Progress Report

Where am I? I guess I should give all y’all an update. You probably have noticed all the photos I’ve been posting from my trail runs. Yes, I have been running. Hip hip hooray! Unfortunately, it is not without pain. AND I still have to see my superhero physical therapist three times a week for some breaking down of the scar tissue, some strengthening exercises and some stretching… oh, and did I mention a lot of pain and “I hate you, Jason”’s, because that definitely happens, too. It’s an endearing hate though. I tell him I hate him when he really is doing my body good. Actually, when he is doing my body best, I hate him the most. Funny how that works!

But all the pain and hate is worth it; want to know why? Because I am running! The doctor said I would never be able to run again. I quit my jobs, moved out of my apartment, left my family and friends in Santa Barbara and started a new life simply because I was told it was the end of my running career.

I’ve always been stubborn. Tell me I can’t do something and I will prove you wrong! I guess that was the drive behind getting back into running. It has been a really long, really difficult journey, but I have been so blessed along the way. I have made new friends, challenged my body in ways I forgot it could be challenged, explored new parts of the country and improved my form (I hope!). Obviously, I have a long way to go. In fact, I can’t even go on a long run without taking walking breaks. My foot still cramps up every time I put a shoe on. There are many restrictions that go along with having an injury. There are even movements in yoga that I cannot complete due to limited ROM in my ankle, but I am still so grateful for the strength I have.

Thank you for all of your prayers, letters, e-mails, gifts and support. This has definitely been the best, yet most difficult year of my life and I am looking forward to ending 2013 with a bang!

My Takeover, The Break's Over

The doctor was wrong. He was so wrong. I knew he was wrong the moment he told me I would never run again.

Okay, that's a lie. When the words, "You will NEVER run again" came out of his mouth, I bit my tongue (because for some reason, I always think that will keep the tears back... it never works) and tried to mentally tell the redness in my cheeks to go away. After I left the doctor's office that day, I sat in the back of the car, crumpled into a little ball and cried like a drama queen with no audience. I remember wanting to scream and shout and get angry, but at the same time I just wanted to be in silence. Half of me wanted to be held and comforted while the other half wanted to be alone. I was a mess of emotions in a ball on the backseat. THEN I knew he was wrong. So I guess it wasn't immediate. 

But my physical therapist is awesome. He knew what he was doing. Being a competitive runner himself, he told me to listen to my body. For the first time since... ever, I did not push when it hurt. I did not try to run when I knew my foot would not be able to take the force of impact. I waited patiently. When I was given exercises that were dull and seemed like "time-wasters", I did them. 

And guess what? I went on a 10-mile trail run yesterday. My second run since my surgery. Two weeks ago, I did a quick 5-mile run with Nani and yesterday, Nicole joined me for 10. So take that, man who hit me, doctor who said I would never run again and my stupid anterior cruciate tendon! This is proof that hard work, determination, patience and perseverance PAYS OFF.

Watch out, guys! I'm ready to take over because my break is over!

You're Invited!

"Talking to you is like being at a slumber party," my friend said as our conversation neared its end. I couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously! You live such an incredible life! You are constantly pursuing things you are passionate about and you make every task an adventure!"

If I had a theme song that played every time I entered a room, it would be the Indiana Jones theme song because I love adventure. I firmly believe that every day, even the ones filled with mundane errands and uncomfortable situations, should be exciting, memorable and filled with new lessons. Some people get so caught up in each task that they forget to have fun and focus on the simple pleasures of life.

Five of my simplest pleasures in life are as follows: Flannel, a great cup of coffee, conquering a new challenge, being outdoors and staying healthy and active. So what makes me tick while climbing a rock face, training for an Ironman or running up an undiscovered trail? It's a drive to do better, push harder, go further; a desire to discover what I am capable of and inspire others to conquer their goals as well.

So pack your love of adventure, your competitive spirit, your optimistic outlook on life and your favorite flannel shirt because those are the key things that make me tick in this slumber party I call life.

Friends

God created Eve for Adam why? Well, so they could procreate, but I think it's also because He knew the importance of having a good friend.

Sometimes I forgot how important it is to get your butt kicked by a good friend.

Two weeks ago, Amy, Jack and I packed our bags and drove up to Tahoe. We spent the weekend with my dear friends Rachael, Tucker, Dan, Amanda and Grylls. It was amazing. We were able to spend a couple of days snowboarding with Tucker.  Beautiful views, great snow, perfect company... a perfect weekend getaway. While we were there, Amy agreed to go on a run with me; unfortunately, she had forgotten her running shoes. I had my big, clunky snow boots, so I let her wear my WaveRiders and I took the boots for a spin. I had thrown my tailbone off our first day boarding and I could feel my butt sting with every clunk of my boots on the icy road. My legs were heavy and it was difficult to get a high turnover rate. My right leg began giving me grief and I could feel a hole beginning to form on my medial malleolus. Ouch! Amy was kind enough to switch shoes with me at our turn around point, but the damage was done. Injured coccyx, scared malleolus, but a happy heart. (Awww, how cheesy am I?)

in his element

this is what happiness looks like

first time ever throwing darts... maybe I'm a little proud.

When I returned, my training volume picked up. It felt like all I was ever doing was working and training. The only time I was seeing my friends was when we walked past each other in the parking lot or when they would come into the shop to get their gait analyzed. I finally figured out that I could find other ways to see them: Invite them to train with me!

Last Wednesday morning, Sarah met up with me bright and early to do some swimming. Jameisha was lifeguarding and when I finished my second set of 14:00 for distance, Sarah and Jameisha told me how good my form looked. YAY! I've been working hard at fixing my form and I think it is finally showing in my final numbers. I flow well in the water and I can feel my lats really pulling against the water. After the swim, we made our way over to Whole Foods and grabbed breakfast together. The perfect end to a great swim and the perfect beginning to a great day!

Thursday night after work, Jameisha and I made plans to swim. Walking to the pool, I passed Kristine and invited her to join us. We all met in the pool for a speed session. Jameisha and I pushed really hard as we raced each other and the clock. We started with a 300 yard warm-up,6x50yd fast with :45 RI, 200 easy followed by 12x75 fast with :20 RI and a 400 CD. It hurt so badly and there were lots of times where I did not want to finish. On the 9th round of 75's, I was strong and I could feel Jameisha slowing. She fooled me though. The tables were turned on the tenth round. Jameisha finished strong as I painfully gasped for air. Whoops of pain and accomplishment escaped my lips as I reached the wall. Two more rounds to go. Only two more. One, two. Six touches of the wall. Time for some whooping.

Last Sunday, I decided to go at it all on my own. It was warm out when I started my trail run. I discovered a new trail and followed it uphill... then up some more... then a little bit more. I had told my mom where I would be running and promised to let her know when I finished. Unfortunately, my memory is not so good. When I finished my run, I scurried to work, did a 2,000 yard swim then went home and made dinner. I left my phone n the kitchen, ringer off. Three hours later, I logged onto the internet and got a message from my mom. "Call me right away". ...oops. I found my phone, multiple missed calls and several unread texts greeting me on the lock screen. Amy was out on the trails looking for me and my parents were wracking their brain over how to find me (it didn't help that someone died on the same trail the weekend prior).

Monday was a long cycle day, so I did an hour and a half on the stationary bike then met up with Kristine to bike on the beach for another 90 minutes. Even though it was a slower, easy ride, Kristine and I had a great time together.

Tuesday morning, I forced myself out of bed to jog over to the track for whatever Rusty had in store for me. When I got to the track, I did an extra 800 warm-up then hopped in with my original group for 800 at a 7:50/mile pace. Wow... that was easy. We finished the 800 and, while the rest of my group put their hands on their knees and keeled over, I did a recovery jog down the lane. When I returned, Rusty surprised me by telling me to move up a group with Truli, Jim and Stuart. I hung onto Truli's shoulder for the 800 as well as the next mile at 7:15. Truli and Jim told me to join them for a recovery lap before the next 800. I think it was that lap that did me in. The following two 800's were painful (aka filled with pain). By the second 800, my pace had slowed way the h-e-double hockey sticks down. I could not hold on to the men's shoulders. I debated what quitting would look like. Probably not pretty. Probably lots of disappointed eyes would fall my way... or eyes of understanding ("I've been there")...  I would not be that girl. I finished 100 meters behind Jim and Stuart. Hey, let's do another mile! I tried to get my hips in front of my toes. "Fall forward". It still hurt. I sprinted the last 100 meters and finished :10 behind the gentlemen. Jim and I faced another 2 sets of 400 meters. 1:37? Man... that lady doing it in :50 makes me look like goldfish food. George joined me for a mile cool-down around the track then I jogged back home to shower off and lay motionless in bed before trying to do a bike ride.

That evening, Kristine and I braved the cold and swam outdoors. A couple thousand meters later, I went home and got a good night's sleep before waking up early the next morning and biking to the gym to swim all over again. My body felt worn from the day before. I thought maybe I would turn the bike, swim, bike into a triathlon and finish my run then, but I had no energy. Instead, I saved the run for later that evening before teaching my plyometrics class.

Training with friends? It helps. I definitely feel like I've been getting my butt kicked. A girl with a good training plan and great friends is a happy girl.

More Than Just a Running Shoe

Every moment of our lives, we are faced with decisions we must make: What to eat for breakfast, whether you should go back inside the house to grab the one item you forgot, who to say hello to, what to order at the coffee shop... the list goes on. For this example, I will use running shoes.

Say I have a pair of Brooks running shoes that I absolutely love. Sure, they are starting to lose their cushion and color due to the fact that I have logged hundreds of miles on them, but I like them. I am happy and satisfied with them. They feel good, look good and are there for me when I need them. They have supported me throughout the miles, helped me keep running, inspired me, motivated me... I may be ready to move on from these shoes, but I still love the memories that I have had with and am still making with those shoes.

One day, I realize it's time to take a break from running. I say goodbye to my Brooks, but I'm not quite ready to move on to the next thing. I decide I want to focus on something else for awhile. Maybe I will take up rock climbing! Maybe I will use the money I would have spent on new shoes to go on vacation. The options are endless and I am so excited for this stage of my life!

Then a new shoe presents itself to me. Imagine the  most ideal pair of shoes; these are the shoes I've only dreamed of. In high school, I made a list of the best qualities possible in a running shoe. On this list were several traits that no one shoe should be able to possess, but somehow this shoe promises all of these and more. You know your parents would approve of these shoes. Your best friend is in love with these shoes and she hasn't even seen them! You decide to try them on... oh no... they feel great, but something in you tells you that you're not ready for that ideal shoe. You still long for the adventures of rock climbing and traveling and being without a running shoe. But what if you give up on a great running opportunity?

...Obviously, this is about more than just a running shoe.


Back to the training world...

Thursday, I taught aqua aerobics and cycle. I made my cycle class due the entire thing standing once again and they were amped!!! About a third of the way into class, Country Girl by Luke Bryan came blasting through my Iphone. "Uhoh," I warned my class. "I may start dancing soon." They laughed, probably hoping it wouldn't happen, but happen it did. "Got a little boom in my big truck. Gonna open up the doors and turn it up..." Aw man! Great song!

After class, I went on a trail run on my old college stomping grounds. It felt so good to be up there again, looking over the ocean. Sometimes I wish I was still in college. I dropped by my favorite professor's office to see if he was in, but find him, I could not. I finished my run, logging 6 miles. That makes 20 miles for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday combined.

After the run, I did a quick swim. When I say quick, I mean quick. After 45-minutes, I was over it. I had not brought a routine with me, so I was doing mostly pulling and freestyle and I just was not feeling it. I got out early and went to El Diablo/Maui to meet up with Richard. We did stadiums and Pilates.

Friday morning I had my running strength class with Drea. For a second week, I had a really hard time getting out of bed and getting to class. I don't know what it is, but I have been so tired this week! The class was difficult, simply because it hurts to put any body weight on my cut-up right forearm. But I got through it. I was going to go swimming, but I decided I would rather go home and try to clean a little. Cleaning turned into eating a big bowl of Bob's Red Mill Organic rolled oats while watching the second season of Prison Break. So much for a clean house.

I taught aerobics and balance then met up with Sophia to lift weights and eat Backyard Bowls. After we finished, I needed to get my bike ride in, so I rode out to the beach and back, working on speed skills. I had just enough time to decide what to wear to sushi that night and get to work. After three classes, Ben picked me up at work and took me out to one of my all-time favorite sushi places. It was delicious! When we finished our rolls, we went down to the beach and walked along the sand until the time got late and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

Saturday morning, I taught then met up with my Tri group for a bike ride. We've had another woman join! Julie is her name and she is a doll! I am very excited for our new addition! It was a quick hour of bike riding along the beach, which we bricked with a 1.5 mile run and I followed with a swim. I swam 1200 yards before I decided I was over it and got out. I'm still in Base 2, which means Build 1 starts next week. Once the build period starts, I won't be able to just stop a workout. If I can give up early now, I might as well, especially if I'm not enjoying it.

Jameisha and I met up at the bike shop so I could try on my new kit for my tri team and she could look at bikes. We met Adrian who works there and helped us out. He is going up to Oregon next month to ride! I'm so jealous! He told me I should try mountain biking, which I said no to, but you never know... I could love it.

My new tri suit fit

After ordering my suit, Ben and I grabbed coffee and walked along the beach to watch the sunset. The weather was a little gloomy, so I didn't expect much of a sunset. I was astonished when Ben interrupted me in the middle of my story to point out the sky. Wow! It was one of the most vibrant pink sunsets I had ever witnessed. It was beautiful and I was so glad that I was taking time to enjoy it.

Once it got dark, we drove over to REI and explored. Mmmmm  I love REI. I bought some new Hammer Gels and Honey Stinger blocks. Yes, I am a happy girl. More sugar for my sugar jar!

Yesterday was long run day! I met up with Richard after work and we ran hill repeats and stairs for five miles. As soon as we finished, Mavel and I met up for a 10-mile run along the cliffs. It was the most ideal day for a run. I felt strong the entire way! We averaged an 8:44 pace, which is faster than I ran my race last weekend! I didn't feel tired at all! It was a fantastic run with a wonderful friend! I'm so glad I got her to go running again! In the past six days, I have logged 30.5 miles. 19.5 miles to go by the end of the month!