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… 

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.

3.63

 

It is still miserably hot, and my stomach is still not my best friend, but I braved the heat and the pain for a good 3.63 miles today.

My stomach wanted to stop before I even started, but I’m running this show, right?

I had on my new knee brace (not neoprene, thank goodness!) and it worked surprisingly well.  There were a few pangs of ‘ouch’ but nothing I couldn’t handle.

Limits were pushed, even if on a small scale, and I feel really good about that.

Bump in the Road

 

Today I’m not feeling wonderful.  Okay, I’m not even really feeling good.  I’m hurting in a way that is hard to explain and that I’ve just come to know as a ‘Crohn’s Day.’  I hate these days as they get in the way of everything.  It’s a Saturday so my plans were minimal, but if I did have them, they most assuredly would have been cancelled.

I didn’t get out for any substantive training today as I was pretty sure that had I tried, I would have ended up sitting on a picnic table wondering what the odds were that a park ranger would magically appear in a club car to take me back to my car.  Remembering that the first picnic table or bench is a good three miles in on the trail, this didn’t seem like a wise idea. 

The fact that I didn’t get out for a walk to train for a half marathon to raise money for Crohn’s and colitis research because of Crohn’s is some sort of ridiculous irony.  I’m frustrated by it, but I’ll just take that and put it into the steps I can take, always remembering that this isn’t just for me and I’m fortunate to have gotten as well as I have to be able to do this.

But I still hate Crohn’s.  A lot. 

7.29

 

I got in 7.29 miles this morning before the air turned to liquid and the temperature spiked.  Things were going rather well until somewhere around mile 5.  My right knee ached.  Not a dull ache, but a searing hurt that made me want to curl up and cry.  But I kept going.  After all, I drove myself today and needed to get back to my car.  The biggest downside to this trail is that absent the parking lots, there are extended stretches where you couldn’t be easily picked up or gotten to in case of emergency.  But I digress…

I kept walking, doing the best I could, but the only way I was able to take step after step without falling down was to turn my foot outward and try not to bend my knee.  Every so often my knee would give and I was afraid I’d tumble, but I’d stop for a moment, try to get things situated and go on.

At 7.29 I was coming to a spot where the trail goes under an overpass and there was a well-worn trail leading to the sidewalk running to the road.  I limped up the little incline, sat down on the sidewalk (it’s not a heavily traveled road so it’s not like I was sitting in the midst of lots of traffic.  although at that point, I may have) and called X, tears in my eyes and after apologizing for the unexpected wake up call, X was out the door to get me.

I got to my car, slowly climbed in and made my way home.  It’s not how I thought this morning would play out, but I have a better idea of my limits as far as pain is concerned.  And 7.29 miles is better than no miles at all, right?

The Best

 

My sister is the best.  Part of this whole thing is knowing that I’m not doing it alone.  That goes for the half, but even more, it goes to Crohn’s, and really, everything I do.  My sister a huge support in everything and with all of this, I know that she gets it.  Really, she’s the best.