Each Day Is a Gift

Legs are a bit stiff, normal post marathon soreness. 

Holding a family fast for my 7 yo grandson who is having neurosurgery to correct Type 1 Chiari Malformation.  It was by accident that he was diagnosed with CM.  While being cared for in the ER after a fall from a playground a few weeks ago, the CM was suspected from the CTScan.  He was referred to a pediatric neurosurgeon at Texas Children Hospital.  An MRI not only confirmed the CM but showed that the cyst has grown making it an urgent matter to have the brain surgery for decompression.  Many Type 1 Chiari Malformation cases go undiagnosed because it is asymptomatic until the child reaches adolescent of young adulthood with unexplained headaches, ringing in the ears and developmental delay.  So, in a way, it is a blessing in disguise that he had the head injury from the fall.  

30 min recumbent bike

30 min elliptical

foam roll and stretch

Myrtle

Core Stability Exercise

Legs felt better and can go downstairs normally. 

No pain at the former metatarsal sf sites.

Went to cardiologist office for hubby's INR testing.  Postpone my cardiac MRI which was scheduled for Wed.  My insurance has a high deductible thus the MRI and all the doctors' fees will come out of our own pocket.  I feel okay with a wait it out and watch approach. 

Lots of texting and phone calls with families. 

Lex's neurosurgery went well.  He'll be in the ICU for at least 24 hours.  

6 easy recovery with Karen and Wendy.  Hubby ran 1st mile with us.  Nice to see the JrH kids lining up for bus on their first day of school.  Very pleasant weather.  Legs felt fine after couple miles.  Wendy and I talked about preparation for her son's wedding reception this Sat. that will be held in a neighbor's backyard.  I tried to talk Karen into running Pokey with me.

Registered for Pokey and booked a hotel room.

Easy run with Karen east to Highland border and back.

Foam.  Stretch.  Myrtle.  Core.  Stretch.

Another busy day with family stuff.  Baby Skylar is the cutest one week old baby ever.  7 y.o. Lex continues to recover from his neurosurgery.  They finally removed the "turban" and the incision looks good.  Still has pain and not moving his head. 

Ran with Karen and Wendy down 3rd West, up on rail trail, did 3x100m strides on canal trail.   Hip abductor was tugging yesterday after standing (saying goodbye to Karen) and resumed to run but wasn't able to so walked the 0.3 mile home.  The same thing happened today.  At the end of our run, we stopped at Kassidy's house to visit with her and invite her to the Stake 5K this Sat.  After standing there talking for 10-15min. my hip abductor protested when I tried to jog home so I walked the 0.25 mile.  I need to pay attention to these niggles... I'm no spring chicken anymore!  :)

Super easy 4 miler with Karen (Sky) all over the neighborhoods to avoid major school traffics on the roads.  

Busy day helping with the Ward Adult fish fry party.  I ate WAY TOO MUCH halibut and dessert! :)

Last night I poke in a Nephi R.S. ward night meeting at the Hob Creek Hideout to about 40 sisters.  We got sprinkled on a little just before dinner (they made fried scones in dutch ovens for Navajo tacos) but then it was a calm cool beautiful evening.  Having the mountains around and a moon-lit sky as backdrop added to the spirit.  I felt such a kinship and sisterhood among them. :) :) :)

"Of all the creations of the Almighty there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."  Gordon B. Hinckley

Jogged with hubby (0.5 mile) to the Stake Center for our Stake 5K fun run and Health Fair.  I think the 5K organizers either direct or have connection to the AF Canyon Half.  They have a real finish/start balloon arch.  The course map was professionally done and the route clearly marked.  It's an out-n-back looped course (that shape like the state of TX) around the block of the Stake Center, run the loop twice to make 5K.

The parking lot was filled with families, runners, walkers, young and old, babies and toddlers in strollers, children on bikes.  Temp was surprisingly cool at 8ish.  It was fun to visit and talk running with fellow friends and neighbors.  Soon the "RD" had us (about 300) gather at the start, after a word of prayer and explanation of the course 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, sounding of horn, we're off.  The HS xcountry boys bolted out.  Hubby and I stayed at the back walking out to the road.  I jogged with him on the sidewalk until the first turn where he got on the road and I lost him.  I caught up to Bro. Greenwood (a 3 hr marathoner) running with his 13 yo daughter, Kimberly, who was in my Primary class last year.  We chatted about a-fib that his brother has had.  He has 10 other brothers, along with their dad, they ran SG Marathon one year together.  At about the one mile mark, Kimberly slowed down, Bro. Greenwood tells me to go on ahead.  Mile 1 was 9:08 (171).  

I heard the RD announcing time for those peeling off after the 1st lap (13:xx at 1.5 mi),  I stopped to get a drink from the aid station and encouraged those going for the 2nd lap.   Garrin Larsen (an avid runner and dentist) caught up to me while his little boy race along on the bike.  It was so cute and fun to exchange words with them!!!  I started to pass a few YMs and YWs.  The YWs wouldn't take my challenge to keep up whereas the YMs would pick it up when they saw me coming...very funny!!! :)  Mile 2 was 8:54 (162).

It feels good to be running a little faster passing and dodging walkers some of them made teasing remarks about me lapping them, leaving my better half/running partner in the dust! :)  Last 1.1 mile was 8:09 (176).

My slowest 5K ever in 26:12 AP: 8:44 which is not quite my half marathon race pace.  Granted I didn't race this but treated it like a tempo run.  However what is discouraging is that my average heart rate was 170.  There is no way I could sustain that pace with that kinda heart rate.  I am getting old, slow and out of shape.  Sad but it's reality!

Grabbed couple cups of water, walked/jogged back on the course to find hubby, cheering others along the way, SO FUN!!!  Ran the last 0.25 mile in with hubby to the finish.  His time was 34ish.  Not bad for a double heart valves replacement newbie! :) :) :)  So proud of him!!!  We hang around to "do" the health booths and visit with the families.

Went to WRC and watched Teena perform her awesome KT taping skills and PT talents!!!  She is SO SO SO SO GREAT at this!!!  She had run 17 miles at the crack of dawn BEFORE and then did 5 solid hours of taping and teaching.  That girl has SO MUCH energy!!!! :)  You can tell everyone just loves her and the wonderful service she renders.  After a quick lunch, she worked on my legs and taped my hip flexor, arch and foot.  I was in seven heaven!!! :) :) :)  THANK YOU SSF!!!!

The rest of the afternoon, evening and night was spent preparing food and helping with Wendy's son's wedding reception.  It was a GREAT day! :)