Saturday, August 28, 2010

9.2

 

I woke up early and started at the end of the trail.  The end is less busy than the beginning, which I prefer.  I think it may be less busy because it isn’t convenient to most people and because an out and back path for shorter distances seems easier to plot based on the location of the rests areas/parking lots.  But I digress…

It was nice and cool this morning, only about 64 when I hit the trail.  I actually had on a shirt over my tank, very exciting to volunteer to wear extra layers in August in Missouri.  I felt wonderful as I hit the second parking area (2.35 miles) and kept going to the third (4.64 miles).  I stopped there for some stretching and to catch my breath a bit.  After a few moments I started back towards the trail head.

There is something odd about an out and back on a trial because while you ought to know what is coming, it really does look different from the other direction.  This particular trail runs along a river so it’s all green space and some woods, making it nice scenery for a long walk.

While making my way back, I could feel my muscles starting to burn some but as my knees and hips weren’t too angry I was happy.  When I hit mile 7ish on my route I knew I didn’t have too far left, but I also knew I was getting tired and sore.  More sore than tired, which I think is a good thing, but still.  I didn’t stop at this parking area as I knew there was another just over a mile away and I wanted to keep going.  Part of this whole thing, the half and Crohn’s, is that I want to keep going and I’m not giving up.

I hit the last parking lot before getting back to the trail head and as much as I wanted to just push on, I made friends with the picnic table and gave my legs a break.  After a few minutes I was on my way again, knowing that I didn’t have much time to go.  When I came around the bend and saw the parking lot waiting for me below, I could feel the smile cross my face.

I was happy to see the end because it meant I had gone further than I had before.  It meant that I didn’t give up and call for a ride.  It meant I pushed on even when I wanted to lay down in the grass and let the dew cool me off.  Seeing the end gave me a great preview of how things will feel in Las Vegas in December.  I loved it.

9.2 in the books for today.  3.9 more and I’ll have the distance I need. Until then, that visual will keep me going.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

4.28

 

This morning was the first in weeks that the temperature and humidity weren’t completely out of hand.  I woke up early and drove to the parking lot at the start of the trail and was surprised to see it nearly full of cars.  A bunch of bikers rode by and there were several others either gearing up or putting bikes back on car racks.  There was also a large group of high school girls, a cross county team I assume, cooling down and enjoying some oranges after a nice weekend workout.

I remember doing workouts at the lakefront in Milwaukee and while I was never a cross country star, the team aspect and fun of being at the lake always made those workouts fun.  I have to imagine that having such a great trail to train on makes the high school season wonderful for the schools in my area.

I slipped on my knee brace, set my GPS to track my route and pacing and pressed play on my IPOD.  It felt great to be back out as it has been a couple of weeks courtesy of the weather and my knee.  I felt comfortable as the steps ticked by and my knee was feeling pretty good.  I followed my doc’s advice and did a nifty zig-zag move when I hit a downhill in an attempt to take some of the pressure off my knee and it seemed to work fairly well.  I did my best to be an adult and not jump in the mud puddles left over from rain last night and made my way to the first rest area.

By the time I hit the rest area it was starting to heat up and my knee was getting a little achy.  Exercising my better judgment I opted for a shorter out and back than I had planned and turned back for the start of the trail.

Getting back to my car I was tired, but in a good way, not a pass out in the parking lot way, so that was good.  I noticed along the way that pacing was more consistent, with fewer times when I felt I slowed down a lot, also good.  My knee wanted to rest a bit more than the rest of my but I kept pushing it and adjusted my gait when I could to account for that, something I’m happy I was able to do without too much trouble.  I’m scaled back on my miles at current but I’m building back up in a good way, a way that ought not hurt my knee (and the fluid hanging out on it…) and I feel good about that.

All in all, a good 4.28.

Monday, August 9, 2010

All Scanned

 

I had my MRI read today by my orthopedist.  He is the ‘knee guy’ for the Kansas City Chiefs and an all around nice guy.  After reading the films (it’s actually a computer screen these days…new fangled technology and all), he said that I have scar tissue from my previous surgery and some fluid, both of which are causing the pain I have been having.  I got some recommendations on how to take care of it so I don’t mess it up in really bad way, and the all clear to get back into training harder once the weather decides to be something other than disgustingly hot.  Until it cools off though he suggested that I stick to inside stuff as the water loss wouldn’t be great for muscles that need to keep my knee caps in place.

I’m thrilled that I don’t need anything involving a scalpel and that I can get back to it without worrying.  Now if only the temperature would dip below 95 degrees… 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Amazed

I sent out another round of donation emails today, hoping to meet my goal in the not-too-distant future and be able to focus solely on the physical part of things.  Each time I receive a donation I also receive an email.  When my phone buzzes I am normally fairly responsive as aside from my daily noontime junk mail, that buzz generally makes me feel happy,  When the buzz is a donation confirmation email I am always scroll down to see who was kind enough to donate to a worthy cause and who has faith that I can do this.  After I see who, it takes a few more scrolls to see the amount, something which continues to catch me off guard.  But what I love even more is when I get an email or facebook message a few seconds later that gives me a story, the background as to why someone else was moved by all of this and wants to help. 

I received just such a follow up and it made me smile muchly to learn that a childhood camp-mate, and now director of that same camp, is also the director of Camp Oasis in Wisconsin.  Camp Oasis is an amazing thing for kids with IBD, a place where the diagnosis isn't something to hide, and where all the things that go withat diagnosis are understood, acecpted and shared.  What I loved about the email was knowing that other people want to help, want to make a difference for people with IBD, especially kids.

And I love that emails like that remind me that while it might feel like it some of the time, I'm not alone in this fight and I'm not alone when I put the miles in even mine are the only sneaker marks on the trail.

Still hot

The last two weeks the temperature has been hovering around 100 degrees before taking the heat index into account.  Add to that some knee pain I am having explored via MRI to rule out anything substantive today, and it's been all inside, all the time.  I'm trying not to get discouraged as I have a lot of time still to go and have already made great progress on the miles.  But when I have no treadmill and I'm not able to consume or retain the calories I need, it gets a little harder.  I have been increasing my water intake so whenever I can get back outside again my body should handle it better.  Until then though, stretching, lifting a bit and keeping my mental progress moving forward. 

I'm chalking this all up to just being another bump in the road.  That bump reminds me why I'm doing this so I suppose it's a good thing.  I suppose.