Each Day Is a Gift

Got up at 3:50 and left at 4:25 to drive Lowell, Bret, Wendy, Carolyn, Karen and Brian to the start of the Utah Valley Marathon.  Wore shoes instead of the boot so I could drive.  After dropping the marathoners off at the start I turned the car around and dropped Lowell off at the start of the Half.  Got him there at 5:45.  About a mile down the road, he called and asked me to turn around because he has left his Garmin on the dash of the car.  I ended up with a record of making 7 U-turns today!

Stopped at Vivian's Park (mile 15) to use the bathroom and watched the first wheelchairs and "foot-pedal-cycle" athletes "ran" by.  After scouting out couple of turn-off spots and making U-turns, finally decided to park the car at the gas station by the mouth of the canyon (~ mile 20).  Switched shoe to boot.  Walked to the spot where the Halloween Half hearse was parked carrying my camera, a little folding stool (that I never sat on), my yellow cow bell (the division winner award from Mesquite Marathon that matches my yellow Boston shirt).  I was freezing!  Misty and her three children joined me until Walter ran by.  She waited for Steve Andersen and when she couldn't wait any longer, she gave me Steve's drink and asked me to hand it to him when he runs by.  I failed to spot Steve, sorry!

I stood there, took pictures, cheered and rang that bell obnoxiously for nearly 5 hours.  I LOVE it when I got a smile, a high-five or fist-bump from the runners.  I could tell the headwind has taken its toll on these brave souls.

It was so AWESOME to see Runningafterbabies (Melody) cruised by.  So fun to see RAD running in her shinny angelic wings and cape!  So glad ByeWing spotted me and said hello.  Lowell running with some young ladies as usual.  Mark (Fly on the Wall) flying down the canyon with his Hawaiian shirt and matching blue shoes.  When I spotted Rhett I knew that something wasn't right and he confirmed that it was a bad day.  Got to hug Kelli... seriously don't know how in the world she ran so bravely with so much tummy pain and severely dehydrated. 

After Wendy and Carolyn stopped at my "perch" to put up her foot and take picture, I walked back to my car to drive to the finish.  I called Lowell around mile 22.  He informed me that he was walking back on the course to meet D'ette and was around mile 24.  I didn't see him by mile 25 and called him again.  He had me make a U-turn to drive back to get him.  Picked him up around mile 22.  He had me drive all the way back up the canyon insisting that D'ette must be in distress and need help.  I had called D'ette's husband earlier with no answers.  I also called Doone and heard that Rhett was in the med tent.  I felt heartsick hearing that. 

I was getting anxious and quite nervous about driving inside the "median" that Lowell insisted so we could spot D'ette better.  Did I mention that he asked me to make left hand turns twice on red lights when there were no other cars in the intersection during the wee hours while enroute to the start?  Of course I refused to break the law.  It is a miracle that I did not get in an accident or gotten a traffic citation with all those crazy U-turns and driving in and out of the "turning lane/median".   Finally D'ette's husband called and we made yet another U-turn around Nunn's Park to get back to the finish.

I was kind of bummed that I drove the last 8 or 9 miles (stucked in Canyon traffic) and totally missed being at the finish to see my friends run in.  Met up with Bret who has finished and took a nap waiting for me and Lowell at the diner that Lowell ate breakfast after he finished his Half.  Then I walked with Lowell to the finish to look for the booth that was supposed to have his "Utah Half Slam" medal.  Well, it was almost noon; so the booth must've packed up and left.  We walked back to the diner for a quick lunch then drove Bret and Lowell home.  We could see some 6:30ish participants walking to the finish.  I gave them one last well deserved encouragement/cheer. 

There you have it, I cheered on the leaders and the stragglers.  Can't say I know what they were thinking.  To me, each and everyone of them is a winner.  A few days ago I was feeling very sad that I couldn't run this marathon.   I love UVM as it is so close to home with so many of my friends and neighbors participating.  I remember the first year I ran it, MichelleL was there in the canyon cheering standing with her crutches.  She is an inspiration to me.  I also appreciate so much the cheer from allie at Ogden the last two years.  This injury is teaching me so much more than running.  THANK YOU for your support, your goodness, your courage, your strength, your awesomeness and for sharing yourself! :)

Beautiful angelic RAD!

You GO girl, Bye Wing!!!

Here are the pix of the leaders of the marathon in the order they ran by.  I missed taking a pic of the first guy as I was so excited clapping and shouting!  SO AWESOME!!! :)

 Don't know why Sasha looked away when I was screaming my heads off "SASHA!!!"

 Walter so ready for his special drink.

The vivacious speedy Rachelle

Fly on the Wall ~ can't miss that cool Hawaiian shirt and blue shoes!

Hi Scott!!!

Got a hug and chat with Chad!

Beautiful Kim!

So proud of Carolyn in her first ever marathon with Wendy alongside.  LOVE my running buddies and bestest friends! 

D'ette, Bret and Lowell enjoying post race lunch at Nellie's Diner.

30 min elliptical

core

45 min elliptical

resistance band

30 min elliptical very fast

hosted farewell lunch for Beth, 20+ ladies came! :)

90 min elliptical

resistant band

90 min elliptical

Got the Darco post-surgery shoe and Total Immersion book

120 min elliptical

30 min bike

resistance band

Darco post-surgery shoe

Theraband calf exercise.  Darco shoe.

30 min recumbent bike

125 min elliptical

Myrtle

Foam roll

Darco shoe

It's been one month since the metatarsal fracture at Ogden on May 19.  There is still soreness when I squeeze the foot but no focal pain.  I have been in the boot for 4 weeks.  My right calf has atrophied a bit so I am wearing the Darco shoe to cross train since it allows movement of the ankle yet keeping the foot rigid.  I will continue to wear the boot for ambulatory purpose as the Darco shoe is not very stable for walking.  Keeping my fingers crossed that may be I can start jog/walk in two weeks. 

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35 min elliptical (15% incline forward, 25% incline backward, max HR 134)

35 min recumbent bike (aerobic program)

foam roll and stretch

4 circuits of core strengthening and stability exercises (crunches, push away, scissors, push ups, side-front-planks, superman)

myrtle

heel walking

Darco shoe

45 min elliptical

Spent all day celebrating and helping with Wendy's daughter's wedding.  What a special day filled with so much fun and joy! :)   Very glad that we were able to make it to Jeff Nielsen's reception in between!

Karen took me to the outdoor pool for an hour of water aerobics and 10 min of aqua jogging.  It was more like a nice chatty visit than workout! :)

45 min elliptical  (kept rpm above 70 and HR around 150s, Darco)

core, myrtle, free weights

foot a little achy possibly from being on my feet most of the day yesterday

30 min recumbent bike (Performance L1, simultaneously did biceps and triceps with resistant bands on the bike)

45 min elliptical (HR 140s)

core

temple

5 weeks since sf and zero running!  Felt like I've fallen off the face of the earth or the running world has dumped me in some dark ugly pits!  :(  Every morning I get up, go through the routine of assessing the foot pain, then numbly put on one running shoe.  I avoid looking out the front window as the sight of runners would open the flood gate of tears.  Today my thoughts were on the AF Canyon 1/2, allie's wedding 5K relay.

30 min recumbent bike (P2, biceps, triceps)

65 min elliptical

Went to matinee movie and dinner with hubby, Jeff and Jenn.  Ditched the boot for the first time and walked fine with the Darco shoe.  

Pfitzinger's lab report, returning to running after a stress fracture, states:  "Before you can run you must be able to walk briskly without pain.  During walking, your body absorbs forces of about 2 times your body weight.  This is a stepping stone for determining when the injured bone will be able to handle the greater impact forces of running.  When you can walk briskly for an hour without pain, you should be able to try a small dose of running.  The impact forces of running, however, are over twice as great as for walking, so the only way to know whether your body is ready to handle running is to run. "

There is still tenderness on the foot when I squeeze it firmly...but no localized pain.  I really want to begin walking this week.  Yesterday was a washout due to helping with Elder Caldwell's funeral.  So with two rest days, the mind is more than ready.  Let's hope the foot is too! :)

* Did the following with Darco shoe.

30 min recumbent bike (Performance L2, biceps & triceps with resistant bands)

60 min elliptical (R1, 15% incline, 70 rpm)

* Stretched, put some laundry in the dryer, checked on defrosting of the freezer.  Changed to running shoes (Elixir 6). 

64 min treadmill walking, 2 miles at 5% incline, 2 miles at 6% incline, (AP: 16:11).  Foot felt fine.  Calves definitely felt the "uphill".  Did calf raises on the edge of the treadmill deck after every mile. 

Myrtle

2 circuits of CSE

It took me 'till 10pm last night to finish cleaning and restocking the freezer.  The hardest part was chiseling out the thick layers of ice built up!  Woke up with sore arms and fingers.  The foot was the same, no pain from yesterday's incline tm walk.  Good sign! :)

Karen and I went to water aerobics.  The Wed. instructor is awesome.  We did an hour of core and hard cardio intervals.  For recovery she has us aqua jog.  It was hard enough workout that people need to grab a drink of water halfway.  I was exhausted.  :)

30 min elliptical, too tired to push it above 70 rpm.

Walked 2 miles at 6% incline starting at 3mph and increased by 0.1 every 2 min to 4mph and held it there.  Anything faster than 4mph is a jog for my little short legs! :)  It took exactly 33 min.  Boy oh boy, at this pace it'll take me over 6 hours to finish a marathon! :)

Foam roll and stretch.

Toe heel walk 25 ft x 5.

I had this weirdest dream that I was running in some funky race, with lots of families, all ages and sizes.  The course was running through houses of all shapes and forms, through different rooms inside.  Outside was all on sand or wet packed dirt narrow trails.  I found myself getting lost on several "exits" and one of my relatives or friends would direct me back on course.  The "finish" of the race was where you could have your family dinner together.  The whole time I felt like I was running on quick sand and feeling hungry and extremely thirsty.  Yet I knew I was supposed to be having fun because everyone was smiling or laughing.  I got to high five my 84 yo mother-in-law and sis-in-law when they ran towards me supposedly ahead of me on the course.  Finally I was on a trail that was completely covered with pine needles next to a sandy cliff that drops off to the ocean on one side with some houses on the other side.  This was supposed to lead to the finish where I would have my dinner with my family.  I made one misstep and about to fall off the cliff, hubby woke me up...he just got back from his early morning run. What a crazy dream!

Anyhow, instead of well rested, I woke up sore all over.  My neck was so stiff I could barely turn my head.  All my joints were stiff and sore.  I laid in bed for a long time to "unkink" everything.  WHY am I so sore and two mornings in a row????  I did not want to get out of bed but I was very very thirsty, and hubby was out mowing the lawn....

30 min elliptical

TM walking @ 6% incline starting at 3mph and increase 0.1 whenever I felt like it 'till 4mph.  Was very tempted to break into jogging mode but resisted as the foot was very achy last night.  2 miles in exactly 32 min today, 1 min PR from yesterday!  WaHooo!!!!

Well, I don't think I am making much improvement.  It is disheartening to feel so stiff and sore in the mornings when I hardly did any exercise at all.  Seriously don't know when I can resume running!!!! Sigh!!! :(

But, had a WONDERFUL lunch and afternoon and felt so so so so so very grateful for GREAT friend(s)! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

30 min bike (performance L3,  2.25 miles,  biceps/triceps w/ resistant bands)

60 min elliptical (15-20 incline, 2.5 miles, 70 rpm)

4 miles tm walking @ 6% (3-4.2mph) in 59 min.  I think that's an improvement from Tue.

Myrtle

Core

Temple wearing regular dress shoes, yipee! :)

Saturdays used to mean races and long runs, events that I look forward to.  Today marks 6 weeks since the stress fracture and zero running.  Although there is no pain in the sf site, I can still feel slight pain when I squeeze the foot and particularly in the tarsal joints.  Feeling rather sad and fat, I was so tempted to go for a test run....but I need to play it smart this time.  After hubby left to ride in the stake presidents float in the Lehi Roundup Parade, I retreated to the home gym with a Netflix movie.

65 min elliptical (various incline and resistance)

60 min tm walking @ 6% incline mostly @ 3.5mph

30 min recumbent bike (performance L4)

Myrtle

2 circuits CSE

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We worked/volunteered in the concession stand at the Lehi Roundup Rodeo for 5 hours tonight.  I worked the window taking orders and cash from the customers while hubby filled the orders.  I was on my feet the entire time wearing running shoes.  The foot got a little achy when I got home.  It was tiring but really fun.  We sold hamburgers, hot dogs, nacho, snow cones, cotton candy, kettle corn, candies, chips, popcorn and drinks.  I was told that we made over $4,000 in just our stand alone (there were 4 concession stands).  I also learned that the Lehi Rodeo is the only rodeo that does not sell or get sponsorship from any beer company.  Saw a lot of cute cute cowboys and cowgirls from pint size to teens! :)