Thank you…

… for your input and notes about my INJURY 'PATIENCE and HEALING'.  I appreciate them all.  I do.

But let’s turn our attentions to Vegas – shall we?

I don’t know when my love affair with Showgirls began.  Perhaps it seemed so glamorous to a little girl growing up in rural Western Pennsylvania.

As a tomboy who was usually barefoot, it was the lure of the stage that got me… even though my first piano recital is something I’ve spent years trying to forget.

So what is it? Sequins, feathers, makeup??

ALL OF IT.

When does a little girl outgrow those things?

In my case – apparently never.  I’m BLESSED to be okay with that…

Let’s be honest – where VEGAS is concerned – it’s either White or Black.  You either love it or loathe it.  I won’t judge you. It’s pretty obvious how I feel about it.  Every city has its ‘seedy underworld’ element, most places you don’t have to look very far to find it.

I think it’s also what you LOOK for when you’re looking at it.

Showgirls are entertainment, a pure extravagance – a beautiful distraction.  You rarely see the years of work that it takes to achieve and maintain ‘showgirl’ status.  Off stage and out of makeup, they’re your sisters, cousins and best friends who take the every day ordinary and make it extraordinary.

I don’t go to Vegas to gamble or drink.  [I’m not a gambler when it comes to money – it’s too hard earned!]  As far as drinking is concerned, I do just fine locally.

I like Vegas just like Showgirls: entertainment, extravagance – beautiful distraction. 

As a performer: THIS I UNDERSTAND.

Vegas is a shiny escape from my every day ordinary life that I choose to make extraordinary.

Injury

I have put off writing this entry for over two weeks.  Probably hoping that I’d never have to write it.  If I didn’t see it in print, it wouldn’t exist.

But it does.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around what it means. I’m not sure I’m ready to do that yet.

Here’s what I know and what I’ll share with you:

I don’t know what cause my rupture of the FLEXOR HALLUCIS BREVIS tendon. I only know that I had increasing heel pain [I’m not able to put full weight on the heel of my foot – when I do, it feels like I’m stepping on a rock] beginning around August 3-7 and I went to the Canonsburg ER for X-rays and a follow up visit to ADVANCED ORTHOPAEDICS who are my medical team.

An MRI of my left foot on August 14th showed the ruptured tendon and they prescribed 4 weeks of Physical Therapy.  I began the PT last week [August 22] and will continue the course of treatment until I return to see the SURGEON on October 3rd. [My guy is Welker.]

Will it actually require surgery?

I don’t know. We’ll cross that bridge after October 3rd.

In the meantime, I’ve been cleared to do upper body work and swim.  I did 2 MILES ON THE ARM BIKE this morning after PT.  I thought about swimming this week, but they’re doing yearly maintenance on the pools at the WELLNESS CENTER where I am a member.  [I’ll return when they’ve finished the maintenance and refilled the pools.]

The good news is, I’m still going to Vegas this weekend.  We’ll be there from September 1-6. While I’m not thrilled to travel/vacation with my foot in an ORTHOPEDIC WALKING BOOT, it really is nearly pain-free.  I manage quite well and if I wear a right shoe that has a bit of a heel, I’m no longer limping/wobbling.

Mentally is a completely different ball game.  This is primarily why I’ve put off writing this entry.  I don’t want to talk about what it means in terms of running or continuing to run in the future.  I’m not sure even where I am in terms of the 2012 GREAT RACE 5k.  I probably could WALK it in the boot. 

The question remains: should I?

I’m not ready to make that decision. 

What I can tell you is this:  I’m glad to have had the opportunity to run 2011 GREAT RACE 10k and enjoyed every step.  I no longer have anything to prove.  Every STEP is a precious, treasured memory.  If I never get the opportunity to participate in another race of any length, I’m not saying I will or won’t – I know that I have done my best in each one that I’ve had the joy of running!

In some way or shape or form, I will be waiting at the Finish Line for my Brother and Family/Friends who are walking/running the Pittsburgh Great Race on September 30th…

Milestones…

… are meant to be acknowledged.

And then broken.

Today – 17 months after I began my RUNNING JOURNEY on MARCH 7, 2011 with THE COUCH 2 5K PROGRAM [C25K], I logged my 600th mile.

Did you get that?

SIX HUNDRED MILES.

And this morning? I WALKED THE 1.84 MILES like a ROCK STAR.

After FRIDAY'S WALKING RUN – I had some issues over the weekend of other muscles reacting in my weak* left leg.  Different muscles – so I wanted to be sure this morning that I allowed plenty of time for them all to heal.

I figure this way – any walking/running/biking I do is better than none.

So it seemed only fitting that the 1.1 miles I needed to make the 600 mile mark came on a day when I was just getting out there to move.

Cause really – isn’t that what all this is about – just getting out there and LIVING IT…

*Due to nerve damage from surgeries, I have numbness/weakness in my left leg and toes.

Today Was One of Those…

… mornings when I had to force myself out of bed to get to the track.

I’ve been having some issues lately with very low blood sugar in the mornings.  I grabbed 1/2 a banana and headed out anyway.

Also, I noticed while I was watching the ‘lympic coverage yesterday afternoon from my big COMFY couch that the back of my left leg was bothering me.  It’s the same muscle that CRAMPED ON ME DURING MY 30 MILE BIKE RACE. 

Probably some residual soreness from my 10.59 BIKE RIDE on the trail earlier this week.

We left for the track with me wondering if I could run at all.  I stretched prior to my warm up walk just like I normally do – I mean – what’s the worst that could happen?

WALKING INSTEAD OF RUNNING AT THE TRACK?? 

Being out there moving is what it’s all about.

2.05 MILES OF RUN/WALKING later it was done.

Yes, I walked just as much as I ran – I did what I was able this morning.  The pain wasn’t debilitating – it didn’t get worse.  My pace was good – better than earlier in the week – even with all the walking.  Harry told me that I was limping pretty badly, but I stretched out good when I was finished and took a long, hot shower when we got home.

The key now is to let it recover this weekend and not tweak it more.  I’m not getting any younger.  Running is not going to get easier for me as my body ages.  However, running has taught me to listen to what my body tells me on a daily basis and to understand when defying it is a good idea.

Brain trumps Body every time…

It’s Not Only…

… the beginning of a NEW month – it’s the beginning of my BIRTH Month.

Hey – I’m celebrating all that’s possible.

I thought about a run this morning around the track, but opted out for a 10.59 MILE BIKE RIDE ON THE MONTOUR TRAIL.

And am I glad that I did – it was a beautiful day.  A bit on the warmish side, but I didn’t get out there until noon.  Hard for me to remember that 7 days ago I was RIDING ON THE ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK!!

While I’m thinking about it, I didn’t get my 30 miles in for July 2012. I only missed the goal by 11.7 miles.  When I thought about that – not too shabby.  [I basically made that mileage up today with my bike ride.]  Going to try to get in another 30 miles for August 2012.

I can’t believe I’m 3.1 miles [5k!!] away from completing 600 miles in less than 18 months!