The Great Outdoors

I have been running in the great outdoors for one week and I am ecstatic to be back out there. That being said, I am struggling with the fact that I am just not where I once was. I know I'm recovering from an injury, but still it's frustrating. I'm not allowed to run very far or very fast, but at least I'm running and everything will come back with time, training, focus and determination. I hope.

On Sunday, I completed my longest outdoor run since the injury - 4.7 miles in 40 minutes. My IT band on my right leg was really tight towards the end of the run, which was mind boggling to me because that hasn't hurt since the beginning of this year when I was doing big miles for Boston '07. I have a feeling my right leg may be picking up some of the slack for my left leg (the injured one).

My PT gave me a running, strength and cross training workout that gets me until this Saturday when I will do a 45 minute run. It's funny to be in a gym again... I'm terrible at the strength and cross training part of the whole thing, but I am learning to love it. I have been on the elliptical and am somehow finding that fun. I've also found a new love for rowing - I've never done it before and probably look ridiculous, but it's fun! The strength part is going well too and I am feeling stronger all around. In fact, here's a picture of my gym gear - magazine for reading while on the elliptical, post-it with the day's workout and pen for notes.

On Friday, I will see my PT again and consult with him on where I can go from here - at the last consult he said he could have me marathon training again by January 1st - and what's up with my IT band.

Coffee & PT

I haven't written in over a week because life has been just more of the same. Physical therapy on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Running on my 20 minutes on off days from PT. So I really haven't had much to say, until today...

I ran on the treadmill at lunch today for my 20 minutes. About about 10 minutes I started smelling coffee. I knew I couldn't be sweating out coffee because I haven't had it in a few days and it was a really strong smell - like a Folgers-waking-you-up-in-the-morning kind of smell. My gym has a juice bar (a.k.a. I'm a big muscle man and on top of the 'roids I'm already doing I drink the Super Whey Protein Muscle Man drink while I sit at the bar in my teeny tiny t-shirt that I had to have someone paint on me this morning just so girls will look at me) so I assumed that they were making a fresh pot of coffee as part of the gyms member appreciation week. A couple more minutes pass by and I catch a glimpse of the girl next to me. She had started on the treadmill oh just a couple minutes ago... let's say about 10 minutes into my run. Do you get what I'm hinting at here? Yes! She was drinking coffee while walking on the treadmill. If anyone can explain this to me, please do so. I am baffled.

So PT... . Tonight I did a strength test to see how my leg was doing. I did a few different weight strength tests and then some elliptical, stairmaster and backwards running on the treadmill. I was beat after all the cardio stuff, but I felt like I should have done more to really max out the weight. The PT says I'm just about done. Tomorrow morning I go in to talk to him about what, if anything, I have left to do at PT and what I can do as far as running goes. I'm looking at this as good news that hopefully I'll be back into a more solid running schedule with some more miles - more outdoor miles, hopefully - and then eventually back into racing.

My 10 Minutes of Running

I did it today. I ran for 10 minutes. And yes, I did the 6 minutes on the elliptical, my stretches, and 6 more minutes before I started running, just like my PT said.

It was a beautiful day outside - 56 degrees, sunny - and yet I was inside... on the treadmill. It was painful to be there. I haven't been on a treadmill in about nine months. There was a girl on my right, who I actually thought looked like a runner and then I was thinking of the Pearl Izumi® ads and according the them, a runner would never be inside on a treadmill. Then I was afraid that everyone would think I was less of a runner because I was inside. Maybe she is rehabbing an injury too. I never really thought of it before, but at the gym on the treadmill I ran with people so it was hard for me not to go fast and get competitive. But I made it through and those 10 minutes were the fastest 10 minutes of my life.

I iced when I got home and tomorrow I'll go to PT. I'll let them know how great I feel and my fingers are crossed that I'll be released to add on more time to my 10 minute run.

TGIF - Happy PT Friday

I can run! I can run! I can run!

I got permission to do the elliptical on Thursday. I had to do something. So I did that for 20 minutes on Thursday night. I'm impressed I made it that long. That thing (the elliptical) is the most boring thing ever. Anyway... I woke up Friday and felt incredible! I had no pain at all. It was great. So I headed for PT Friday after work to deliver the good news.

My PT was psyched for me and said it wouldn't be much longer until I was back. PT was great and I did all of my exercises with no pain and I was feeling really strong. I love the weight lifting part of PT. I've learned so much in just a week and a half. The best part of PT came at the end.

Me: Can I run this weekend? *hopeful smile*
PT Tech: I'll ask the PT when I call him.
Me: Thanks.
PT Tech: Can Janette run this weekend?...OK. ... OK. ... Got it. ... Yes, I'm writing it down. ... OK. ... Bye.
PT Tech: OK. The PT said you can run.
Me: Awesome. Thanks!! *illuminating smile*
PT Tech: But... You have to do 6 minutes on the elliptical, then do your stretches, then do 6 more minutes on the elliptical and then you can run for 10 minutes only. And you have to run somewhere soft. So if you're outside run on a field, if your inside run on the treadmill.
Me: I can run. This is awesome.
PT Tech: Yes, but remember to do 6 minutes on the elliptical, stretch, 6 more minutes on the elliptical, and then you can run for 10 minutes only. *she puts more emphasis on the 10 minutes this time as if I don't hear her*
Me: Yes, yes, 10 minutes. I got it. I'll keep it to 10 minutes - that's better than zero minutes.
PT Tech: OK, go have a good run this weekend. *smiles hoping I keep it to only 10 minutes*

Wahoo!!! I am incredibly happy! I'm going to make these 10 minutes count!

NOVA Marathon Challenge

I watched the NOVA Marathon Challenge on PBS on Tuesday night. The show documents 13 runners as they train for and run their first marathon - the Boston Marathon. One of their coaches was Uta Pippig. At one point, she is on Heartbreak Hill running up it with the NOVA runners. She gives them advice. All I could think was how crazy that would have been to have The Uta Pippig telling you "you can do it, stay relaxed, you've got it" - how incredible! You can read all about the challenge here.

I first thought, "Why would I need to watch that? I lived it.", but really I am glad I did watch it. I spent the last 15 minutes of it crying. I cry sometimes when I watch running and I'm OK with it. I cried watching Kara Goucher win the Great North Run on YouTube and I was out right sobbing watching the NOVA Marathon Challenge. I guess I cried - ok bawled - because I remember what it felt like to run all those miles in training and on race day with my training partners, Sarah & Steph, but also because I cannot run right now and I just want it back.

I want the feeling back. I want to see the sweat dripping on me. I want the cool fall air on my skin. I want to break out my tights. I want to put on my long sleeves. I want to experience those hot showers have long, cold runs. I want those endorphins. I'm like an addict in withdrawl. So here is my last shot before PT tomorrow morning...

Dear Goddess of Running,
Please, I need to get back on the road. I need these legs to be in motion again. I'll even take it slow... OK, I'll try my best to take it slow. Please, I'll give up ice cream for a month... OK, I'll only eat ice cream once a month. And I'll never litter the beautiful routes I run on or that others run on. I'll never curse running and say, "I'll just go tomorrow instead." I'll never take advantage of the fact that I have to able legs to run on. I'll cross train. I'll weight train. Please just listen. Listen to my prayer. I want to run again. I really need to run again. I'll do my best to be a smart runner.
In Running Spirit,
Janette

I hope she hears me. In the meantime... sweet dreams and here's to PT tomorrow morning.

Ultrasound & PT Monday

I had my ultrasound to rule out blood clots in my leg this morning. As was expected, no blood clots were found. The woman who did my ultrasound showed me how they tell if blood clots exist. After she lubed me up with the jelly, she rubs the deodorant shaped stick around my leg. She starts at the top because clots travel north and works her way to my ankle. At certain points she presses the deodorant down on my leg. As I watch the screen, she shows me my artery and vein. When she pushes they squish down and as long as they squish, there are no blood clots - if they don't squish, you may need to worry. She also showed me how they detect clots with sound. Again, she presses the deodorant on my leg and then squeezes the bottom of my leg. This creates a wooshing sound as the blood pushes through my arteries and veins. If there were no sound, she would worry. It was really incredible to see how all of it worked and I was so happy that she took the time to show me around my leg. I guess she did owe me something after rubbing all that disgusting jelly up and down my leg... ugh!

**Disclaimer**
The above described ultrasound should not be taken scientifically as proof of whether clots exist or not. It is merely my rendition of what the woman told me. It should, in now way, be taken as the truth regarding your own personal health.

So I followed that with my day job and then some PT. Tonight's PT session included: stim & wall press, StairMaster kickbacks, high knees, hip adduction/abduction (the one that does the outside of the leg), stim & balance with weights, StairMaster 4x1 sprints, skiing leg press, stim & leg kickbacks, stretches, stim & ice. Whoa! What a session.

I love my PT place because they ask you how long you have to do PT that day, you tell them, and they work within it. Oh not to mention you can just drop in whenever is convenient for you. That's right, convenient for you. When did the doctor/patient relationship actually start being about the patient... apparently whenever my PT place opened.

PainFULL Weekend

Unfortunately, my leg took a turn for the worst this weekend. Dave and I were running errands and shopping on Saturday and as we walked around my calf/achilles grew tighter. By the time we got home, it felt like there was a giant knot in it. Dave forced me - no really, forced me - to sit down on the couch and ice, stretch, heat, repeat until he was good and ready for me to be done with that. Turns out after about a million repeats, he fell asleep on the couch and I just couldn't disturb him. Normally, I would wake him and tell him to go to bed, but I wanted to be nice today (notice the alterior motive). Sunday when I woke things weren't really any better. But I really just sat around and watched football - oh and watched the Red Sox win the World Series - and hoped that on Monday my PT would tell me to go run 20 miles. Ha!

Physical Therapy

I went to my first physical therapy (PT) appointment Wednesday. I was really happy everything could move so fast. The faster I get started on a recovery program, the faster I can start running again.

The first PT appointment started with a general intake (What hurts? Where does it hurt? How often do you run? What's your sports history? Any previous injuries?...). He then started stretching me out so I could point out to him exactly where my leg was hurting. Then he sent me off with an intern to start all my exercises. I did some wall press with muscle stimulation, StairMaster work, stretches, StairMaster and then some ice and muscle stimulation. At the end my PT diagnosed me with achilles tendinitis.

Believe it or not this diagnosis is pretty good. I didn't tear my achilles. I will be able to run again. The injury doesn't mean that someday I'll hurt my hip or knee because of it. The whole situation is manageable with a little TLC. The PT says he'll have me back running by the middle to end of next week. The more PT and the more time I can devote to it, the better I'll recover and the sooner I can get back.

I went back for my second PT appointment today. I did a few different StairMaster exercises, a couple muscle stimulation sessions - one with balance, one with the wall press, some leg press and some ice and stimulation. It doesn't sound like much, but a lot of this stuff is new to me so it's really working some different muscles. I regularly run and do yoga so the weights and StairMaster are totally new sensations and I'm liking it.

I'm allowed to do whatever this weekend except running. I can do the elliptical as hard and as long as I want. I can lift weights. I can do yoga. However, I have to be able to do all these things without any pain. That's the key. So my plan is to jump on the elliptical and have some fun with that - I'm being positive here because I hate the elliptical - and then lift some easy weights and do my normal yoga. So we'll see how things go.

Oh and on Monday I got for an ultrasound of my leg just so they can rule out that there is no blod cotting going on.

On the road to recovery! Let's hope this is the shortest road ever!

Beautiful Long Run Turns to Semi-Disaster

While out on my long run Sunday all I could think about was writing about how incredible autumn is (as if I haven't said it enough). I was going to write about the smell of the leaves, the smell of the "one-last-barbeque" for the year parties, the look of the families out to enjoy the last warm days, the refreshing feeling of the cool autumn air and on my skin, and so many more sensations I felt during the run. However...

I finished the run just about 10 yards before my apartment and as I was walking up the hill I thought, "Wow my calf is really tight. That's weird. I better make sure I stretch it out." And I actually listened to myself. I went inside, grabbed my yoga strap and stretched my calf out and everything else for that matter. All was well and good. And then...

Dave made dinner for us and we watched game 7 of the Red Sox vs. Indians series (Red Sox won) while flipping back and forth to the History channel to learn all about the story of the The 300 and Sparta and Persia and all that (I am totally into that by the way). So all was good as I sat on the couch. Then I stood up. Wow, really tight calf. Again, so weird. Oh well. I say goodnight to Dave and head home. I walk up the stairs. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch... I have a lot of stairs. Oh - I was also carrying two bags of groceries and two laundry baskets. I do not feel well...

I call Dave. My calf is so tight and I don't know what to do. I will heat it and take Monday off. No. He looks up a ton of information online and comes to my apartment. He checks out my legs to see if there is any swelling, gets me set up in an ice pack, gives me a massage and puts me to bed. And I'm sure things will be better Monday morning. I wake up Monday morning...

And its even tighter! How is this possible!? What did I do?! Dave encourages me to call the doctor and so does my manager (my boss at work who doubles as my running coach although I don't know if he realizes that part). They are able to get me in that day. I suffer through the day and go to the doctor. She says...

"Well, you didn't tear your achilles and it is still intact." She said intact. INTACT - as if it really could come off!!! Oh my word!! "I think you just have a strain/sprain." I don't know what she said there because I was just waiting to hear the you-can't-run-for-a-million-years-and-why-would-you-want-to-anyway speech that all doctors who don't run like to give. But - this girl is actually a runner! YES! She says take two days off and then I can return to 50% intensity, distance, etc. She also gave me a precription for Naproxen so I can get the swelling down and make the pain go away. Then Tuesday comes...

Tuesday is here and I've been set up with a Physical Therapy referral. I'm icing and heating my leg and being totally lazy. It does not feel that much better and I don't know that the pain meds are necessarily helping. I will be reassesing tomorrow as to whether I can try a run or not. My guess is I won't be ready and better just sit for a while more so I don't take myself out completely. I'm hoping I can at least try a yoga class with some modifications for my achilles.

My fingers are crossed that everything turns out well.

Popsicle Fun!

So I went to the doctor today and she said I don't have strep throat, but I do have laryngitis because of some kind of viral infection. I have to say this diagnosis was pretty obvious considering that I can only speak in small whispers. (I'm sure Dave is loving this!)

The good news is that I told the doctor popsicles make my throat feel better and she said I can eat as many as I want! Wahoo!! So I went to Stop & Shop and bought a container of Sherbet. I know that's not a popsicle, but it's cold and it will feel good and I already have huge box of popsicles in the freezer.

The bad news is that this puts my half marathon training on hold a bit. My doctor said I need lots of rest so that means no running. I will take her advice until I can't stand it any longer and sneak out for a run anyway. Shh... don't tell Dave!

I'm Sick

I'm sick. I guess my immune system was down just enough after the marathon to pick up a cold. Last night I was running a temperature of 101, my body ached, I couldn't eat and my throat hurt really bad. I felt ... well ... I felt like I just ran a marathon!

I went to the store to get some medicine and started taking it last night. It's some kind of Tylenol cold daytime/nighttime stuff. I hope it works.

Today I'm down to a temperature of 99.5, but I still have the body aches and sore throat and this morning I decided to throw in some nausea on top of it. Hey, why not?! So I was forced to call in sick to work. I hate doing that. I've had a bad run of luck lately with missing work. When it rains it pours.

Dave called to check on me a little while ago, but I couldn't talk. I literally had no voice. He had me push buttons on the phone when I understood him. Ha! He's a real sweetheart.

Oh to top it all off... it's 80 degrees outside and all I want to do is run!!!