My running days are over... for now...

I've been suffering with Plantar Fasciitis for almost a year now. My wonderful Naval Medical staff (I haven't seen the same doc twice about the issue--their cranked up schedule, not my choice) has done pretty much nothing. Their answer was to stop all activity and to use 800 mg. Motrin three times a day. The Motrin did help the pain, but wasn't fixing the problem.

Last week, I talked to a friend of mine who owns a local physical therapy/sports medicine clinic. He had me come in this week and spent over an hour with me! He looked at everything: stance, gait, flexibility, shoes I'm currently wearing, fitness plan, etc..

So, here's his assessment: My genetics (the way I walk and my feet are built) has given me a funky gait. Can't to anything about that. My flexibility SUCKS! My calves, hamstrings, and quads are very tight. I wouldn't have ever thought they were, but they are and they are causing me to walk funny. My shoes SUCK! My friend suggested three new pairs for me to try. My core strength SUCKS! After a C-Section and giving up on my abs, it's showing in my posture and my gait. Finally, my arches need a chance to rest.

And the plan: Specific stretches designed to target the calves, hamstrings, and quads. Done twice or three times a day. New shoes! WOO-HOO!! Any time I have an excuse to buy new shoes, I'm on board. However, these are expensive tennis shoes. And they are the ONLY shoes I'm to be wearing until my P.F. is healed. SIGH!! As my friend said, "Your flip-flop days are over, girl!" SIGH!!! My friend also created an insert for both my shoes to help with my gait. Then, core strengthening exercises done two or three times a day. (Just wait, I'll have a six pack yet!) And finally, NO RUNNING! I'm also doing a contrast bath (hot, cold, hot, cold) twice a day to relieve the swelling, and I'm only "allowed" to bike or swim. Nothing that causes my arch to push down.

The best news: After only 4 days, I can already feel a major difference. So, I'm on board. I guess I'll just have to see where I'm at running-wise after my P.F. is healed.

Check out my new sneaks:

See all the "grey matter" in the arch! AHHHHH!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Though we weren't able to head to Tennessee as planned (Bryan is feeling a lot better) we did have a nice celebration here. And, the Bunny even found the kids right here at our own house! (They were worried that the E.B. would still think they were at Nana and Papa's)



Below is a short video clip of Matthew singing his "Yummy Chocolate" song. After seeing, and tasting, the HUGE chocolate bunny that the Easter Bunny had left for him, Matthew broke out in song. In case you can't understand him with all the chocolate in his mouth, he's saying, "Yummy Chocolate" over and over. It was just too funny not to share!!



I hope you have had a wonderful day with family and that you were blessed with a little chocolate from your favorite bunny.

Check out my Peepers!

These Easter Peeps cupcakes were fun and easy, and a BIG hit at the church picnic.

Egg Huntin' Fools

So far, my kids have participated in two egg hunts for Easter. They ought to be good and ready for the real thing this weekend!

We went to our church Easter picnic and egg hunt last Sunday. We had a great time. The kids ran into the field to get the eggs, and when they'd pick them up, they'd shake them. However, not realizing that they could turn the eggs in for their candy/prize bag, they would shake the egg, say, "This one's empty!" and throw it on the ground. It was pretty hysterical. It took a lot of explaining about why they needed to pick up eggs even if there wasn't anything in them!

Then, today, the kids had their egg hunt at their preschool. They did it at two different times, based on their age group. Matthew was more interested in looking at bugs, and Cadey in picking flowers. All in all, they had a great time.

Hoppy Easter everyone!

I DID IT, I DID IT, I DID IT!!!

Today was my Shamrock Shuffle 5K. I was sooo nervous! More so than I thought I'd be. I don't know why I was so nervous, I guess because I knew you all were praying for me, thinking of me, and just hoping I'd make it. The weather was beautiful, and the company was great! (Thanks, Beth, for running with me!)

Well, I DID IT!! Not only did I run the whole thing (my goal), but I ran it in 31:47! Pretty darn good for a girl who, just eight weeks ago, couldn't run for a full minute. I am flying high right now.

Thanks to all of you who supported me and kept me in your prayers. Keep praying, I think I've caught the running bug. I'm going to keep training, and one day I might be posting about an 8K or 10K!

God is Great!

Yesterday I was running my last run before Saturday's race. I had decided to run through downtown and then up and over the swinging bridge and back. The round trip was just 3 miles. All the while I was running along the water, I was watching just enjoying the beautiful day and the gorgeous view. There wasn't much in the way of wildlife to see, but the day was breath taking.

On my return trip, I was feeling like I was out of steam. Going up the bridge at the end of my run was exhausting me. I sent up an arrow prayer asking for God to show me that I had the strength and endurance to persevere. Just after I prayed, I looked down into the water beside me. There was a solitary dolphin! She swam beside me, just barely going under the water so I could still see her from topside. She swam beside me for the entire UP of the bridge. For the length of my training, I have felt a bit silly asking for God to help me run three simple miles, but when I saw his immediate answer to my prayer, I felt overwhelmed with emotion and so encouraged! After I made it to the top of the bridge, I looked down, and my Heavenly dolphin was gone. I couldn't find her. It was a truly awesome moment!

Oh, and yeah, I did run my entire 3 miles, knowing God had my back!

LOOOOOVE THIS!!

This is my new favorite quote:

"Girl, you are not old until you go from a 36B to a 40 Long!"

Oh, I am sooo on my way to being old!!

Running like the wind blows!

I feel like Forrest Gump when he figured out how to run. (Not the heh, heh, heh!" "Your momma sure cares about your schooling, boy.") The running Forrest... I ran 2.5 miles on Monday and it was great. As Forrest said, "After that point, wherever I was going, I was running!" I'm not really running everywhere, but I feel like I could!

On to run 2.75 miles tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers!!

February's Over Already???

We had a great February. Our big highlights were a visit with Bryan's cousin, Kelly, when she was in Savannah, as well as a visit to Cadey's dance class. The school only has observation days twice a year (yeah, don't get me started on that!!) so we went and watched Cadey do ballet and tap. It was a lot of fun!

Enjoy the photos!

Up, down, and up again...

This week was a challenging one for my 5K training. Monday's run was okay. Felt like someone sitting on my chest, but I completed the "assigned" workout. Wednesday didn't go as well. I was supposed to run 10 minutes, walk 5, and then run an additional 10 minutes. I wasn't able to do it. AUUUGGGHHH!!! I ran for 10 minutes feeling like I was dying. Then I walked the 5 minutes and started running again. By 7 minutes, I was near dead. I couldn't breathe, my lungs were burning, I was coughing, my shoulders were extremely tense and I was VERY discouraged. So I stopped and walked. I walked for 3 minutes, and then ran for another couple of minutes. I was very discouraged and disappointed.
I think there were several reasons I was unsuccessful run on Wednesday. First, I thought it would be no problem to run less than 10 minute miles. However, I had had nothing to time my pace. So, my friend Beth loaned me her Garmin Forerunner (if you've got an extra $300 to burn on a tech gizmo, this one is it!!). The Forerunner tracks your heart rate, pace, miles run, and has a timer. So, I made sure that my pace was under 10 minutes. I think that was the major factor. I was running too fast.
So, after talking to my "coach" and number one cheerleader (Thanks, Laura!!) she advised me to slow down to a 10:30 to 10:45 pace. I tried it today and did great. I am back on track with my program. I ran 2.2 miles without stopping. But, the greatest news is that it was easy, fun, and enjoyable. Those are three things I couldn't claim previously. I dare say that I found the "zone" as I wasn't worried about time, how far I'd gone, or what hurt most. I didn't even fiddle around with my iPod during the run.
Needless to say, I'm on a running high today.
Keep me in your prayers for Monday. I am scheduled to run 2.5 miles without stopping. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...