Because I Can…

There are those who say to me: You’re lucky because you get to work from home.

I’ll give you the fact that yes – I am lucky that I can work from home and wear my slippers and pj pants.

However, that being said – I am also one of those people who has trouble focusing when I work at home because – OH LOOK SOMETHING SPARKLY!!

Totally me. ALL. THE. TIME.

I’m working two shows right now – one I’m directing and another a favorite franchise where I’m reprising a role. It’s learning music/lines/choreography from scratch.  Three weeks until we open!

So, rather than waste this beautiful day sitting in a chair being distracted trying to keep music/lines/choreography in my head?  I thought I’d take it on the ON THE ROAD FOR 1.73 MILES before I came in for lunch.

I think better on my feet – it forces me to use both sides of my brain.

It was also a free preview for the neighborhood.

WHATEVER…

Conversations and Tears…

… I am so proud of my friends who ran/walked the PITTSBURGH GREAT RACE 2012. The commitment to train and complete a race is difficult physically, mentally and time-wise.

I won’t kid you, it was tough to stand at the Finish Line – not because I didn’t want to be supportive and cheer the runners on – but because I wasn’t out there doing what I’d promised. Plain and simple, I wanted to run and I was physically unable. However, I’ve discovered that I have a talent for giving good COWBELL!

When I handed over my racing bib to another racer, we discussed what ‘running’ has meant to each of us**.  [Neither of us having been runners in the past.] 

What I took away from the conversation was this:

It’s not the ACT of running itself, but rather doing something you NEVER BELIEVED that you could do.  Running will never be FUN or EASY, but the knowledge that you get up and try? Form, time, footwear – it all goes by the wayside.  It doesn’t take a special talent -- it’s about believing in yourself and doing it FOR YOU. 

That may sound selfish to some, but if running will help me to control my diabetes and extend my life – then hell yeah.

When I met with my orthopaedic surgeon on Oct. 3rd, he looked at me and said: I know this isn’t something you want to hear, because you’re a FIXER. He went on to tell me that my injury isn’t something that can be fixed. While the RUPTURED TENDON is healed as much as possible, the FAT PAD ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT is atrophied due to my age, my weight and my diabetes.  But I’m wearing HEEL CUPS and have been fitted for CUSTOM ORTHOTIC INSERTS.

My first question to him was: CAN. I. RUN.

Ease into it, he said – and I’m glad he did. The two months I was off – I didn’t realize that the stamina would disappear so quickly.  My first runs out were more walks than runs simply because I couldn’t sustain any distance.  My form returned – muscle memory is a wonderful thing, but physically, I just couldn’t run the distance.

Which is why I’ve started back to the COUCH25K PROGRAM.  This morning, I ran 2.05 MILES ON WEEK 1 DAY 2, I’m enjoying it more.  Not because it’s easier – but I have an appreciation that I didn’t have the first time.

Also?

When I’m done with my run, I feel like such a badass…

**I’m looking at YOU and your Badass Self, Becki Toth.

Back Up And Punt…

… life happens. Some things we have choices about and others we don’t. Some things we’re willing to accept and some we won’t.

I decided the other day after LAST WEEK'S RUN AND 'ROUND OF SICKNESS that perhaps I should just scale everything back.  Forget where I was, but not be afraid to begin again.

Go right back to where I started -- THE COUCH TO 5K PROGRAM.  I don’t need to spend hours on the road pretending I’m the same athlete that RAN A 10K RACE.  I am an athlete recovering from an injury who needs to go back to the beginning and there is no shame in that at all.  If I did it once, I can do it again.

Today began WEEK ONE - DAY ONE 1.98 MILES on a beautiful Autumnal afternoon. 30 minutes, just me and my best intentions out there doing what I can, where I am.

When I saw my shadow – even for the brief 45 second interval, I remembered walking around Vegas with an orthopaedic boot…

I am thankful for those 45 seconds of running.

I’ve Had to Start…

… somewhere.

Doing is better than NOT doing, so I’ll take it for now.

1.59 MILES of walking and running.  I’d say it was about 50/50.  It was slow, but I really didn’t feel like it today.

I did it any way.

A quick stretch, Tylenol and ice down after.

It feels like I’ve got a L-O-N-G way to go to get back to where I was just two months ago. I’ve lost two months of work-outs.  I even had a bit of an asthma attack when I finished.  Probably a bit of seasonal allergies adds to the attack.

I’m not worried about running for distance now – I’m working my way back to endurance and conditioning.

As far as I’m concerned – that’s a great place to begin…

It’s gross…

… I know this is gross. Dead snake on the road.

I just happen to think it’s better OFF DEAD.

That doesn’t mean I’m still not gonna dream about it when I close my eyes tonight.

But here’s the good news…

I went out for a walk today.  And just a wee-bit of a run. [Not from the snake – but I thought about it!]

My body felt like it wanted to run a little bit. So I let it.

Now I ice down my foot and maybe a bit more stretch out later.

I can’t begin to explain how good that 1.34 MILES FELT with no orthopedic boot.

Cautious freedom…