…”this life is more than just a read through”

In my post op instructions it says to get up and walk every two hours to avoid blood clots in my legs. So I have been walking around the house. Today, man was it beautiful outside, I went up & down the driveway a few times and around our neighborhood, I think maybe 2/10 of a mile ,max 1/4 mi. It felt so good to know that I can still get in some sort of exercise. I was also doing lunges going down our downstairs hallway. I have my first post op Dr. appointment tomorrow a.m. Can’t wait to hear what they have to say. The drains are driving me nuts, they are so itchy and always seem to be getting caught under the bandages. Will walk some more tomorrow. I plan to continue to increase my distance as I heal. From what I read, I can’t run for 8 weeks. Walking will have to do.

Surgery on Mon. went well, I think. Not really sure due to swelling, etc. I wont know for a few months how it really went until everything falls into place. I had a horrible night in the hospital on Monday night. Woken every two hours by the nurses and the woman in my room would not turn off the light over her bed - so it was super bright in the room. I am a side sleeper and wanted so badly to turn onto my side and couldn’t. I was released on Tues. and went to my mom’s for the night. Thinking that it would be more quiet and calm for me to get a good night sleep. No go. Uncomfortable there too. What is uncomfortable are the drains that are hanging out of my sides. I keep catching them with my hand and they feel like they are pulling out. I cannot wait to get them out. I have had literally no pain and have not taken any pain med since Tuesday night. Came home on Wed. morning and was sooooo happy to get into my own bed with my own pillows. Although it is awful to have to listen to my husband deal with the children and their bickering. He does not have anywhere near the patience that I have with them. And the children are in & out of the bedroom climbing on the bed and nearly missing bumping me. It is nice & quiet now that they have gone out. I slept much better in my own bed. I found that I can lay on my side in my bed since it is a tempurpedic and it molds to your body. I am going to go outside and walk a bit up & down the driveway, then come in and change my bandages.

Wow, so this morning I am going to run for the last time for the next month or so. My surgery is in two days, 1 hr. and 45 mins. OMG!

I think I will run outside. That would be nice. I am not sure how I feel about not being able to run. I am always VERY, VERY busy with three children, all with their own schedules, and the usual running of the home and so, I can sometimes justify putting off my running - but knowing that I could run if I wanted to. But, not being able to run, not sure how I feel about that. I think I will be able to walk - slowly at first, but some movement is better than none.

I am scared about the anesthesia, hey, I am older and have kids. I am nervous that the surgery will go wrong and wont work out the way I hope. Then only have myself to blame for doing it in the 1st place. Then there is this side of me that looks forward to my husband taking over my hectic schedule for a week and I can just relax. How sick that it takes surgery to get a minute to myself, isn’t there something wrong?? I was literally cleaning the house until 12:00 p.m. last night. I have to finish the vaccuming this a.m., clean the goldfish’s tank, do a shitload of laundry, etc. All this so that while I am laying in bed for a week, the kids and my not so organized/neat husband can mess it all up.

Hectic, hectic schedule this weekend, which should distract me for the next few days. My oldest daughter has her 1st official gymnastics meet tomorrow as a competitive gymnast!! I am so excited for her. I am super obligated to her team as a “team mom” and have to work the meet all day. It should be a really fun event for our family. We have to be there at 7:00 a.m. and I will be there until the meet ends at 5:00-6:00.

Well, will log my run a little later, but I had all of this on my mind.

So, I set up a water station (correct terminology?) on the desk next to my treadmill. I lined up little dixie cups of water like you see in races. I stopped when I was thirsty and drank a little cup of water and then got back on the treadmill and crumpled up the cup and threw it on the floor….. kidding. I did set up a water station, but I didn’t throw the cups on the floor. I get such dry mouth when I am running.

Surgery 6 days away. Scared, nervous, excited, freaking out. Just some words to describe what I am feeling all at once.

I set out to do maybe 2-3 miles today and my old, bad knee was twitching. It was somewhat uncomfortable, so I stopped. I figure I am running every day for the next 6 days, so doing only 1.5 isn’t bad (since I should be taking days off in between).

Time to get on with our day! Have a good day everyone!

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/30/2008
• Time: 09:20:00
• Total Time: 00:15:59.00
• Calories: 225
• Distance: 1.5 miles
• Average Pace: 10:38.3/mile

Well, to echo another blogger earlier this weekend, I have also passed my 100 mi. mark since starting on sweat365!! And, I also echo his sentiment that for some of you, this can be done in a few weeks. However, I was NOT a runner when I started posting, but I am now. I am really proud of myself and glad that I reached this milestone before my surgery (7 days!!). I will need the 100+ mile reminder while I am not able to work out or run - so that I will force myself back into it when I am able.

Will do pilates later this afternoon. My goal this week: to run & do pilates every day until surgery. I also have to wean myself off of my tea. I have to drink de-caf after the surgery and need to start weaning….yesterday! I usually have 2 cups in the a.m. and 1 in the afternoon. I hope I don’t go into shock! While healing: brown rice, roasted veggies & turkey/chicken. Since I will be on my ass for a week +, no junk/low calories. I want to start back into it maybe only 1-2 lbs more than I am now. Getting nervous. I guess you do when you have children and it is elective surgery.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/29/2008
• Time: 10:05:00
• Total Time: 00:21:32.00
• Calories: 293
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 10:45.16/mile

Had about 25 mins to fit in a run. (Have been so busy I am posting yesterday’s run now) I walked a good 2/10 mi. to warm up at a reasonably comfortable speed. Wanted to warm up those shins and not be sore while running. The actual run felt nice. The 1st mile went by and I really hadn’t paid much attention to the info. on the treadmill. (maybe because I was watching Kid Rock on Ellen!) and then I kind of started getting bored - as usual. All in all it was a comfortable and decent run for me, considering I have been slacking. Will run again tomorrow a.m. Definitely NOT doing the 5k in the morning. A: it is supposed to be REALLY rainy and gross outside and B: I just am not ready and not excited about it. So, not doin’ it. 10 days until surgery.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/26/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:23:48.00
• Distance: 2.09 miles
• Average Pace: 11:23.11/mile

I figured it out today and realized that I had not put in a decent effort to run since 9/3. That is about 17 days. Not good. I got dressed (wow - in warmer weather running clothes) and set outside, husband is home so I could actually leave the house. Put on the iPod and ran. I was out of breath sooner than you could say “are you out of breath?”. Holy shit! I have already lost the breathing ability in just 17 days. Maybe it was allergens, maybe the cooler weather, but I sucked….wind that is. I walked probably about 1/2 mi. out of the 2 miles. I was SOOOOO winded. So, I have made an executive decision that I am an idiot for not properly training and for being so lazy. If I am not ready by Saturday, I will not participate in the 5k. I cannot believe that beyond breaking my toe, that I was so complacent and lazy in the last few weeks. I have just been so busy with the children and our Fall schedules. Damn. This just goes to show what it will be like after my surgery. Run again tomorrow a.m. - treadmill style.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 09/20/2008
• Time: 10:10:00
• Total Time: 00:22:20.00
• Calories: 300
• Distance: 2 miles
• Average Pace: 11:10.39/mile

I think I am going to try to cram my foot into my running shoes tomorrow afternoon for a trial run with my new broken toe. Based on how it is feeling just walking, I will be able to resume my training. If it hurts, I stop - it’s that simple. As usual, didn’t do pilates or any other video today, couldn’t “fit it in”. The usual excuse when I am slacking. Back to the treadmill tomorrow. It seems to be the only true piece of exercise equipment that I am accountable to. I am it’s bitch. (ha ha)

My toe is still huge and rather purple, so I am going to do some other form of exercise tomorrow instead of sitting around feeling bad that I can’t train for my race. I also had pizza last night for dinner with the kids AND took my middle one to a party today where the served - of course - pizza. I cannot resist a slice, but I need to keep the weight down. I think (based on how much better it feels today than last night) that I should be able to run in a few days. I will ice and elevate it again tonight. In the morning I will do some pilates or some other exercise video that I have. It is so funny that something as simple as a broken little toe can throw off your game plan. New goal (beyond the 5k on the 27th) is to lose as much weight as I can before my surgery on 10/6. I am going to really pump up the power on my workouts and running (when I get back to it). My goal is to try to lose 5 more lbs. and to also be doing 5 mile runs the week before my surgery. Think I can’t do it, just watch!
oh, p.s. I found out that only 30 people have signed up for this race. So, I am prepared to come in last or almost last.

So, I broke my toe. My stupid monkey dangler of a little piggy. It looks like a freakin’ purple sausage. I didn’t even think about it until 2 hours later that it will definitely put a glitch in my training. I can’t walk right, I know I won’t be able to run tomorrow. I am going to ice it tonight.