From The ER...and Back to the Roads

From the ER...and Back On the Roads!

Many people have been asking me how I've gotten back so fast when things looked so bleak in April. There are many answers. The first MRI and set of scans done showed some strange stuff. A ton of swelling from the marathon and some pcl issues. Basically I suffer from a huge knee instability issue. One minute its good and the next minute it doesn't support me. So after the bleak MRI I did what doctors at NYCC told me to do. I did strengthening exercises 3 times a day. My day would look like this:

Hot Bath for knee in the morning
Rubberband Therapy/Resistance Therapy 3 times daily 10-20 reps
Cold Ice Bath after therapy
spots of weight training
much walking for the month of May...some weeks 10-12 miles of walking

Running is More Fun

Running is so much fun this time around. In april I thought it was all over. To work hard and get another chance to run with great people is a gift in itself. There isn't the pressure to be faster or stronger. It's more about the people and the experience.

Visits to NYCC

I have found the the visits to NYCC have helped tremendously. They are a great bunch of people and I can't thank them enough. I am back on weekly visits there and they stretch out my hamstrings, work with my back and other issues to keep me running. Thank you all for your help there! You are the greatest.

Thanks to All of You

I also want to thank the many different runners who offered to run with me this time around and keeps me motivated. Thanks to Anna Hlywa for extending her hand to run with them on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Thanks to Jen and Maureen for running with us too. Thanks to my mom and meg for a couple different days a week of running. Thanks to Rick Bower for the punishing Wednesday runs. Thanks to the new runners who I will run with this summer!

So I hope that explains the question. While most sit around during an injury, I worked. I worked to get the immobilizer off and the running shoes on and back on the road! Thanks all for your support!

Week 4 of Comeback Training...

An author once said, "the best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do." I say don't go around or climb the mountain. Make like a bulldozer and plow through it. Leave nothing in your path and never look back... (today's post on facebook)

Week 4 of Comeback Training

Week 4 went very well. I had a Tuesday speedwork session with Anna and Jen from the YMCA. I was supposed to run 6 x 1 minute intervals. I ended up doing 9 x 1 minute intervals. It felt good out there. I didn't have much fatigue. Wednesday was a nice 7.5 mile run with Rick through the historic Fort Hill cemetery area. Thursday was back with the YMCA ladies and a nice tempo style run. I took Friday and Saturday off to control some swelling issues and ran 6 miles on Sunday in the pouring rain. My legs are still very shaky out there put I keep pushing and hoping for a 30 mile run week on week #5. The difference this time around is that I am having fun with running. There isn't the pressure of raising money for the sick or the pressure of an upcoming marathon. I am just going out the front door and seeing what adventure lies ahead. See you all next week!

Target Race Comeback- July 18th

I realize it is a couple weeks too early but I have set my target as the Fillmore 5k on July 18th. Its a nice flat, fast and certified USATF 5k. Anyone interested in joining me on the journey go to:

http://www.fingerlakesrunners.org/races/forms/Fillmore.html

Week #3 of Comeback Training

"The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, 1996

Week #3 of Comeback Training

Week 3 went very well. I had done my first successful speedwork back since January. I hadn't even done any the weeks before Boston because of the condition of my knee. Needless to say it went well. I decided to use the Majorpalooza Run4life 5k course for a 3.12 mile speed work. My first mile was 6:30 and then my legs started wobbling and it went to 7:30 and then 8:10 for the last mile. I was very happy with the progress. I had many great runs with my mom and Meg, YMCA Gals, and Rick Bower. I am trying to run with someone new everyday to keep it fresh and exciting.

The knee issue is feeling stronger daily. Though I have no developed some lower back issues. Not sure what that is but it comes and it goes. I am on my way to NYCC to have it checked out in a couple hours. I want to say thank you to all of you for the great posts on facebook all the time. Keep showing the world your positive energy!

Target Race Comeback- July 18th

I have set my target as the Fillmore 5k on July 18th. Its a nice flat, fast and certified USATF 5k. Anyone interested in joining me on the journey go to:

http://www.fingerlakesrunners.org/races/forms/Fillmore.html

Week #2 of Comeback Training

This Weeks Quote: "Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain." ~Author Unknown

Well so far training is going spectacular. Week #2 finished off with 22 miles run. Capped off by a tough 6 mile run at Everest Park. Very tired legs and much swelling but my attitude is positive. I will be doing many runs in the area. I will be doing double sessions on Tuesday-Thursday through the summer. If interested in joining for a run email me at run_for_life@verizon.net or call the cell at 315-209-5044

Week #3 target is 24 miles run while adding in a small burst of speed on one day. Keeping my fingers crossed but my legs feel so much better than around Boston Marathon time. Keep you posted!

A Welcome Back To Running

Last week was my first week back to running and it was a good one. I had my self slated in for only 10-15 miles max. Sorta by mistake I ran 20. Oh well. Knees are a quite bit rusty but I feel excitement about running again. To me it's not about the pain. It's about step by step, mile by mile, the one thing that makes me smile. Seeing I ran up my mileage a bit I am gonna try to stay on track with the 10% increases. So I am going to try to run 22 miles this week on week #2.

Thanks to all the Runners

I want to thank all the runners that have partnered with me. Special thanks to my family. My mom and Meghan filling in a couple days to keep me going. Special thanks to the YMCA ladies, Anna, Maureen and Jen for the early Tuesday mornings. Rich Bower for the soon to be Wednesday runs and anyone else who is filling in and keeping me going. This is painful, but fun!