Working My Way Back...

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

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?

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...

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...

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...

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!

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.