My Active Adventures

I haven’t posted in a few days once again because, honestly, I’ve been too busy training to find the time to sit down and write.   At times I feel guilty for not taking the time to keep up with this blog the way I’d like to.   Then there are other times that I remember why I do all of this work.   As much as I love all of it, the truth is that it is work, hard, time consuming, brutal work that requires tons of sacrifice and dedication.   Not everyone’s cut out for it, and just a couple years ago I was one of those not cut out for it.   Today I’m a different person than I was then.   Today I was reminded why, it’s kind of dumb, but this has gotten me fired up a little and I had to take the time to share. There was a post on the Facebook page of a local news station about the government releasing oil from the strategic reserves to reduce prices at the pump.   I’m not going to use this blog a forum for discussion of the politics of this, so that’s not rea...

Me, Kristy & Ryan Well, to be honest, I’ve been having so much fun running again I had to go read my last couple posts to remember where I last left off with what’s been going on!   It’s like being a kid again!   I smile during runs; I laugh and really enjoy myself.   Maybe the stress fracture really was a good thing!   Ok, lots to fill you in on, so here it goes: Me, Kristy, Jay and Crystal I did some pretty consistent treadmill running between my second and third visit with Dr. Patel.   All of the runs went great, so going into my appointment I was confident I would get good news.   Well, it was a good news/bad news kind of situation, but luckily the bad news wasn’t that bad.   We started out with an EMG with Dr. Pratt.   Let me tell you, this is a test you don’t want!   They stuck me with some needles and spend quite some time electrocuting different parts of my feet and legs to see how the nerves would fire.   OUCH!! ...

…but that’s a great thing!   I’m struggling through workouts, fighting through runs and struggling with food.   It’s like when this whole journey started.   I’m reminded of why I started this journey and how hard it was.   I’ve learned a lesson, next time I’m injured I’m not slacking off again. My last post was Sunday, so let me give you the low-down on yesterday and today.   Yesterday I did 3.1 miles on the ‘mill at an 11:32 pace, it was great.   Then yesterday evening we had our monthly meeting with the Olathe Running Club.   It’s always great to get together and socialize with all of my fellow runners, but I’m really looking forward to running with them again.   After the meeting I came home and mowed the yard.   This morning before work was another tough weight training session.   I did Javorek’s Weight Training II Plan week 1 day 2, it’s a pretty good workout all the way through, but the part that really got me was ending with 4 se...

I based my whole day on 2 words (based on the 2 big tasks for the day).   The first word is weights (meaning I needed to get back into an organized weight training routine), the second word was healthy (we went grocery shopping and the goal was to only buy healthy foods).   I’d say it was a success on both counts, here’s why. First off, I got up a little late, I fell back asleep after breakfast, and honestly I needed it so I didn’t feel bad about it.   I headed to the gym around 11 AM for weight training.   I know I had said last weekend that I was starting P90X, but that has been put on hold.   After seeing what was involved in the Plyometrics disc I decided I needed to wait to get full clearance from the doctor to avoid reinjuring my foot.   That was disappointing, so I slacked off on weight training this week because of that disappointment.   Well, no more, I’m running again so I need to build my strength back up again.   So I dusted off the w...

Sometimes it’s important to put yourself second and celebrate the accomplishments of someone you love.   For me, that was this morning.   I was terribly frustrated to not be running the Hospital Hill Half Marathon this morning that I was registered for, but there was no room for complaining or feeling sorry for myself.   I had more important things to do.   My wife was set to run the Hospital Hill 10k as her first 10k ever.   You have to respect her toughness.   She picks one of the hottest and hilliest in the area to run her first 10k!   Her training was sporadic since her schedule’s been pretty hectic, but she woke up ready to go this morning.   She had a positive attitude and was shooting for a sub-1:45 time. In the left lane are the #1 & 2 finishers in the 1/2 Marathon We got up early and headed out to the race.   The best indication that I was not running, we showed up at the race just in time for it to start.   I would have...

I’ve never smiled all the way through a 3 mile run.   There have been plenty of runs that I’ve enjoyed and smiled during, but never all the way.   Then again, I’ve been running for a little over a year and a half and I’d never had to take 7 weeks off for a stress fracture.   It’s been 7 weeks since my last run.   I’ve been doing everything the doctors ordered.   6 weeks in a horribly uncomfortable ortho shoe (2 weeks of which I even had to wear it at night), I’ve been taking additional vitamin and calcium supplements, I haven’t been running, I haven’t been walking any more than needed, 5 weeks of no cycling, word-for-word I’ve followed every direction and suggestion. My foot has been feeling good.   In fact, at my last appointment with Dr. Patel he told me he was impressed with how well my foot was healing.   This comment really helped build my confidence.   He directed me to take one week on the elliptical (which was hell) then, on 6/3, I would b...

As I write this post there are 16 hours exactly until I get to finally log some running miles!  In some ways it feels like it's been years since I ran, in other ways it feels like I never missed any time.  What is it about running that allows it to engrain itself in the fiber of our being?  I find this question answered and yet more elusive every time I run.  It's been a long 7 weeks, hoestly I feel like I'm getting ready to run a big race!  It's not going to be anything big, just a slow, short (3 mile max) treadmill run.  I'm definately mentally ready, let's just hope my foot is ready!! Hopefully it will be a nice, pain-free run that will have me back on track. Happy running, everyone, I'll be thinking of you all and the encouragement you have given me the last couple months!!