Confessions of a Recovering Couch Potato

Now What Should I do?

2011-08-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Now that I have the whole embolism thing behind me what should I do to keep in shape? I have decided running is not good for my health...so that's out. I have been walking a few miles a night with my dog, but the knee isn't quite ready for pounding yet - I have a tendency to walk really fast and my foot falls are very hard. The last 3 nights I have been riding my bicyle indoors on a trainer. That is great for my knee - but quite boring. I try to visualize the route I would be taking outdoors, but I always jump ahead and then skip over some parts. Riding a bike is the best thing for my knee, so I think this will be my participation sport of choice.

A friend loaned me a bike that I can use - or buy if I like it well enough. I did ride it one day and nearly killed myself. I ride like a little kid who just had the training wheels taken off! I was all over the road, afraid to go fast, and if I turned my head that is the way I went. YIKES! All the little kids in the neighborhood were laughing at me. Oh well, hopefully with practice I will be able to ride like an adult in the near future.

In the meantime I have started (re-started) a healthy eating regimine. I am actually eating vegetables (Oh the Horror) and lots of fruit. I just got one of those magic bullet type blenders and made a fruit smoothie last night. That was fabulous!

I know, I know! I have started and re-started the whole exercise/healthy eating thing many times in the last several years. But you gotta give me credit for coming back to it when I fall off the wagon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

One Year Ago Today...

2011-08-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

I was in the ICU after a massive and bilateral pulmonary embolism after suffering a deep vein thrombosis. It was all very scary and I didn't realize at the time how close I was to taking a walk into the light. I spent a full 7 days in the Hospital and then went home to recuperate. It was incredibly difficult to be so slow! I could barely walk 10 feet before I was done in, and had to use a cane for my recently surgically repaired knee. The cane actually kept me on my feet when the embolism hit me - I leaned on it with both hands so I wouldn't fall down.

I did finally make it to my car or rather I got close enough to lean over and lean my hand on the back and then walk hand over hand to the driver's door and got in. My ears were ringing louder and Louder and LOUDER and it was going higher and higher up my body to my head - kind of like filling a vessel with water. The thought that came into my head was this "If the sound reaches the top of my head I will die". I didn't want that to happen so I willed myself to be calmer and slowly but surely the sound went down and eventually went away.

Me in ICU the second day. My friend Ceannie visiting and keeping my mind off things.

I thought about calling my roommate on my cell from the car, but then thought "No, I can make it back to the house". Luckily for me she had taken the day off. Her dogs were going crazy in the bay window overlooking the stairs and she opened the door to ask if I was OK. No I said. No, I'm not. I was standing with one hand on the railing, one hand holding the cane, one foot on the bottom stair, and my head hanging way down trying to breath. She told me to get in the car - so I walked ever so slowly over and opened the door. The seat was full so I just stood there in the rain, head hanging down until she came out and moved the stuff. Technically we should have called 911 and had the medics take me to the Hospital...but no...I decided I was better now that I wasn't walking around. So...off we went and the rest is history. Thankfully!

Swollen leg and foot...

Stupidly I had been ignoring the symptoms for about 4 days. First my lower leg and foot swelled up quite large, then I had trouble breathing, then I couldn't breath, and then it hit. I should have gone to the Hospital on the Saturday before, but my roommate had someone in town and was at a dog show. I didn't want to leave the dogs unattended and I guess I just didn't realize quite how serious my state of being was at that point. Funny thing was that the out of town guest is a Doctor and if I had just showed him my leg I'm sure he would have driven me directly to the Hospital without passing go or earning $200!

This is me from the Saturday before the embolism getting a little whippet puppy therapy. My leg was very swollen and painful...but I wanted to see the puppies!

My Mom is still a little freaked out because on that first day I was telling them how the blood clot began in my leg and then travelled up through my heart and into my lungs. She stopped me and just kept saying "It went through your heart? It went through your heart? It went through your heart. Maybe I should have saved that for later?

Lovely flowers I received...I had to send them out to the Nurses station because I was allergic...

Moral of the story honorable children friends...Listen to your body...it may be trying to tell you something. AND Listen to your Mom when she tells you to wear good underwear in case you end up in the Hospital. I had both very old undies and hairy legs when I got there...

The times they are a changing...

2011-06-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I posted anything to this blog...mostly because things with my knee were not going well at all. In the last month or so I started taking Aleve in the evening and that really helped. Yesterday was the first day since my surgery on July 27, 2010 that I have been able to walk normally - go through a full stride on my bad leg. THIS makes me very happy. I do not believe I will ever run again, but I do need to find an alternate so I can get back in shape. I am not much of a swimmer or bike rider...but I may need to learn to be those things. I can walk, so I can start there and build up miles and strengthen my whole body. HotRod will like that a great deal! He has been a very bored dog for months and months. Luckily for me he is a good dog and up until recently didn't get into any mischief. I did end up in the ER last week with swelling in my leg and foot, but everything turned out fine. No clots!

I hope to have more interesting stuff to talk about going forward - so stay tuned.

A little peek at life in the country...this is my back yard.

Has it really been 6 months already?

2011-02-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the 6 month anniversary of my pulmonary embolism. I can't believe it has gone by so quickly.

I have an appointment on the 21st to have a new CT scan and doppler/ultrasound of my legs to see if the clots are completely gone. On the 23rd I go back to find out if I can put all of this behind me. I am still seeing several Doctors, and having my blood clotting level taken every two weeks or so. Right now I feel pretty darn good, but I still get tired easily. That could be because I am not in shape as much as anything left over from my illness. I really REALLY want to stop wearing the anti embolism stockings! Those suckers are tough to get on and off.

I have started working out some and registered myself to walk a half marathon on May 8th in Kirkland WA. Just the right incentive to get myself in fit shape. I walked 8 miles a few weeks ago, so this 13.1 miles should be no problem. Running the half may have to wait until late summer or until I feel like my knee can really take the pounding. I will not have any more surgery...so if something breaks I will have to live with it.

I hope to be writing more regularly now that things are progressing so nicely...so stayed tuned...

It's official...

2010-11-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

I have sleep apnea. I have now gone to the second overnight sleep study - which is where they have you wear the CPAP machine so they can fit the mask and determine the proper air pressure. I had no trouble with the mask, but my stupid chronograph watch alarm started going off about 1:30 AM and continued about every 10 minutes. I would just get to sleep and then beep beep beep. I would turn it off and then it would beep beep beep again. Finally the voice in the ceiling told me to take the watch off and she would come take it away from me. How embarrassing. Of course sleeping after that was even more difficult.

Now I am just waiting for my Doc to call in the prescription to a company that supplies durable medical goods and I can get started being a "hose head". I don't care - I just want to feel better and have more energy. That will help me get back on a good exercise schedule too.

Stay tuned for more exciting details...

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun....

2010-11-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

Didn't realize just how long it had been since I posted here. A lot has happened and all for the good!

The clots are gone from my lungs with very little left in one leg, the right side of my heart is back to normal, my lungs are back to normal per my pulmonary function tests, and I am exercising. I walked 4 miles yesterday...which is 3 times as far in the same amount of time as when I started after the embolism. Yay Me! When I can't walk I ride my bike indoors so I don't miss any time.

I am now taking steps to determine if my sleep apnea is causing me to still be lethargic, exhausted, and headachey all the time. I went thru an overnight sleep study last Wednesday night, and will get the results on the 16th. I am hoping they have found something specific that can be corrected. I would like to know what it feels like to wake up refreshed - haven't had that in my whole life. From what other people have told me using a CPAP machine can make a huge difference in your life - and that is what I am really hoping for now. I will try to post more often as I recover and get back to real training.

Check out this pic of me all wired up for the sleep study.

How's this for a scary photo?

Aint that a kick in the head...

2010-10-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

What a week so far! Monday morning I ended up in the ER with symptoms like those I had before the pulmonary embolism. They ran a bunch of tests...CT, EKG, Doppler of my legs, blood, etc. All came out great - which is wonderful news, but we still don't know why I am having the shortness of breath, and extreme lethargy. I went to my cardiologist on Tuesday and they ran an echo...which also came out really great. Now what? I will see a pulmonary specialist on Oct 18th and see what, if anything, they can find. Maybe I was still feeling the effects of my head cold, or I became anxious because I was having the breathing issues and that made it worse? Not sure, but below are my results...

CT = no more blood clots in my lungs
EKG = normal
Doppler of legs = only very small clots that present no threat
INR = 2.9
Echo = heart is back to normal. Cardiologist said if he had not seen my first echo he would not be able to tell I had a pulmonary embolism! Yay for me!

My INR had dropped quite a bit when I was checked at the anti-coagulation clinic yesterday - down to 1.9. Need to get that back into the therapeutic range of 2.0 to 3.0.

Feeling better today - just having some allergies going on with a headache. I can live with that.

Going backward a little this week...

2010-10-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

The last few days my breathing has been more difficult again and I am coughing a lot more. I will be taking it easy and hopefully this will get better in a few days. I have an appointment at the anti-coagulation clinic on Wednesday, so I will be sure to ask them about it. They did tell me I would have ups and downs, so I just need to go with it and try not to over do anything.

I am going to our local race meet in Roy WA tomorrow in order to see Anneke run the oval...but all I will be doing is sitting and watching. I won't be able to help anybody with their dogs. I know everyone will help me stay on the straight and narrow! I have some great friends in the racing community and I appreciate all their help and concern.

Still waiting until I get the results of my upcoming echo before I can really do much more than ride the exercise bike and walk a little with HotRod. I am getting a little antsy...but must follow directions to keep moving in the right direction. My goal is full and complete recovery.

Hope you are all having a great weekend out there!

What a week...

2010-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

This week was very tiring. I had 3 different Doctor's appointments on 3 different days...and I still had my head cold. We also had a very stressful business meeting in the office on Friday, which had everyone on edge.

The Cardiologist doesn't want me to ramp up my exercise program until I have another echocardiogram which will happen in 2 weeks. This is fine with me. I am currently riding my stationary bike in the evenings, and taking little walks with my dog. The anti-coagulation clinic moved my blood testing from once a week to once every 2 weeks - and that is a good thing!

Today I had an appointment at the Y to learn my workout routine and get used to the machines. I am looking forward to really being able to work out hard, but for now slow and steady wins the race.

My knee is feeling so much better in the last few days, but my surgeon would have liked to see my recovery a little bit further along. But...I missed one full week while in the hospital, and it took another week or so to have the energy to do much of anything. I go back in another month and hopefully that will be it.

No appoinments next week!

One step forward...two steps back...

2010-09-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

As if breathing wasn't difficult enough I developed a wicked head cold this week. I had some of the worst sinus pain I have ever had on Tuesday, and because of the Coumadin I need to be careful what I take for said pain. I did try a couple of things, but they didn't help. I decided I would just have to wait it out, and finally Wednesday afternoon the pain became much more bearable.

Here is it Sunday and I am still congested, froggy, and coughing. I am hoping I will be better next week so I can start making use of my Y membership. I'm even looking forward to using the pool. I'm not much of a swimmer, but it will probably be the best thing for me.

Hopefully I will be able to break out of this funk and get back on the road to recovery, but right now it just doesn't feel like it will happen any time soon.

Better Day by Day...

2010-09-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

But it is really difficult to move so slow all the time. I no longer have to wear a brace on my knee or use the cane, and am trying to get back to being fit and healthy.

Thanks to a benevolent friend (Thanks Pat!) I now have a membership to the Y, and have access to all they have to offer. There is one about a mile from where I work, so I can either go before work or at lunch. I am looking forward to being active again...within the limits of my health of course. I think water aerobics or lap swimming will be good for me.

I am still very tired most of the time, but I am seeing progress.

I missed the one year anniversary of my blog back in August...what a year!!!

Great Weekend In Squamish BC!

2010-08-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

First I want to thank all of my friends who were not about to let me do too much this weekend. You guys Rock! I did pretty well, but by the end of the day I was tired. Thank you goes to Craig Biggs for giving me a ride back to camp on the quad. Much better than the slow walk.

I finally bought a blow up air mattress for sleeping in the car - and it made a big difference. I had Anneke sleep in the car with me and HotRod, and she just snuggled right in. Of course she took the best spot and HotRod was put out about it - he finally decided tojust lie down and go to sleep.

The racing was HOT and the location was just as beautiful as always. I have always enjoyed racing there. Unfortunately for me Anneke measured out on Saturday, and tweaked a toe yesterday on her first day running with the adults. She looked good though, so I have high hopes for her career on the track. Her Bro, Milhouse won the puppy races on Saturday. Wahoooo!

It is quite nice to just sit and watch a race meet rather than the running around you do when you have a dog or dogs competing. Thank You goes to Susan Heiniger for taking Anneke for the summer and racing her for me.

All in all a wonderful weekend - of course today I am beyond tired, but it was worth it!

I'm going to Squamish BC...

2010-08-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I would have the energy for the 4 hour drive up there and it is still a pretty short time since my pulmonary embolism...but I can't not go. My puppy, Anneke, turns 1 year old today and will be running in the races tomorrow. I really wanted to see her. Plus, there are going to be a great many people there that I have not previously met, so I want to go there just to hang out too. The picture is Anneke and her brother Milhouse waiting to head up to Canada. Run fast you two!

Some of my friends don't want me to drive up there thinking I haven't had enough time since I got out of the Hospital, but I can't just sit around. I will work within the limits of my energy, and if I get out of breath or tired I will just sit down. Nobody will expect me to help with their dogs, so I can just schmooze and watch beautiful whippets run all day long. They will help me walk HotRod as well, because he will pull me down if I try to walk him anywhere at a race meet!

Hope you all have a great weekend - I intend to.

If you run, bike, hike, etc you need RoadID

2010-08-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

I needed to get a medical alert bracelet so if something happens it will be known that I am taking an anti-coagulant (Coumadin). This type of thing can be a life saver for anyone who will be out training or hiking or whatever. Take a look at the link on the top right side of my blog (or below) and check them out. I ordered the Road ID Classic and it arrived within 3 days and I love it. I just couldn't see myself wearing some dainty little gold thing - I probably wouldn't wear it all the time. Check it out.

http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx?referrer=6562

I know it sounds a bit like a commercial, but I think it's pretty cool.

Back at work part time...

2010-08-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have almost made it through 4 partial days at work, and really only had one where I wasn't feeling well. Now I just need to get used to the fact that I can't walk fast, can't lift much, have to use a cane, and will occassionally breathe really hard.

My family and friends have been fantastic throughout this experience so far, and I don't expect that to change. It is a little like having a bunch of Moms telling me what I need to get done and to take it easy. It is such a big mental transition from being able to just get up and go - and go quickly - and now moving at a snails pace and running out of energy fairly quickly. I am also very independent and not at all used to asking for help. My Moms are helping me get over that as well. Ü

I have to set up appointments with a primary physician, my surgeon, a hematologist, and a cardiologist, as well as the anticoagulation clinic. I am going to be pretty darn busy with Doctors for the forseeable future. I also ordered a medic alert bracelet that says I'm on coumadin, and am going to ask my Doctor to sign so I can get a temporary handicapped parking placard. It nearly did me in when I went to Costco the other day!

I probably have not been as good about taking care of my knee...from the surgery that started all of this - so I really need to start some sort of rehab, but of course that will affect my coumadin level. Oh Well. At least I know what I will be doing for the rest of the Summer and into Fall.

That's all for now. I'll just keep on keeping on!

Here is a link to the bracelet I ordered - not your plain old medic alert type:
http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

I'm Home!!!

2010-08-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

I was released from the hospital this morning after 7 full days. I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN! I intend to follow all of my Doc's instructions to the letter so I don't ever end up in there again. HotRod and Bella were ecstatic to see me home and are following me everwhere I go in the house. Right now they are both on the bed sleeping, but touching me. It's very sweet.

Thank You to everyone who thought good thoughts for me...I appreciate you all.

Tomorrow I go to the anticoagulation clinic, then I have to make an appointment with the hematologist, the cardiologist, find a primary care Doc, and then make appointmenst for a colonoscopy & mammogram...It's going to be a very busy few months.

Bazinga! 2.6 today...

2010-08-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

It looks like I will get out tomorrow - one week after coming in to the ER with a PE. In a way I am a little bit happy because it is nearly 100 degrees out and I would struggle with that when completely healthy. BUT...the food is getting old and I want some chocolate and an iced mocha.

This week has had interesting ups and downs, and lucky for me I have actually had very little pain or discomfort.

One funny little story from early in the week...I had a visit from a man I know through whippets - and we have only met a few times. He was here while I was being transferred from ICU to PCU, and they had him push my stripper pole (I mean my IV pole). Once at the new room they shut the door, and told him to wait outside because I was on the commode. Really? Seriously? Then they started talking bed pans and stool softeners. Ceannie was great about it and told me a few fun stories about his stays in the hospital, so we are all good. You can see a pic of us taken in ICU in an earlier post from this week.

I have only had one day where I really felt a little bad - other than the initial incident of course. That wan't fun and I do NOT wish to repeat. There was another woman in ICU the same times as I was there, that had absolutely uncontrolled pain with her PE, so I count myself as very, very lucky.

I sell electronic components for a living, so I am getting real life exposure to all of the medical machines we sell parts for - and some work better than others. Everything is bar codes and computers and my wrist band does get scanned many times during the day. I am grateful they let patients use computers and cell phones in here...cause the alternative would be damn boring!

More tomorrow once I get sprung.

Day 6 in the Hospital...

2010-08-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

I had anticipated going home today, but my coumadin (anti-coagulant) level dropped below the magic number of 2.0 to 1.9. It needs to be 2.0 for two days in a row, so I could be here another two stinking days. Luckily for me the food isn't bad and the nurses are all great. I trust my Doc, so will listen to whatever he tells me and follow the rules...which will include eating the right foods and steady exercise.

I had a bit of a bad day yesterday - couldn't breath as well as nausea and a headache. I guess I was due since I haven't felt all that bad since the initial episode on Monday. I slept most of the afternoon and felt a lot better around 5:00 PM.

I need to get up and walk around the halls...and get a shower! I am feeling & smelling a bit funky today. I have a fairly plush private room with a view of Mount Rainier, but I would trade it all for a few licks from my dog, HotRod. He is going to be so excited when I get home that I will need to protect myself a little. He likes to run straight at you and then center punch you in the gut with his front paws.

Do you know what a PE is?

2010-08-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well...I had one Monday morning. It is a pulmonary embolism, which in layman's terms is a blood clot or clots in the lungs. It most likely started as a post surgery complication, and the clot went from my left leg up thru the right side of my heart to the lungs. Thank God my roommate had the day off and her dogs went crazy because they could see me staggering around the driveway trying to go in to work. Instead we went to the ER where a CT scan showed the problem. I went directly to ICU Monday morning, and moved to a step down unit last night. Looks like I will be here at least through Friday. They will not let me go home until I have 2 coumadin readings of at least 2. I will most likely be moved to the general floor tonight or tomorrow.

I have tons of friends and family sending me well wishes and visitors are coming by to entertain me.

Here is a pic of me and Ceannie taken just before I moved out of ICU. He really kept me laughing! More later...for now it is time to eat my breakfast.

This week was....

2010-08-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

Exhausting. It takes something like 5 minutes just to get my socks and shoes on my feet, and by that time I am dripping sweat and don't feel much like going to work. Graduating from the crutches to an immobilizer brace has its own set of fun issues. I have to sit on the very front of my desk chair because the brace comes up high enough on my thigh that it hits the chair and forces my leg to go straight out in front. After a while this becomes...painful. Friday I just couldn't get comfortable and finally got out of my chair and told my co-worker I was going to lie down on the floor. Somehow that idea didn't appeal to her so she set up a bigger box under the desk for my foot to rest on. Oh yea...I took some pain meds as well. By the time I arrived home from work all I wanted to do was lie down and rest. HotRod had other ideas so we played fetch for a while, he had dinner, and then I just called it a night.

Today I took my first "longish" drive since my surgery (just under 2 hours each way), and by the time I arrived I wanted to smash that knee brace and I had a (gasp) cankle. I did get to see Anneke and had some whippet puppy physical therapy, so I was feeling better on the drive home.

Whippet PT is just what the Doctor ordered. Just don't try to imagine what it took for me to get back on my feet after sitting in the grass. It was not a pretty sight.

Post Op Prognosis...

2010-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Today is day 6 post op and my first day back at work. It took forever to get ready this morning - and I put a little too much pressure on the knee with all of my back and forthing. Another few days on crutches and using the CPM machine, and then I should be able to move on to just wearing a straight brace on the knee. This makes me happy since my right arm is killing me! I think I strained a muscle...and it hurts way more than the knee!!!

My Doc was nice enough to make a drawing while I was there for my post op appointment, and he was OK with my adding it to my blog...so here is what he had to say. It was VERY rough under the patella so he cleaned that up and did microfracture repair. He also did microfracture repair of the medial femoral condyle. The previous repair to the medial cartilage looked great and has about 60% of the cartilage remaining. I am to start cycling in a few days and will taper off the CPM. All in all it looks pretty good and Dr Rolfe feels I should be able to run again if I want to do so. I am not sure I will...but I have plenty of time to make that decision.

I would like to Thank Everyone for their support!!! Special Thanks to Gail Dunbar for waiting on me hand and foot and feeding me like a Queen...now I need to go on a bit of a diet but it was worth it. Also, HotRod was great therapy - always right there being a very good boy.

Day 3 Post Surgery

2010-07-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am doing really well and still only marginal pain. I am up to 85 degrees of flex on the CPM machine, and I think 90 is where I am suppose to be for the rest of the 7-10 days post surgery. I watched my DVD today and it was very cool. You could really tell the spots that needed the microfracture repair, and the rest of the surfaces looked good. Loose pieces of cartilage and other stuff were vacuumed up and won't bother me any more, and the previous cartilage repairs are holding up nicely.

My surgeon says I will be able to run again once healed, but I am going to think about that for a while. I may decide to start bike riding instead ~ at least for the rest of this year. I intend to keep active...just need to decide in what way.

I would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive. It means the world to me.

Day 1 Post Surgery

2010-07-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Still feeling pretty darn good. My pain level was up a little this morning, but most likely because I increased the degree of flexion on the CPM machine from 40 degrees to 65. I had some pain and burning under the patella and along the inside where the microfracture repair was done, but it is better tonight. Tomorrow is my post op appointment and I should have a better idea of how things will move forward and a good timeline of how long I will be on crutches and how long for the brace.

The biggest problem is really lack of sleep. Even though I am not in pain I can't sleep. It's nearly 10:30 PM and I am WIDE awake!

Surgery Day 1

2010-07-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

Surgery was completed at about 12:10 PM this afternoon and so far so good. They did end up doing microfracture repair in two separate spots - one on the femoral head of the condyle & one sort of at the top and just underneath the patella. The Doc said he had never seen damage quite like mine...not sure if this one of those places where unique is good? I did get a DVD of the surgery and can't wait to watch it.

I should probably sign off for now...but of course I am wide awake...but thankfully no pain.

Here is a pic of my leg in the torture machine...I mean the continuos passive motion therapy machine...

Tomorrow is the big day...

2010-07-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's surgery was just moved out from 9:30 to 11:15, with a check in time of 10:00 AM. My anxiety level is increasing and I am worried about my mobility afterward. I could be on crutches for up to 12 weeks if they go ahead and do the microfracture surgery. That is going to be very difficult...but could aid in my weight loss program.
Saturday a CPM machine was delivered to the house and I will need to use it 6-8 hours per day, and it has been rented for 21 days. The guy who delivered it thought I would most likely need it for 10-12 days only. CPM = Continuous Passive Motion, and it will keep the leg and joint moving and over time increase the degree of flexion so I have my full range of motion when all is said and done. Below is my machine of torture...

I will let you know how I am doing as soon as I am able.

And the beat goes on...

2010-07-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Counting down the days until my surgery. Tomorrow Anneke is going to stay with with my friend until the end August or thereabouts. Anneke is going to have a great summer at the QuiXand Ranch Summer Training Camp. She will have a bunch of other dogs to play with and will get taken to race meets and most importantly the National Race Meet in Squamish BC. HotRod will stay with me cause he will be pretty good without her here to get him crazy. It is going to be a long month without her...but I'm pretty sure she won't be missing us too much.

How am I going to do everything...

2010-07-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

With a big straight brace on my leg. It covers a whole lot more than just my knee. For instance...just to get out of the driveway I have to get in the car, drive to the gate, get out of the car, open the gate, get back in the car, drive through the gate, get out of the car, close the gate, and finally get back in the car. At this point I have only gone about 50 feet. Then getting out of the shower will be a real trip - possibly literally a trip! First I step up and over the edge of the shower, then step down about a foot to a raised step, and then step off that to the floor. Bella, my cat, is always right there trying to trip me up to get my attention. She will need to be locked out of the bathroom. Anneke will go stay with my friend, Susan, who is her breeder until I get comfortable on my feet. HotRod gets to stay because he won't be a problem with her gone. Another friend, Shirley, will take HotRod if I need her to - but I'm pretty sure he won't bump me too much...Thank You so much Susan and Shirley. Most likely I will have to stay upstairs in my roommate's spare bedroom so I don't have to climb stairs and make sure I don't fall and can't get up. Thank You to Gail for taking care of me. I think I will need to practice with the brace before the surgery to see what I can and can't do. A cane might be the right thing to help me get safely out of the shower. Only 26 days and counting til my surgery. I don't think I am looking forward to this at all.

My Options after review of the MRI findings...

2010-06-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

1. Arthroscopic surgery
2. A slighting more extensive arthroscopic surgery

I actually felt pretty sure that I wouldn't really need surgery...I must have been in denial. This pretty much puts me out of running until Winter...which means next year. I will want to take it slow so that I actually have the chance the run again and not hurt it. I have not yet met made the appointment for surgery. but it will most likely be in July.

The 2nd option would entail crutches and then a big straight knee brace for about 12 weeks. I should be able to drive myself, but going up and down stairs will be difficult at best....

The cool thing is that they gave me a CD with my MRI images!!!

Working My Way Back...

2010-06-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have been giving my knee as much rest as I can, and went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon to find out if I need to get anything fixed up before I try running again. The x-rays looked really good, so he sent me for an MRI. I get the results from that on Wednesday, and then can chart my rehab start getting back into shape. I will take it incredibly slow ~ because I don't want my knee to feel like that anymore!!! I want to be Runner Girl.

I went to my first race meet with the whippets last weekend for the year, and me knee held up pretty well. I am pleased and hope this means I can move forward toward fitness again. I'm sure HotRod and Anneke will be happy to go for walks in the evening again.

Relay for Life - epilogue

2010-06-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

What a great event to be involved in! I decided to stay up for the full 24 hours so I could witness everything that happened - including dance party with techno music at 3:00 AM. We lucked out on Saturday and had some much appreciated sunshine, but the rains came just before the end at about 5:15 AM. I would like to give a special Thank You to our tireless leaders Mary Ann Tasker Thompson and Cheryl Palm. They were so prepared and had so many great fund raisers ready to go that the rest of us just needed to be there and do our thing. (Plus more food than we could possibly eat!).

Each team had a country they were representing, and we were New Zealand - land of the Kiwis. I think the best fund raiser was the lap beads. Anyone could buy one bead and a cord, and then pick up a new bead for free at the end of each lap they walked. That way they have a physical reminder of the day and a count of how many laps they were able to get finished. We were swamped all day (and night) with people picking up their beads and by the end were friends with them as we saw them so many times. One woman had taken over as captain of their team as they had recently lost their captain to cancer - and I don't know for sure, but she must have reached 20 miles or more. And one cute little boy who just raced around proudly declared at one point he had just finished his 21th lap!

Luminaria in honor of and in memory of those who experience cancer

That is the kind of thing we do this for...friends, family, babies, and old timers who have been stricken with cancer. Not all of them survive, so someone else takes up the torch and carries on for them. I know I'll be back next year - knees willing.

Onsies for the babies and hand crocheted pink ribbons

Sunset over the Relay for Life 06-05-2010

See you all next year - God Willing

It's 3:52 AM...do you know what lap we're on?

2010-06-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

They are playing Greased Lighting over the speakers and having a "dance party" and things are still pretty happening here at the relay. I've been here since 8:30 this morning and have decided to just stay up till the end. I am done walking - just hanging out and talking. My knees held up pretty well which makes me very happy. Only 4 more hours and it will all be over until next year. I think I will do it again. Pictures will have to wait until tomorrow...or Monday...

One more day until the Relay for Life...

2010-06-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am starting to get excited about the event ~ just hoping the weather cooperates and it doesn't rain. Otherwise my hour walk from 1:00-2:00 AM will be less than enjoyable! Since this is my first time at this event I had no idea there were so many things to do during the 24 hours! Limbo, lip sync, crazy hair, ice cream eating, etc. I guess I won't be sleeping much, but that is part of the fun.

I doubt there is anyone out there whose life has not been touched by cancer and the havoc it can wreak on a family. I have had family members, friends, and even Gracie my whippet was lost to cancer. Any and all charities fighting these diseases are where my support will always be directed and I hope that we can come up with more successful treatments in the near future.

Of course when I was getting the dog's breakfast ready this morning I managed to wrench both knees...not just the bad one. How did I do it you ask? I tried to step over a toy Anneke had left on the kitchen floor and to my dismay I stepped on it and a knuckle bone that was hiding underneath. I am ashamed to admit it...but I said some very bad words. I will just have to take it easy tomorrow and walk more slowly than my normal pace. I have already told my teammates that I will not be partaking in any running, sack racing, skipping, or limbo a little lower now...so they will have to take up the slack there.

Have a great weekend everyone. Hopefully I will have some great pictures to post.

Feeling much better now...

2010-05-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

My knee still hurts some, but nothing like it did last week. Kind of felt like the knee cap snapped back into place and then everything felt better, more stable, and stronger. I have an appointment with an Orthopedic Doc on June 9th, but if it is still feeling better I will cancel. My thought since 1991 has been that I won't have more surgery until it simply breaks and I have no choice. I am still going with that for now.

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Now you've done it...

2010-05-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

I have now hurt my knee in a completely new and interesting way. Not sure how I did it, but it doesn't feel very good. I'm back to wearing a brace 24/7 and walking very carefully up and down stairs. Not sure where to go from here - I need to rehab and then come up with a new plan. Damn! Getting old sucks.

I am contemplating joining the YMCA near my office so I can at least swim...but swimming and I have never been on very good terms with each other. It does seem the best option at this point...now I just need to find the money to give it a try.

I did have a good weekend though - took HotRod & Anneke to a dog get together. Anneke was the life of the party.

Vancouver BC Marathon was great!

2010-05-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Even though I was not able to compete in the half I went along as cheerleader/sherpa for my friends running in the half and full marathon. It started out with my first train ride...which was delayed several hours due to a train vs pedestrian accident south of Bellingham. Then we had two of our group miss the train! A ride was found for them and they made it not long after we did. On top of that the train was over booked and we were told to find seats wherever we could. We ended up all in different cars, but luckily I was able to sit with one friend. I didn't have to just stare into space for a couple hours.

Once we arrived in Vancouver on Saturday it was really nice just hanging out and walking over to the expo to pick up packets and do a little shopping. Sunday arrived dark, cold, and rainy. I hate to say it but I was secretly happy that I didn't have to run in that downpour. It took a little bit of coordination to get those running the half off the line at 7:00 and the full marathoners at 7:30. We then had about an hour to get some coffee and breakfast before it was time to head back to cheer them on to the finish line. We were yelling for everyone who passed by, and it was really cool to see how much people appreciated having their name called and encouraging words to get them through that last 200 meters.

We gathered our half runners and went back to the Hotel so they could shower and get warm. By the time they were all ready we needed to get back down to the finish to cheer on the first of our marathoners. Several had run at least one before but my friends, Dawn & Bill Wefer, were running their first (and most likely last) one. They did great and I am unbelievably proud of them. It seems a little cruel, but you have to walk up a huge stairway to get back up to the Hotel area. It hurt me just watching a few of our friends navigate their way. Then it was lunch and off to the train to go home. Of course there was another delay on the train...someone had something in their checked bag that they should not have...the Conductor wouldn't tell us what it was. It was a bit intimidating when they brought the sniffer dog on board and then all of a sudden there are about 6 Homeland Security Agents standing in the aisle. They left her aboard and didn't take the suitcase, so it must have been something innocuous in the end.

It was quite the whirlwind weekend and a bit like herding cats keeping everyone going in the same direction, but I had a blast. I do intend to be one of the competitors next year - the 40th Anniversary of the Vancouver Marathon. Now I need to set a new shorter term goal.

Missing another goal...

2010-04-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

One week from today is the Vancouver, BC Marathon...and I won't be running. I will be there cheering on my friends - who will be running their first full marathon. I am very excited for them. It will be a fun weekend, but missing the run is disappointing.

Somehow I need to get past the annoying little injuries and get back out there, but I am not going to beat myself up over it - I have a lot of years left in me and plenty of time to get things turned around.

I will also be taking my first train ride and I am kind of excited about that. Should be a fun weekend all the way aroung.

Feeling Better...

2010-04-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks of feeling pretty lousy and trying the new diet I seem to be feeling much better today. I spent all day yesterday in the blazing sun wrangling crazy whippets and other breeds at race practice - along with walking and walking and walking. I was a little light headed in the morning, but that seems much better.

Trying to keep this thing going has been a real struggle, but I will not give up. I intend to have a happy healthy life for many more years to come.

Hope everyone out there is out there doing everything they can to improve their life too.

Today I ran and I ate healthy!

2010-04-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

I am quite proud of myself. I do not love a lot of vegetables, but I am learning to eat them anyway. My Mom will be very proud of me - we used to have incidents where she wanted me to eat a vegetable...just one bite...but I simply wouldn't do it. I could sit at that dinner table for a very long time until she gave up and let me be excused. Not proud of it, but that is how it went down.

I went to the grocery store with a list - and shopped as if I was a vegetarian. I bought tomatoes, cilantro, spinach, a bag of lettuce, and some quinoa. Below is the fruit of my labors. It's not pretty, but it was tasty and I did NOT pick out the tomatoes. Hooray for me!!!

My Doctor thinks it's all in my head...

2010-04-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

All of the tests they ran after my low blood sugar episodes came back within normal ranges. She was suppose to call me again so we could decide what to do...but haven't heard a thing. I made the decision to change my diet so I am eating as if I am hypoglycemic. So far I don't feel great...but it's only been a day. This is not easy for me because carbs are so wonderfully tasty and satisfying, but I am trying to come up with meal plans that include the acceptable foods. I went through the lists and pulled out the foods I like that are acceptable and will work from there. I started a food diary today - and it mostly says feel shaky and dizzy over and over and over. I am feeling a bit better in the last hour or so, so I need to build on that.

HotRod says cut the whining and just do whatcha gotta do. Getting old sucks!

My blog is getting very boring...

2010-03-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

I need to take ownership of the fact that I have not yet started to run again. I am so tired when I get home that it is hard to get the dogs ready and get out there - or like last night impossible with the thunder, lightning, and HAIL! They are all just excuses and I need to push through. Once I get going it will be fine - because I really like running...

I joined a team for the Relay for Life today, so that will give me something fun to look forward to in June. I will do this!

Still no running...

2010-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

My blood and heart tests all came back withing normal limits. Now what? I'm still having these bouts with hypoglycemia, but they can't find out why. Makes it interesting (dangerous) when I fall asleep driving or walking the busy streets around my office complex. I am really trying to make good healthy eating choices and I am doing better. Obviously that isn't the whole issue though since I am still feeling awful part of the time. My mental attitude is good and that has to be a big benefit for me. Problem is when I have an episode my brain gets fuzzy and I don't think as well or as quickly. It's kind of funny - mentally turning 50 has been great...but my body seems to need a jump start.

Going to whippet racing this weekend, so that should get me out in the fresh air and MOVING, and that is a good thing.

Hope you all have a great weekend - get out there and move your body.

Not my best week...

2010-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling very tired lately and started experiencing some hypoglycemic type symptoms which have steadily worsened. On Tuesday I took a walk with my dogs and about halfway out the shakiness, twitching muscles, cold sweats, and extreme lethargy took over. It really scared me because I was kind of stumbling along and so tired I just wanted to lay down on the sidewalk and go to sleep. Normally I can eat and it will get better, but this time it did not. The next morning I still felt awful, so called my Doctor's office and spoke to a consulting nurse. After hearing my symptoms she asked when I had been diagnosed as a Diabetic...I haven't been I said. She then became pretty concerned and worked a way to get me in that morning, while sending me to get blood drawn for testing so I could eat.

For the last 24 hours I have been hooked up with a Holter Monitor (a portable EKG), and unfortunately none of my sypmptoms have shown up. Kind of like taking your car in so they can listen to some odd noise - and the noise doesn't show up while you are there. Hopefully it will have picked up something that can help, because my glucose level came back within the normal range - 77. I don't know if they ran the A1c test, but I'm thinking that would be most helpful in discovering what my normal level is.

Needless to say I have not been running, but we have still taken our walk at lunch every day.

Today I feel pretty good, so I have to be happy with that.

Begin The Beguine...

2010-03-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

Back to week 2 of the 8 week schedule I started in August. Run 3 minutes x 7, walk 1 minute in between each run. I didn't quite get 7 repetitions in, but still felt good. Best part was that my knee feels good today. My thighs, OTOH, are in pain. But it's a good pain and will get better the more I run. Now I need to get back on the wagon where food is concerned...

I am Fierce!

2010-03-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

Still feeling great 3 weeks after my big Birthday. I really took the time to figure out what I want for myself, how I can improve, and things to let fall away. A book lent to me by a friend (Younger Next Year) helped immensely ~ turns out I want to live a long, healthy, happy life. I set out to change the things I could and say good-bye to the things I can't. So far it is working really well.

I have been at my job for nearly 21 years, and did not really want to go looking for another job...but was bored to tears with what I have been doing. I decided to carve out a new job description for myself (which the bosses went for) and for the last 2 weeks it has been so much better. I have a new found confidence that I always wanted, but did not know how to unleash. Well...look out World...I figured it out!!

The bottom line...a better mental outlook makes you feel good.

Still walking about an hour a day during lunch at work with my dogs, and now that the sun is out later I will be able to start my jogging routine in the evenings. The sunshine doesn't hurt a bit either. Sunshine = Happiness.

Feeling Good, Louis...

2010-03-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

I jogged and rode my bike on Saturday and took the dogs to race practice yesterday. Practice is hard on the knees and you pretty much use every muscle in your body as you move through the day. Depending on how many dogs you catch - you can log some serious mileage. Every time you catch a dog you walk 150-200 yards out to the finish and then bring the dog back over that same ground. Oh yeah...we practice on a working farm field that is usually covered in manure and yesterday was no exception - so better remember your boots!

Even with all that my knee feels great today. It's early to get too excited over this, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Below is a picture of my puppy, Anneke, attempting a show stack yesterday - not completely successfully I might add. ö I figure if Beth can't get her to stack properly then nobody can.

Bonus points go to the first person who knows where the subject line comes from...

Baby Steps...

2010-02-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

Today I started training again ~ going back to the very beginning ~ where I started last August. It was beautiful during our walk/jog today and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did very little jogging, but I can't afford to rush my workouts and chance hurting myself again. I also set up my bicycle resistance trainer and took my first "ride" in the house. This is going to be so good for my knees and overall fitness level which I know is so very important. The knees feel pretty good several hours after our walk and that is encouraging.

I bought a coupler for my dogs and used it for the first time today. What I was looking for was a bungee leash and coupler, but the one I ended up buying worked well ~ HotRod gets to correct Anneke instead of me and that is a good thing. She has no choice but to stay up with him.

I am excited to see where I will be in 8 weeks. I am still signed up for the half in Vancouver on May 2nd ~ but I do not believe I can get into that kind of shape in time. Either way I will be there supporting my friends who may be running the full marathon for the first time.

My friends ran the half for me...

2010-02-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

On my birthday. How's that for friendship? :0) They are actually training to possibly run the full marathon up in Vancouver on May 2nd. It's not a distance I ever imagine myself contemplating, but maybe once you run the half a few times you start to think you might be able to do it.

My birthday extended all the way through out last weekend and I had a blast. The sun was shining - which always makes me happy, and I got to spend it with good friends, which also always makes me happy. It was a birthday I hope everyone can experience in their lifetime. Whooohoooo I'm 50! Age is just a number and you can feel old at 25 and someone else feels young at 70. Me...I would rather feel young at 70 or even 80. I'll let you know how it goes. :0)

I'm gray, fabulous, and 50!

2010-02-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

How do you like them apples? I couldn't have a better day - blue skies, sunshine, and it's the weekend. The trifecta!! I asked the question the other day if it was weird to be happy about turning 50. I did receive a wide array of comments ~ don't worry it's ok, don't get your panties in a wad over it, and enjoy. I fully intend to enjoy this day to the fullest.

I'm looking forward to dinner with friends this evening at Buca di Beppo - which is also where we celebrated my 40th. Many of the same people will be there as I am blessed to have had some of these people in my life since elmentary school. Tomorrow I will be having brunch with another group of friends at a wonderful restaurant at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle called Chinooks. I'll need to get back to work on Monday to get some rest! :0)

I did buy myself a gift yesterday ~ that resistance trainer I have been going on and on about so I can ride my bike indoors. That should really help my knees get stronger and ready for whatever I throw at them this year.

I hope you all have a great day.

7 days and counting to my big 5 OH!

2010-02-14T20:43:00.000-08:00

I won't make my goal of running a half marathon by my Birthday, and with my knee still a bit wobbly I am not quite sure when it may happen. But I won't stop pushing toward my goal of a healthy life.

This past week was extremely stressful, but I decided it was now or never and made a proposition to my boss that could earn me a bigger paycheck and help the company at the same time. Hopefully he'll have come up with a plan of some sort and will tell me tomorrow. Cross your fingers everyone. I have been with the company for 20 years, and the only way to make a move is to create a new job for yourself. At 50 I am taking stock of things, and I need to decided what I want for myself and go out there and take it.

Unfortunately I had a massive migraine all weekend, so no exercise of any sort was under taken. It is almost gone tonight - yahoooo!

Happy Valentines Day everyone. Hope you all got to spend it with the ones you love.

It's Sunday night, do you know where my youth went...

2010-02-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

My body is feeling it's age today. My knee is much better than it was earlier in the week, but still sore and slightly un-stable. It's hard to explain...but it feels like my knee could just come apart at any moment. That would definitely NOT be enjoyable. I still need to get a resistance trainer for my bike so I can at least stay active while I take a break from running. I do still have to walk the dogs, and if you have ever tried to walk a couple of whippets when they really want to get somewhere you know they can really drag you along. Of course they then stop right in front of you so you have to do a little hip hop dance trying not to fall over them.

Most of my pain is on the medial side of my left knee and the knee cap doesn't work quite right. It is suppose to just go up and down along a little groove...but mine goes up and to the left - it doesn't feel particularly good I must say.

Déjà Vu all over again...

2010-02-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

When I woke up this morning my left knee was very sore, swollen, and weak. All I have done in the last few days is walk. It started to hurt on my runs over the weekend so I ended up walking most of it anyway. It is now both the knee cap and the cartilage. I had two surgeries on both back in the early 90's. The Doc told me at the time the cartilage was disintegrating and I would eventually need a knee replacement. They even loosened and re-positioned muscle & tendon where they attach to the outside of the knee in order for the knee cap to track properly. They call that maneuver a "lateral release". The last few years it has felt much better, so I thought maybe I could run and be OK. This could be a huge set back for me. I should lay off and not work out...but the big event is looming. I may have to take a serious look at my goals and decide what I really want, and what I can do physically. It may not be possible to run the half in May, but I haven't given up all hope of making it happen. It is just exceedingly disappointing.

If you look at my knees in this photo you can see why it is no wonder I am having trouble at my age!

The good, the bad, and the ugly...

2010-01-31T21:05:00.000-08:00

That is the roller coaster I went thru this week. The good was on Saturday when I felt pretty darn good running. The bad was when my knee cap started to feel like it was going to pop off the front of my leg. The ugly...well that was my hair after running in the rain yesterday. It was sticking straight up in the air and then going off on all kinds of tangents. Today I just wore a hat from the get go so it wouldn't be so bad while out in public.

I am starting to get worried that I will never be in good enough shape to run the half on May 2nd. My knee just doesn't seem to want to get with the program, and I don't have that long to get ready. Somehow I have to keep from getting so anxious that I don't get anything done...but that is easier said of course. I will do my best to keep my diet on track and work out to the best of my physical ability. Can't ask more from my 50 year old self than that.

Looking forward to my 50th birthday party. Bring on the Senior discounts!

It's not where you start...it's how you finish...

2010-01-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

I have to keep telling myself that. I need to be ready to run a half marathon on May 2nd, and today I couldn't even run half of one mile. Right now I have 98 days, 14 minutes, 21 seconds until the big day, and I have to stop stressing so much. I had a dream where I got all the way there and chickened out at the starting line. I can feel good about the fact that I am exercising every day, but 5 days of 1.5 mile walks won't get me in shape. But...daylight is lasting longer and I will be able to run in the evenings pretty soon. That will really jump start my workouts.

Positive self talk is very important...I need to remember that a little bit more.

The strangest thing happened this week...

2010-01-22T14:38:00.000-08:00

I have had nerve pain in my right arm and hand for 6 years, along with a pinched nerve in my neck. My hand was often very weak and shaky - at times I would drop things because I just couldn't hold onto them. Well, one morning this week I woke up and did the usual stretch my hands wide open and then clenched...and there was no pain...there was no swelling! Oh the blessed relief from pain. The pain and swelling started to return a few hours later, but I was still happy. I tried to figure out if I had done anything different the night before and I had. While sitting on my bed I had stretched my right hand over behind my head and grabbed the head board. I kept it there for quite a while because it actually felt kind of good. Somehow this must have re-aligned something so the nerve was no longer being pinched. So...I tried it again the next night, and my hand and arm have been pretty good ever since - not 100% - but I can definitely live with it. The pinch in my neck is back to hurting right now because I am sitting all hunched over and stressed at work, but that will improve at 5:00 PM when I leave for the weekend.

It's Friday, the sun is shining, and I can get some runs in over the weekend. What could be better than this?

How to add agility to your road workout...

2010-01-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

Take two whippets and harness them to you via a waist belt on 6' leashes then commence your workout. One of said whippets should be a mature adult and the other a youngish puppy. Once you begin to jog the puppy will race side to side and then stop suddenly to sniff or pick up a pine cone. You must then leap over the two leashes that are now intertwined (be sure not to fall over the adult dog) all the while watching for the puppy to return to her side to side movements. You then need to stop, un-wind the leashes, and make sure everything is cleared for take-off. Re-commence your workout. Repeat 25-30 times and you will really begin to feel the benefits of adding a dimension of cross training into your hum drum everyday roadwork. The best part of this - other than the adrenaline rush for you - is that both whippets will be completely ready to sleep for the rest of the day and you can get many other things done. It can work with other breeds as long as one is young and very happy to be outdoors...

I not only fell off the wagon, but...

2010-01-16T19:27:00.000-08:00

I lay prostrate in the mud and played dead for the last 3 months. I have found it extemely difficult to get going again - oh I spent plenty of time talking to myself about it and beating myself up over it - but just couldn't get back out there. This morning it took me about 20 minutes of arguing between my good self and my bad self before I made the correct decision to get up and go walk/jog/run. Then I dawdled around for another half hour and finally figured if I didn't do it today I might never achieve my goals, and that is a pretty good motivator. As soon as I started to put on my running clothes HotRod went crazy knowing he was going to go RUN! I couldn't disappoint him so out we went. I wasn 't quite as out of shape as I thought, but nowhere near where I was at the end of September. I have my work cut out for me if I am going to get through that half marathon at the beginning of May.

Of course right after I ran we left to have lunch with friends at Chinooks - a nice restaurant down at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle. I was good though. Instead of ordering chicken fettucini I had the chicken caesar salad and a cup of chowder. Oh...and the pilot bread they serve right when you sit down. It is to die for! Sunday mornings are good too because they bring you fresh scones with orange butter. YUM!

All in all I did pretty well today. Now it has to become a daily habit. I need to remember just how good it feels to be "really" in fit shape.

Starting to get back on track...

2010-01-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

I was able to get a walk in every lunch time at work this week. I didn't go that far - or that fast - but I did it. Today I took the dogs and took the first jog/walk of 2010. Once again not that far or that fast, but I felt good after wards. Once I stopped hacking and coughing that is. :0) Best of all the dogs were tired when we were done! HotRod really needed it since race season for him is not that far off.

Hope you are all getting out there and doing something to get energized as well. Your body and mind will love you for it.

Slow Recovery...

2010-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

Still trying to recover from whatever illness I had over the holidays. Still congested and coughing, but up on my feet and going to work. Was amazingly tired the first couple days back, but am feeling better now - of course it is Friday and the weekend is only a few hours away.

I have not yet starting running or even serious walking, but I am taking the dogs for walks at lunch time as weather permits. I think we walked around a mile every day this week. This should be multiplied by 3 since I want to go one way, HotRod wants to go another, and Anneke either goes a different way or refuses to move at all. It's a good workout for legs AND arms I must say. It's not much, but it is a start and I am feeling better every day.

I also set my computer so it tells me to Drink More Water! every hour. So far it is working. Hydration is one of my real downfalls, so I will really have to work at it to keep it going. HotRod saved me from eating something I shouldn't on Wednesday night. I took a handfull of pink & white animal cookies and put them on the counter. I walked away to do something else first after making sure they were far enough back on the counter. I didn't have anything to worry about because Anneke is too short and HotRod has never stolen food before...well that's all over now. He ate all but 1. I was a little disappointed, but knew he did me a big favor. :0)

I must start my workouts in earnest soon, since the Vancouver half marathon is May 2nd! Stay tuned to see how I respond to having that little carrot out there in the near future!!

Hopes and Dreams for 2010...

2010-01-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

I have thought about this for a while, and what I decided to wish for myself in 2010 is happiness with what I have in my life. I have much that is wonderful, and yet I am often yearning for something more...more money, more energy, more "things". But when I get more things it just leads to me wanting more. I just need to change my mindset and CHOOSE happiness. Yeah..I know it is awfully easy to say, but if it was easy I would have already done it for myself years ago. I stress and obscess over the most trivial of things, so when real stress comes along I have no way to cope. Well I guess I do cope with food and beverage. Not the best way to be happy with myself I gotta tell you.

I have laughed with good girl friends over the last couple of days trying to decide whether or not I would want a relationship if a good man came along. Good question and I thought a lot about it. It would take a pretty strong character to break into my very "set in her ways" world. At my 30 year High School Reunion I completely freaked out one of the guys I graduated with in 1978 (if you are reading this ~ Hi Pat!) who couldn't fathom the fact that I have never been married and have no children. A fact that seems not un-natural to me, but was so outside his frame of reference as to be completely odd. But the fact is I have a good life - just different than what they taught us was the norm when we were little girls. And thankfully that norm has changed quite a bit in the last 30 years. I was able come up with 4 things that would be good reasons to have a guy around...

I would love to have someone to help drive on long trips
I would love to have someone who can do the heavy lifting (especially at the end of those long trips!)
It would be great to have someone to fix the toilet or other things when they break
It would be great to have someone to exercise the dogs when I am tired or sick

Hmmmm...I guess I will have to keep trying to think of good reasons...If anyone has any additional thoughts on this question they are welcome to post them here on my blog. :0)

I wasn't going to say anything about 2009 since the less said the better, but there are a couple of things. I am so grateful for my Dad's recovery from his heart attack and quadruple bypass at the end of September. He continues to grow stronger every day and I finally was able to visit with him today after missing Christmas. I would like to say a final good-bye to my Gracie girl - I miss her very much. A number of friends also lost their whippets in the last year - Shadow, Jarmir, Spot, Monkey, and Dylan. You are all loved and missed.

I would like to wish a Happy New Year to one and all. I hope your 2010 is full of love and passion. I intend to continue with my running and healthy eating and most especially positive thinking. This time next year I plan to be healthy, fit, and having the time of my life. I turn 50 in about 6 weeks and it is going to be fantastic!

I Cry Uncle!

2009-12-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

I was so full of joy at recapturing my youth and athleticism back in August, but the cold of December has dampened that joy quite handily. Losing my dog, my Dad's heart attack & surgery, tripping over the new puppy and tearing cartilage in my knee all wove together to stop me in my tracks. Now I have had the flu for 8 days and probably can't go home for Christmas. I don't want to take the chance of my Dad getting sick as he is still recovering. Probably just as well since I can't resist my Mom's cooking & baking!!

I think the wise choice will be to let go of my goal of running the half marathon by my Birthday, and focusing on the Vancouver half May 2, 2010. I hate to say it but I just won't be in good enough shape in two months to make it feasible. DAMN! But I am not abandoning my running or healthy eating goals...I have just taken a sizeable detour for the last 2 1/2 months. While the chocolate and other goodies did taste really good...the weight gain is something I can't tolerate anymore.

On a positive note my puppy is getting bigger everyday and is a little doll.

I JUST GOTTA RANT!!!

2009-12-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

Today was the Seattle Jingle Bell Run/Walk for the Arthritis Foundation. I sent out a lot of donation requests knowing full well most folks don't have money this year and need it for themselves. There are a few people, though, who wouldn't miss a few bucks. My boss was complaining, LOUDLY, on Friday about his arthritic elbow. Perfect! I told him he should donate to my run on Sunday. What did he say? Oh sure, let me get you a check? Nope. He said..."HOW DOES THAT HELP ME?" I said something about how he was standing there complaining about his arthritis and he said..."But what's in it for me?" The owners of the company I work for have very nice homes, vacation homes, boats, and car collections - OTOH I live from paycheck paycheck. Would $25 bucks have broken their wallets? The one who responded to me probably had several $100 bills in his wallet at that very moment. I guess that is how the rich stay rich, and I stay poor. I guess I will never understand that way of thinking. If someone is in need you give whatever you can and hope someone does the same for you down the line.

OK. That is the end of my rant. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakuh, or however you Celebrate.

Sunday is the Jingle Bell Run...

2009-12-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

Although I will most likely end up walking. The weather men can't make up their minds, so it will either be cold & dry, cold & snow, rain, or who knows what. I'll just dress in layers and it will be all good. I have been looking for a good elf or santa hat to wear, but haven't found the right thing yet. I have plenty of bells. Last year they had 12,000 people out there...can you imagine the noise of all those bells?

I think we may have been above freezing today, but it sure didn't feel like it when I walked the dogs at lunch. Check them out in the their festive red coats. Too bad they can't go with me.

Jingle All The Way...

2009-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

I signed myself up for another 5k today. I will be doing the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis on December 13th in Seattle. This one should be fun ~ they give you bells to wear on your shoes and encourage people to dress up in Christmasy costumes. I think I will have to wear reindeer antlers at the very least ~ or a Santa hat. I'm sure I'll figure something out.

Arthritis is something that has hit my family quite a lot. My Mom's fingers are all gnarled and painful, and I have several joints that are becoming that way too ~ as does my sister. I'm sure my hands will probably end up the same. She used to play the piano so beautifully, and was always doing some sort of needlework or crafty thing. That is no longer possible.

So I will run for my Mom, and everyone else who is facing pain from arthritis. This one isn't about time, it's about having a good time and raising money for a good cause! Hopefully I can get a few people to jump on the donation bandwagon and I can raise some good money.

I run therefor I am...

2009-12-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

I took an easy run on Sunday after 4 weeks of resting my knee, and it wasn't too bad. I stayed in an easy pace and only ran a few 5 minute intervals, then a few shorter intervals, and then walked back home. Knee didn't bother me ~ Yay! I started back walking on the treadmill last night since I can't run my neighborhood in the dark - at least not safely. It will take a while to get back to where I was, but not as long as I had thought. I do need to get a new pair of running shoes though. The pair I bought back in July just isn't the right fit for my skinny feet and narrow heel.

Getting back on the straight and narrow eating path will not be easy either. I let the stress of the last few months get to me and started eating my old higher fat and calorie diet. I know what I have to do...just need to have the strength of mind to do it!! Wish me luck.

Runner Girl stared Black Friday right in the eyes...

2009-11-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

And Black Friday blinked!! That could be just a bit of an exaggeration, but I did what I had to do. It never occured to me when I decided to walk the half at the Seattle Marathon on November 29th, that packet pickup was on Black Friday..only a few blocks from Macy's and Nordstrom in downtown Seattle. Anyone that knows me would tell you I have no directional skills. I get lost going to places I have been to before, and really hate cities because I lose my way quite easily. And this time I was doing it alone - a fairly scary thought for me. I knew it would be nuts to drive my car since I would probably end up in the middle of the parade, so it was public transit time. One thing in my favor is that you can get out in the transit tunnel, go up the stairs, and walk right into Macys. But this was the day after Thanksgiving and the place was MOBBED! I had the directions in my head on how to get those few little blocks from there to the Westin Hotel, but once in the store I got completely turned around - of course I had to check out handbags and jewelry. The exits all tell you which street they lead out to, but that pesky little directional issue reared it's ugly head...do I go out on 3rd? Onto Pine? Maybe 6th? I chose one and stepped out into the end of the danged parade!!!! Cheerleaders, band kids, and beaming parents everywhere. I got around them, remembered to turn left at the next corner and hallelujah there was the Westin! Lucky for me they are round towers and hard to miss.

But I still had to get back to the transit tunnel to catch the bus back across Lake Washington to the East side. Easier said than done. I came out on the wrong side of the Hotel so had to make a few tentative choices, and finally found my way back. Yay for me! I sat... and waited for my bus...but for some unknown reason failed to get on when it arrived and then left. What a dunderhead. It did give me lots of time to people watch and check out the new light rail trains as they came and went...came and went...Finally my bus arrived, again, and my adventure was over.

Sad thing is I don't get to walk tomorrow due to the torn catilage in my knee, but I was going to pick up my packet because I wanted that shirt! I paid my money and I wanted it!!! There are no refunds in running events. I picked up Maureen's goodie bag too, so will get that to her eventually.

I wish I had my camera with me (left it at my Parent's on Thanksgiving) because it was a gorgeous day in Seattle. The sun was shining, just a few fluffy clouds hanging out in the sky, and just the perfect temperature. All in all it was a pretty grand day. Take that Black Friday!!!

Long time no talk!

2009-11-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks have flown past and now it is almost Thanksgiving. I don't know how that happened...but it's here whether I'm ready or not.

My knee is healing slowly, but I have started walking again. I am going to hold off running for another week or two just to be sure. I am going to miss the half marathon I was registered for this Sunday, but I AM going to go down and pick up my shirt and hang out at Expo. Right now I am not registered for any races other than running the half at the Vancouver Marathon in June 2010. I definitely want to get a few more 5k races under my belt and hopefull a few 10k as well.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thansgiving. I have plenty to be Thankful for this year - my Dad survived his heart attack and surgery, and continues to gain in strength every day.

Puppies can be hazardous to your health!

2009-11-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I brought home a little red puppy...and promptly tripped over her and wrenched my bad knee. I generally tear the cartiledge at least once a year anyway, but this could really impact my next event. I am registered to walk a half marathon on November 29th, and my friend Maureen is going to walk it with me. I have to hope my knee will allow me to train - or it could be a very long day! Here is the culprit - Little Boots when she was 6 weeks old.

Runner Girl is back...

2009-11-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

I had lost my focus and momentum over the last 6 weeks due to multiple stressors, but I'm back. This morning I ran my first 30+ minute training run, and it felt good - both physically and mentally.
Friday I worked out on the treadmill upstairs, and it wasn't bad. I have been worried about how I was going to keep my training up during the long, dark, rainy winter - and had lost my will power over food yet again. Last week I ate a whole package of Oreo cookies - the cream ones not the chocolate. I love them!! Today I feel much better and will get some healthier foods in the fridge to keep me on the straight and narrow. I am on my way up to see my Mom & Dad, so hopefully she has not baked anything I can't resist. That Woman can COOK!

In one month I will walk the half at the Seattle Marathon. My friend, Maureen, is going to walk it with me. I am looking forward to it...but it is going to be COLD. Then it will be the Jingle Bell Run in Bellingham WA on December 12th. I am also registered to run the half at the Vancouver BC Marathon next June. That should be good motivation to keep me going!

I am so glad I started down this road - it feels good to take control.

I ran my 2nd 5k and lived to tell the tale...

2009-10-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

The weather was suppose to be 90% chance of showers, but thankfully the rain held off until later in the day. I may be forced to admit that if I am going to run during the winter months I will need to wear a warm hat. I really HATE wearing hats - I don't have good hair for it.

The run was held in Kirkland Washington @ Marina Park. This is a really beautiful place to run as the view is of Lake Washington and the surrounding areas. The vendors and speakers were all under the building in the background of the above picture.

I must admist that I was apprehensive at the start of the race. I have been having breathing issues, and was worried my lack of training would make it worse - especially since the air was so cold. I started to have trouble in the first mile, and then settled in to a slightly easier pace and it wasn't so bad. I did get a cramp in my lower left leg about 1/2 way through, but was able to work through and keep going. It hurt like a bugger when I finished, but today it's very minor. In the end I was only 1 minute slower than my first 5k, which I think is a victory given the stress of the last 4 weeks. Now I am thinking of walking the half marathon, November 29th, as part of the Seattle Marathon. I know I am not in condition to run that distance yet, but I know I can walk it. Hopefully I can talk a few friends into doing it with me.

I am going to my Doctor to have my breathing issues checked out on Wednesday. Hopefully it is just something very minor. I shouldn't be huffing and puffing after 10 weeks of training that's for dang sure.

Ooops I did it again...

2009-10-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I signed myself up for the next 5k run. Only problem is the run is THIS Sunday. My training has been very sporadic for the last few weeks, but I figure I can use it as just another training run - albeit a very painful training run. It is going to be pouring down rain (90% chance of showers), so lack of training won't be the only consideration.

Wish me luck - I'll let you know how it went.

I have also registered for the Vancouver (BC) half marathon on May 2, 2010 - so I have that goal sitting out there waiting for me. I figure I'll need it to get me through the winter training season. Hopefully we won't have anything near the amount of snow we had in the photo below!

Today was a good run...

2009-10-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Even though it was in a torrential downpour! Since I have lived in Washington my whole life running in the rain is pretty normal. I even managed to go out in the short window when the wind wasn't blowing sideways. My dog, on the other hand, is a rainy day wuss! We were about 11 minutes into the run when he just sat down in a puddle and said he wasn't going any further today. No amount of cajoling would get him to listen to reason. Poor boy thought it was raining acid and he was getting burned. ;) I did decide to indulge him and ran back home. I felt good about the outing even if it it was not quite as long as I wanted it to be.

I am currently trying to put together a winter time indoor workout plan. I got my mountain bike back from my sister, my roommate got her treadmill fixed, and I have a weight bench, weights, and rehab tubing. I think I can keep my workouts interesting even if I can't get outdoors. I still need to get a trak stand to turn my bike into an exercise bike. I used to have one, but gave it away...part of the reason I turned into a middle aged couch potato in the first place...

Gotta go - UW vs Arizona State football is about to start.

Calgon Take Me Away.....

2009-10-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to get myself back together after the last two stressful weeks. My goal is to go backwards to the week before I ran my 5k and start over. I tried several times to run last week and I just didn't have it - my feet hurt again, couldn't breathe, basically looked and felt like I was in the first week or so of training. I brought my mountain bike back from sister Julie's yesterday, so will have another way to exercise this winter when it's too dark to run outside. I am going to get a trak stand and use it indoors. My oldest brother will also send the Nordic Trak back to me. This old machine has made the rounds of most family members over the years, but is still in pretty good shape.

My Dad is out of the hospital and into a rehab facility in Stanwood and will hopefully be home in no time. I think the fact that my sister refused to bring him a computer to use while he's there will give him the motivation to get stronger and get HOME! Mom is coping, but very tired.

Wish me success in my renewed focus on my work out schedule. I'll (of course) let you know how it goes.

Hopefull I won't have to run in anything resembling last year's snow this winter - I'm pretty sure I would stay indoors and drink hot toddies instead! Here is a shot of the front steps on Christmas Day 2008.

How JueSue got her groove back...

2009-10-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Not really, but it made a great sounding title wouldn't you say?

Still not doing well on my running for a number of very valid reasons. I had to euthanize my whippet, Gracie, on Monday night. That is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do, but I couldn't watch her suffer anymore. Hopefully she is having a great time chasing bunnies pain free now.

Last night I took a run and was suppose to do 18 mins run, 1 min walk, 12 mins run. Wow! I could barely run for 5! Everything hurt so I just decided I could give myself a break for now and not push it. I will get to where I was, but it will take time. Of course it is pretty much dark when we finish now, so I will have to move my workout indoors or run at lunchtime and force my co-workers to endure my sweaty self all afternoon. Either way I will not stop.

Oh yeah...most of you won't know who the heck JueSue is. Well, in my family there are 6 kids (now old farts) and the names are Jim, Jon, Julie, Jeff, Jerry, and Sue. Can't you just hear the song 'One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong'? In correct order I come after Julie. I fought like hell at age 6 to get Mom & Dad to name the youngest Michael, but it was a no go. My parents and brothers would always say the wrong name first - so either JueSue or SueJue. Some of my friends thought that the perfect way to give me a J name, so now I am JueSue to the Bellingham gang. I rather like it.

Not the best week for running...

2009-10-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

Or anything else for that matter. I have not run or even stretched since the race last Sunday. I gave myself Monday & Tuesday off...and then my Dad ended up in the hospital on Tuesday night. He had a stent put into one coronary artery, and then a quadruple bypass on Thursday morning. He had no symptoms whatsoever, and the surgeon told them they are seeing more and more that diabetes masks the symptoms. I'm thinking I should have my heart tested...I don't have diabetes but I do have sleep apnia. It wouldn't hurt since I just started my little exercise program. I also have a little flutter that makes me cough every once in a while. My Dad just said "Oh, you got that from your Grandma Hopper". Great.

I am on my way out to run right now. I have found that I missed it this week.

To Gu, or not to Gu, that is the question...

2009-09-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

Gu = goo which is a type of energy replacement for runners, and anyone who needs it for their performance event of choice. My friends had a big bowl full of this stuff. In the olden days I guess we would use things like honey to do the same thing. I didn't run far enough to need Gu, but will in the future as I up my mileage. Another good question...Is it better to under Gu or over Gu? I would say over Gu'ing would be best.

What a great weekend! Saturday was spent picking up our race packets and hanging out with good friends up in Bellingham WA in anticipation of the race on Sunday. We had spaghetti for dinner along with a bunch of other great foods. Carbo loading anyone? We watched the UW Husky game...the less said the better. And laughed a BUNCH!

Race day started bright and early while it was still dark. I stumbled down the stairs and Dawn handed me my "pre-race meal". Personally I need to eat a little something and have a bit of coffee to get me going and get me through. Don't mind the face I'm making in the photo...I had a mouthfull of homemade egg muffin and didn't want to show it to the world. I was extremely pleased to see that the t-shirts we received were orange! My most favorite color.

I wasn't feeling any pressure - at least I didn't think so - but right at the start of the race I began to hyperventilate. The air was so cold coming off the bay that when it hit my lungs I couldn't catch my breath and at that point we had to go up a fairly steep hill. It took the first mile or so to talk myself down and settle into a good pace. About 18 minutes into the race we were pointed up a gravel trail and at the top I heard someone yell SUE! It was Jody, a woman I had met at the Danskin 6 weeks prior. Then up a little further and it was Lisa wahoooing and helping me along. She yelled that it was the half way point and all down hill from here. (Not exactly true on the down hill part - but it was the half way point). Up another little steep hill and it was Theresa and Patty (sorry if I mis-spelled your names), who I had just met at packet pick-up the day before. Having a cheering section is SOOOOO helpful. Since I was feeling so good I just knew I could run the whole thing, so got myself into a rhythm and at about the the one mile to go marker I picked up the pace and passed a few people. I may have kicked too soon, because my legs felt like they were completely dead about 100 meters before the finish line. Not the best place to start looking bad since you have all the people cheering at the finish, a professional photographer with a really large lens, and they are announcing your name over the loud speaker . In my finish line photo I have my eyes completely closed...which really does sum up how I was feeling at that point. It took me about 3-4 minutes to recover, eat a little bit of food, and drink some more water.

I walked back to the 5k half way point to hang out with the volunteers who had cheered me on and to wait for Dawn, Bill, and Mie to finish the half marathon. I was feeling remarkably good at this stage - my knees were a little achy, but that was to be expected. I had felt no other pain during the run other than the hyperventilation. I could have really used a pair of gloves though. My hands were icy cold.

We met up with the half marathoners back at the start/finish line and had a post race meal. (Have you noticed it is all about the meals?) We ate at the Boundary Bay Brewery (Save the Ales), and I had a great french dip and a Scotch Ale. That is me on the left, Dawn in the center, and volunteer extraordinaire Lisa on the right.

All in all I think it was the perfect way to experience my first race. Thank You to everyone who helped me - and most especially to Dawn and Bill Wefer for walking me through step by step and having me stay at their house on the lake! Love that place and the people who live there.

38 minutes 17 seconds...

2009-09-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Just back from the race and it was fantastic. I ran the whole way and had a decent time for my first 5k ever. Had a fun time last night with good friends and good food. I won't make any comment on the UW Husky football game we watched...

I think I'll take a little nap and write more later - hopefully with pictures..

On Sunday I run...

2009-09-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well...what seemed so far away when I signed up and started this whole thing has arrived. I will be running my first ever 5k on Sunday in Bellingham Washington. Beautiful setting, good friends, good music, and hope for the best. I truly believe I can make it without having to walk, but even if I do I will be happy to finish. I had a good run last night, although for the first time my bad knee (cartiledge) started to hurt. It's fine today, so we're a go.

Hopefully I will have a great post and a picture or two on Monday. Then I will start training for the next distance and keep this old body moving!

5 Days until my first 5k...

2009-09-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

How did it ever get here this fast? I can really feel the difference in strength when I run, but it does not feel like it has been 5 weeks since I started this little adventure. I have not yet run 3.1 miles, but with the adrenaline and all the people cheering us on I am hoping I can run the whole distance without too much trouble. Even if I have to walk a minute in the middle I will feel like I accomplished something big. I am really looking forward to seeing all my friends this weekend as well. They will be running the 1/2 marathon - at least some of them will, and it should be a great couple of days.

W6/D1 That was yesterday...Week 6 Day 1. I ran 16 minutes/walked 1 minute/ran 13 minutes. Not too bad. I was at a big whippet racing event last weekend, and I still managed to get my run in while everyone was at lunch on Sunday. I was pretty proud of myself.

I won't be running like this on Sunday, but I will hold that feeling in my head to keep me going.

Monumental Brain Shift...

2009-09-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

That's what I had this morning at the grocery store. I used to eat very poorly - high fat, lots of red meat, bread & butter, very few veggies, etc. This morning I needed to stop at the grocery store on my way to work because I was out of just about everything. I walked in and realized I didn't even want to go look at the foods I normally purchased for lunch. What I came out with was bananas, apples, blueberries, snap peas, and one energy bar. I would not have bought the bar, but I was so hungry I was starting to feel sick. I got the one with the least amount of saturated fat I could find - didn't even care what flavor. Just wanted to have something in my stomach. As I was walking out I started laughing about what a crazy change this is for me - I used to avoid vegetables at all costs as several of my friends can attest. It felt good. What an amazing thing is the human brain. I really think the 'Pod People' have taken over my mind and body...but for now that's a good thing.

Today's workout is Run 12 minutes/walk 1 minute x2, then run 2 more minutes. I can do it!

The halfway point...

2009-09-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

At least for the initial 'get off the couch' plan. So much has been accomplished in 4 weeks, but guess what...I have gained 2 lbs. I know (at least I hope) this is due to fat moving to muscle, but it is a little disappointing. I would have hoped for at least a little weight loss with the better meal plans and greatly increase energy output. I have only 2 weeks to go before my first 5k race and I am looking forward to it. It will be a blast as I will be going with friends - although most of them will be running the 1/2 marathon - but we will all be there to savor the moment. The only real pain I am experiencing is tendonitis in my "good" knee, so I bought one of those little braces. Color me surprised when it really did work.

My friend, Dawn, emailed to say how proud she is of me, and my focus on the goal. (OCD can help alot with focus). Everyone has been extremely supportive and you all ROCK!. It just doesn't feel the same without the well wishes (and goading when necessary) of friends and family.

Now I need to find the exercise plan that will move me up to the next intermediate goal. A huge Thank You to everyone who has read my blog and given me great feedback and encouragement.

This photo is of Dawn and I just a few weekends ago - and if you look closely at the clipping below it you can see her on the right hand side of the front row below. Seems we have been friends for a very long time.

Gather Ye Poopbags, While Ye May...

2009-09-13T11:30:00.001-07:00

That is what popped into my head Friday night as we ran our return route home. You see, HotRod poops alot, so I just bag them and leave them there along the road. I pick them up, one at a time, as we go back over the same ground. After all...who wants to run through the neighborhood with 3 bags of fresh dog poop? I checked with Patience just to be sure it wasn't a line I had read on one of her "poop blogs", and she didn't think so. I heard it in my head just as Robin Williams quoted the real words in "Dead Poet's Society". Just a little surreal, but funny (at least to me).

There was one really excellent moment on the run. It was a run 10 minutes/walk 1 minute x2, and then run 8 more minutes. After the second 10 I exclaimed to HotRod, "the last one is JUST an 8!! Can you imagine? Three weeks ago I thought running for 8 minutes was a huge task sitting out there ahead of me...and now it was just an 8. Wahooooo!

Little voices in my head tell me bad things...

2009-09-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'll just start out by saying I was not in the mood to run last night! I hadn't eaten enough and wasn't hydrated enough so knew it was gonna be bad. And bad it was. About 2 minutes into the 2nd 9 minute run this little voice started telling me "Go ahead and stop running...nobody will know...you can make it up tomorrow". I slowed down to a point where people walking WOULD be moving faster than me. My arms were moving as if I was sprinting, but the feet were barely moving in a forward direction. HotRod WAS walking. But I told myself it was now or never, and it would feel so good when I completed the workout as it is suppose to be done. I am happy (and proud) to say I kept running. The final 9 minute run really wasn't all that bad. Never underestimate the power of the mental game. It can make or break you.

This is how I felt last night...just wanted to lie down and do nothing.

Yesterday I had a break through!

2009-09-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Better a break through than a break down am I right?! Previously I explained that I am so not flexible that I can't even get close to touching my toes - ever. Well...last night stretching was much, much easier and I can now get my hands on my ankle. Whoohoooo! I know that is nothing to a lot of people, but for me it is huge. Hopefully that will transfer into an easier run tonight - run 9 minutes then walk 1 minute x3. Should be interesting.

HotRod's Motto...Shut up and race!

And the wind doth blow, and the rain came down in sheets...

2009-09-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first bad weather run, and it really wasn't all that bad. HotRod informed me that he doesn't run on Sundays (which we all know is a lie, duh!) so he stayed home. Sunday is supposed to be a rest day, but I was busy at a whippet get-together (along with a beautiful old Red Setter & one rambunctious young smooth fox terrier) on Saturday and was too tired to run when I got home. That's me with the big smile on the right with Gracie and HotRod.

I felt like I was back in College running intervals in the pouring rain - if you don't run in the rain in Seattle you just don't run. What I was lacking was a lightweight waterproof jacket. I may go down to REI today since they are having a big Labor Day Sale. I have plenty of windbreakers in various shapes and colors, but none are waterproof. I also have my rain gear for whippet race days, but they are a little too heavy. For the time being I will probably just go with what I have and get wet. Only 20 days left until the first 5k run. I may have to start running on the treadmill when the weather gets too bad and it is too dark to run on the road.

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day Weekend, for tomorrow we labor again!

Oh Yeah!! I forgot the best part. I found a $5 bill during my run - it was in a ditch and covered with mud - not sure how I even saw it in the first place.

Did I get the wrong shoes?

2009-09-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

The right shoes can make a huge difference in how you feel when you run. On the other hand the wrong shoes can make you miserable. I bought a stability shoe - the ASICS Gel-1140. Now that I am running more and walking less the arch of this shoe is really causing pain in my foot, and up the back of my leg. There are so many different types of shoes now that it is difficult for me to find the right one. Do you have a high arch and overpronate? There's a shoe for that. Or if you suponate and have no arch - there's a shoe for that. I pronate slightly and have a medium to high arch. Now I need to find the right shoe for me. But...I paid a bunch of money for these shoes and can't really afford to be buying more. This is basically the only pain I have when running, so I need to get this taken care of quickly. Stay tuned for more as the shoe turns...

I was dreaming that my knees were really hurting...

2009-09-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

And then I woke up - and they really were hurting. It pisses me off when I have pain in dreams. If for some strange reason I manage to get to sleep despite the pain...I should NOT have to feel it while in said sleep state. I got up and took some Advil, which did eventually help, but I'm still pissed off hours later. I do think the pain is arthritis jabbing me due to the change in weather and not my workout regime, but I think I better back off a little until things stabilize.

Only 170 more days until my 50th Birthday. If I can't find an official half marathon to run by that time I am going to organize my friends and have them run one with me as part of my Birthday party. I wonder what we should call it? The Sue Hopper Doomsday Run? :0) I think I will make up some t-shirts and goody bags!

I found this old, yellowed piece of newspaper recently when looking thru all my old pictures - taken in 1972. I'm the cool one on the end of the back row on the right. You can't tell but my sweatshirt was tie dyed, and you gotta dig those Daisy Dukes.

Good-Bye Shadow

2009-09-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Shadow was a feisty little whippet girl who belonged to my friend. She lost her battle with lymphoma yesterday and will be greatly missed.

Don't neglect your stretching and cross training

2009-09-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Stretching after every workout is a must for me, and should be for everyone. You will be more limber, which will help you run better. Also, you will have less soreness in your muscles if you give them a nice slow stretch after you run. I am one of those unfortunate people who is incredibly non-flexible. When I try to touch my toes I can reach just about halfway down my shins...on a good day. Slowly but surely I get a little more flexible every day, but it never gets to the point where I can touch my toes. Mostly I have been doing my old high school track & field stretching with a few other stretches added to cover all of the muscle groups. I may try added some yoga.

You should also be doing some cross training. My bike is out of commission at the moment or I would be riding. I add in some light weight lifting to increase my core strength and to strengthen my back - which is of major concern for me. Sometimes I just turn on loud music and dance around like a crazy woman for a half hour to an hour. The dogs and my cat run and hide, but it's something I have always loved to do.

Check out my knobby knees in this photo - I think I was about 10 years old at the time. It makes my knees hurt just to look at them in this picture today. They don't look like they are even remotely in the right alignment!

Sometimes you need to take a step backwards in order to move foreward...

2009-08-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

This week didn't turn out anything like it was suppose to. Thursday I got food poisoning and threw up at work. YUCK! I missed my walk that day. Friday I did my workout and then realized it was wrong. I was actually doing the workout for NEXT Friday. I thought it was a big jump in minutes...but didn't check until after I got back home. Saturday I didn't know what to do with myself, so went out to dinner and had a wonderful blue cheese burger and fries. And yes - I skipped my workout that day. Today I decided my best course of action was to go back and do the minutes I was suppose to have done on Friday. It was really difficult. Of course I ran early in the day and didn't eat enough. I was breathing so hard part way through that I scared HotRod with the loud noise! But...I made it through week 2 and still feel like I am doing the right thing for myself. My knees still feel pretty good - except those pesky little kneecaps that don't track properly making going up and down stair a bit of a painful experience. Best bet...don't go up and down stairs. Wanna bet Merril calls me a whiney ass again? :-o

2 weeks down, 6 to go. Problem is my first 5k is only 4 weeks away....

Somehow I got it all wrong...

2009-08-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Week 2 / Day 5. What I transcribed onto my schedule was run 6 minutes/walk 1 minute x6, then run 2 minutes. It seemed like a big jump in minutes...but I didn't take the time to verify. I ran that schedule tonight - it was hard but not all that bad. I just logged onto Runners's World to see what it should have been today and tomorrow. Uh Oh! It was only suppose to be run 4 minutes/walk 1 minute x6. Now what do I do? I just just jumped ahead to Friday of next week. Stay tuned...no telling where I go from here.

Who's Zoomin Who?

2009-08-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Basically that's all I heard last night. With HotRod attached at my waist everyone - and I do mean everyone - wanted to know who was walking whom? Toward the latter part of the walk/run workout HotRod was doing most of the work pulling me along. But that's not really cheating is it? I tried to get a picture of us "in harness" but HotRod wanted nothing to do with the camera. Gracie, OTOH, kept jumping into the shot. She's the lovely blur in the foreground.

Last night was run 3 minutes/walk 1 minute x 6, and then run a final 2 minutes. The hardest part was minute 2 of the 3 minute run. Not quite sure why that is. Today my knees are a bit more sore, so not sure how I will do when I have to move up to 6 minute runs on Friday. I may have to back off just a bit, but hopefully not too much. Today it is my patellar tendons that hurt, and that hasn't been a problem in a very long time. I may try a brace, or just see if I can work through it with ice and stretching.

We did have a less than fun adventure as some Dick Head of a Yahoo decided it would be fun to scare us. He swerved as if he was going to run us into the ditch. At that point HotRod was already standing in the ditch sniffing and I was on the very edge. This yahoo swerves to the point where his tires were right on the edge as well. Of course I jumped into the ditch and he tore off squealing tires and laughing his butt off I'm sure. The windows were too dirty for me to see the driver and I had my old glasses on so could not read the license plate. I WILL recognize the truck when I see it again!!!!! This is why I don't listen to music on my walks...there is no shoulder for most of the way and there are enough people who think it's fun to scare you. I need to be able to hear them coming up behind us. Luckily the one last night was coming from the front.

Just another day in non-couch potato land...maybe I should just stay where it is a little safer?

People who say they have more energy are liars!

2009-08-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

All my life I have heard people exclaim about how much more energy they have once they get in better shape and how they sleep so much better...I say these people are liars! I just feel more tired and I have never slept well...ever. What's up with that? Even when I was on school sports teams and working out hard every day I didn't feel more energized, and I have no clue what it feels like to wake up refreshed. I sure would love to know that feeling!

Last night was a "walk only" night, so I took my older dog, who recently had surgery, out with us. Gracie did fantastic and trotted the whole way. Now that makes me happy and energized!

Week 2 / Day 1

2009-08-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

Things start to get a bit more serious this week. I go from running 2 minutes/walking 1 repeated 10 times Monday, to running 6 minutes/walking 1 minute repeated 6 times, then running 2 more minutes by Friday. Sunday is a day of rest every week. Yay!

W2/D1 (week 2/day 1) went pretty well last night. I was huffing & puffing by about rep 7 or 8, but nothing hurt. The most exciting part - at least to me - is that more running means more eating! I found out last week that I really do have to eat more, especially in the late afternoon if I want to be able to accomplish what I have set out for myself. I had started healthier eating habits earlier this year, so that is a big help too. I am eating the right kinds of foods at the right time of day to fuel the machine.

I'm still digging the new sports bra and fancy running shoes. I did have to add a second sock on my left foot in order for it to fit the way I like, but that was easy enough to do.

I have attached HotRod to my waist now, and it is taking him a while to get used to it. He has found that it is not nearly as easy to go pee on something when he has to move me to do it. It is much easier on me since I have both hands free to run - but can still grab him quickly and easily should that be necessary. You can get "real" skijoring equipment to make this set up work, but I just use the shoulder strap from an old duffle or camera bag around my waist and it works just fine.

Below is a link to skijoring equipment for anyone who is interested in the set-up.
http://www.ultrapaws.com/skijorin_sizing.asp

How to tie your shoes...

2009-08-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

Did you know there is a right way and a wrong way to tie your shoes? All this time I have been doing it wrong! Wonder if it will make any difference? I'll try it out and let you know.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--13001-0,00.html

Glory Dayz

2009-08-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was going through some old photos the other day and came upon some shots of me when I was actually fit and healthy at age 18. I know I will never look like that again - and in the case of my hair in the volleyball pic that is a very good thing. It does give me something to shoot for though. I still remember the time some woman turned to my Mom at a volleyball game and asked "Who is that girl with the skinny legs and big boobs?" All my Mom could say was "Um, that's my daughter"...

Tonight starts Week 2 of my training program. Run 2 minutes/Walk 1 minute x 10. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully HotRod will be able to go with me. Gracie opened up the pantry last night and they both ate some stuff they should not have eaten. Gracie has a cast iron stomach so nothing throws her off her feed, but poor HotRod was not feeling at all well this morning.

I so remember the feeling of crossing the finish line first. I wish I could bottle it and take the feeling with me every day.

Day 4 vs. Day 5 - Night and Day

2009-08-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Day 4 was a run/walk day, and I felt awful. The temperature was in the 90's and I had not hydrated well enough during the afternoon. I also had on brand new running shoes. While they feel pretty good the left shoe is just a little loose around the heel. Of course that foot is attached to the leg with the bad knee. I mostly just felt tired and sweaty. No two workouts are the same, thankfully, and day 5 turned out MUCH better. I ate more - hurray for splurge day - and drank a lot more water. I actually felt pretty good when I was finished. Not sure how I will do today (day 7), but I am going in thinking I will feel good and comfortable. I know HotRod (my 3 year old whippet) is really digging the increased pace of our daily outings.

This is me last Sunday with my friend Dawn, who had just finished the Danskin Triathlon in Seattle. It was an incredibly inspiring day and I hope to be a participant very soon...not just a bystander and cheerleader.

This is how HotRod REALLY likes to run, but no way I can keep up with that!

Is it wrong to love a bra?

2009-08-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am in love with my new sports bra & I am not ashamed to say it out loud. Thanks to my friend Dawn, I now own the "Big E" as she and other friends call it. The Enell Sport. This thing is nothing short of miraculous in it's technology and architecture. It aint pretty, but for the first time since I was 12 years old I can run without all the bouncing and swinging just under my chin. The girls are held tightly, but I don't feel like an encased sausage. Pretty damn cool if you ask me. So now all I have to worry about are those pesky knees, and my lower back, and my feet, and...well you get the picture.

How I got to this place in my life...

2009-08-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I was a jockette - when I wasn't playing sports I was watching sports. It didn't hurt to grow up with 4 hyper-competitive brothers and my one sister. I was even named Most Athletic Female in my Senior Class in High School. I was fearsome when I competed, and just a little TOO competitive. (or so I'm told). Then the knees start to hurt and a few surgeries later you don't participate anymore. Heck, I don't even watch much anymore, except a little college volleyball, football, & track. You can see me in the red uniform in the photo. Don't you just love those uniforms? NOT!

In my mid-40's I started competing in racing and lure coursing with my whippets, where I often found myself huffing and puffing to and from the track. No fun and just a tad embarrassing. But I love it, so something had to give.

In January 2009 I started thinking about thinking about getting healthy. I had good friends running half marathons and doing triathlons. It exhausts me just to think about getting in that kind of shape - but deep down knew I could if I just put my mind, and competitive nature, to the task.

Well...I have 6 months to get in shape before my 50th Birthday, and I have taken some bold steps to get there. I bought myself an iron bra and some fancy schmancy new running shoes, and most exciting of all signed up for my first 5k race at the end of September.

Wish me luck - my goal is to run a 1/2 marathon by that birthday in February 2010.