Starting from Scratch

My first day back to running turned into an adventure! I was so psyched up I doubt I would have noticed if it broke all over again. I also have my fabulous new Nike+iPod system which I've been dying to play with. I don't have the Nike+ shoes; I'm a New Balance girl and my shoes are pretty much new, so I'm not about to go out and buy another pair. I used a little Velcro (left over from my boot!) to stick the sensor to the tongue of my shoe under the laces. I set my iPod for a twenty minute workout, intending to walk 5, run 10 and walk 5. My leg isn't as strong as it was, but I knew that, and honestly, I felt GOOD when I started back up my street.
That's where my adventure began. I was wearing a hoodie with pockets - pockets that didn't close. And on my way out the door I tossed my keys in my pocket. They weren't there anymore. There was a lot of swearing before I turned around, but I didn't have much choice, I either had to retrace my steps or break a window - I didn't even have a card to bust in the back door (that's a whole other story). So I walked. And walked. The Nike+ system gives you time updates - "Five minutes remaining." When you've past your goal it tells you how many minutes you are past your goal. I found the keys on Beverly in Kimberly Heights, right around thirty-five minutes (fifteen minutes past my goal). The interesting thing about looking for keys on a bright, sunny, fall day is that while you think they'd be easy to spot, being shiny metal. Dry leaves are actually shiny when the sun hits them, which I either didn't realize or pay attention to prior to today.
When it was all said and done I'd been out for 47 minutes total (twenty-seven minutes past my goal) and covered 2.73 miles - the last quarter mile very slowly because I did start to hurt toward the end. A little ice and resting for the amount of time its taken me to write this post and I'm not in any pain, nor does my foot appear to have suffered irreparable damage. Today's lessons seem to be: you don't really know your limits until they've been tested. And HANG ON TO YOUR KEYS!

One Step at a Time

I rode a bike again today, the idea of getting on the eliptical makes me unreasonably nervous, but I'm going to have to do it tomorrow no matter what. However, I'm relatively pain free, so I'd say I'm doing pretty good so far. Before I worry about running I'm just getting used to being without the boot, and going up and down stairs and -the embarrassing part- walking straight. Right now I feel kind of goofy, but its getting better.
I also found a new toy for my new toy (redundant, yes).

Slow but Steady Wins the Race . . . . I hope!

Its been almost four weeks since I got the bad news and things are looking up. Its been a long seven weeks all together, but I'm finally healed. My official date to take the boot off is this Friday (tomorrow), but I've been walking around the house pretty well without it. I rode a bike on Tuesday for the first time and I'm feeling okay. I have a week still before I can go back to running. I got an awesome Sweetest Day gift - the Nike Running System for my iPod, which should really help with building myself back up. Next week I'm going to focus on biking and try the eliptical.
We will not be doing the Chicago Turkey Trot, which is an 8K, but there's still a chance for us to do one in Naperville. This one is a 5K - much less daunting for me - and I can register up to the Monday before, so I'll really be able to tell if I'm ready! Another perk is I'll be running it with two of my favorite people. I'm also a big fan of the fact that this little accident started with a night out in Naperville. Its like returning to the scene of the crime!
Regardless of how the Turkey Trot goes, I will be running in the Jingle Bell Run in Kankakee on December 14.
I'm back on my feet and it feels great!

Setback - Part Deux

Good news hasn't been forthcoming lately. The dear old foot was still giving me a lot of trouble - especially the part where I couldn't move my toes - so I got sent to an orthopedic surgeon. They did another set of x-rays. I got to see them this time. I should win a prize. I didn't do this halfway. There are three breaks. Four more weeks in the boot. This is honestly becoming frustrating. Right now my prospects for the Turkey Trot are looking bleak. I can start running in November, which will give me about sixteen weeks to be ready for the half marathon. I'm afraid at this point I'll essentially be starting from scratch, which may mean I'll be doing the 5K the day before and meeting my girls at the finish line for the half marathon.

Foot Update

I went back to the doctor today, taking my still bruised foot with me. I'm feeling a little better after a week on crutches, actually. However, the doctor wasn't please by how my poor foot looks - which is pretty gross, actually. The final verdict is that its broken. I'm going to be put in a hard boot, so I'll be able to walk more easily, but I'm off it for another month. I might be able to run toward the middle/end of October, so the Trick-or-Treat Trot is out, but I should be in decent shape for the Turkey Trot. For now, I'm just spending a lot of time with my foot elevated!

Setback

No sooner did I get this blog started than I had a little problem. This past weekend, while I was out with my friends I fell and gave my foot a pretty bad wrench. I'm going to the doctor again today to have it looked at. In the emergency room they said it was a sprain and to take it easy for a few days. Now its purple. I'm definitely not allowed to run for at least two weeks.

My Goal

My current running goal is to complete the Disney Princess Half Marathon which will be held the first weekend in March 2009. I'll be doing this with two friends and we're getting excited. This will be the longest run I've done and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be training through the end of this year and into the start of next year. The purpose of this blog is to keep me on track and to keep everyone up to date on my progress.