THE TIMELINE
Nov 4- trimalleolar fracture (3 broken bones in ankle)- temporary castNov 6- fly home
Nov 7- see Dr C orthopedic surgeon -redid temporary cast
Nov 9- surgery- 1plate with 8pins on fibula, 2 screws into tibia -new temporary cast
Nov 14-stopped taking pain meds
Nov 19- post op followup-new walking boot-but no walking, can take off to bathe only, still elevate and rest
Dec 17-xrays/bones healed, new stirrup brace and can walk/move as much as i can until pain, physical therapy can start, long distance walking in boot, short walking in brace
Dec 19-first PT
Dec 21-meet with Brooks to test race wheelchairs for The DONNA
Dec 22- 2nd PT
Dec 23- 2.4 miles in sports wheelchair/cross training
Dec 25- 4 miles in sports wheelchair/cross training
Dec 26-3rd PT
Dec 27-4th PT-walking with one crutch with Big Bertha boot
Dec 28-5th PT
Dec 29-11.5 miles hand cycle
Dec 31-6th PT
Jan 2-7th PT walking with two crutches with Lil Bertha brace
Jan 3-18.2 miles hand cycle
Jan 4-8th PT
Jan 5-4 miles in sports wheelchair/walking with one crutch and Lil Bertha brace
Jan 7-9th PT
Jan 8-walking short distances with no crutch no brace
Jan 9-10th PT
Jan 10-21.2 miles hand cycle
Jan 11-11th PT, walking with Lil Bertha brace and no crutch, cane for long distance
Jan 12-walked 1 mile with cane
Jan 14-12th PT, xrays-no brace unless on unsteady ground
Jan 16-13th PT
Jan 17-18.7 miles hand cycle
Jan 18-14th PT
Jan 19-5 miles sports chair
Jan 21-15th PT
Jan 23-16th PT-driving
Jan 24-walked 1 mile without assistance/no more cane
Jan 25-17th PT
Jan 28-18th PT
Jan 30-19th PT
Jan 31-18miles handcycle
Feb 1-20th PT
Feb 4-21st PT
Feb 6-22nd PT
Feb 7-23rd PT
Feb 9-10 DONNA Marathon weekend
Feb 11-all clear from Doctor
JAN 14-RECOVERY DAY 66-THE FOOT HAS GOT TO BEND
What a day! I took the day off for the scheduled doctor follow up since it is across town, so i also decided to squeeze in PT. And then an adaptive yoga class was offered by Brooks, so i decided to squeeze that in too. Then we ran errands and had dinner. I may, just may, have pushed it (probably because it was the day after I did two 1 miles back to back)
I woke up with my foot still a little tender. The physical therapist wasnt very impressed with my two back to back days of walking a mile, more worried about causing additional injuries. But it happened and it wasnt that bad. All the exercises have been pretty good and then she gives me a new one that I can barely do and it hurts. Its literally just stepping off a ledge that is about 2 inches off the ground. Yep, that is how little my foot is bending. I have been able to do steps with the cane and moving my body, but the focus of this exercise is to use normal movement. It is so shocking how much my foot is just stuck in this position.
Yoga was next and it was amazing to see how off balanced my body is comparing one side to the other. All the movements were on the ground and it was a pretty short class, but it was just enough to get some movements in I needed. It also put a lot of things into perspective. The Brooks Adaptive Sports and Recreation program is a free sports program for people of all kinds of physical impairment, but mostly there are people will serious lifetime disabilities. It was a new thing for me to see these volunteers and therapists move the yogis that are in a wheelchair onto tables and help move their bodies into the different positions.
At the beginning of the class the teacher asked us to go around and tell our New Years Resolutions, and one man in a wheelchair with a pretty serious condition and could barely talk, said his was to walk. I was so taken aback, tears instantly came and they just didnt stop the entire class. Here I am upset that I cant run. All he wants to do is walk again. I should be appreciative to be able to walk what I can even if I never run again. But it was more than just that. I think I was so moved because it was so unexpected to hear him say walk. It is as if he just doesnt care what people or doctors say and he still believes and has hope. It is something that we all should never lose sight of. Belief. All the therapists keep telling me that this foot as got to move, and it worries me. I dont know what else I can do. I am doing the exercises, I am doing more activities and I am walking. It just doesnt move. But I can not let that worry creep in. I need to believe that it will move. Keep working on it and have faith it will come.
Next was the doctors appointment with xrays to make sure everything is still okay. The xrays looked fine but the doctor then himself says the foot has got to bend. I know! But what do I do?!?!?! I am so concerned that I will run out of time with physical therapy and my foot will not be doing what it needs to be doing and I wont be running. I keep asking him about the timeline of therapy and when should i be running and he keeps pulling me back. 'If you cant get the foot to bend and walk, then you cant run.'
There is no timeline for everyone. Everyone is different. Healing is different for everyone. Recovery is different for everyone. And that has been the hardest part of all of this. Just tell me what to do and when to make me be ME again! He showed me some modifications to some exercises to make them more intense because I dont feel anything sometimes. He showed me where to feel my muscle activate in my leg when i pull my toes back. If that muscle doesnt move, then you are not trying hard enough to pull the toes back. Have I not been doing any of this hard enough this whole time? Is this my fault?
I told him he can not get rid of me until I run again. Yet, the physical therapy prescription says 3x a week until plateau. If I plateau, there is nothing more they can do. I feel a serious time crunch, even though they will not give a date. This bend needs to happen and nothing can progress until it does. I can not have worry creep in and take over. I need to stay focused and believe that these stretches are working and one day it will bend. Just like the man in the wheelchair, I will not give up hope.
WORKOUT-PT, adaptive yoga
HEALING-ice, wintergreen and coconut oil
JAN 15-RECOVERY DAY 67-IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS HARD?
If you progress to walk, you think you will never go back to not. If you leave the crutches, you think heck no, i will never use those torture devices again. But today I had to put my ego aside. I woke up to my foot STILL hurting. And swollen. I iced several times, I massaged, I used essential oils, I rested (well, I didnt leave the house, laid down or sat for work). I took meds. Nothing seemed to be working. The pain was there even just sitting, yet alone putting weight on it. I knew it was not right. Its not supposed to be like this. Everyone keeps saying, dont push it or you will set yourself back or cause another injury. Then all the therapists and doctors say make sure to keep stretching it, it HAS to move. If Im in this much pain because of the swelling, how can I move it?. Even not putting weight on it and trying to stretch it, it hurts. So I decided I needed a rest day. I put myself on crutches, barely putting weight on it, and barely stretching it. I feel it needs to be better for physical therapy tomorrow, otherwise thats just a waste of a session.
WORKOUT-rest
HEALING-Calcium, B12, vitamin D, wintergreen/coconut oil massage, frankincense massage, ice pack
JAN 16 RECOVERY DAY 68-PERSPECTIVE
Its been a rough couple of past days with the swelling and pain. I knew my recovery was going way too easy, quick, and painfree. I guess i had a moment on panic with the pain because really it was the first time and i wasnt sure what was happening. But after talking with the physical therapist she put everything into perspective. Yes i can walk, but no i cant. I have to find the balance of what is good and what is too much, still trying to have no pain during or after. And even if i dont set out to go walk a mile, the small steps add up all day long and i can still be doing too much. My foot just got a hard workout. Like going to the gym and doing too many bicep curls, your arms are useless for two days. Thats what happened to my foot, but its harder because it then limits my walking. I still need to rely on the assistance devices. She also did some great joint manipulation and got my bones to bend more, feeling hopeful that it will be fine, my foot is just taking a little longer.
So i came home and embraced the cane and decorated it. I got the cane Friday and said i wasnt going to do that because i felt i wouldnt have it but a week, but now I know, its here to help me take my next step into normal walking without a limp then eventually running.
WORKOUT-PT (2.5mile bike, toe raises, calf raises, balance board, slides, walking)
HEALING-Golden Milk, Calcium supplement, ice
JAN 17-RECOVERY DAY 69-CLIMB AND FLY
Today was Brooks hand cycle meet up day. I knew going into it, I would do a shorter, easier distance because this week has just been mentally and physically tough. I took a new route and found some pretty good inclines, so it ended up being harder than I expected. But it was fun, because once you got over the challenge of going up, then you got to soar down. Its kinda like this recovery....it hurts going up, but then you feel accomplished once you are at the top, and then soon enough I will be able to free fly and run again! I ended up doing 18.7 miles almost the same pace as last weeks 21miles, so I was still happy.
I received a donation and lunch from a friend who visited today. And man, that carrot cake really made me smile! LOL. Okay, all of it made me smile! :) Later, another friend came and hooked me up with some more essential oils that should help with my swelling that wont go away...Tangerine and Lemongrass. The swelling ended up going way down. As far down as it was last week. Finally. Its still sore and I am wondering if from here on out I am going to always feel pain until I am back to normal?
WORKOUT-18.7 miles hand cycle
HEALING-lemongrass and tangerine essential oils on foot/leg, ice
JAN 18 RECOVERY DAY 70-I NEED TO GET AWAY
Money to have groceries delivered. Money to drive me to PT. Roundtrip. Money to give to the therapist when I arrive. Every.Single.Session. Money to give towards the surgeon whose receptionist keeps hounding me now. Money to give towards the Colorado hospital and ambulance whose bills come in every week. Money for essential oils and vitamins to help speed this process. I havent seen my dad who just lives on the other side of town, since Thanksgiving, because it will cost $100 for a driver. Money to pay my regular bills. Money to pay my soon to be increased rent. Everyone wants money. And yet I have to take off time to even go to therapy, so I dont even receive a full pay check to pay any of this.
And here I am just longing for an escape. I need to get away. This constant thinking of my foot and bills and how to make it all work and not to mention my body is so completely out of whack from the limping and crutches/cane. If only I was rich and had a masseuse, chiropractor, physical trainer.....sigh.
PT was with someone that doesnt even really know my injury. Im not even sure why I was scheduled with him. I need to feel like I am getting my moneys worth with these next sessions. The swelling was down most of the day and then when I arrived to PT, it swelled back up. They use these metal tools now to scrap up and down my ankle and calf. Its supposed to help break things up and make me looser. It feels like Im being scalped.
WORKOUT-PT-(bike 2miles, stretch/massage, wobble board, slides, incline squat)
HEALING-lemongrass and tangerine essential oils on foot/leg, ice
JAN 19-RECOVERY DAY 71-'I GOT MY TOES IN THE SAND, ICE COLD BEER IN MY HAND....'
Well, its been 2 weeks since i pulled out the sports wheelchair. I just didnt feel like doing it last week. Its hard. Its scary. Its not the same as what I will be using race day. So I just didnt wanna. But deep down I knew it was good cross training. So I pulled it out today and I am so happy I did! This time of year is when there are double, if not triple, the amount of runners out, mostly training for The Donna in a few weeks. There were so many 'Good Mornings' and a couple of people asking right away if I was doing the marathon. 'Absolutely!' I said! I even got an 'Your Awesome!' Yep. I felt awesome. And I felt more confident in the chair as well. It was a good workout in beautiful weather and I pushed myself an extra mile, making it the most so far of 5 miles.
It was also the Beaches Winter Run day that takes places right in front of my house on the sand. Every year, I am usually running 20+ miles this day, so its always cool to see them as Im already doing my training. I knew I wanted to go out there and cheer them on, so I bought a poster board, and made my way out. I wore the Lil Bertha brace and brought a crutch. Wearing shoes I felt good on the sand. We just went extra slow. Sitting down, I finally got to take my shoes off and put my toes in the sand! I wanted to put them in the water, but that would mean walking without the brace on sand. I didnt want to push it, especially since I had the pup and no one was with me. Next time.
I was expecting my foot to swell later, but it never really did. That is awesome progress! I spent the evening watching movies next to the fire with the neighbor. Well, mostly chatting with the movie on. It was exactly what we both needed. I am so happy she has come into my life. The words of support she gives me is beyond what anyone has ever told me. Over 10 years of raising money for breast cancer, walking and running and traveling, and pushing my limits, and sharing this journey, its amazing how little people do tell me how I have impacted their lives. So when it is shared, I am just so taken aback. Hearing it though, keeps me going. This is why I do what i do. If Ive made a difference in just one persons life, then Ive done my job.
WORKOUT-5 miles sports chair
HEALING-Calcium supplement, b12, Vitamin D, lemongrass and tangerine essential oils on foot
JAN 20-RECOVERY DAY 72-LETS SEE
Last weekend i set out to walk a mile and did it just fine. But then I did it again the next day too, and then the next day I had a lot of errands so probably added up to another. Then i was out of commission the rest of the week, and was told i cant just start walking distances. So Ive been a little worried on when the next time I should walk. But I woke up today and wanted to see. My ankle did great yesterday on the sand and I went to bed with no swelling and woke up to no swelling, so I just wanted to see. So me and the pup walked a mile. A 38 minute mile. Its a harsh reality of how far I have to come to get back down to a 9minute mile. But like the doctor said, I cant even think of running right now. The foot has got to bend more. My foot is constantly sore now. Tender to the touch and sore moving it. Muscle spasms are frequent, all up the leg. I think all of these are going to be my daily norm as I get this thing built back up. Suck it up Buttercup.
WORKOUT-1mile walk
HEALING-epsom salt bath, lemongrass and tangerine essential oils on foot
JAN 21-RECOVERY DAY 73-ANY DAY NOWIm literally waking up and thinking 'any day now foot you can move.' I mean I feel like it is getting better, extremely slowly, but its so minuscule, I just dont even know if its my imagination. Maybe its my body just getting used to it and compensating. I can not plateau. I feel the swelling recovers faster now and i wake up each morning with it looking pretty good. More veins are popping out now in my foot too which is awesome.
We finally got my car battery changed. So Jett, my black Corolla, is sitting there calling my name, ready to go. Doctor said I can drive as long as I can slam on the brake. Im a little nervous to try but so ready. I just dont want to be disappointed if it doesnt happen.
WORKOUT
PT-bike-2miles, heel raises, stretches, wobble board, slides, leg press (single leg)
Bands-80 each side-donkey kicks, kick backs, leg raises (behind), scissors, leg abduction-straight let, leg abduction-bent knees, bridge with leg abduction-70, clams-50
crunches-210, reverse crunch-70, bicycle-70, leg raises-50
HEALING-B12, coconut oil massage, lemongrass on foot, ice
JAN 22-RECOVERY DAY 74-WHY DIDNT I THINK OF THIS BEFORE
I didnt have to ice once today. I probably should have anyways before bed. But I wanted to see. I remembered KT tape. I always used it for running, more as a preventative measure, for shin splints, but also for plantar fasciitis that was creeping in. Why would I not use it to help with this recovery? I put it on and instantly felt better walking. My ankle did not swell the entire day. Ok, maybe a bit at night, but not like it usually does. So I decided I would go push on the car pedals during my work break while it was still light out. There was no pain at all doing it hard and fast. I think I may try to drive to PT tomorrow if it does not rain!
Once I figure I can drive, it is ON!....new gym membership with a pool....thai massage to get my body stretched back out, cryotherapy sessions, yoga.....omg Im so excited. I have no idea who i am going to pay for all this, but my body needs it and I can not let this injury mess up my body for the future! Alaska State 41 in 174 days!
WORKOUT
15lb dumbells-
bicep curls and over head press-50
deadlift and lat rows-40
flys and underhand rows-50
kettlebell swings and squats-45
HEALING
Golden Milk, Vitamin D, KT tape
JAN 23-RECOVERY DAY 75-I CAN DRIVE!
And today I drove to PT! :) Its only a mile away, but still, its huge! Even just getting into the car again was being on sensory overload. The foot did fine. Not a problem at all. Im sure a road trip may not be in my near future, but at least I no longer have to pay $20 just for transportation to PT every other day! Man, that was torture!
There are two therapists I am working with at JOI, one being a student. I dont mind too much, because the teacher one knows what shes doing, and I feel like I get two brains to try to help figure me out. lol. They really have upgraded my routine now...getting more of a sweat session in to get my entire leg back into shape. And I am loving it. Was there was 2 hours today and still didnt want to leave.
WORKOUT-PT (2miles bike, single leg press, lunges on slide, lunges on step, calf raises, single leg balance on foam pad, wobble board, slides, bands, angle board stretches, angled squats)
HEALING-KT tape, ice, lemongrass oil on ankle
JAN 24-RECOVERY DAY 76-GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
Well, hand cycling was cancelled due to a passing overnight storm that was to ling into the morning hours. It was really disappointing because it was right on the cusps of our training hours. Also, because theres really only 1 more week of training til DONNA marathon day. I know everyone thinks I will do fine, and Im sure I will too, but it would have been nice to get a session in. So, I just took it as a recovery day....sorta....I took the full day off of work and did what I love to do.
I took the pup for a walk. We completed a mile WITHOUT the cane AND 4 minutes faster than Sunday! New mile personal record-34 minutes! LOL. I felt great and felt like I was walking more normal without the limp for mot of it. A few times I had to stop and more the foot around. It frequently feels like it just wants to pop. Like a good normal pop when you roll your ankles around.
We rested after that. I worked on a motivational goals board. I drove to the store (first time!). And the store was so close, I didnt want to get out of the car. So we drove around with the windows down, hair blowing, Mollys head hanging out the window, music blaring, and we found sunset. (first also since Ive been home) It was a good day.
WORKOUT-1mile walk
squats-45
deadlifts-15lb-45
15lb dumbbells-30 reps-biceps, overhead press, standing flys, lat rows
bench press-2 sets of 40
skull crushers-20 reps
lat pull with leg raise-20reps
Abs-30 reps-reverse crunch, single leg raises, crunches, bicycle
Kettlebell swings-20 reps
HEALING-kt tape, crystals, tangerine on scars, ice
JAN 25-RECOVERY DAY 77-NO MORE CANE
It really does just kinda happens. I woke up and was able to get out of bed almost instantly and without the crutches or cane. I really feel it loosening up now. One day this limp will just be gone.
PT has started giving me new exercises every time. I had a minor freak out on one of them when I lost my balance and my ankle wobbled, throwing me into a flashback of the fall. And then I freaked out because I was freaking out wondering if I am going to freak out on every single new thing I do that may have a risk of me twisting my ankle?! Every single thing I do from here on out is going to be a brand new experience. Its overwhelming.
I really like the one PT i go to the most, but her worry worries me. Today she tells me that the plate may be what is limiting the lack of bend in my foot because of the location of my break. It is becoming reality that this may be permanent. But I am not giving up.I keep correctly her when she says words like 'lifetime,' 'I dont know,' 'it may not.' I am feeling and seeing it do more than it has and getting better every day. I will take every minuscule amount of progress i get until I am running again.
WORKOUT-PT (2.5miles bike, slant board, squats on slant board, lunges on ground, lunges on step, lunges on bosu ball, stretches, bands, calf raises, leg press, wobble board)
HEALING-kt tape, coconut oil and wintergreen massage on leg, frankincense on foot. b12
JAN 26-RECOVERY DAY 78-NEW ADVENTURES
Busy Busy day full of excitement but man am I tired! The day started at the Donna HQ for a race day volunteer meet up. I have a group of fellow colleagues that man a water station every year on the course and because of that, my employer donates a grant to the Donna Foundation! I havent been to the HQ since before my fall. I usually am up there every week helping to prep for race day. It was good to be back. I also got to pick up my race helmet and shirt!
After that, I headed to Brooks YMCA who was hosting an open house full of group classes. Aqua aerobics and gentle yoga was on the list, so I had to go! I knew I would probably be the youngest one in the pool, but the ladies and teacher were nice. It was a lot harder moving my leg in the water than I thought. I modified everything, no jumping or bouncing yet. Just marching around trying to keep my balance was enough especially coordinating the arm weights. Im really looking forward to doing some more. I figured I would do a lot of just stretching in yoga, but I was surprised I was able to get into more positions than I thought which makes me super excited! I feel like these kind of workouts will help my foot bend more. I am not giving up hope!
Next was a fundraiser event that a friend asked me to be her guest. I almost said no. Actually I did originally say no, but glad that I was able to go after all! It was a pretty moving event. Called "Faces of Breast Cancer" hosted in an art gallery, they had photos of survivors of all ages, race, and gender and their hand written notes of their stories. If that wasnt moving enough, the models then trickled in and you saw their reaction to their photos, as it had been some time. I got to meet a lot of new people, and even got to see Amanda from the race which I havent seen since the fall. I had so much to tell her about the hand cycle and training, and being broken, and putting myself back together, and ....and ....well everything! There were lots of hugs and laughter and someone even recognized me as Pink Feet! It was a night that I really needed. Even if I did still have to wear my two sizes too big/size 11 Crocs and use the knee scooter some!
WORKOUT-aqua aerobics, yoga
HEALING-cocoa butter, kt tape
JAN 27-RECOVERY DAY 79-LAZY RAINY DAY WITH ANTSY LEG
From morning to bed, it rained all day long. Which I was disappointed at first because my calendar had me scheduled to do the sports wheelchair. But after my coffee, I soon realized I may have had a little too much fun yesterday. So me and the pup napped and watched movies all day. My leg spasmed the entire day. My Achilles was also tender and i could feel a tendon in there moving around with a sharp pain when I walked, which freaked me out, because all i can think is what if it ruptures.
Its exactly 2 weeks til Donna Marathon. Everything is going to fly by these next days!
WORKOUT-rest
HEALING-wintergreen and coconut oil massage on foot/leg, calcium, tangerine on scars
JAN 28-RECOVERY DAY 80-REACHING NEW LIMITS
PT is so fun to me. We are doing new exercises a lot now. Its been really bothering me not knowing the measurements of my range of motion, so I convinced her to measure today and tell me in comparison to before. She warned me the flexibility of the foot coming backwards is still not good but there was improvement. She said the side to side and bending the foot forward is getting much better. I will take it. Any little improvement I will take.
It wasnt planned, but after work, I decided I wanted to try to walk a mile and see if I could do it faster. And surprisingly, I took a whole 8 minutes off the last time! and I went further.....a total of 1.2 miles now!
WORKOUT-1.2 mile walk, PT (2mile bike, calf raises, sliding lunges, bosu ball lunges, stair lunges, single leg squats, wobble board, single leg press, calf raises on leg press, single leg balance throwing a ball)
HEALING-Calcium, ice, kt tape
JAN 29-RECOVERY DAY 81-TRYING EVERYTHING
Today I went to a holistic wellness center and tried cryotherapy on the ankle and a salt room. Both are good for inflammation and healing. The cryotherapy is a machine that blows freezing air. This was a targeted session so they only did my ankle. Some places do a full body and you go into a chamber. It was 7 minutes long and it felt fine until the last 2 minutes it got super cold. Im not sure what it did. But i do know that I walked 1.2 miles before I went (half of it on sand), i had already walked 1.2 miles the night before, and then after my session I had multiple errands to run and wasnt actually home until 7p. So with a full day like that, my ankle never swelled, so it had to have done something. The specialist gave me a free session to come back and try the infrared sauna which is supposed to help with the healing as well, so I will try that with a thai massage next week. The salt room was interesting. Its basically a relaxation room where you kick back in a dimly lit room with soft music and they blow salt air particles in which you breath in. It was a good relaxation but I couldnt fall asleep like I wanted because the particles almost made my throat itch and it was a little too cool for me, even with the blanket. The temperature stays cool to enhance the power of the salt. Humidity lowers it. All in all it was a unique experience Id do again.
WORKOUT-1.2 mile walk
HEALING-cryotherapy, salt room, frankincense on ankle, kt tape
JAN 30-RECOVERY DAY 82-GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
I slept through my alarm and woke up in a panic almost late for PT. As I was going out the door, I realized, I just jumped out of bed and started walking!!!! ......How long ago was it, that I just wished for the day to come that I sleep a solid night and I just wake up and get right out of bed without having to adjust and prep my muscles and foot to walk!?! I did it!! And there was no pain!
PT was a little exhausting, probably because I hadnt had my coffee first. My hip now hurts when I do lunges. I was told this pain would start because when I walk, my hip is being thrown out of range since I can not bend my foot fully.
So after work I decided I wanted to walk again. Not knowing how far I would go, just wanted to see how I would feel, with it being 3 days in a row. But also wanted to practice going slow and walking 'normal.' I feel when I go slow, I am not limping or throwing my hip out, but how can that be if my foot is not bending? I dont know. Maybe one day I will wake up and it will just happen. Just like today.
It was a beautiful sunset evening with the pup at the ocean park. We ended up making it 1.5 miles! The furthest yet! I had to stop briefly a few times as my entire leg was just tired. As it should be, as today was also physical therapy day. I came home, iced, and kinda felt like I could have gone more. But I know that is my mind trying to rush me, especially since DONNA5k is in 10 days. I know Im supposed to only do 10% increase every week, but I feel it in me that I can do more. I have no idea what will happen race day, but I know that pushing myself too far is not worth it. But I also know I wanna complete it.
WORKOUT-PT (single leg press, calf raises, squats, single leg wobble board, lunges, stair lunges, bosu ball lunges, calf raises on leg press, heel drops on leg press, band stretches, single leg squats on stair) 1.5 mile walk
HEALING-kt tape, ice
JANUARY 31-RECOVERY DAY 83-I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS IT
Last training day on the hand cycle with Brooks Adaptive Sports and Recreation! I cant believe it is here already! I am so blessed that is free program landed in my lap at the right time! I really want to help spread the word to more athletes that are injured. There is a way to keep you active while you recover!!
I decided I would drive myself to the meetup. It was the furthest I have driven yet, about 40 minutes. It was a nice time to reflect on the progress I have made. The first day the bus had to pick me up, they had to put me in the chair lift to get on!! Then when I got down to the cane, the very first steps I tried was on that bus, because I knew the right people were there to help and support me! And now I am driving again!!
It was ironic i forgot my Garmin. The ride ended up being the most difficult one yet. The gears were messed up and ended up being in a slack state and wouldnt get out of it, so I was cranking twice as much and going half the distance! My shoulders were Killing me!! It made me panic because last weeks training was cancelled, so maybe I had already gotten out of shape?! But I was told when I returned that its because i was doing the motion double time. Every week has been a different type of training....first week was turns, second week was slow and steady, third week was distance and speed, fourth week was hills, fifth week was double time crank! LOL. Five. FIVE. There have only been 5 trainings to get me prepped for Donna Marathon next week!! I really feel out of my league and have no idea what to expect come marathon day! But I am excited!
I turned in the sports wheelchair as well. As rain is in the forecast, and honestly I just dont like that thing! And really, theres no improving with just a weeks time. It was great reminiscing with this chair too! It really did make me not only physically but mentally stronger. Looking back being so scared just sitting in it strapped in. Not having any trust in the chair or myself. And then 4 trainings later, I am flying down the street with my game face on! Four. FOUR. I have only done 4 cross trainings on that sports chair!! Are my arms really ready for 26.2 miles next week??! Yes, i also lifted weights weekly, but was it enough? I know even if i was running, these similar thoughts would be running through my mind.....welcome to 'taper weeks!' lol. The time leading up to the race that you doubt everything, you constantly check the weather, and cant decide what your best outfit will be! LOL.
WORKOUT-18 miles on hand cycle
HEALING-kt tape
FEB 1 RECOVERY DAY 84-THE STRUGGLE IS REAL
Ugh another down day. I was doing so well. When you feel like no one cares, it really hits hard. Probably the most difficult thing in life is to feel alone. Our world has so many ways to connect with each other, and then we just dont. Texts are read but left unresponded. Responding two days later doesnt make it better or even okay. It may, just may be too late.
Begging for donations is one thing. Ive been doing it for 15 years. I wont give up until the goal is reached. Does it hurt when I dont reach the goal? Sure. Will I do it again? Absolutely. I try not to take it personal when a friend has never ever donated. I get that not everyone will agree with my charities, and they have their own they support. But maybe, just maybe we should support each other regardless.
Begging for 'friends' to spend time with you is another. Theres so much that goes on Donna Marathon weekend, and there are so little friends that have stepped up to be by my side during any it. I feel so completely out of my league not being able to run, trying to walk the 5k when we all know in reality I probably wont make it the 3 miles. Then trying to hand cycle 26.2 miles, six miles further than Ive ever done. Sure I will probably finish that one, but does anyone care? Will anyone even be there to witness it? To celebrate? My normal support is not in town. My normal runners are not running. I am attempting probably something harder than running my 10th marathon. I will have to be cycling beside runners. Every day that I am out, limping down the street, or pushing myself in the wheel chair, I stop and I watch as a runner passes by. My mind is actually blank. I just watch. Theres no jealousy, theres no hate. I honestly dont know what I feel. And that is the part that scares me, because I probably havent let this hit me yet. Ive been too busy focusing on physical therapy and healing, that I havent taken time to reflect and acknowledge how i truly feel. I feel that come race day its going to be an overwhelming experience to witness everyone and no one to witness me.
WORKOUT-PT (2mile bike, single calf and toe raises on leg press, sliding lunges, stair lunges, bosu ball lunges, standing calf raises, slant board stretch, slant board squat, single leg balance throwing a ball, single leg balance on wobble board, lower heel on bar, single leg press with bosu)
HEALING-Calcium, kt tape
FEB 2 RECOVERY DAY 85-THIS IS MY BODY AND I KNOW IT
Everyone keeps asking me if i am doing too much, and I feel like I am not doing enough. 15 years of distance walking and running, I am quite good at listening to my body. I also am quite good at pushing my body to its limits. Today I wanted to see if I could walk 2 miles. Me and the pup went out and the first mile ended up being new personal record of 25 minutes! I felt like I was going so fast! lol. The next mile we made sure to take our time slowly. But that is okay, because I did it, and without pain. The only thing that happened was i got tired....as in a tired foot, a tired leg. We rested most of the rest of the day, until I decided to go run errands. I ended up having to take breaks in the dressing rooms. LOL. Gotta do what you gotta do. But i did end up finding my race weekend shirt! :) All in all, I know i can walk well over 3 miles in a day.....just, can i walk the 3 miles nonstop for the 5k in one week?????
WORKOUT-walk 2miles
HEALING-kt tape, ice, frankincense, lemongrass, tangerine oils, calcium supplement
FEB 3-RECOVERY DAY 86-CALLING ALL ENERGIES
Tomorrow starts DONNA Marathon week, my 3 month anniversary of the fall, and how ironic, the day they are airing my story on 'Why I Run Donna' on the local news! Ive been so excited for Monday all weekend! My friend invited me to a John Edward medium reading show which was very interesting. Two of the four of us had energies that came through (my friends cat even!). I really was hoping for someone for me, to encourage me, motivate me, anything for race weekend. But that is okay. Even listening to John and everyone's stories really made me focus and reflect on loved ones that I know have been with me since day one of this journey. It was a long drive to the show and my foot was a little sore from yesterdays 2 miles. Other than that, it was rest.
WORKOUT-rest
HEALING-coconut oil and wintergreen massage on foot/leg, kt tape
FEB 4-RECOVERY DAY 87-MA IM FAMOUS!Today my news interview aired....and how appropriate as it is exactly 3 months since I broke my ankle and its the first day of DONNA Marathon week! :) The segment was pretty good. Actually it was really good compared to previous ones Ive done, but she completely missed my message of 'Find a Way.' The marathon is such a symbol of life. You push through the most difficult parts of training and race day, and eventually it gets easier again, and before you know it you are celebrating at the finish! Theres no way I couldnt 'run' Donna! Its made me who I am.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157060932845127&id=105713395126
Afterwards, I signed up with a new gym that has a pool and aqua aerobics classes. I did a yoga class right after signing up and I got into most of the poses! I was so impressed. No pain. Its just a matter of my leg being strong enough to hold the balance or my ankle allowing it to bend enough. I really am hoping that this class will help it bend more.
WORKOUT-PT (3 miles bike, incline stretches and squats, regular squats, sliding lunges, calf raises standing, weighted calf raises sitting, heel drops on bar, one leg balance while throwing ball, single leg press on a bosu ball) Yoga
HEALING-kt tape
FEB 5-RECOVERY DAY 88-RELAX
Today I took a me day, tried an infrared sauna which is supposed to promote healing, and then a thai influenced lower body massage to help get my hips and legs balanced again. Its amazing the difference that has taken place between my two sides. It was a wonderful morning, so I decided to continue it with an afternoon on the beach. It was a nice early Spring day. I even made it down to the water for the first time! Salt water is good for healing, right? I then took a mile walk with the pup and watched the sunset. This is the first time we got to do that again too. It was a great day. Except one thing. The worry is creeping in that my foot will not bend. Everything was going to fast with recovery, but now we are really just waiting on one thing until we can move on....for my ankle to bend. It just doesnt want to bend back. If i cant walk normal, I cant run. I dont want to be disabled. I dont want my running to be over. Im not ready to quit, but the 'what ifs' keep popping up. I wake up every morning hoping that it will suddenly be able to bend. And every day I am disappointed its still the same. I know that I have to turn this worry into determination. I almost am ready for Donna Marathon weekend to be over, so I can get serious on some workouts. Cause as of right now, the rest of the week has got to be rest, so that I can attempt to walk 3 miles for the first time on Saturday and then hand cycle 26 miles Sunday. Its a whole other level of challenges that lie in front of me.
WORKOUT-1 mile walk
HEALING-infrared sauna, massage, kt tape, ice
FEB 6-RECOVERY DAY 89-NORMAL???!
Graston Technique...it hurts so bad. Id rather get a tattoo. But I guess it is working. Graston is a 'massage' the physical therapist does with a metal scraper. They rub on your scar tissue, tendons, muscles VERY hard and then when you cry out, they rub harder. I guess the point is to break up the tightness. People bruise crazy. Im lucky I havent. But a couple of times it has been crazy sore after. Most of the time its just doing the process that hurts. But she did it last Friday and I walked the 2miles the next day. I obviously told her this too willingly because now she has been doing it every meeting. Usually its done at the end of the session and I go home to work. This time she had me stay and walk it out. She watched me and said my foot was bending normal. hmmmm....why am i not excited?? Because it still feels like the solid block its been! Theres still work to be done on not walking on the outside of the foot, using more of my toes to push off, SLOWING DOWN, and following through the complete step. But she said it was a huge progress. I dont know. I go to the doctor on Monday and I dont want it to be like, okay, you can walk, no more PT! Im not leaving until I can run! And i dont know how that is going to happen, because I cant afford this PT! At $100 a session, 3x a week, its getting up there. But thats also good because then I will meet my deductible. But I also believe insurance only does so many PT sessions a year. ? Insurance is ridiculous.
I went to the pool after work and did some walking. Its really hard to walk in a pool, especially when you are sharing a lane with swimmers. I held on to the walk and did about 20 minutes worth. The water is supposed to help the foot, but I dont know, its awfully sore. And I go back to PT tomorrw because the Donna Marathon weekend starts Friday. I just hope I am not sure on Saturday.
WORKOUT-PT (3 mile bike, incline stretch and squat, single leg wobble board, single leg heel lowers, balance beam walking, bosu ball lunges, single leg squat on step, sliding lunges, weighted calf raises, weighted single leg squat on bosu ball, single leg stand on foam throwing a ball)
Pool walk-20minutes
HEALING-10min sauna, kt tape, ice, tangerine essential oil, coconut oil and wintergreen
Vitamin D, B12
FEB 7 RECOVERY DAY 90-REST
Since tomorrow starts DONNA festivities, i had to do back to back PT sessions. From there i worked a little and then rested in the hammock with the pup. The plan is to rest the foot on the knee scooter all day Friday so i can walk the 5k Sat. Fingers crossed.
WORKOUT-PT (2mile bike, 2min stairstepper, weighted heel lower, weighted single leg press on wobble board, balance wobble board, single leg stand on foam throwing ball, standing calf raises, seated weighted calf raises, bosu ball front lunges, bosu ball side lunges, slant board stretches and squats)
HEALING-kt tape, ice, coconut oil and wintergreen, frankincense, tangerine, lemongrass oils
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT DONNA MARATHON WEEKEND
FEB 11-RECOVERY DAY 94-ALL CLEAR
Well, DONNA Marathon wrapped up a huge success and I am beat! Today is PT and doctor day and then rest and more rest! Click above to see my DONNA weekend review.
The doctor did an xray of my toe just to clear out any concern of it being broken. Good news is, its not broken! Great news is, I can do anything now, just listen to my body. My PT lady wanted me to ask his thoughts on using the Alter G Antigravity running machine and he said go for it. So, I went downstairs and put my name down on the soonest appointment-next Wed. That should give time for my bruise on my toe to heal and hopefully my foot to bend more so I can transition to running!
This blog has really helped me mentally through this entire journey. Thank you for reading and I hope that I helped someone along the way. From here on out, I will be focusing on getting me back to being a strong runner. Physical therapy still resumes for another 4 weeks until I plateau. I am hoping I can find a personal trainer/running coach as well in my budget to guide me along the way. Follow me on Facebook to keep up with my progress!
There are several ways to help Pink Feet- Go Fund Me-for medical expenses
https://www.gofundme.com/help-pinkfeet-get-back-on-her-feet
Crowdrise-Donations to The DONNA, my overall goal is to reach $100,000 for breast cancer.
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/pink-feet
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