July 26, 2011 by Darlene

Running and Your Health

So as you know I haven’t been running due to my achilles injury. Last week, I had sore throat and now it has developed into a full blown COLD – Achoo!!!!

When I was running, I was either training for a 5K or this past year, a half marathon. Since I have been running, I haven’t had a cold!!!!!!!!!!

Does my body know that it is ok to be sick now since I have nothing important to do?

Or is running good for your health?

Here’s what they say:

Many studies indicate that exercising at a medium intensity level reduces our risk of infection over the long term…

Light or moderate running boosts our body’s natural immune system bycirculating protective cells through the body faster, to attack and eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi. Infection fighters, such as Natural Killer Cells, macrophages, immunoglobins, white blood cells, and other antibodies, are produced in the bone marrow, lungs, and spleen, and have a clean up effect on foreign invaders.

Another theory holds that the increase in body temperature when we run may inhibit the growth of bacteria, thus reducing its foothold in the body. Other exercise scientists believe that regular running helps rid the lungs of airborne bacteria and viruses that cause URTI, while others believe exercise causes the loss of carcinogens through increased sweat and urine loss.

In other words, to stay healthy physically (and mentally), I need to start running again soon!

Happy Running!

July 25, 2011 by Darlene

More PT and More Q & A

My second PT visit was just as enjoyable as the first. (Maybe I should get injured more often?)

I had a different phyical therapist but he was just as nice and encouraging as the first. This session started with heat, then more stretching exerices and then 10 minutes on the elliptical. WOW! I thought I would die – It felt like running a marathon. I haven’t done anything aerobic in quite awhile (how quickly our fitness level goes..).

Then he did the heat ultrasound and the massaging and then some electronic device – all to stimulate healing of the tendon. It ended with ice.

Saturday was the Silks and Satin 5k that I have run 3 years in a row. I was sad… but my hubby & I headed up to Lake George and spent a beautful day cooling off on our boat and then yesterday, we went to a birthday party in a park along the lake with good friends. (Unfortunately now I have a head cold…see what no running has done to my body!!!)

my hubby, the birthday boy & me

Darlene

Suzyasks: What is your favorite food?

Hmmm… that’s a tough one… warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

If you could live one day over again what would it be?

Right now, I’d say June 12 when my heel first hurt & I ignored it for a month. It would have been healed by now & I could be training for my half marathon.

When you are better, do you think you’ll ever do a marathon?

Not sure about this. There are times that I think I should and there are other times that I think NO WAY!! I’ll have to see when I heal and run another half how I feel.

Bridget asks: How many countries have you traveled to?

Good question. When I was a junior in college (long ago!) I visited France, Spain, Holland, Corsica, Germany, Italy, and Austria. When I was a French teacher, I also visited Canada, France many times and England. With my 1st husband, I visited Greece and Israel. With my 2nd I visited Virgin Islands (is that a country?). With friends, I visited Mexico and Dominican Republic. During my last job, I visited Russia 3 times. As you can see I LOVE TO TRAVEL. I wish I had more time and more money.

Happy Running! You can still ask me questions…I have plenty of time!

July 22, 2011 by Darlene

Activities to fill up my non-running time

READING:

” a stunning debut novel about four people and the cataclysmic intersection of their lives. Michael is a rising OB/GYN at a prominent private practice in Albany, New York; he also moonlights at a local womens health clinic…”

It was very suspenseful and I recognized all the streets mentioned.

WATCHING WTT TENNIS LIVE:

Bryan Brothers

Martina Hingis

Both were playing in Albany as well as Serena Williams.

ATTENDING A PLAY:

This was held outdoors in Williamstown, MA and my BF’s daughter was in it. (And AJH, they sold home-made Woopie pies – yum!) I also plan to go to see The Producers which is being held outdoors in Washington Park, Albany.

YOGA:

I continue to go to HeartSpace in Albany on Wednesdays.

PLAYING MAH JONG:

Every Friday nite, I play with 4-12 women. 6 tennis players & 1 runner play in our group but I try to concentrate on the game.

Happy Running! What non-running activities do you enjoy?

July 21, 2011 by Darlene

Q & A

Darlene

Molly asks: “What would your last meal be?”

It depends on the meal…I’d say it would be for dinner – pizza and coffee ice cream, for lunch – cheese & apple on toasted raisin bread (or melted swiss and a home grown tomato on rye) with a chocolate egg cream and for breakfast – a vanilla latte with a chocolate filled croissant (pain au chocolat).

AJH asks: What is your favorite race?

My favorite race was the Naples News Half Marathon (1/11). It was my FIRST half marathon. It took place in Florida where the weather was perfect and the scenery awesome. The Freihofer Run for Women is also a favorite of mine. It attracts so many women – from first timers to elite runners from all of the world.

What got you started running?

I am not a natural athlete though I love sports. Growing up, I did not participate in anything (which isn’t odd for my generation.) In my 40’s I started playing tennis. I loved it esp the friendships that developed. Again, it didn’t come easy. In my 50’s, 2 of my tennis friends approached me about taking up running. I had never run before. We signed up for FleetFeet’s No Boundaries program. After I ran one mile without stopping, I was hooked. I signed up for a 5k, then another, and another… In 3 years, I think I ran about 50. What I liked about running (unlike tennis) is that there is no winner or loser. You compete against yourself and your own goals.

Who is your actor crush?

I’d say it’s Patrick Dempsey. I also have a crush on Richard Gere.

Felice asks: Where is your favorite place to run?

In the summertime, it’s in Bolton Landing around the Sagamore Hotel grounds (I go on our boat every weekend there). I also like running around Washington Park in Albany and the Crossings in Colonie.

Happy Running! Ask me more questions!

July 20, 2011 by Darlene

My First PT Session

achilles_tendonitis

I really liked my physical therapist. He listened to me (whine about needing to get back to running asap) and was very encouraging. My Achilles is definitely tight. My uninjured tendon is tight too. In flexibility, it measures 7 (10-15 is recommended) but my injured heel is -3!! Yes, it’s in the negative. I pronate esp on my left foot – the good foot. (I think I will look into orthodics when I’m heeled.)

He says my injury is the lower Achilles near the heel bone and this is the best case as far as healing. On a scale of 1-10, my injury is a 3 (He may be just being nice.)

First he did a heat ultrasound to promote healing of the tendon. Then he massaged it to isolate exactly where it hurt (& to make it hurt) OUCH!

Then he gave me 3 exercises to do and he finished by icing it.

He suggested that I keep up some type of aerobic exercises such as a stationary bike or elliptical. When I said that I would have to join a gym, he said to come to PT early and use the equipment there. Cool!

Of course, I asked him “How long will it be til I can run?”

And of course, he would not give me a definitive answer. He did say that maybe in a week or so, I could try an easy jog…..

Then I said that I hoped to at least walk the Sept 25 HM and run the Nov 6 HM and he said that it sounds about right! YAY!!

Happy Running!

July 19, 2011 by Darlene

Ask Me Anything…

AJH at Age Groups Rock tagged me for the question/answer post that is spreading through the bloggersphere. You have time to ask me some questions in the comment section and then next week. I will answer them.

Since I am not running, it will give me something to talk about. So ask my anything and I will ~~promise~~ try to answer.

Here are my 5 nominees: (They are all local from my area.)

Felice at The Happy Runner. She had a baby 9 mos ago and you wouldn’t believe how FAST she runs!!!
Suzy at Running on my time. She recently finished her Masters, is a stay at home mom to 2 kids and is training for her 1st marathon.
Heather at Then Heather Said. Her blog is so inspiring and creative. She is a runner but much more.
Jen at Jen is Green. She took up running and lost a lot of weight. She continues to run and eat healthy.
Bridget at Our Life, Our World…My Thoughts. She ran her 1st 5K a little over a year ago and is already training for her 2nd Half Marathon.

Happy Running! Think up those questions!

July 18, 2011 by Darlene

Running Update

No Running 😦

I spent the weekend relaxing in Lake George…

I have my 1st PT appt scheduled for Wed. I hope to plead my case on how I need to be able to run SOOOOOON!

Happy Running!

July 16, 2011 by Darlene

Top 100 Running Blogs

Congratulations Darlene,

Your Blog has been selected as one of the Top 100 Running Blogs for 2011!

The Team here at HealthcareColleges.net spent the first quarter of 2011 searching the Internet for the best of the best in running Blogs, analyzing them based on their post content, layout and user feedback. We are excited to award you with our seal of approval as one of the best running Blogs on the Internet!

I do recognize many of the blogs on the list and they are on my BlogRoll. There are some missing… such as Age Groups Rock and Sweat Once a Day and several others that I think are super!

Happy Running? Any of your favorite blogs missing too?

July 15, 2011 by Darlene

Success is …

Determined by how you handle setbacks.

I got that quote from AJH‘s header.

I went for an Ultrasound today on my right heel.

Diagnosis: No tears but there is scar tissue and inflammation around the Achilles Tendon.

He thinks the scar tissue is there from a previous injury (maybe from waterskiing accident 10 yrs ago) but the inflammation is from overuse or overpronation related to running or tennis.

Treatment: Continue ice and anti-inflammatory drugs but NO RUNNING OR TENNIS FOR 4-6 WEEKS!!!!!!! He orderd PT 3x a week for 4 wks and if that doesn’t help, then a cortisone shot and immobilzation.

I made an appt with the Dr’s recommended PT (which is near where I work) for next Wed. Next ultrsound is scheduled for Aug 12.

(Too bad, I didn’t go to the doctor 5 wks ago at the first sign of pain. I could be healed already…)

So how will I handle my setback?

~~I will cry.~~
~~I will complain.~~
~~I will make my hubby and friends miserable by my misery.~~
~~I will gain weight by eating lots of ice cream to make myself feel better.~~
I will have more time for reading and movie going.
I may even do some gardening & cleaning out of the house.
I will continue yoga and light walking to stay in shape. (May be even join a gym to build upper body strength.)
I will lose weight (since I don’t have to carb load).
I will heal QUICKLY!!!
No July 23 ,July 30 or Aug 13 5k races or Aug 10k but I plan to walk the Sept 25 Half Marathon!!!
I plan to race my 4th Half Marathon on Nov 6. (How’s that for optimism?)

Happy Running! Any tips for surviving a running injury?

July 14, 2011 by Darlene

TTT – the Good and the Bad

The Bad:

1. I’m sick of obsessing about my foot (heel). I’ve researched my symptoms to death on the Internet. I have everything and yet nothing.

2. I’m having race/run envy. See my last post. Everywhere I look, there’s a jogger or an email or FB post about a race. Does that only happen when you can’t run??

3. This is week#2 of Half Marathon training and I’ve decided not to run again until my heel stops hurting or the doctor says I can or both. (Ultrasound is scheduled for tomorrow!!!!!!!) Marathon #3 is Sept 25 but the real crisis is Marathon#4 which is in LA on Nov 6. It’s too soon to freak out about that one, right?

The Good: