Torn

You may have noticed my lack of Couch to 5k updates, or a lack of posts about hiking trails. Things are on a temporary hiatus. I rolled my ankle on the way down Gorham Mountain when Thom and I were at Acadia National Park. At first I thought I just sprained my ankle, and took a week off from running to let everything rest and heal up. After three weeks of soreness and spasming, I went to my doctor's office. My doctor took x-rays and sent me to a podiatrist. What I thought was a sprained ankle is actually a torn plantar fascia tendon, which is the tendon that goes from the heel to the big toe. Mine is almost completely severed. I also have a significant bone spur on my heel.

For the time being, I am in this wonderful ski boot contraption. My doctor is hoping that the tendon will scar over and heal up. At the end of the month, I will be re-evaluated as to what can be done next, which will likely be either physical therapy or an MRI. My podiatrist is aware that I was training for a 5k, and says that I MIGHT be able to train for a November race, my gut is telling me that I am done running for the year. Here's hoping to good news at the end of the month.

C25K- The End of Week Two

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Albeit slightly delayed by a week of rain and a brief heat wave, I am happy to report that I have completed week two of Couch to 5k, aka C25K. For those of you keeping track, that is two weeks down, seven weeks to go. So far, it has been a bit of a battle. Day 1 of weeks on and two left my ankles and calves screaming. Things got a bit easier on Day 2, and by Day 3 it had become a routine. Each week consists of a different running pattern, so it is always a matter of adjusting. For example, week one consisted of one minute of jogging followed by a minute and a half of walking for eight repetitions. Week two consisted of a minute and a half of jogging followed by two minutes of walking for six repetitions. The increase of 30 seconds may not sound like much, but my legs tell me otherwise.

When I used to go running as a teenager, I remember pushing myself while running and then reaching auto-pilot, where I could pretty much keep running for what seemed like forever. These brief runs are not letting me reach that point, although I am sure there is a reason for that. Week three includes two 3 minute runs with each work out, so we will see how that goes. Part of me is excited to move forward, the other is terrified. On the bright side, my legs are already starting to feel more toned and my jeans are getting looser. I also have a great group of cheerleaders supporting me every step of the way, which helps immensely.

I'm back!

I apologize for the brief hiatus in posting, my husband had an unexpected death in his family, and I have been spending extra time with him. In the process I also managed to burn meatballs in the crock pot (who does that?!?) and rediscovered my addiction to scrapbooking. Sadly, mother nature has decided to bless us with downpours that are not supposed to move out of here until Monday, so C25K has been reluctantly put on hold. Unless I start running laps in the apartment, which I am seriously considering.

Couch-to-5K Week One Day One, And So It Begins

Yesterday I posted that I was going to be doing day one of Couch-to-5k (C25K) today. Well, I lied. Not on purpose, I promise. I bought some running clothing and downloaded the app, and then I just felt so motivated that I had to go. After all, you only get one first day. 

The first day work out appears easy enough, it consists of a 5 minute warm up walk, 20 minutes of alternating between 1 minute jogs and 1.5 minute walks, and a 5 minute cool down. Seems relatively painless, right? My shins were killing me, my ankles were sore, and I was vividly aware that I had not gone running in years. At the end of my workout, I had run 1.35 miles. Not bad for a first day. 

I am really happy I stuck through it. Once I caught my breath, I experienced a sudden burst of energy that lasted throughout the evening. I slept better than usual too. C25K recommends 3 work outs a week. I'm taking tomorrow and Saturday off, and will resume with week one, day two on Sunday. 

A new chapter in my life has begun. I am a runner. I got this.