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10:00 AM - Went to the YMCA, despite 40mph winds and near white out conditions.  We've got about 8 inches of snow since midnight.  Was not expecting to see the entire parking lot full, as I go to a very small out in the country type of YMCA.  Turns out there was a pickleball tournament going on (Had never really seen this sport before, so took the time to watch for a few minutes - quite amusing, though it seemed the average age of the participants was well above 60).  Luckily there was space enough for me to find a stationary bike, though the recumbants were taken, as two of the three stationaries were broken I guess.  Overall, felt really good, and made sure resistance was a 10 of 14 being the max.  Definitely worked up a sweat and kept the speed over 20mph the entire ride!!

Total Time: 36:15   Total Mileage (biked):  13.28

Wanted to stay on longer, but stupid rules say you can only stay on for 30 minutes at a time, and I had already eaten up someone else's chunk of time, which was pointed out to me upon which I promptly and genuinely apologized.  Oops!

Had to shovel out our mailbox from its ice encased cocoon because we received a nice little note informing us they have suspended mail service until we do.  Then stacked wood.  Did a little jog up and down our driveway .1 miles each way (about 550 feet long each way).  Achilles is a little sore from the biking.  So I cam inside after and iced.  Come on recovery!

Dangerously cold out today.  Will not be fun walking to class.  Did 250 crunches and pushups and curls.  Bored out of my mind.  Wish had a time machine to make the next couple weeks disappear and hopefully be healthy to run again!

UPDATE: So my achilles is a little sore from the riding yesterday as well as the shoveling and short run up and down the driveway.  I did the stair lifts again and I think that my muscles are strengthening because I am able to do the lifts without much pain.  I can put all my weight on my right foot as well.  It's just that there is soreness there, and I don't think I could run on it without the pain coming back.  I really don't know what I should do.  I mean I don't think I tore it but it's just like the weeks go by so slow.  It might be a smart decision to not try running again until March 1st and truly concentrate on just trying to get healed up nicely.  But it seems everyone else who has had an achilles issue says that despite taking time off, the problem just resurfaces when you try to run again.  Also, if someone could clarifty the whole 'compression' aspect of the healing process.  I mean I usually wrap my ankle in an ace bandage if it starts to hurt and after icing.  Also, I don't walk around barefoot any more.  I wear a pair of trainers with my orthodics in (I'm flat footed so I have orthodics to help combat my pronation as well as my messed up bowlegs). 

So was sitting in class and came to the conclusion I was not meant to be a runner. That's why I got hurt.  I haven't done anything strenuous in training that I haven't been through before.  And I do everything right.  I stretch, get my rest, don't do too much speedwork, and most importantly DONT TAKE STEROIDS.  And yet I get hurt.  That doesn't just blow. It sucks.  And nothing against you tri people, but biking/swimming SUCK compared to just being able to run.  This absolutely SUCKS.  And my achilles hurts like heck today.  And I didn't even exercise! I am considering just cutting off my foot and getting a prosthetic.  At least then I could run.

Couldn't fall asleep, and then when I did had bad dreams.  Drained. Woke up at 5am with throbbing pain in the achilles which I had wrapped in an Ace bandage.  So I took it off. It's a little better now 3 hours later.  Still tight, but less tender than last night. 

AM - pushups, 400 crunches, free weight exercises.  Jogged to mailbox and back because car did another funny thing once again. Just went and dropped 90 bucks for a new battery.. this one's guaranteed for 3 years.  Didn't do too bad on the last one.  Ended up getting 7 years out of it :)

PM - light stretching.  Going to have to ice it and stretch again when I get home from class late tonight in that storm.  Good news is car is fixed and my parents' sauna came today, though a lot of the pieces were damaged :(. We still put it together though because this was the company's second attempt and my dad really wants to use it later.

Guess I'll do more pushups and crunches.  Achilles is still sore.  Beginning to think maybe I did more than just pull it.  Maybe it's torn :(

PM - 300 crunches, free weights, 4 x 1 minute "plank", pushups.

Going to try to see if CVS or somewhere as an ankle brace or one of the ones with cold gel in it to help ice on the way to Albany today.

PM - tried 2 different stores and SOL for the wraps with built in ice packs.  Did the next best thing and bought an ankle wrap for like 10 bucks to add some support maybe? And got a new gel ice pack, as the only one I have is solid ice and hurts to put it around my leg and doesn't conform.  Come on Recovery! :)