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Winter’s Back?

We got very spoiled here with the 80 degree weather. This is actually normal March weather.  Too windy and cold today for anything.

Weekend update:

Friday after work, my hubby and I went biking on the Corning Trail in Albany. (It was still fairly warm.)

college students practicing crew.

my hubby clowning around.

Saturday we went to the bike trail on the Mohawk (temps had dropped considerably.)

cloudy & cool

reading a sign after his pedal fell off...

Afterwards we went to a bike store and we found a used pedal for $4 that fit. Whew!

Sunday, the forecast was for rain but it was actually sunny.  Unfortunately, I  had some indoor stuff planned but the highlight of the weekend was seeing HUNGER GAMES last night!!

I was pleasantly surprised.  I don’t usually like a movie made from a book but this one was good.  I enjoyed it a lot!  I took my hubby.  Big mistake!  He hadn’t read the book (and the movie left out a lot of important details).  He thought that it was stupid!  I ignored him.  All my friends (who had read the book) loved it!!  Next time, I’ll go with them.

Tonight, I go to PT.  I am impatiently waiting for marked improvement in my ankle’s range of motion and the ability to walk pain-free. (And eventually run….)

Happy Running! Did you see Hunger Games yet?

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Happy 4th Blogoversary

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

Last year, I posted about the highlights of my first three years – https://myfirst5k.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/three-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
  • Year 3 – running through the winter, completing 5ks (and a 5k PR), 4 milers and a Half Marathon
  • Year 4 – completing some 5ks, a 5 miler, 15k and FOUR half marathons (plus an achilles injury and a broken ankle 😦 )

Mother’s Day 5k

Lake George Half Marathon

Delmar Dash 5 miler

 

Stockade-athon 15K

  • Year 5: ???

Optimistically speaking, I am hoping that this next year brings healing and a return to running and racing…

Happy Running!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

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Friday Ramblings

  • 12 week report – still painful walking but PT guy thinks I’m progressing and he keeps upping my training – Wed I did 30 min on the treadmill at 3 mph 12% incline and 10 min on the elliptical (I thought I was going to die!)
  • I do 45 minutes on the exercise bike at work everyday during lunch (This way I get exercise & catch up on my iPad TV viewing.)
  • The weather has been incredible and unfortunately it looks like today is the last day before it returns to normal March weather.  After work today, I plan on going on my 3rd real bike ride.  (I bought a gel seat coverfor my aching butt.)

    same trail as Tues.

  • Yesterday I went for my 5 week hair appt – there’s always someone that comments on my injury & has a horror story – like “my mother didn’t get the hardware taken out right away & she has crippling arthritis” – I hate that!
  • I’ve been doing my grocery shopping at Target lately (they don’t everything but their sale prices are great and I find things that I can’t anywhere else).  My latest fav is:

I tried the pumpkin spice so far and it is delish and cheaper than Starbucks.

  • I just tried FaceTime for the first time (Skype for macs/ iphone/iPad users).  I used it with my friend who just moved to Florida.  It was great (almost like being together in the flesh.)
  • I am looking forward to going to the movies hopefully this weekend:

    Katniss in Hunger Games

Happy Running! Are you a Hunger Games fan?

 

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Wordless Wednesday – Spring (or is it Summer) has sprung

March 21 & 22, 2012

snowing on March 21, 2011

Happy Running! Are you enjoying an early Spring?

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Two on Tuesday

I started the day by buying not ONE but TWO pairs of compressions socks. The were 50% off with free shipping at Swaggle.

already have black & white ones, love PINK!

couldn't resist these cool ones

Sounds strange since I am not running but I was told to wear support socks on the left foot to keep the swelling down.  And I will be running someday and I am sure I will need (want) these.

I also went on TWO Bike rides.  First 40 minutes during lunch on the stationary bike at work and then after work, my hubby (who bought a bike rack yesterday) & I went for a ride on the Corning trail. (Had to do something outside – it was almost 80 degrees!!!!!)

no scenery but I get quality TV watching done - finished Revenge now onto Desperate Housewives

I actually prefer the Nisky trail on the Mohawk River than this one on the Hudson but it is closer.

taken back in October when I was a runner

my hubby & our new (cheap) bike rack

it was so warm out!

Happy Running! Happy first day of spring!

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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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Bikin’ Of the Green

friends at the Runnin' of the Green race 2012 (Thanks AW, I stole your FB pic)

Nope I’m not there!

I ran this race last year.  It was cold & I think there was snow on the ground.

Runnin of the Green 4 miler 2011

This year as you can see in the photo, it was warm enough to run in shorts!!

So what do you do when you are depressed?? You shop and I did.  I bought more yarn to make socks and I bought 2 pairs of pants (Since I can’t wear heels, most of my pants are too long!)

my lst pair of knitted socks

Then I drove to work to ride the exercise bike & walk on the treadmill there. When I was done, I rewarded myself with a Starbucks drink.

green tea frappuccino

I got home to find that my hubby had fixed my old bike…I have not ridden a bike in at least 13 years and this bike in about 30 years old!!

The weather was gorgeous and I was so happy to do something outside!!  The question was — could I ride a bike??

I must admit it wasn’t easy.  It was hard to get on since my left ankle is weak and then it was hard to start pedaling.  I also had to get over the fear that I might fall or wouldn’t be able to stop.

After a few circles of our cul-de-sac, I decided I was ready for the big time.

I talked my hubby into taking out his new bike (the one I won in a raffle) and we drove to the Nisky Bike Path.

That was where I fell and broke my ankle 11 weeks ago!

getting ready to ride...even remembered to wear a green shirt

 

My hubby riding on the trail

 

warm outside but not green yet

We rode about a mile and then turned around. There were a lot of joggers and I was drooling with jealousy.

It was nice to be outside.  And if I couldn’t be Runnin”, I am glad that I was able to be Bikin’.

Happy Running!  How did you celebrate St. Patty’s Day?

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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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All’s Well That Ends Well

I gave him two...

Yesterday I went for my 10 week check-up. Things started poorly and I started to get fearful about the results of my visit.

  • I left work early to go to my orthopedic and they had no record of my appointment anywhere in the computer.  Luckily, I had my appt card so they agreed to squeeze me in.
  • Finally the nurse came to get me in the waiting room and said in a nasty tone, “Where are your crutches?” I said that I didn’t need them. Then she asked, “Where is your boot?” I said that I wasn’t wearing it any more.  She looked at my folder and said nothing.
  • When the doctor came in,  he said “Are we here to talk about your 12 week removal of the screws?”  I replied in a shocked tone, “I don’t think so…but you tell me.”
  • Then he said, you need to go get x-rays.  And the nurse escorted me to the x-ray area where I got x-rays.
  • The nurse then came back and said “Why don’t you hobble back to the examination room and wait for the doctor.” Let’s just say I was trying to impress them with my best non-limping walk… (Did she have to say “hobble?”)

Thank God, things improved after that.

  • The doctor looked at my x-rays and realized that he didn’t put in the long cross screws like he usually does and I don’t need them taken out at 12 weeks – PHEW!
  • He said that everything looks great – the bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage spaces, etc, etc.
  • We talked about how I was doing & what I was doing… he said the swelling was normal and it will be swollen for a year.  He recommended wearing support stockings, elevation, icing and NOT OVER DOING!
  • He said the range of motion will come back and that he was impressed on how well I was doing…much better than he expected at this point…better than most with this injury!  YAY!
  • He cautioned me not to rush things (Patience is not my strong suit.) and stay out of the sun (SPF 80-100) and massage the incisions to help the scarring and nerve endings rebuild.
  • He wrote a script for 4 more weeks of PT cuz I said it helped.
  • He asked what the PT guy thought… I said that he was encouraged with the degree of side to side range of motion (which he thought would not come back this quickly) but that I couldn’t run for 6 months.
  • Here’s the good part.  The doctor said, “You won’t have to wait that long… Start cranking up that treadmill…but don’t run outside for a while yet.”

Next visit is in 6 weeks.  If those x-rays are good, he’ll release me until 9 months out when he’ll decide if all the hardware needs to come out.

I’m trying not to get too excited but I swear my ankle has more movement today… (probably in my head)

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!