YES, I will be running in the Seattle Rock N' Roll Marathon with my team.
No, I am not planning on completing the half or full marathons (THIS time). My coaches have said I will be back up to about 8 miles by then. I plan to run from the start to Ian's house (around the 6.5 mile mark on the course) and then cheer on my teammates from there.
YES, I still need your donations! I am about $200 from my goal and would love to raise more before the deadline in June. Overall, my team has raised over $130,000 during the past 5 months to directly fund blood cancer research.
No, I do not plan to give up. You will see me come back to run with Team in Training again!!!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
7 weeks later...a bit of injury perspective
My 2.5 planned weeks off from running turned into a full 6 weeks off. Yes, the stress fracture in my right foot was the culprit.
My wise coaches and doctor told me I could swim or bike instead. And I flirted with the idea of swimming regularly (and even bought the athletic swim suit, cap, and goggles to do so). But I was quickly discouraged by how much effort it was to find a pool with lap swim hours conducive to my schedule. And my bike has seen more rust in the last 4 years than riding. Mostly though, I was just frustrated. Frustrated that I couldn't do the one thing I wanted to do...run! (So frustrated, I haven't felt the urge to update my blog until now.)
For the past six weeks I exercised very little indeed. And I'll admit that I began to feel angry, stressed out, and a bit sorry for myself. My hopes of completing my first full marathon went down the drain. It was unclear if I'd even be able to do a half marathon this season (as it now looks like I won't). Any of you runners out there will understand how upsetting this is, to be so driven to achieve your distance goal only to have your body protest.
But an unexpected positive has resulted from my time off my pesky right foot. I have had a whole new Team in Training experience, one that I'm sure I would have missed were I more focused on drumming out the miles. Manning water stops, I have seen fast and slow team members alike pounding the pavement for hours...with smiles on their faces. I got to hear a cyclist on the Burke Gilman trail shout out, "my mother thanks you!" when he saw our Team in Training sign. I have had the opportunity to talk with captains, mentors and participants and to learn more about their personal reasons for joining Team in Training. I have cried with teammates over loved ones lost. I have laughed with them whenever we had reason to. And I have been so touched with how many people consistently ask how I'M doing...even in the midst of completing a grueling workout. Most importantly, I have been reminded that the reason I joined Team in Training in the first place is because of the people and amazing mission to which we dedicate ourselves. For parents, for friends, for siblings, for children, for friends of friends, and for complete strangers...this team works hard each weak to train and fundraise. I see everpresent hope in my teammates' faces and increased tenacity in their fundraising, as we work together to fund blood cancer research.
I am humbled by this experience. I have learned that perhaps my positive attitude is too contingent on positive circumstance. I see more than ever that great things are happening through Team in Training. Brave and strong and compasionate people are pushing themselves everyday for the good of others. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be amongst these people and to participate in the mission to end blood cancers forever.
My wise coaches and doctor told me I could swim or bike instead. And I flirted with the idea of swimming regularly (and even bought the athletic swim suit, cap, and goggles to do so). But I was quickly discouraged by how much effort it was to find a pool with lap swim hours conducive to my schedule. And my bike has seen more rust in the last 4 years than riding. Mostly though, I was just frustrated. Frustrated that I couldn't do the one thing I wanted to do...run! (So frustrated, I haven't felt the urge to update my blog until now.)
For the past six weeks I exercised very little indeed. And I'll admit that I began to feel angry, stressed out, and a bit sorry for myself. My hopes of completing my first full marathon went down the drain. It was unclear if I'd even be able to do a half marathon this season (as it now looks like I won't). Any of you runners out there will understand how upsetting this is, to be so driven to achieve your distance goal only to have your body protest.
But an unexpected positive has resulted from my time off my pesky right foot. I have had a whole new Team in Training experience, one that I'm sure I would have missed were I more focused on drumming out the miles. Manning water stops, I have seen fast and slow team members alike pounding the pavement for hours...with smiles on their faces. I got to hear a cyclist on the Burke Gilman trail shout out, "my mother thanks you!" when he saw our Team in Training sign. I have had the opportunity to talk with captains, mentors and participants and to learn more about their personal reasons for joining Team in Training. I have cried with teammates over loved ones lost. I have laughed with them whenever we had reason to. And I have been so touched with how many people consistently ask how I'M doing...even in the midst of completing a grueling workout. Most importantly, I have been reminded that the reason I joined Team in Training in the first place is because of the people and amazing mission to which we dedicate ourselves. For parents, for friends, for siblings, for children, for friends of friends, and for complete strangers...this team works hard each weak to train and fundraise. I see everpresent hope in my teammates' faces and increased tenacity in their fundraising, as we work together to fund blood cancer research.
I am humbled by this experience. I have learned that perhaps my positive attitude is too contingent on positive circumstance. I see more than ever that great things are happening through Team in Training. Brave and strong and compasionate people are pushing themselves everyday for the good of others. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be amongst these people and to participate in the mission to end blood cancers forever.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Stress fracture = no running for at least 2.5 weeks
DANG!!!
Over the last two weeks, I had been experiencing weakness and pain in the middle of my foot whenever I put weight on the ball of my right foot. As you might imagine, this is a problem when you're running.
I didn't ignore it...but my body compensated by putting weight on the outside of my foot. And, after 20 miles a week of training, my ankle and calf did not like this one bit. So, the last 2 days, they have been staging a full-blown rebellion. It took me more than twice as long to walk anywhere, as I hobbled about. And this is a problem when you work in a big hospital. The bathroom is about 1/8 mile from my office!
So, today I went to see the lovely sports medicine doctor, Robyn Fean, at UW Hall Health. She is young, kind, and a runner herself. And she had my foot x-rayed. She says I have an early stress fracture (which is funny because I'm never early for anything!) Treatment? Stay off it for a week, and only moderate walking for a week and a half after that. Then, we'll see. I guess I'll just work on resting up and drinking milk until then. But man! It is so frustrating to not be allowed to run! The irony here is that during all those busy weeks of school, work and training...there were many days when I felt bad for myself that I had to go run. Hmmm...maybe God is trying to teach me to be thankful for my normally able and fit body.
I'm allowed to swim and bike as much as I like. But this may be a challenge...since I don't have a swim suit, belong to a pool, or have a working bike (or helmet). Nice curve ball, Life.
Over the last two weeks, I had been experiencing weakness and pain in the middle of my foot whenever I put weight on the ball of my right foot. As you might imagine, this is a problem when you're running.
I didn't ignore it...but my body compensated by putting weight on the outside of my foot. And, after 20 miles a week of training, my ankle and calf did not like this one bit. So, the last 2 days, they have been staging a full-blown rebellion. It took me more than twice as long to walk anywhere, as I hobbled about. And this is a problem when you work in a big hospital. The bathroom is about 1/8 mile from my office!
So, today I went to see the lovely sports medicine doctor, Robyn Fean, at UW Hall Health. She is young, kind, and a runner herself. And she had my foot x-rayed. She says I have an early stress fracture (which is funny because I'm never early for anything!) Treatment? Stay off it for a week, and only moderate walking for a week and a half after that. Then, we'll see. I guess I'll just work on resting up and drinking milk until then. But man! It is so frustrating to not be allowed to run! The irony here is that during all those busy weeks of school, work and training...there were many days when I felt bad for myself that I had to go run. Hmmm...maybe God is trying to teach me to be thankful for my normally able and fit body.
I'm allowed to swim and bike as much as I like. But this may be a challenge...since I don't have a swim suit, belong to a pool, or have a working bike (or helmet). Nice curve ball, Life.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Successes so far...and some room for improvement
Successes!
1. Minimum fundraising met at $1260! (Now 100% of additional donations goes directly to blood cancer research...thank you!) My new season goal is $1800
2. After my longest training run yet (6 miles) I felt like I could keep going :)
3. I can now spit without getting it all over myself. Although, I do still do a funny little skip jump when I do it
4. My team has raised almost $100,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
Room for improvement:
1. Working on waking up for morning runs during the week (so I'm not tempted to miss them after 8 hours of work and 3.5 hours of class)
2. Figuring out how to eat enough...and how to make time for eating (not easy when you're not someone who cooks in the first place)
3. My apartment's cleanliness has gone to the wayside. I'm interviewing a cleaning lady next week
4. It's harder than I thought to maintain work performance, school performance, training, and relationships...but I'm tryin!
1. Minimum fundraising met at $1260! (Now 100% of additional donations goes directly to blood cancer research...thank you!) My new season goal is $1800
2. After my longest training run yet (6 miles) I felt like I could keep going :)
3. I can now spit without getting it all over myself. Although, I do still do a funny little skip jump when I do it
4. My team has raised almost $100,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
Room for improvement:
1. Working on waking up for morning runs during the week (so I'm not tempted to miss them after 8 hours of work and 3.5 hours of class)
2. Figuring out how to eat enough...and how to make time for eating (not easy when you're not someone who cooks in the first place)
3. My apartment's cleanliness has gone to the wayside. I'm interviewing a cleaning lady next week
4. It's harder than I thought to maintain work performance, school performance, training, and relationships...but I'm tryin!
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