improving.

I met ALL my Goals! (See below.)

April Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week. Check. 2x/week
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day. Check. 2x/day
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work everyday. Check.
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week. Check.
  • Lose that limp. Check. Well, almost. I can still feel it but not evident to others.
  • Run (on the treadmill) at least a few steps. Check.  I can do a 2 min run, 1 min walk for 20 min.

my new BFF

As you know, May is my favorite month.  I have a lot of fun things planned even if they do not include racing.  I even have some new goals.

May 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 on days with no PT.
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week.
  • Go for walks outside.
  • Run outside (at least a few steps or maybe on a track.)
  • Hit a few tennis balls (maybe practice serving or volleying)
  • STAY POSITIVE!!

    Welcome, May!

 

Happy Running!  Any exciting goals for May?

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Spectating at Sean’s Run

I was on this year’s race brochure so of course, I would have run this race.

me on the front of the mailing

I decided that the race was late enough (1 pm) to be able to drive to Chatham and watch my friend Mary run this race. 

Mary & I enjoying a post-race ice cream cone last year

Friday’s RW quote also came to mind:

Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too.–Richard O’Brien

The last 17 weeks have been all about me.  I have been feeling sorry for myself cuz I can’t run.  I have been jealous of everyone running, training and racing. Everday I wake up and curse Dec 29 and wish I never went for that run.

So yesterday was a perfect running day (just a little too windy) but cool & sunny.  I got to the race early enough to wish Mary luck before the race.

She's ready!

Then I was able to do what I have never been able to do.  I watched the runners start.

They're off!

I got to see all the runners go by.

I even watched the winner (at an amazing time) cross the finish line.

Chuck Terry wins for the 3rd time!

Mary, who is tapering for her marathon next weekend, did great.

Here she comes!

Of course, we had to have our free ice cream cone together again.

the spectator & the runner

I think it’s supposed to be a reward for racing but it still tasted good.

So my first spectating experience wasn’t half bad.  It’s fun if you know someone racing.  Of course, I prefer to be in the race….and I will be next year!

Afterwards we went out for coffee and talked about my comeback –whenever that may be.  Hopefully we will race together in the near future.

Happy Running!  Have you ever spectated at a race when you’ve been injured?