training for the Disney 1/2
I was working on a training plan to run/walk the Disney Half Marathon in January. I've gone out several times to run/walk and my body just isn't cooperating. Something funky is going on with my hip and running is aggravating it (this is on the opposite side of my last injury...go figure). However, walking I can do. And unless something magically changes and my hip problems disappear, I will be walking the half.For some crazy reason I feel like a failure admitting I won't be running it. But I shouldn't feel like that. I know this. So why do I? I'm going to train, give it my best and walk my booty off to make that 13.1 and cross the finish line. Who says I have to run it to finish? Just my inner mean girl. Excuse me while I go kick her butt. With the side of my body that's hyped up on steroids and feels no pain.
let the half-marathon training begin
That's right, folks, you heard it first on Twitter because I post everything that's anything there first.I am officially registered for the Disney 1/2 Marathon on January 8, 2011. At this time, I'm doing the 1/2 and I have friends that are actually doing the full marathon the next day (because they're rock stars!) - Brooke, Christie, Kirsten and Karena. A few more peeps are still in the decision making process but suffice it to say it will be an awesome weekend in Florida!
I will admit, I struggled with the decision to start running again. And yes I can run without actually participating in an event but I did make a commitment to raise the money AND complete the 1/2. The money is raised. I need to finish what I started. Additionally, without a goal to work towards I lack the motivation to actually get my legs out there. I've heard it said by so many people that running is mental. And I'm starting to believe it.
That being said I need some input from my friends. Do I do this on my own and tackle a pre-laid-out plan like this? Do I try contacting a virtual training like Coach Joe from TNT? Or do I hit up my local gym and have a trainer there work with me? My goals are to finish in the allotted time and train without serious injury. Having my back fail on me in May was disheartening, depressing and really a very difficult time for me to get through (mentally and physically). I want to do this right so something like this doesn't happen again. Thoughts?
day book journal - august 7th
I love the idea of posting a weekly Day Book Journal entry (first seen at The Daily Mel). The idea is to post an entry each week giving your readers a brief peek into the blogger's life. I don't know if I'll do it weekly or just this once but it seemed like a fun idea.Outside my window... it's dark and I hear the crickets singing their good night songs.
I am thinking... that I am really looking forward to getting away for a long weekend with my husband at the end of next week.
I am thankful for... healthy, happy children.
Around the house... I need to hit room # 2 (my son's bedroom) in the grand painting and making the new home ours plan.
I am wearing... a t-shirt, jean shorts and flip-flops.
I am loving... restarting the C25K this week.
I am hoping... that the kids sleep well tonight, and I get to sleep in a little tomorrow.
I am stitching... Are you kidding? This chick doesn't stitch. I can't imagine the damage I'd do if I tried.
I am drooling over... a new laptop bag. I can see it in my mind but I haven't found exactly what I want yet. I love the cute, custom made ones but it's hard to find them to fit my 17" laptop AND have room for my files, too.
I am sorely tempted by... Etsy. I cannot look because then I want to buy. Every. Time.
I am reading... The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
On my iPod... all running music. My current fave is Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas. Yeah it's so last year but I so still love it.
On my mind... school starting in a few weeks.
On my To Do List... making a final decision regarding the Disney 1/2 Marathon in January.
From my picture journal... my daughter right before heading out to the water park last week. Gah, her cuteness is sometimes too much for me.
hopeful
Hopeful. This is how I feel this morning. I visited the pain clinic on Monday morning and received my 1st steroid injection in my lower back. I was pretty sore around the injection site but woke up this morning to NO PAIN. After doing some things (like a load of laundry and unloading/reloading the dishwasher) I did experience some discomfort but nothing - nothing - like what I've been dealing with the last few months.At the moment I'm on restricted activity - meaning no jumping the gun and restarting the 1/2 marathon training - but I can take the kids for walks around the neighborhood and I can start on the treadmill again starting at 5 minutes and working my way up slowly. I return to the doctor on July 20th for a re-eval and possible 2nd injection depending on how I'm doing.
So yes, I'm hopeful. Very hopeful.
no surgery
I received the best. news. ever. today! NO SURGERY ON MY BACK!!!! This makes me so happy.Shown on the MRI, it appears that the problem is a bulging disc in the L4-5 area of my lower back. It's hitting my L5 nerve thus causing the pain. Apparently I have short pedicles and not a lot of room to handle any type of bulging disc. He said that if I had long pedicles I probably never would've even realized I had a disc problem. Go figure.
So with that, I should hear from the pain clinic on Monday and they should be able to schedule me within a week for a steroid injection in my lower back. Doc said I'll be sore for a few days but after that I can do normal stuff.
I am beyond thrilled. There's a chance, of course, that this won't work, but at this point there's no nerve damage and it looks like I'll be able to get through this without surgery. The injection should take care of the pain and I can resume exercising and restart training for another 1/2 marathon.
My plan to try and participate in the Disney 1/2 in January? In the doctor's own words? "Completely reasonable."
SQUEEEE!!!!!
the whole story
Around early May I went out to do my 7 mile walk/run for Team in Training. I only made it a few miles and had to stop because of extreme pain in my hip. From that point forward every time I tried to exercise I couldn't. The pain was unbelievable.I finally went to my doctor who diagnosed me with sacroiliac strain and/or SI joint sprain with a secondary diagnosis of sciatica. He ordered x-rays and sent me to physical therapy. I followed-up with him yesterday. My x-rays are good (great news) and the physical therapy hasn't helped my pain (not-so-great news). I am scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday evening. Depending on the results of that I will either be referred out to a specialist for for further treatment (cortisone injections or back surgery because he's guessing it's a bulging or herniated disc in my low back) or we start over.
I met my fundraising goal for the 1/2 marathon but I can't physically participate in it (it's this Sunday). My entire team is already in San Diego enjoying the beautiful weather and each other's company and I sit at home in Pennsylvania. The doctor and physical therapist both believed that travel would set back my recovery and I would be miserable trying to travel. I know they are right (because I am in pain 99.9% of the time) but my heart is there this weekend. I worked so hard on the training and the fundraising to not be able to be there at all and that's hugely disappointing to me.
The funds I raised are currently sitting in limbo right now. I have 6 months to recommit to a new event with Team in Training. Regardless of whether or not I participate in another event LLS WILL get the money - no worries there. The thing is I WANT to. I know so many people in my life don't get it. But this is what I was working for and I still want to do it. Depending on the severity of my back problems, I am looking at the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in October with Kirsten and her hubby OR the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January 2011 with a few ladies from Shrinking Jeans. (I would be doing the 1/2 there as well - not the full marathon.)
Once I get my MRI and we are able to figure out what's wrong and what treatment course to take I will then be able to decide which event would work out best in terms of being able to get back on track with a training schedule.
Thank you to everyone that supported my journey for Team in Training and LLS. I am still accepting donations on behalf of LLS because unless I am physically not able to do it, I am going to recommit to another event with Team in Training in the near future.
don't quit
There's a poem I love. I have loved it for years. Only now as I'm dealing with my back injury and the disappointment of not only not completing the half-marathon I've trained for but dealing with several weeks of inactivity and not being able to travel to cheer on my teammates, has it come to mean so much more to me.When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
-Author Unknown-
Yes, I've been knocked down. Yes, I'm disappointed. But I won't let this keep me down. I will be able to exercise again and I WILL train for and complete a half-marathon as soon as I have the all-clear from my doctor and physical therapist to start training again.
broken
I had really hoped my next post would be full of lots of positive goodness. But as far as my injuries are concerned I have nothing positive to report. I canceled last week's Death by Derrick session and have had to put any future ones on hold pending results of my x-rays and physical therapy. Yes, you read it right. X-rays AND physical therapy. Starting tomorrow. The doctor still isn't sure what I did although he's guessing the sacroiliac strain is a result of training for the 1/2 marathon. That being said, he doesn't think I'm going to be well enough physically to actually participate in the 1/2 marathon in a few short weeks. I, on the other hand, am hoping and praying that a week or two of physical therapy will get me well enough to at least walk it. Only time will tell.As I type this I am feeling...broken, disappointed, overwhelmed and sad. I have been training for this and had my heart set on it. When it went from partially running to walking only I accepted that. Now to physically NOT be able to even walk it? Devastating. Some people may not get why this is so important to me; all I can say is it is.
I keep telling myself that at least I exceeded my fundraising goal of $2,900 and the monies I raised will go towards finding a cure for blood cancers but raising the money was only part of the journey for me. Actually going the full 13.1 miles was the other part and a very important part.
I refuse to let this get me down. Yes, I am sad. But I will get past this. I will go to therapy, I will do what I need to do to get well again and I will heal. It's just getting to the stage where I am well again that will prove difficult for me. I'm impatient and I want to get better yesterday.
21 days? gone.
The 21 day challenge ended without me realizing it ended. It's just been a rough few weeks. But hey, there's always a new challenge, right? And there's a 1/2 marathon in 2 weeks. And there's a Death by Derrick session in my future (Friday morning, to be exact). I'm not looking forward to that. I haven't been to the gym in *cough* 2 weeks. Granted I have a good excuse - what with the low back strain and sciatica - BUT I still hate feeling like a slacker. Whatevs. I'll get over it. I'm actually walking today without limping and not as sore as I have been. I hope that's a good sign!!!so close
As of this evening, I am almost at my fundraising goal for the LLS 1/2 Marathon in San Diego as part of Team Shrinking Jeans. I. Am. Amazed. I have things that I want to share (and will share!) but time doesn't permit me to do so tonight. For now I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to every single person that has helped me regardless of the amount. YOU are all awesome and I love you so much.I only need $62.86 to reach my goal of $2,900.
If you would like to donate, click HERE.
Thank you for believing in me and helping such an important cause!
xoxo
schedule, what?
I am having a real problem putting myself on a schedule. I am running around in circles and quite frankly feel like a dog chasing its tail. Nice visual, huh?Here's what must get done every day:
- Feed and bathe my children.
- Pick up and drop off my oldest at school.
- Take a shower. (Although this has been optional lately.)
- Dinner. (Ugh. Why is this so hard?)
- Exercise. Not only for my physical and mental health but for my 1/2 marathon in June.
- Work. I work for 2 AVON District Managers from home and have stuff I must get done for them on a daily basis.
- Laundry.
- Picking up around the house. Don't even get me started on actually cleaning.
- Me eating breakfast. I know.
- Couple time with my husband. It's been practically non-existent. Not good.
new challenge & a weigh-in
Yesterday, the Sisterhood started a new challenge - a revisit of an oldy but goody - 21 Days. The premise behind it is the saying or thought that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. So the goal is to form a new habit or habits over the next 3 weeks.
So here are my goals for the next 3 weeks (I seem to revisit these a lot but I'm trying to form good habits here, people):
- 64+ ounces of water/day
- Eat breakfast. (Why is this one sooo hard for me?)
- Stay on track with exercise - specifically my 1/2 marathon training. It's June 6th. And I MUST beat the sweeper van. Oh and I need to raise more money. Help a girl out, would ya? (Seeing as I still need to raise around $1,680. Yikes!)
Ok, I missed weigh-in on Wednesday but did weigh-in Thursday morning and I'm down 1.1 pounds this week. I would like to continue to see the scale move in a downward pattern BUT I have promised myself not to stress if it doesn't. Remind me of that if I weigh-in and the scale is up, m'kay? Thanks.
where to start?
I'm not even sure where to start this post. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since my last post so maybe bullet format would be best so I can cram everything into one big post and not worry about making sure what I'm writing matches my title. Yes, that's what I'll do.- Today is the final weigh-in for the Spring Fling Challenge over at the Sisterhood. My total loss for the challenge is 2 pounds (up 0.2 this week). The last few weeks I have checked in with my Challenge Team but haven't been keeping up over at the Sisterhood site.
- My kids have been sick for the last week and I have since joined them. The oldest was diagnosed with bronchitis and woke up throwing up with an ear ache and sore throat. The toddler has a ferocious cough and has for over a week. Both are going to the doctor in about an hour.
- Going through a rough patch with my husband. No I will not detail it on my blog because it is very personal. But we are working through it.
- Last Wednesday I had someone stop by my house. My landlord isn't paying his mortgage and the house I'm in is being foreclosed on. Nice.
- Started house-hunting this past weekend. I'm tired and my head hurts. Looking at houses is fun but also very stressful. Especially when we just got settled in this house and were planning to rent for at least another year or so.
- Closing on Minnesota house is still on schedule for April 30th. YAY!
Oh! YES I'm still training for the LLS 1/2 Marathon in June. I still need to raise funds, too! You can help by clicking HERE. Please? Pretty please?
spring fling challenge weigh-in #6
Although I didn't blog about it last week I did weigh-in and post in my sidebar over there on the left. Week 5 I gained 1.3. This week I'm down 1.4. I have tried to be more conscious of the amount of food I'm putting in my mouth and not eating randomly and when I'm not hungry (which I'm really good at - the eating randomly, that is).
I decided to join a gym. I know. Today was my first day there and because my biggest concern is child care (i.e. will my child stay and have fun?) I was more than a little nervous. Well combine that with the fact that I haven't set foot in a gym in a few years and I had just about talked myself out of going. But I went. And I'm glad I did. My little one thoroughly enjoyed herself, I got a few miles in on the treadmill and am ready to start working this into my daily routine. I have a 9:00 a.m. appointment with a personal trainer who has assured me he'll "whip me into shape" and I'm officially scared. Will someone hold me please?
My friend Lissa takes a muscle work class lovingly called "Death by Barb". I'm totally thinking tomorrow morning's visit will be "Death by Derrick". IF I can move I'll let you know how it went.
This week's goals? Water, water, water. And try not to kill myself at the gym.
training - week 9
Week 9 of training for the 1/2 marathon has just wrapped up. While most of my teammates were going strong at 8 miles this past weekend, my revised training schedule has me at 4 miles with no inclines. Next week I *finally* move up to 5 miles. (Not that I'm looking forward to 5 miles - I just dislike being on a modified schedule because of my back and hip.) There are a few of us with injuries and on modified schedules but we're sticking it out safely thanks to our awesome Coach Joe, chiropractors and sports doctors!At this point I still have $2,138.53 to raise (by May 17th). YIKES. That's a lot of money. I actually hesitated with recommitting to the 1/2 marathon but my husband has assured me he KNOWS I can do this - the mileage and the fundraising - and I gotta admit I am so thankful to have a supportive partner throughout this. If it weren't for him and my teammates I wouldn't have gotten this far. I'm sure of it.
I'll be having a rummage sale in early May with 100% of the proceeds going to my fundraising for Team in Training. If you're local and want to donate stuff for it I'll gladly come and take it off of your hands.
And, of course, all monetary donations are gladly accepted! Donate HERE.
to join a gym or not...
So I've been struggling with the decision of whether or not to join a gym. The biggest issue is time. As my training progresses so does the amount of time I'm working out. What used to be easy to accomplish during nap time isn't as easy. Getting up before my kids is NOT an option so please don't suggest that. I'm not a morning person and I love my sleep as much as I love my caffeine. And that's a lot. I started working out once the kids were in bed but that gave me an insane amount of energy and I couldn't sleep. When I did finally go to sleep I only got a few hours before the children were raring to go and I couldn't function (don't forget: Must. Have. Sleep.).So I came up with this brilliant idea - join a gym and change my routine to this: wake up, breakfast, kids ready, take 5 year old to school, 2 year old and I to gym, her in child care - me work out and then shower, run any necessary errands, back home until time to pick up 5 year old from school.
If I don't join a gym I will have to continue to squeeze workouts into nap time or post bed time (which is also the time I "work"). So I feel like my only option IS to join a gym. So why am I typing this and asking if I should join a gym or not? I just totally answered my own question.
it's official
I have officially recommitted to the LLS 1/2 Marathon in June and I have until May 17th to raise an additional $2,200. You know, I thought the physical training would be the hardest and while it IS physically challenging (oh my WORD it's a challenge), the fundraising is harder. Much harder. People you think would be willing to help don't even acknowledge your efforts. People you hardly talk to or know from way back when go above and beyond. It's strange. I'm honestly not sure how I'm going to get to my goal but I'm gonna bust my butt trying. And hope that the efforts I make to raise money for this cause save at least one life if not more...success
Success is different for each person. For me, success was stepping on the treadmill tonight after my back/hip problems and completing 3 miles. Yes, the little voice in my head kept telling me, "...but if you hadn't hurt yourself you would be doing 6 or more miles by now." But the thing is I DID hurt myself and I can't change that. All I can do is move forward.Success is coming back to weigh-in on the weeks I know I didn't do what I should've done to be healthier and more active. I could easily whoops! forget my weigh-in but I won't. It pops up as a reminder on my computer every Wednesday morning. It's literally impossible to forget.
I'm reading Jeff Galloway's Book on Running (copy courtesy of a giveaway I won over at Shrinking Jeans). Something in this book really struck me..."...'success' is in the eye of the performer. There can be success in every experience...you can string together a series of internal victories that form a pattern of progress." This is exactly what I'm doing. Continuing to push myself to be more active, continuing to weigh-in each week, continuing to make healthy choices (not just for me but as an example to my children) - these are ALL successes. It's all a matter of perspective.
How do YOU define success?
back on track - 3 miles
Thanks to those of you that sent notes to tell me to stop being lazy, get off my butt and just do it. Tonight was my first official post-injury treadmill jaunt of 3 miles and I feel so good having done it.
Tomorrow I get a break with Pilates - if Pilates is even really a break? - before putting another 3 miles in on Thursday. This is good. I was so worried that taking time off to recover would seriously derail me but it was all in my head (go figure). Yes, I have to play catch up. But I will catch up. And I will cross the finish line in San Diego.
