February is almost half over so I'm sure that a fairly high percentage of resolutions have been thrown by the wayside because change is hard. But then we set ourselves up for failure in that regard - too lofty of goals, too drastic of a change in behavior, etc.
I'm not one for resolutions, or more so not one for resolutions just because the calendar clicks over to January. If there is something you need to change, identify it, make a plan, and try to change it. After all we are all works in progress.
Update on the ankle:
Very, very, very pleased at this point. I've had my last follow-up with the surgeon and have been given the all clear to do what I want. I've been running the last month and I'm up to three days a week of an hour or so of running. This is my last week of run-what-you-will runs though - Monday I start training for my first comeback race!
Originally the plan was to train for and race the Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon in Seattle. I realized though that I was being too aggressive with that idea (see the whole "work in progress" thing - trying to be more realistic) so I'm training for the 10k at the Riverbank Run in May. Still planning on running the HM in June, just not making it a goal race.
Along with that I'm trying a new training plan this time around - along with being more realistic my goal is to be more consistent so I'm backing off the number of runs/workouts and using the FIRST Run Less, Run Faster plan. The link is to the second edition that comes out in April. I'm currently using the first. It only calls for three runs, all quality, each week and then supplements with cross training. I'm not sure I'll limit myself to just three runs, but I'm not even thinking of trying to run more than 5 days per week. Plus I'm really trying to work more strength training in this time around. Generally I'm trying to take much better care of myself, I mean after all I am getting up there in years.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
2012
I've noticed a trend. By scrolling through Facebook and twitter I'm seeing a lot of "friends" celebrating the end of 2011 in a different manner this year. Usually it's the same old "looking forward to next year" or "had a great year, looking forward to continuing that this year" kind of stuff.
This time? Not so much.
The trend is that 2011 sucked. Across the board.
It did for us!
T was on the shelf with the stress fracture/chondral injury from May 5 until the end of the year.
We lost family members: T's great uncle, my father. Which brings the total of family members no longer with us to 7 since July 2010. Fun 18 months there.
I spent the last 10+ weeks of the year on the disabled list with the ankle surgery.
Add in the usual work stress, shitty economy, etc and 2011 is by far the worst year of my adult life. Hands down!
So I'm joining the chorus of voices out there in the interwebs - thankfully 2011 is behind us. On to 2012!
In fact, T and I are doing everything we can to make this year as positive as we can. In fact we've taken to calling 2012 the "year of the Parkers". A bit presumptuous of us? Maybe, but I don't really give a shit because it has to be better than the last cycle around the sun.
This time? Not so much.
The trend is that 2011 sucked. Across the board.
It did for us!
T was on the shelf with the stress fracture/chondral injury from May 5 until the end of the year.
We lost family members: T's great uncle, my father. Which brings the total of family members no longer with us to 7 since July 2010. Fun 18 months there.
I spent the last 10+ weeks of the year on the disabled list with the ankle surgery.
Add in the usual work stress, shitty economy, etc and 2011 is by far the worst year of my adult life. Hands down!
So I'm joining the chorus of voices out there in the interwebs - thankfully 2011 is behind us. On to 2012!
In fact, T and I are doing everything we can to make this year as positive as we can. In fact we've taken to calling 2012 the "year of the Parkers". A bit presumptuous of us? Maybe, but I don't really give a shit because it has to be better than the last cycle around the sun.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
8 Weeks Out
Today marks the 8 week point from my surgery.
I'm sure I'll have a much more definitive answer in another 4 weeks or so when I'm back running but right now I don't regret having it done one bit. Yes it was an inconvenience but I have zero pain (even in the places I was having some discomfort in before the surgery), I'm moving freely about the world - not running yet but that is strictly a strength issue at this point, and most importantly I don't feel it shifting on me as I'm moving. MAJOR improvement.
I'm officially building up to that return-to-running point. 30 minutes on the elliptical today at the Y. Kicked my ass - yes, 8 weeks of inactivity will result in some major detraining, but at least I'm to the point that I can start working on my fitness level, so that when I do start running again I won't be that far behind.
I'm sure I'll have a much more definitive answer in another 4 weeks or so when I'm back running but right now I don't regret having it done one bit. Yes it was an inconvenience but I have zero pain (even in the places I was having some discomfort in before the surgery), I'm moving freely about the world - not running yet but that is strictly a strength issue at this point, and most importantly I don't feel it shifting on me as I'm moving. MAJOR improvement.
I'm officially building up to that return-to-running point. 30 minutes on the elliptical today at the Y. Kicked my ass - yes, 8 weeks of inactivity will result in some major detraining, but at least I'm to the point that I can start working on my fitness level, so that when I do start running again I won't be that far behind.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Hitting "Enter"
I've got a plan in place now. I've got the next 10 weeks planned out for my rehab and getting back to running.
That's the easy part. The hard part is going to be getting back into the routine of getting it done.
So here's the plan for the next three weeks (sort of*):
Monday: Rehab/strength
Tuesday: Cardio - at least 45 minutes, I'm hoping on the elliptical.
Wednesday: Rehab/strength
Thursday: Cardio
Friday: Rehab/strength
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: OFF
*I say sort of because we'll be in Cincy the week of the 19th and I'm not going to have access to anywhere I can do cardio....that week will just be a rehab week.
So, I've gotten it all programmed out, now I just need to hit "enter" and run the damn thing.
That's the easy part. The hard part is going to be getting back into the routine of getting it done.
So here's the plan for the next three weeks (sort of*):
Monday: Rehab/strength
Tuesday: Cardio - at least 45 minutes, I'm hoping on the elliptical.
Wednesday: Rehab/strength
Thursday: Cardio
Friday: Rehab/strength
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: OFF
*I say sort of because we'll be in Cincy the week of the 19th and I'm not going to have access to anywhere I can do cardio....that week will just be a rehab week.
So, I've gotten it all programmed out, now I just need to hit "enter" and run the damn thing.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
7 weeks post-op! It's hard to believe that I've been out of the cast for a full week already.
I just need to remember that flexibility improves day-to-day, and I must work on it daily, and strength improves week-to-week so I need to be a bit more patient to appreciates gains. I am back to wearing my Free Run 2s so that will help with some foot strength.
Must say I'm pretty pleased with how it feels and where I'm at 7 weeks from surgery. I just need to keep plugging away.
- the incision is still healing a couple of spots but looks really, really good
- my skin is still uber-sensitive
- it feels really, really good to scratch!
I just need to remember that flexibility improves day-to-day, and I must work on it daily, and strength improves week-to-week so I need to be a bit more patient to appreciates gains. I am back to wearing my Free Run 2s so that will help with some foot strength.
Must say I'm pretty pleased with how it feels and where I'm at 7 weeks from surgery. I just need to keep plugging away.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
FREEDOM!!!!!!
By the time you read this I will have been freed from my fiberglass accouterment. Pictures of the scar will be posted once the freed limb has been thoroughly cleaned, scrubbed, and scratched. Probably multiple times.
It means that rest time is over. Time to get back to fitness. Rehab starts this afternoon, fitness-improving activities start tomorrow morning.
The countdown to running has begun!
It means that rest time is over. Time to get back to fitness. Rehab starts this afternoon, fitness-improving activities start tomorrow morning.
The countdown to running has begun!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
8...
Cast day 20 (8 days to go)
I can almost hear the loud-monotone-disembodied voice of the NASA countdown as I quickly approach the day my foot will be freed from its orange prison.
The nice thing is the next week should go quickly: tomorrow I'm taking the day off work to run some errands around town and get some supplies for our thanksgiving day feast, Thursday is our feast, Friday I do have to work a bit but we're going to a hockey game that night, Saturday I've got to work but it's rivalry day for college football: the Iron Bowl, the Civil War, OSU-Michigan, etc, etc, etc, Sunday is the Bengals game and then we're back to Monday of the week the cast comes off.
Short time indeed.
I can almost hear the loud-monotone-disembodied voice of the NASA countdown as I quickly approach the day my foot will be freed from its orange prison.
The nice thing is the next week should go quickly: tomorrow I'm taking the day off work to run some errands around town and get some supplies for our thanksgiving day feast, Thursday is our feast, Friday I do have to work a bit but we're going to a hockey game that night, Saturday I've got to work but it's rivalry day for college football: the Iron Bowl, the Civil War, OSU-Michigan, etc, etc, etc, Sunday is the Bengals game and then we're back to Monday of the week the cast comes off.
Short time indeed.
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