Terapin's Journal: 5 yrs running! Couch to Goofy, Fracture to Fab, Baby to Dopey. Comments welcome!

[Terapin]

Happy to report that my rarely-indulged McDonald's meal hasn't affected my weight. Still down.

I forgot to mention a watershed moment: with my last weigh-in I have officially beaten obesity! My BMI is down to 29.9!!! I am super happy with that. My new goal is to get down to a normal body weight, so around 170#, which is another 36#. I think it will take me a year or so.

My knee is doing ok this morning. I can tell that there is something up with the joint. It feels a little swollen, and isn't moving fluidly. The pain is just a dull thing right now, with occasional flare-ups with twisting or lifting the leg a certain way.

 

[Terapin]

I DID IT! SO happy that I can say I am a half-marathoner.

Race was hard due to injuries. Will write more later.

 

[SuperHappyFunTimes]

I DID IT! SO happy that I can say I am a half-marathoner.

Race was hard due to injuries. Will write more later.

Congratulations!!!

 

[Terapin]

Congratulations!!!

Thank you!

 

[Terapin]

Hi!

Since my Half my mileage has really been down. The HM was on Sunday, and we left for a cruise on Tuesday!

Monday I tried to do a short and easy run but my knee said "no". I ended up doing about 3k of mostly walking.

Tuesday we left for Buffalo and spent the afternoon walking around one of the big malls - about 3 hours of walking and browsing. My knee was very, very sore and swollen.

Wednesday we got up about 5am for an 8am flight. We landed in Orlando around 1030 and got to AKL-J for lunch. We ate at Sanaa. It was terrific. We wandered around the resort and went swimming. The pool was a tad too cold for me and it was breezy and cool outside, so I lounged and attended a DVC Welcome Home event. I did not win! Again, lots of walking this day, and my knee was sore and swollen.

Thursday we embarked on our 3-night Bahamian cruise on the Dream. Now I have been on the Wonder, the Magic and the Dream! We got settled into our cabin after lunch at Enchanted Garden (no wait, even at 1pm although we were 'warned' not to go there for the long lines we would likely encounter ). We were in cabin 7120 and 7118 was my mom and her fiance.

The boys wanted to stay in the cabin after some swimming and chill (14 and 5 years old) and everyone else went to the Golden Mickeys. My knee was pretty swollen and still hurt.

Friday was Nassau and the kids went swimming and on the AquaDuck while I went to do my DVC add-on business. The littlest went to kids' club. In the afternoon we ordered in room service lunch and watched a movie. My mom and her fiance went on an excursion to the Greycliffe Hotel for a wine and luncheon. (DH and I had done the wine and cheese excursion there on our honeymoon cruise in 2009 and loved it). That night was Villians. We all gave it a lukewarm review.

Saturday was Castaway Cay. I got up early and joined the 5k group that met in one of the clubs/bar spaces. We got our bibs:

And headed out. It was super sunny and humid, and there was only a little shade from the plants in the loop that goes to the watch tower. There were about 30-40 of us doing the run.

My knee really hurt and caused me to limp for the first 1-2k, just like in the half marathon. After that it eased up, and when I finished (39:03) it felt really good! Not too much swelling, not very much pain.

No medals. I bought a t-shirt though. It is just a cotton men's t-shirt that I will never wear, but I wanted it anyhow. (I am going to make a quilt of all my race t-shirts one day)

Front of shirt:

Back of shirt:

After the run I headed back to the ship, covered in sweat from the heat, and took a shower. Met up with the family and we all headed to CC. My mom and her fiance took off for a bike ride and we stayed on the beach.

We weren't there long.

My little one went out in the ocean and swallowed some salt water, which caused great vomiting. I'm sorry to all those who were around us! However, a towel or something would have been helpful, as the dirty stares just didn't help at all! And yes, I buried vomit on CC. The garbage was about 100'+ away, and my little one was covered in puke and crying and still gagging, so rather than wash my cupped hands that were filled with vomit in the ocean where there were people, I dug a hole with my sandal and buried it. I thought it was the best option, given no one offering to help. I dunno. Sorry if I offended anyone, but what could I do?!?

Then after Little One was changed and clean, my DD (12) came over crying. She had been on the rope structure for kids and she had 4 huge broken blisters on her palms from climbing the structure and was crying because the salt water was stinging them. She went to wash her hands, and we packed up to go as the kids were just not enjoying themselves.

We waited forever for a tram, and then got back to our rooms. We all went to the AquaDuck and the pools and our day was totally redeemed.

The kids and I ate in Enchanted Garden while my mom and her fiance ate at Palo. We went to the show, Believe, which was really good! All except my son that is, 14, and liking the room better than the theatre, again. He said he was "sick". He was totally fine and just wanted some boy-cave time with his DS and a movie. Fair enough.

Sunday came too soon and we were up and off. We used the express service and I really liked it. We had a FL Tours van come and pick us up for our trip back to the airport. It was half of what Disney was charging for WDW-Port-Airport. We got to the airport at around 0900, used curbside check-in, and found our departure gate. Soon enough we were back in Buffalo, and then had to shoehorn in all 7 of us into my mom's Honda Pilot. We were stuffed to the brim, but it was more fun to travel together. Except the last hour. That wasn't that fun. Kids were hyper, loud and cranky, and adults were just cranky.

Home and bed. DH, who wasn't able to join us, had done a decent job of cleaning the house, and had a fresh clean bed waiting for us!

Monday, I went out with the Learn to Run group I am assisting coaching with, and we did about 3k with some hills. My knee was not too bad to start out with, but does cause me to run funny. It got better.

My knee stayed pretty good.

Yesterday I did an hour of hot yoga and it bugged my knee a bit. It is not very swollen this morning, but there is one area where it is a bit sore. I am planning on a 5k run today, as I work back into my mileage slowly. My eldest has an appointment downtown with a specialist in NF so I have to get out soon. I have my running pants on - that's a start!

Plan:
Today: 5k, upper body weights, core strengthening
Thursday: hot yoga
Friday: Bike ride of one hour, upper body, core
Saturday: 6-8k trail run
Sunday: 10k road run

That will bring me to about 25k for this week. Next week I will see the sports chiro again and see where I am at with those runs.

Next week I'd like to do about 27-28k, and work my way up by 10% each week, with some step-down weeks in there, too.

Sound good?

 

[Terapin]

Update: did 6.3km at a 8:15/km pace overall. Really trying to figure out what works for my knee and allows me to continue to run, but also let my knee heal. Just easy and loose run at 10:1s.

 

[SuperHappyFunTimes]

Sounds like a fun trip! Except for the puking little one when no one was kind enough to help out. I've never cruised, which is crazy since I've lived in Florida my whole life. I hope your knee gets better soon!

 

[Terapin]

Did 7k on Friday - it wasn't a good run. I was overhot and hungry, and google pedometer overestimated my distance so when I got close to home I was still under 7k rather than closer to 8k. I ran until 7k and cut it short. On my home calendar I had written 6k for Friday, so I ended up exceeded that.

I should have done some cross training yesterday. Instead, I stayed at home and had a very easy day. Worked on some laundry and some tidying, but actually slept in until 1130 (!!!!!) and then we watched a couple movies while doing some minor house stuff.

My back has been really bad - especially at night. It is in spasm pretty much anytime I move. Getting up and moving helps - so while yesterday I indulged myself emotionally, it wasn't the best day physically.

I am finding it so hard to get motivated after my injury and my half marathon. My mileage is down, and I just feel so blah about running. It scares me! It is getting cold and home is more appealing. I have heard of others getting training fatigue and because I have been training hard since February, I guess I feel done! I have to find some motivation to not only keep it up but ramp it up!!! I have to keep training until January.

My Learn to Run group is running today. Should be about 3k. I will do another 7k to bring it up to 10k. That will end my week with about 26k.

I am considering another half marathon next weekend as a paid-for training run. I'm intimidated by doing another - especially if the weather is total crap. Dreary and drizzly I can handle, but out and out cold rain I'd really rather not!

M- LTR short run and hot yoga
T- rest day
W- 6k
TH- Hot yoga
F- 8k
S- Bike and strength training
S- 12-14k

 

[Terapin]

I did 9.25km yesterday and was pleased to see my pace coming up. I ran out of time before the kids' swimming lessons to finish the last .75 of a km. Knee wasn't too bad. Getting better.

Still debating about the HM this weekend. There are still spots left and DH is supportive. Might be just what I need to get in the mileage and buoy my spirits about the longer distances.

I modified the Jeff Galloway program for Goofy to take into account where I am at now and I think I can get back on track. However, I don't think I will get to the full 26 miles - I think I can only get to 23 reasonably. It essentially only has 5 more long runs! I can do that! If I do the half this weekend (13 instead of 15 miles on the schedule) then only 4 long runs alone... Able to map them on to my weekends off call for maximum success.

Going to hot yoga in a couple of hours.

 

[Terapin]

Did my hot yoga - felt great afterwards. Knee had much more movement and strength but my balance on my left leg is way off. Need to strengthen.

Did a short and very easy run with my LTR group. We are up to 5:1s and my folks are still hanging on! Tonight it was super, super windy because of the storm and it was just a quick 2-ish km out and back. My knee felt great - yahoo!!!!! Didn't hurt setting out and stayed pretty comfortable. A little PF pain under both knee caps but ok over all! Coach says I am still limping though - so I have to work on that.

The weather should be clear for Sunday - maybe I will actually sign up!!!!

Next Monday I am the motivational speaker for two running classes where I get to tell my story about my coach to HM story, etc. I guess I am a good example of what is possible- but that makes me think that if my sorry butt is inspirational I must have been pretty far down the well if where I am at now is so far up!!!! LOL

Tomorrow I get to battle the weather and traffic to teach downtown all day. Get to drive with one of my besties and my business partner so at least the 2 hour drive will be interesting!

AND... I put out some feelers among my friends for a 2014 Princess HM traveling group and they are interested! I have about 5-6 people interested! It is is a dream come true to go down to the Princess HM with other women and experience the race as part of a group of fabulous women! Sounds like so much fun!

 

[Terapin]

Oh crap. I did it. I signed up for the HM this Sunday. EEK!!!! Scared. But also glad to force myself to get in those miles. It's a training run with a medal and a shirt, right? Supported training run. With a cut-off time only 4 minutes after my last HM time. But I was injured then, right? And my knee is feeling better, right? EEEEEEEEEK

 

[Terapin]

(It did occur to me that this HM will be my second in 3 weeks, and the WDW Half will be my third in exactly 90 days meaning I can join the Half Fanatics at a 'one moon' level).

Crazy. Who do I think I am?

 

[Terapin]

Knee hurting again - I'm thinking it was the combo of the run + yoga I did two days ago. It was bugging me while I was sleeping last night and the swelling is back, but just a little. Oh well. I think I must push on.

Heading out this morning for a 5k-6k-ish run with a friend of mine. She is someone I have known for about 10 years in a peripheral way, but she started running last winter/spring and since then we have been getting together and talking running shop. We did Mud Hero together, and then have just started running together and doing yoga. She runs a wee bit slower than we which is just fine, and is starting the next Half Marathon clinic - which I will rejoin, too. It is so nice to have a running friend, and someone who likes to sit around and have coffee afterwards. It is terrific to have a new friend!

Later I have to get a handle on my house. Every room needs to be worked on and cleaned. Every. Single. Room. We have a small house and with kids' stuff and my stuff and DH's stuff it is just getting overwhelming finding a place for everything and then *keeping* it there. To add to that we are battling a very tenacious mouse tenancy and there is always the cleaning and sanitizing that goes with that. Ugh.

One step at a time.

This week I am trying to get all the laundry done and the kids' rooms sorted out before I go back on call on Monday. And the laundry room cleaned. The kids help, but it really takes an adult to get on them and delegate. It is so time consuming. I think practically almost every North American mother everywhere battles with this. DH helps but he isn't an organizer and he often gets very upset in the process. I've tried to point out that he needs to model and teach the kids *how* to clean a room, break it down into tasks, but he rather encourage them verbally and walk away Saying that, it wasn't *me* on the roof getting storm ready and clearing the gutters of leaves in the rain. I was, however, in the rain putting outside stuff away. I am no princess but on the roof in the rain? No way! So thanks DH for tackling those things. Anyhow, just having one of those whiny "my house is a mess and I don't wanna slog away at cleaning it because what is the poinnnnnnnnt" moments.

Back to running. So, 5-6k this morning, and then a short run on Friday. Then Sunday. Eek.

 

[dragitoff]

Congrats on your progress! It's amazing how far you've come. Keep it up. You're at the point I am now where the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices because you're still close enough to it to remember where you came from.

 

[Terapin]

Congrats on your progress! It's amazing how far you've come. Keep it up. You're at the point I am now where the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices because you're still close enough to it to remember where you came from.

I managed 6.3k (my neighbourhood loop that is a nice run with an interesting route) and I was so grateful to be running without much pain and just focus on running, not my knee or strange gait. I feel close enough to my injury in the same way as the start of my journey: I appreciate it all. The rewards do outweigh the sacrifices. How grateful I am that I can run for an hour or so and it feel good and healthy.

Thanks for your reply. I love replies.

 

[dragitoff]

Thanks for your reply. I love replies.

I do too! Sometimes it gets quiet on here and we feel like we are talking to ourselves.

I remember reading your journal way back when. You've made alot of progress and continue building on that progress. Excellent work! You should be proud!

 

[Terapin]

Well did minor damage with the Hallowe'en candy. Back to regular life now - must resist! Off to hot yoga shortly. I am enjoying my hot yoga cross-training - so much easier to get in than biking. I am enjoying feeling a little sore in the upper body and abs (just where I need it).

Feeling some very minor plantar fascitis in my left foot. Have had it before, and much, much worse. Knee is feeling better each day. I almost have shaken the cold completely - it has been almost a month! It stayed in my lungs, at the bases, for two weeks now. Each day I cough less and have less mucus. Everyone I know has had the cold and it is so resilient sticking around in everybody's chest.

Tomorrow is a quick run and then hot yoga Saturday, and then EEK! Sunday!

 

[SuperHappyFunTimes]

Glad to hear you're feeling better!

 

[Terapin]

Glad to hear you're feeling better!

Thank you - slowly on the mend!

 

[Terapin]

I did it!

Second half-marathon in the bag! I did really well: 9.5 minutes off my time from three weeks ago.

I felt a lot of apprehension doing this race, perhaps because I knew what to expect and how hard it is. My knee was feeling tons better, like 90-95% better and it was PURE JOY to run without my stride being all messed up and to just run and not constantly think about my knee.

It was near freezing this morning, and indeed snow was falling as we left. None accumulated on the ground, but there it was! Overcast, windy and cold.

DH drove me up and we got there in good time. Parking was in a field adjacent to the club house (it was on a posh gold club - I ran a 5 miler at this golf course in the summer). It was a good walk in. Managed to get to the bathroom a few times before we started. I got to the start line with one of the pacers from my running group and we were off. But, oops! I forgot to set intervals on my watch. Too late.

The first part of the course was through a residential neighbourhood. That went well, and DH met me at about 4.5k and ran with me for 100 meters or so. That was really great.

I decided to forgo intervals and only walked through water stations which were every 3k. I kept this up until about 12k and then added a few one-minute of stretches of walking throughout the rest of the course, but overall pretty much stuck to the 3k, which is about a 22:1 ratio.

The course is considered fair to advanced as it is hilly. Quite remote and not much in the way of crowds cheering people on. There were only runners and the water table folks. The route was rolling country hills.

DH drove up to a corner of the route and saw me at 17k. He said I looked really strong. Good thing, as the hilliest section was still to come. I got major cramps in this hills in my calves. Like almost full charleyhorse cramps. Walking didn't help, so I took a salt tablet and kept running.

Finally saw the sign for 19k and knew I was going to finish close to my hopeful time. The last km was a slog, but I got through and was DONE! My official time was 2:47:31. My first HM was 2:56:56 so a nice improvement!

I felt pretty good after I was done - tired, oh so tired, but good. I took one gel and one pack of Honey Stingers, and two salt/electrolyte tablets. I was still pretty salty after this run, even with the cold weather, and my hands got a bit swollen on this run. I'm getting to know myself well, and can start to diagnose what is going on with me. Nausea? Need calories. Headache? Need water. Muscle cramps, feeling foggy, swelling hands? Ned electrolytes.

My knee held up pretty well. Uncomfortable at times, but nothing more than mildly painful in some moments. Sitting here now they are stiff and a bit sore. The first few steps I take after sitting down make me look elderly!

I felt like I did good on the fluids on this race. Took a small cup at each of the 6 water stations. Didn't have to use the porta potties, but didn't feel dehydrated. Able to pee within 90 minutes of the race and it was light. Sorry if TMI but could be useful to someone...

Saw a few friends in the clubhouse and then partook of the buffet lunch which was nice. They had bananas and water, but also make-your-own sandwiches with nice filling, tropical fruit, salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, and sweets. I treated myself to a Coke. Yum.

It was a cold walk to the car. My sweaty bits were so cold! The walk was an uphill hike and I whinged loudly to DH the whole way and gave him a running commentary of what was aching at any particular time. I'm not sure why I felt it necessary, but it helped me to verbalize

My car has lovely heated seats which I fell in love with on the way home all over again. Got home and headed straight into a hot bath. I've been lounging around all afternoon since. My DH did a great job of sherpa-ing my things during the race, and taking care of me afterwards.

#2 done and won!