What are you grateful for?

This week hasn't gotten any better.....Aside from some time with Jen, I can't get the pain of my feet, especially my left foot, off my mind.  So, to help with that, I want to focus a post on what I am grateful for.  I even had some facebook friends join in on the fun, so I'm going to include what they are grateful for, too :)

- I'm grateful for an awesome and supportive husband.  Adrian is there for me no matter what I'm struggling or excited about. Truly there for the good and bad, the thick and thin- literally!  I couldn't ask for a better partner to share my life with.

Adrian and I at my sister's wedding, December 2012

- I'm grateful for fun and loving friends and family!

With Jen H at Yankee Stadium, summer 2012

- I'm grateful for Ding! Who wouldn't love this little guy? :)

Ding!

- I'm grateful for Dancer and Piney! I love our horses- even if sometimes they result in some pain :)

Me with Dancer, summer 2012

Mom on Piney, summer 2012

And here are some things others are grateful for from facebook....

Colleen Mulrooney Martin

I'm thinking of doing an entry later tonight or this week about the little things I'm grateful for....I want to hear what YOU are grateful for! I might include some in my blog 

on Monday

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• Janet MacDonna and Adrian Martin like this.
• 

  Sarah Duran The occassional morning I get to drink my coffee before the kids wake up.

  August 12 at 3:25pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Sarah Duran Giggles and smiles, even if they are after tears or fits.

  August 12 at 3:28pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Sarah Duran And family and friends for helping me remember who I am when all I feel like is a caregiver and mom.

  August 12 at 3:31pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Joan Jessup Howard Another day with my wonderful husband.

  August 12 at 4:16pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Jen Cohen Always having someone to talk to about life, no matter how difficult it gets.

  August 12 at 6:38pm via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Michelle Windle The ability to walk. I lost it, then I fought hard and got it back, and it is something that a lot of people take for granted, but I am grateful every single day for it. It's not a little thing but it's something that is overlooked.

  August 12 at 11:05pm · Unlike · 1
• 

Thanks to everyone that commented and helped spark my thoughts :)

What are you grateful for?

What's best for ME?

Is there a bit of an echo here?  Perhaps from all the empty space....

I keep starting entries or coming up with ideas of what to write (I was even given a great idea from a friend, Lauren that I would like to work on another day).  I actually started this post last night then got distracted when my husband came home.

And now....I have had another set back.  My reaction is to continue to be silent on my blog because I try to live a positive life and find the silver lining.  So, I didn't want to come on here and complain.  But, also this blog is for ME and to help me stay on plan and focused, and right now I need to write.

Today was a roller coaster of a day....I had SUCH a great time riding my horse, Dancer with my mom. I really mean great- no pain in my feet!  Although, my legs and ankles were telling me it's been too long since I've been on horseback or strength training! I took every precaution I could think of...I warned my mom ahead of time in case I pulled Dancer up when we were running, I mounted from a tall mounting block so I wasn't putting too much pressure on my foot, I sat to the trot and canter as much as possible to not add any extra pressure on my feet, and I even dismounted onto a mounting block so I wouldn't be jumping down.  That last one....I hate doing because it makes me feel silly, awkward, and like a beginner.  But, I figured- it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, I need to do what's best for ME.

From months ago with me on Dancer, Kevin on Piney

So you might be thinking to yourself....why isn't this a rejoiceful post?

Well, because as I was bathing Dancer afterwards, he does what he does sometimes...he starts dancing around me like a fool and BAM.  I get stepped on. Again.  Same foot I've been stepped on now 3 times in the past 8 months- my right foot.

Hard to see any detail...but it hurts...

My reaction was more anger than anything else, which is quite unusual for me around the horses.  I am the most centered around them and anger hardly ever comes out.  But I swore up and down not because I was in so much pain in that moment....but because I knew how this would set back my recovery.  It was what would typically be a minor injury but, with my foot already super sensitive....it is now a bit swollen and I am more than a bit nervous.  I've had ice on it off and on, and have been keeping it elevated since I got home.

So, the way I see it....



I really only have one choice- give it all I've got.  Looks like even more rest, ice, compression, and elevation in my near future.



How do you keep your spirits up during an injury or set back? Help!

Post from the Air....

An entry written on the flight to Portland.....

Hello, internet friends!  Right now, I am looking out a little airplane window at the Cascades Mountains, and it is surely a beautiful sight to behold.  It really takes your breath away.

I’m trying to keep in mind the beauty in life, but it’s hard when pain is an ever present and constant friend.  Right now, my feet have calmed down from their previous flaring pain that had me limping slowly and painfully through Chicago Midway airport to catch this flight.  My left elbow though….I awkwardly fell asleep as people will when they got less than 4 hours of terrible sleep the night before 8+ hrs of traveling. In coordination with my elbow, I have the searing lower back pain that will come from that nasty and awkward sleep that my brain seemed so desperate for.  I’m confident that a good stretch and some movement of both will make me feel better- which will only exasperate my foot.

Sometimes….life just doesn't seem fair.  For the past 2 days I've been feeling like a shell of myself.  Going through the motions but not able to focus very well and having a hard time being happy.  I haven’t felt this sluggish and low spirited in years….and I HATE IT.

A visit with my physical therapist and lots of foot manipulating and prodding has her thinking I could potentially have a stress fracture on one or both of my feet.  Of course it could be something else, but that’s a possibility.  Can you say SCARY?  The funny (really not so funny, duh) thing was that my feet weren't feeling too bad till my feet got poked and prodded and my pt when searching for pain.   I know it was important, and in reality it has brought me back to reality about this injury.  Because not even 6 hours after the apt, I was walking in Target for 10 minutes and by the time I got to my car both of my feet were throbbing and all I could think was of how fast I could get home to ice them.

Actually those exact thoughts were screaming in my head 4 hours ago before this long flight.  I was thinking that maybe I should ask a restaurant for some ice….but then I needed to get on the flight because it took so bloody long for me to hobble around and find some oatmeal and then get to my gate.  I guess if I was smart I would have just asked the flight attendant for 2 bags of ice when I got on board…..  Maybe it’s something I can do on the way home.

Frankly….it sucks being in pain like this. And I’m really concerned about having a full work week in Portland for a big conference.  Then next week….a new hospital opening where I will be on my feet for 8+ hrs each day.  Ugggggh.  I will get through it, I'm just not currently sure exactly how without exercise....and it's the mental struggle I'm worried about with not exercise.

So, fast forward, I am now at the hotel and am being a good patient: RICE time. Aka rest, ice, compression, and elevation. I have my feet currently in compression socks (as they have been all day), elevated, and with ice on them.  They are all tingly and thanking me for the ice after what would normally be a small amount of walking but right now feels like I ran a marathon. No joke....

What do you do to keep sane when you can't exercise?

Injuries suck

So, I need to come clean with my few loyal followers....

I am struggling right now. I am frustrated.  I feel like this little guy:

Banged up bear

Work is a little stressful right now, yes....but I am dealing more with stress in the form of that picture above....injuries.  Let's talk about what I'm feeling right now..

1. Left elbow hurts- still need to get surgery, and sometimes it full blown throbs in pain. Other times it's a constant, dull, low level of ache type of pain.  But it's ALWAYS THERE!!  It's exhausting to always have a low level of pain. Mentally and physically.

2. Right elbow hurts occasionally.....even after having surgery and being "cleared"

3. About 3 weeks ago I had some left arch pain so I took 2 days off, and then was able to do a great 3 mile tempo run.  Only did 1 mile fast and my legs felt great.

4. The very next day....the top of my right foot started to hurt, so I took some time off- a week to be exact- and saw my doctor.  I thought it was related to this:

Got stepped on by my horse in December 2012- the picture is from then

Even got another x-ray.  It was clear, except some calcification of the bone that basically showed that I was in pain for a while and the bone had to get all strengthened as a result. Yay? Got cleared to ease back in....I did, the pain was back after a little over a mile of a slow, easy run.  Took a few days off then eased back in...I did under 3 miles with a mixture of walking and running, with some breaks and I felt fine throughout and afterwards.  The next day (maybe this was a mistake?) I wanted to run a little on the beach as the sun was rising.  We were in Myrtle Beach for vacation, I am entitled!!

Less than half a mile in my darn LEFT foot starts smarting.  And I was going SLOW and light on my feet. Like 15 min/mile slow.  Heart rate at 135 bpm slow.  On purpose. So....WHAT?!  I walked another mile or so because I refused to have gotten up at 5:30am and turn it in after half a mile.  Colleen was pissed. And in pain. Bad combination, especially when on vacation.

So, that happened on the morning of July 4th.

sad runner

It is now July 10th.

Colleen has not run since July 4th.  I haven't done a decent distance run (3 miles or more) since June 19th. OMG! Didn't really realize that till I had to look it up.  Fail.



Well, I am mad about it damaging my body, true...but mainly because it means I can't run. Yeah.....every time I see a runner I ache a little inside.  This started a couple weeks ago as a little longing and missing the run and now has morphed into borderline wet eyes every time I see a runner.  Especially somebody who is obviously a serious runner and out for a long run or is totally killing it.  I have been caught day dreaming in the middle of a conversation when we pass a runner because I'm thinking about some old great runs and day dreaming about runs in the future when I'm not in pain. Several times I have blurted out at them "great job" like we are racing and I'm cheering them on.  Luckily I have only reverted to this sad and pathetic state when alone so my loved ones think I'm still sane...maybe...

It's not just my brain and heart that is mad about my current state- my body is mad that I'm not running.  It still wants to eat like I'm running and doesn't like that I've gained prolly 5lbs since mid June.   Going on vacation and indulging in some new stuff and not being able to run it off and create that much loved calorie deficit....it sucks.  So, I am dragging my sorry, somewhat bigger, butt into a weight watchers meeting tonight to weigh in and face the scale like a good member.  Since I'm lifetime I will have to pay for the meeting since I am definitely going to be over my goal weight....but it's worth it. I need a reality check!

I have been doing cross training so don't jump down my throat about biking and elliptical- I've been doing that. I even strength trained a couple times and that's always good.   This morning I even caught a spin class....where half way in my left foot told me that standing was not feeling great.  REALLY?!

So yeah....sorry this is such a downer post, but it's my reality right now.  I keep playing phone tag with my doctor because I'm hoping she will give me a script to return to physical therapy.  Hopefully Barb and Mark can help me figure out what I'm doing wrong, maybe it's a running form thing, or a foot strengthening thing.  I know they aren't magicians, but I'm hoping they can help me.... I'm sick of the elliptical and bike, and I want to RUN.


What do you do to pick yourself up when you are discouraged about an injury? HELP!

Coming crawling back....

I'm so sorry! I've been a bad blogger for the past couple months.  It's funny because when I run I come up with all these ideas around new blog posts....and then I just...don't do anything about it.  Bad blogger.

Well, I do have some rather exciting news for those that aren't my facebook friends and therefore haven't had to experience my recent obsession around this one specific thing:




O yeah, that's right, I have a new goal race, on September 15th!!  I took advantage of the reduced registration fee during national running day, so I obviously rule. duh.

I was originally thinking I would do the Harrisburg Half, which I had registered for last year and had to pull out less than 3 weeks before the race because I came up with a hamstring injury.  I saw running Harrisburg as my redemption opportunity.  Ultimately, though, this race is closer to the majority of my friends and family and thinking about doing a rock 'n' roll marathon series race just gets me all giddy.  Silly? Probably but it's all good and I'm excited- that's what matters!

Pretty in Pink!

So I've been lacing up my favorite zero drop shoe: Altra Intuition 1.5 and hitting both the pavement and the trails to mix it up.  I've been doing mostly road running because I learned long distances in my trail shoes = blisters. Not cool.  Gonna try some wool socks to see if that helps.  I've been running in nothing but polyester blend socks since I started seriously running over a year ago, and they have always worked.  However I've never run 5 miles on a super technical trail before like I did a couple weeks ago.... The result was a small blister on each foot, and I don't want to stop running trails and increasing my distance on them to boot.

Love these socks! 

I've been running in Gold Toe Power Sox for years, and I love them for any fitness activity, and haven't run in anything else for at least a year.  Great support, breath-ability and never had blister issues before.  I'm worried it may be the shoes, but want to try a new sock first...So...

What kind or brand of socks do you run in?

National Running Day

Happy National Running Day!!

Yeah, that's my badge.  I have so many reasons why I run....for my health, to feel free of my stress and other BS, so that I can eat dessert, because I enjoy it, but most of all...because I CAN.  Years ago, I would never have been able to imagine running a mile, let alone 10.  I couldn't imagine running for FUN! After all, who in their right mind does that?  Apparently, I'm not in my right mind.

Well, the past two days I've had some really nice runs thinking about national running day.  Yesterday Adrian and I ran together at Honeygo Run Park after dinner.  It was super crowded, which made it more fun.  Only did a short run- 2 miles.  Earlier in the day, I had to return the no good running skirt (it's a nice skirt, just didn't work for me) to Lululemon and ended up getting some new gear.  See below for an entire outfit- loving them so far!  The crops are awesome- it feels like you aren't wearing anything.  Hope I'm still feeling that way when I run in 90 degree weather. lol.

Hello Lululemon

I'm especially happy that my soreness, which was still bothering me at the beginning of my run yesterday, was all but a happy memory this morning.  So I laced up for what I wanted to be a 4-5 mile run.  On my way out, I decided the weather was just too beautiful to not hit the trails so I laced up my trail shoes.  

On the move at Gunpowder Falls

It was GORGEOUS out!  There was a lot of people, dogs, and random wild animals out keeping me company, and I enjoyed passing by every one.  I have been trying to unplug more, and one thing I've been doing is no music on the trails.  It's so wonderful to just focus on the run itself and enjoy your surroundings.  To be so easily amused by things like jumping over logs and smiling as you think about horses while doing so.  Also, I have to stay so focused on the path in front of me so I don't fall on my butt, face, or twist an ankle.  I did manage to twist my ankle today- when I took a second to check my garmin for my heart rate.  Apparently the trail running gods didn't appreciate my garmin obsession. Sorry!

At first I was going to stick to the mainly flat out and back trail along the river, but after looking at the trail map I decided to go on the Wildlands Trail that was a 2 mile loop through the woods and then grab the Stocksdale trail to get back to Big Gunpowder Trail to get back to the parking lot.  What I didn't realize was the amount of intensive technical climbing that would commence....holy crap.  It's also crazy how much more difficult it is to take those super rocky trails down hill, especially how much harder it is on your feet.  At points I actually had to really focus on letting my heels focus to give the balls of my feet a little relief  By the end of 3.5 miles or so, I could feel some hot spots sprouting up on my feet.  It felt like I could push through it, so I finished out the trail down to the small falls.  Yeah...by the trip back (a little over a mile) to the car, I decided I needed to give my hot spots a break and walked over any rocky areas, only jogging on sand or dirt. 

And yup....I have blisters on each of my feet- in different places oddly enough.  On the back of my left big toe and side of the ball of my right foot.  Both pretty small, but I put blister bandaids on them before heading to work.  Hopefully it will help because I want to get a 6 mile in on Saturday morning and that would suck with these blisters.

So, happy national running day! I would also love some advice from my friends on the blister issue...

Why do you run?

What do you do when you get a blister?

Sore Muscles: Happy Pain

Whoa...I've been a bad blogger lately- sorry!  I know, it's an excuse but life has been crazy lately and I've been so busy with work and general life stuff.

But I wanted to swing by to say....

Yeah...I am SORE right now.  Friday I did what has been my normal legs strength training routine since physical therapy for my hamstring injury.  It hits all the leg muscles and I don't use any extra weights because of my arms- just the bands.  I did 2 sets of each:  

- Sidesteps with hard band 

- Traveling lunges 

-  Bosu squats (love the bosu, so great for balance)

- Clamshells- 3 progressively difficult variations with hard band on each side

- Abs series to finish it out.  Including: roll-ups, standard crunches, bicycles, oblique crunches, and scissors.  2 sets of 15 of each exercise.  An extra set of standard crunches at the end.

So after some dancing Friday night that I'm sure just encouraged the soreness....my quads feel like they are raw meat.  I did bust out an old workout today since I didn't have time to go on a long walk like I wanted.....P90X Ab Ripper X.  It was positively brutal as I was expecting and wanting.  A bit more taxing on my legs than I was anticipating, but not too bad.  My abs however....they were crying by the last set. Tears in the form of sweat....the best kind.  Hoping that by tomorrow I can walk normally cause I need to get a long run in....