About that Half....

So it seemed that I no sooner than pushed the "publish" button on that post about the half marathon panic and running the 5K when I developed my first running injury.

In the 19 degree weather of the run, I did notice my left ankle felt tight. Quite the over-achiever, I then went on to a one hour Zumba event that afternoon, and jumped around like a maniac on it. Resting Sunday didn't help much, and by Monday morning I could hardly get up the three flights of stairs into my office. One trip to the orthopedic doctor's office later, I learned I had a bad case of tendonitis. Prescription strength anti-inflamatories in hand, I pondered his advice on the drive home.

The orthopedic doctor told me it's mainly from repetitive use, like running. The best way to get rid of it is to rest a couple weeks then ease back into the activity. I have four weeks of training left, the longest of the long runs still ahead of me. Taking two weeks off running, then "easing back" into it most certainly meant no half marathon. When I specifically expressed that concern to the doctor, he just eyed me suspiciously. He said, "Can you run on it? Yes. If your concern was a tear or a stress fracture, you're cleared. But tendonitis will still be uncomfortable, especially for 13 plus miles." I sure would hate to have trained these last eight weeks and quit with four left to go, and I told him as much. Half chuckling, he said "Yeah... Runners. Give it as much time as you are willing, then try it out. If you can live with it, then run. I will leave the half marathon decision up to you."

I realized his advice was my perfect opportunity to quit.

But I couldn't quit, because even with the panic about the half-marathon, wondering if I was adequately prepared, and feeling like I had jumped in over my head.... I still want to do it. I took three days off. I ran three miles the first day, and by weeks end, did my scheduled long run of 10 miles. Can I promise that I'm gonna cross the finish line? No. But I can guarantee that I was handed the chance to duck out and I didn't take it. That feels like a little bit of a win right there.

Besides, I think he knew I was going to run anyway. He told me I needed two weeks worth of the prescription, but then eyeballing me as he wrote it out, he gave me a full 4 week supply. Just enough to get me to race day.

Let's Celebrate!

Happy Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!

What's that you say? You weren't aware? Chew on these facts:

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men & women.

This year, 131 THOUSAND Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer. 56 thousand will DIE.

Because symptoms are sometimes hidden or non-existent, early detection is crucial. Get screened.

Wondering if you're at risk? Click here and read up.

"Why do you care?" you dear readers ask... (or maybe not? but I'm pretending you do!)

Because although those over 50, African-Americans and those considered "sedentary" are in the highest risk group, I have a friend who is none of the above, and he's in the fight of his life... For his life. He was so lucky that he caught it early and received immediate treatment. His story will have a great ending, I just know it. But others won't be so lucky.

So, I asked myself, what could I possibly do to honor my friend? Well, RUN for him, of course!!

So my husband and I suited up with our self-made shirts (funny, right?) and turned up in 19 degree weather to run a 5K. It was cold but it was fun, and we finished in 26:26.

So pay attention to the signs. Don't be afraid to get a scope. It could just save your life.

My Half-Panic

I'm an over-extender. I need to learn to reign my ambitions in. I commit to something and then more and more and more until I snap and have to scrape some things off my plate. I feel this way with the half-marathon training right now! I never would have dreamed that I'd run (and enjoy) 7 miles at a time! But I can, and I do. But ten mile runs? Although tiring they're not impossible; but I just hate the time commitment that entails. Sixty minutes of cardio is plenty; much more than that and my brain is already back at home, making a to-do list while my body is on auto-pilot. I dig the "therapy" that running has become for me, but after this half marathon, I'm definitely going to keep the runs under 6 miles on a daily basis. Also I want to beg my friends to come out and cheer for me (come on- it would be hard to quit running and walk when you may have a friend around the next corner!).... But on the other hand, I want to just run this quietly under the radar and go home and take a nap.

I think it's because I'm just over one month away, and my biggest training runs are ahead of me.

I'm gonna keep plugging away, but I need some serious motivation right now....

IHF: head, shoulders...

...knees or toes. Just not a face!

In a twist on the usual i heart faces themes, this weeks entries need to be of anything besides a face!

I wanted to enter a picture from one of my favorite engagement sessions:

It reminds me of a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but looking outward together in the same direction."

I'm a Duck

Stress.

It's one of those things that everyone has, to some degree. Everyone reacts differently to it too. After one of the major collegiate shootings a few years back, I read an article about how in traumatically stressful situations (such as that) people either act or freeze. It's a derivative of the "fight or flight" syndrome. Some people either act quickly- blocking doors with desks, moving swiftly and efficiently to protect themselves and others and often putting themselves in harms way doing so. Others, although they have the best intentions, are physically unable to act or react. Frozen- unable to run and unable to help themselves or others.

I've never, ever been in a situation that I would consider to be that dire. (Thank God for that, might I add!) I do think that, as a nurse, I've been in several situations that require swift action and reaction, and honestly I loved that kind of adrenaline. I can act, move, help, think and do in "do or die" situations. I agree with the theory that people either act or freeze; but I'd like to add a third option to the table as well. The "Ducks" of the world.

(photo credit)

I'm a duck.

Professional stresses aside, here.

Personal stress causes me to go into duck mode. I often have friends tell me they think I handle stress very well. I'm usually methodical and precise with my analysis of things; able to separate emotion from logic. I can stand back, assess the situation and react to the best of my ability.

What they often don't know is that under the surface I'm paddling like the dickens.

Recently, Madigan was sick. I picked her up from daycare after work and she looked so pale white and had red eyes. I saw her and before I could speak, she said "mama, I'm sick." I took her home and called her clinic. Of course it was 4:30 on a Friday, and we were scheduled to go out of state so I could do five photoshoots. Just looking at her, I knew what was coming. I called two clients and cancelled before her clinic could call me back. I took her right in, and they confirmed what I knew: croup. Her oxygen levels were in the 80's (too low for a two year old!) so her provider said as gently as possible: "she needs to be hospitalized." A racemic epinephrine treatment, chest x-ray, steroids, albuterol and an oxygen tent later, our weekend plans were completely changed. Action was my coping mechanism- I was calling and texting while I was cuddling, cajoling and bribing my child. A duck- calm on the surface while underneath I was screaming at the lab tech who was digging for a vein, and angry at the daycare for not calling me and telling my kid was sick.

I knew the croup would pass, I knew my daughter would be healthy again very quickly. I was thankful for that, but underneath I was just as scared as any other mother would have been. Paddling like the dickens, not getting anywhere too fast for doing it.

I'm a duck.

What are you?

i heart faces entry

Everyone knows I'm a huge fan of i heart faces! So this weeks "hearts" theme is incredibly fun for me....

This picture is of my niece and uses one of my favorite bokeh's.

If you'd like to see more awesome "heart" themed entries, then click on over to IHF!

No take backs!

Man! As soon as I hit "publish" I regretted even talking about the half marathon!

I have never done a road race, and I'm not competitive... why did I sign up for this? Follow that up with several people who are real runners saying they've never done a half... I have some serious regrets, here!

Oh well- cats out of the bag and I can't wrestle it back in! ;)

Like I said, my goal is to finish... period. I do have a training schedule (it was for beginners!) and I've been doing a lot of reading on running- its it's own little cult world, isn't it? I thought I was more of a "techie" but I find myself leaning more towards the "minimalist" group... I went for a 4 mile run last Saturday sans-iPod, and I loved it! There is just something freeing about running without music-I'm down with that!

Spending the last year getting healthier has been quite the adventure. The foods I'm eating (quinoa- for example, would never had been on my radar a year ago, let alone in my lunch bag!), the activities I've done (Insanity, running four miles at once *gasp*), and the respect I've gained for what my body is capable of have been the best and biggest changes over the last year.

So, you healthy folks- what are your favorite healthy food? Favorite body-changing workouts? Favorite gear or gadgets? Favorite blogs to read? :)

I'd love to know what you all do to make yourselves feel like wonder-women! Spill it!