Fingers Crossed, But I Think I'm Back.

I started reading a great book yesterday called "A Clydesdale's Tale: or How a Big Guy Trained For and Ran the Vermont 100" by Steve Latour.  It is a bit tongue and cheek, but got me motivated and even more excited to start running today.  There was a quote that really struck a chord with me.

"Innate potential is a wonderful thing, but it is not necessary for achievement.  Sure, to be a world champion takes potential, desire, and effort, but to improve oneself greatly does not require potential.  All it requires is a basic ability to function combined with desire and effort.  That is the secret."

The book is the writer's story.  He is a man that you would never think is a runner.  He is a man that had never run before and was obese.  Yet he did it, despite how he looked to others and despite how people thought a runner has to look --- he is a runner.  In the book he defines "runner" as:

"If you actually give a care whether someone calls you a jogger or a runner, then you are a runner.  Everything else is secondary.  To wit, if while going for an easy two miles you are greatly out of breath and taking in oxygen in a manner like unto a wildfire that sucks away the very living air around it for miles, while you are sweating like the leaky faucets of a thousand correction facilities, as you are shaking all over in your limbs as if the monkeys of all the jungles of Africa were swinging over you, and if you are maintaining a steady 20 minute per mile pace all the while, and then you feel insulted that someone says 'Hey! Get a load of that jogger!', then you are a runner.  Don't let anyone tell you different, for anything they say is as the braying of donkeys and the barking of dogs."

I left my house in New Orleans this morning at 4:15 a.m.  The storms were terrible last night with flooding, power outages, and hail the size of golf balls.  I didn't really sleep because I was afraid --- in light of the power going out --- that I would oversleep, not pick up my colleague en route to the airport, and miss the 6 a.m. flight to Chicago.  I made the flight, even though the storm started up again as I was leaving my house, and "napped" during the flight to Chicago.  We landed at O'Hare at roughly 8 a.m.  I wore my running clothes on the plane figuring we would get to the hotel so early that my room wouldn't be ready and I would go straight to the gym.

The car picked us up and it took us about an hour to get to the hotel with traffic.  Our rooms were ready (and I even got a suite), but even though they were, I literally dropped off my bag, put on a pair of shorts, and went straight to the gym.  I was able to run again today, and I was excited.  The hotel has recently been gutted and the gym is a part of the spa at the hotel; this was actually the perfect setting.  I spent a decent amount of time stretching, and then started on the treadmill.  I went in thinking that I wasn't going to go too far today as I didn't want to overdo it, and also that I was going to listen to my body and if the pain was unbearable that I was going to stop.  (I also took 600 mg of ibuprofen before I started.)  At roughly 3 miles in I started to feel some pain in my right achilles --- so 5k it was today.  My pace was 11:18 per mile.  Not stellar, but also not terrible considering everything.  I had absolutely no pain in my left foot --- which was huge.  I cooled down and spent some time stretching --- including stretching in the steam room.  The steam room was a perfect place to stretch because the heat was great for my muscles.  I felt absolutely amazing when I left the gym.

Here is where it gets kind of funny --- as I left the gym/spa I asked the woman at the desk if she had any bags that I could put some ice in so that I could ice my achilles.  She said that she would have housekeeping bring it up to my room.  I got to my room and the front desk called about the ice --- asking if I wanted bags to put ice in or the single use ice packs.  I said, if they wouldn't mind, I would like both as I could use the single use packs later in the day.  Not 5 minutes later two men came to my door, with all of the ice on a silver platter.  There was some confusion, as one of the men wanted to ask me some question about how I had hurt myself in the gym that morning.  As soon as I explained that the injury was longstanding and that I just needed ice they breathed a sigh of relief (and left me a little "care package" of single use ice packs for the next few days).

So, I iced my achilles --- with a spectacular view of the City in the process.  I took some more ibuprofen later in the day and put on some compression socks (to wear under my boots) as a bit of an insurance policy.  I don't want to jinx anything --- but I feel pretty good right now.

I listened to my doctor, as I previously reported, and bought the Adidas shoes I wrote about the other day.  So far, so good.  Truly, they were the best shoes I have ever run in.  I am going to wait another day or so before I buy another pair --- but I am pleased.  When I got them the other day I was so excited at the thought of being able to run that I could barely contain myself.

Fingers crossed.  So far, so good.  Hoping that on Friday I will be able to run the actual course of next week's Shamrock Shuffle. 

Back In The Saddle, So To Speak.

First day back with Liberdy today.  It was intense.  Before the session I walked 2.75 miles on the treadmill with 90% of it being at an incline.  It wasn't much compared to running; 5 minutes of warm up at 3.5 mph and 40 minutes at 3.8 mph.  My right achilles started to hurt about 1.5 miles in, but I worked through it.  I stretched very well before the walk and also very well after the walk.  After the training I stretched even more.  Right now, I have ice on both my right and my left achilles and I have taken Advil.  Of course I was worried when my achilles started to hurt while walking, especially because it wasn't close to running and if my achilles hurts while walking I can only imagine what it is going to feel like while running.... 

Gam Zeh Y'aavor.  The translation from Hebrew to English is, "this too will pass."  The pain will pass.

It felt good to get back into a pseudo routine.  It felt good to sweat and feel like I was pushing myself.  Liberdy is being awesome about my limitations, and even though I feel like a total loser when something hurts or I can't do something I used to, she says that we are going to work through it.  I trust her 100% and know she is looking out for me and doesn't want me to get hurt.  I was drenched by the end of the session.

Last week when I couldn't sleep one night I turned to On Demand.  99% of the movies were crap, but there was a documentary about Lindsey Vonn.  I'm a huge skiing fan and have always liked her as a skier.  The documentary was awesome and had a lot of focus on her workout routine --- both during the ski season and during the off season.  Pretty impressive and made me like Lindsey Vonn even more.  Her core routine is intense and we incorporated some of her core exercises into my routine tonight.  It was awesome.  And, while I didn't do the exercises nearly as well as Lindsey Vonn does them --- and I didn't do nearly as many of them as Lindsey Vonn does --- it felt amazing.

The process is going to be slow, but I am back.

Is it Wednesday Yet?

My feet and achilles tendons are so frozen that I can't feel them.  Twice today I have have submerged them --- for twenty minutes at a time --- in an ice bath.  Despite that, I am in a great mood and actually feel like I am on the road to recovery.  I can't start running again until later this week, but I spent 60 minutes on the Cybex Arc Trainer ( http://www.cybexintl.com/products/cardio/750%20A/intro.aspx )today.  I didn't do it at the level I would have before I hurt myself, but it still felt good to sweat.  I followed that with 1,000 sit ups.  Five hundred "typical" crunches and five hundred oblique crunches.  Tomorrow night I start back with Liberdy.

Kind of funny that I can start running again while I am in Chicago for work this week.  I am going to try to run the actual Shamrock Shuffle route while I am there.  Next Sunday I signed up for a 5k in New Orleans to get me running outside.

My doctor, who we have established is a runner, said that if I was in the market for shoes that I should think about trying the Adidas adiSTAR Ride 3 ( http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4477648&cp=2039726.2039728.2020250&cid=U44214&shopGroup=R ).  I did my research, and it seems they might be a good fit for me.  To go along with the whole "starting anew" mentality when I can start running again on Wednesday, I ordered a pair (unfortunately, Varsity Sports doesn't carry Adidas).  They will be here by Tuesday so I will be able to try them out in Chicago.  Anyone out there ever run in Adidas shoes before?

As ironic as this might sound, the NCAA Basketball tournament has given me a new sense of life in terms of my running.  In reality, four teams that very few people thought had a chance have made it to the Final Four next weekend.  If you can tell me that you honestly picked either Butler and/or VCU as a Final Four team then I will be shocked and amazed.  No one saw it coming.  They aren't teams you would expect to be there because they don't necessarily fit the mold or what the you imagine when you imagine a basketball team going to the Final Four.  (OK, I am still a bit pissed at Butler for beating my beloved Badgers, but let's face it, the Badgers didn't come to play last week.) 

I'm starting to think of myself along the lines of Butler and VCU.  Both of those teams believed that they could do it despite what everyone told them.  It didn't matter that every sports writer in America told them they weren't good enough or didn't look like an elite basketball team.  They believed in themselves and what they were capable of.  OK, I get it.  I don't look like a runner (yet).  I am slower than most runner.  My achilles tendons are shorter than most peoples.  Who cares?  I don't.

When I was in high school there was a Nike add.  I don't remember all of it, but in essence it was about someone telling you that you would never be able to do something and then you proved them wrong by doing it.  The add ended with the words, "they will tell you no, and you will tell them yes."  On Wednesday my running starts anew.  People may tell me no, but I will tell them yes. 

Until Wednesday in Chicago.

The Shamrock Shuffle is Only Two Weeks Away.

The Shamrock Shuffle is two weeks from Saturday, and I can’t start trying to run again until the middle of next week.  I’ve done the 5 mile distance before several times, so I’m not worried about that.  I’m just starting to realize that it is just about here and hoping and praying that I will feel good and not be embarrassed by my time.    My friend Charlie is in town this week for a conference and over dinner the other night we realized that we would both be running in the Shamrock Shuffle.  He made me feel better in the sense that he said there were 30,000 people who did it --- many who would walk it --- so not to worry about the time.  From his mouth to God’s ears. 

After next week college athletics are, for the most part, over until August.  That makes me really sad.  But not in the way you might think (even though, for the record, I am upset about my Badgers).  College athletics gave me a schedule on the weekends. It is a schedule that makes my running better.  I would wake up, go to the gym, get the run in, and then meet all of my buddies to watch the games.  I need to find something else to keep me more disciplined now.  Because this week, without cardio, it hasn’t been easy.  Sure, I have stretched and done abs and weights, but it hasn’t been the same.

Just a few more days and I can continue trying to be a runner.  My foot does feel much better.  The bruising is gone (for the most part).  I’m continuing with the ice and ibuprofen.  No more pain medication, as it made me loopy and say bizarre things about the college basketball brackets.    Have a great weekend everyone.

In Honor of Bucky .... and Bruesewitz

I really can't run for two weeks or so, but I am starting to feel better.  No more pain killers, just lots of ice and rest.  No reason I can't do ab work and some arm weights.  To me, that doesn't seem like training for the half marathon.  You know what that means don't you?  That I don't have to wear Michigan clothes.  Amen!  Just to be safe, though, I figured I would wear a yellow hat --- but it doesn't say Michigan.

In honor of my beloved Badgers making it to the Sweet Sixteen (in New Orleans no less), I couldn't contain my excitement.  So, tonight I broke out the Badger gear!

And The Cause Of My Injuries Is . . . Me.

I am feeling relieved.  In the last few days I have had so many different people tell me so many different things about the issue with my left foot.  There were x-rays, MRIs, examinations, therapy, medication, ice, heat, etc.  There were different doctors who had different opinions.  All but one of the doctors who had a specialty in a type of surgery wanted to operate, because that is what surgeons generally do.  The only doctor who didn’t think surgery was necessary --- or even indicated --- is a runner.  Note to all runners (or people trying to be runners) out there who have orthopedic issues and need to consult a doctor: make sure the doctor is a runner or has been a runner.  In my humble opinion (and after the last few days), having a medical degree and even board certification in orthopedic medicine/surgery and/or podiatry isn’t enough.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I was prescribed orthotics and told to give up my neutral running shoes (which I loved) for running shoes that had more stability/motion control.  It made sense and I did it.  A few weeks ago the doctor also gave me a prescription of prednisone, which I took.  I ran somewhere between 25-30 miles with this new combination of orthotics and stability/motion control shoes.  With the exception of the last 5.5 miles that I ran, I was taking the prednisone, which was numbing the pain.  I was already being tentative while I was running because of the Achilles tendonitis, which is more pronounced (and more painful) in my right leg.  Seemingly, as a result, I was putting more pressure on my left leg and foot.

When you put your heart, soul, and mind into training and when you have a goal, it really throws you when someone who doesn’t really know you tells you that you won’t be accomplishing what you set out to do.  Frankly, I was downright pissed.  It showed in my mood.  It showed in my interactions.  It showed in relation to my sleep and my pain level.  I was starting to get very nervous that I actually needed surgery now.

I pulled some strings and got into a doctor who is also a runner.  I wasn’t expecting much.  It was more to appease myself and make me feel as if I had done everything in my control.  I was wrong.

The purpose of stability/motion control shoes is to control your motion and make your gait more stable.  The purpose of orthotics is to control your motion and make your gait more stable.  Theoretically, if you use orthotics with neutral shoes it should have the same effect as using stability/motion control shoes without orthotics.  But, if you use orthotics with stability/motion control shoes then it is too much stability/motion control for your foot --- it actually hurts your foot by pushing on your outer foot and arch and putting pressure on that part of your foot. 

Remember I said there was pain on my left outer arch and foot and that it was a pain that I had never felt before?  Remember how I said that in all but my last 5.5 miles I had been taking prednisone, which was masking some of the pain?  Remember how I said that I was putting more pressure on my left leg and foot?  Is this starting to make sense?

Bottom line, I screwed up my foot with too much stability/motion control.  Luckily, I caught it early enough and didn’t keep running in the combination of orthotics and stability/motion control shoes.  Just think that if I hadn’t been so insistent in seeing a doctor who was a runner, I may have ended up with surgery that, in all likelihood, wouldn’t have helped and may have hurt my foot even more.  I was told to keep up the ice, take the pain killers for a few more days, and then it will start to get better.  I was told to try running in the motion control/stability shoes without the orthotics and then try running in the neutral shoes with the orthotics and compare them.  Under no circumstances, though, am I to run with both the orthotics and the motion control/stability shoes combination.

The doctor today gave me a lot of really amazing insight.  He said that you can tell the difference between a good running store and an average running store by the shoes that they give you.  He said that if the store brings you three models --- Asics Gel Kayano, Mizuno (model I don’t remember), and the Nikes that I have --- they are bringing you the three most expensive shoes in the store and also bringing you more stability/motion control than you likely need (especially if they know you have orthotics).  For some reason, the stability/motion control shoes are more expensive than the neutral shoes.  That comment made me appreciate Varsity Sports so much more, especially when there have been times when the staff there has talked me out of the more expensive shoes based on the reasoning that I didn’t need “that much shoe.”

The doctor also recommended that I take magnesium.  Magnesium will help with muscle recovery and timing.  Every night, during the hour before I go to sleep, I am to spend the first 20 minutes icing, the next 20 minutes soaking my feel in Rev Epsom Salt (http://www.rev-life.com/ ), and then the final 20 minutes icing.  Apparently the Rev Epsom Salt makes a product meant for athletes that has more magnesium in it than other brands, which will help work out muscle knots. 

He didn’t tell me anything that I didn’t know in terms of my Achilles issues.  I am going to be sore.  I am going to have to spend a lot of time stretching and icing.  I am going to have to take a lot of ibuprofen (although he said I should take it before my runs).  I am going to have to limit how many times per week I run.  But, if I can handle it then it won’t hurt me any more than I’m already “hurt”.  But, at the end of the appointment he asked if I loved my shoes before, the neutral ones, why had I changed because the shoes weren’t going to help with my Achilles issues in light of the bone spurs?  I didn’t have a good answer.

What a lot of this comes down to is the need to trust yourself and your senses.  My feet weren’t really hurting me.  It was my right Achilles, not even my left Achilles.  I saw a doctor not because of my feet, but because of my Achilles.  I should have trusted myself and asked more questions before making the change in my shoes.  Lesson learned, loud and clear.

I didn’t trust myself enough or my instincts enough, and as a result I got hurt.  I got hurt because I wasn’t able to see myself as a runner.  Instead, I was comparing myself to my impression of who a runner is and what a runner looks like.  I might not be the person in my head, but based on my mileage and what I have done in the last 11 months --- I am a runner.  I may be a runner who is trying to improve my distance and my pace, but I am a runner.

In a few weeks, God willing, I will be “back in the game”.  Bruising and minor tears will be healed by then --- injuries I brought upon myself.  I can’t wait to get "back in the game."  Until then, let's hope for a Badger win tonight.  It may be the pain killers (which I admit I took a few hours ago, so this post may not be so lucid), but I am starting to think it is possible that the Final Four may be four Big Ten Teams --- maybe even a Wisconsin v. Michigan showdown.  Now that would get me excited.......

Who Is That Person In The Photo?

I'm in a tremendous amount of pain today.  I have a very high pain threshold, so for me to say that means something.  It is a pain that I haven't felt before --- on the outer part of my left arch.  I took an ice bath as soon as the pain started, and followed with more ice.  I got the appropriate medical care today.  These type of pain are going to become more common as I increase my mileage, and I am going to have to make the decision if I can get through them.  Part of me is saying that if I felt this much pain after 5.5 miles, how am I going to handle 13.1 (much less 26.2).  The other part of me is saying that I can't quit because pain is temporary but pride is forever, and I know how much pride I will feel after accomplishing these goals.

I got a surprise package at the office today, one that made me smile in light of how crappy I felt.  It was filled with Badger gear, specifically a Beat Michigan button.  I immediately took pictures and put them on Facebook, especially in light of how much crap I have been getting from my Wisconsin friends.

My friends started to comment on Facebook, and when I got a chance I looked at the comments.  In the course of looking at the comments, I came across another photo in my Mobile Uploads Folder.  The photo hit me like a ton of bricks, especially when I realized that it was taken exactly one year ago today on St. Patrick's Day 2010.

I no longer know that woman in the middle.  Even though there was a smile on my face, I wasn't happy.  It was that picture, more than any other, that has made me realize how far I have come.  It is that picture that gives me motivation to continue, even though I am in a lot of pain.  It is because of that picture, and the person I see in that picture, that I won't allow myself to ever go backwards in this journey.

OK, so I am working through some injuries.  I'm a bit down because my friends are starting to run a lot faster than I am, and right now I can't do that.  My endurance ability is there, but I am hurt and I don't want to permanently hurt myself.  I can't let my ego get me down despite how competitive I am.  The important thing is finishing the race (i.e. finishing what I have started); it is personal and it has to be done at my own pace.  I can't worry about what anyone else is doing or how fast they may be doing it.

Today I really learned that looking back and taking stock of how far you have come can get you where you want to be in the future.  Last year on St. Patrick's Day I had Guinness; I pretended to be happy and consumed a lot of alcohol to mask what I was really feeling.  This year on St. Patrick's Day I will have water; I am actually happy and it shows through in everything that I do, whether I am feeling pain or not.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and Go Badgers!!!!

Ice Ice Baby... (Minus The Vanilla)

Absolutely swamped at work.  Starting to feel more and more pressure to increase the mileage, yet still hesitant to do so because of fear of injury.  Right now, despite everything else that is going on, it is all about the ice.  I have have packs everywhere...at home, at the office, one time use ice packs in the car and in my briefcase.  Essentially, I ordered the one time use ice packs in bulk.  Some may be embarassed by it, but it is just part of me now.  I have no shame in sitting in my office with ice packs and having full conversations with my colleagues with ice packs on.  It seems to be helping, and that is all that matters right now.

Don't Diss Them Until You Try Them.

I hesitated before buying them because I know how stupid they look.  The thing is, though, that after doing my research they seemed to make sense --- especially with the issues that I was having with my Achilles.  They make me look like I am wearing knee socks or leg warmers, something I didn’t wear even when they were popular in the mid 1980s.  I’ve gotten over the feeling of looking stupid and have become immune to the funny looks.  Truth is, I LOVE them and I don’t know if I could run without them anymore.  Moreover, the fact that I put them on as a matter of course when I put on my gym clothes --- whether I am running errands first or going to the office, etc. --- makes me realize how much self confidence I have gained from running.  I care more now about how my run is rather than how I look while I am running or how people may see me while I am running.  That was a pretty big realization for me, not to mention how much personal growth.

In the last few years a growing number of runners, including honest to goodness world class runners, started to wear calf compression sleeves.  Some wear them during their runs and others wear them to recover after their runs.  The purpose of calf compression sleeves is somewhat akin to the use of surgical socks in a hospital setting --- reduce swelling and increase venous return.  In essence, there is increased blood flow, decreased swelling, there isn’t a buildup of lactic acid, and there is a decrease in muscle vibration with increases muscle power.  They come in surgical grade and some that are non-surgical grade. 

I’ve tried several different kinds, both in terms of the compression sleeves and the actual compression socks.  I like the sleeves more for running and the socks more for recovery.  I also think it is important not to explicitly follow the directions and try them for yourself --- as an example the “recovery” socks or sleeves may work better for your actual runs versus for recovery.  Here are my thoughts about what is out there in terms of compression socks/sleeves.

·         The brand that I like the best is CEP.  http://www.cepcompression.com/.  I have bought the compression sleeves and the socks.  They are snug, but in no way uncomfortable.  I feel more secure when I am wearing them.  I like using the compression socks for recovery.

·         The brand that I like the least is Zensah.  www.zensah.com.  Because I say that I like them least is not to imply that I dislike them.  Instead, of all of those that I have tried they are simply the ones in which I feel the least secure, meaning I don’t feel like they are really compressing all that much.  Initially I thought it was because I bought the wrong size, but even when I bought the size smaller they felt fairly similar. 

·         The Sugoi compression sleeves are a close second to CEP.  www.sugoi.com.  Ladies, please note that they only come in the men’s category, but just buy the smaller size.  Do not let the fact that they are men’s accessories stop you from trying them.  Sugoi is a well known running company and the quality of these sleeves is excellent. 

·         Saucony makes two different levels of compression socks and also compression sleeves.  www.saucony.com.  If I was someone who liked running in the compression socks versus the compression sleeves, I have no doubt that I would be wearing these for every run.  I have gotten used to wearing these to sleep in on the night after a really long run.  I just feel better in the morning and my Achilles feel much better.

·         I have not yet tried other brands.  Remember, I live in New Orleans where I don’t have as many options as I would if I were living in a larger city.  But, then again, I didn’t see either the Skins (http://www.skinsusa.com/ ) compression sleeves/socks or the Zoot (www.zootsports.com ) compression sleeves/socks in either New York or Chicago.  Those are the other brands that are fairly well known in the market.

All in all, it could all be in my head.  Maybe it is psychological and I simply feel more secure wearing the sleeves/socks; almost as if because I am wearing them my injuries aren’t going to get the best of me.  So even though I may look silly, I am going to keep wearing them and praising them at every opportunity that I get.

Running and Shabbat --- the 21st Century Dilemma to a Non-Observant Jew.

Every Friday I speak to the same three people.   It isn’t a long conversation.  Instead, it is generally very brief.  “Shabbat Shalom.  Enjoy your weekend.  Relax.  Have fun.” 

We have already established that I’m not a very religious person, even though I am proud of my Judaism.  Truthfully, I can’t sleep right now and began to wonder why this same conversation happens every Friday --- even though none of us are particularly religious?  And, how does any of this relate to running?

The four of us met several years ago when we were paired together as a part of a conference we attended as members of JFNA’s National Young Leadership Cabinet.  We met in a Jewish setting; we spent that Shabbat together (with a lot of alcohol).  The rest seemed to naturally follow.  For several years now we have spoken every Friday, but I haven't ever really thought about the purpose of Shabbat in the process or why we speak every Friday and exchange those simple reminders to one another.

At its core, Shabbat (Sabbath) is a day of rest and spiritual enlightenment.  Jews are forbidden from engaging in “work” on Shabbat that exercises control over your environment.  That is a tough issue because in this day and age so many different things exercise control over your environment.  Some may even argue that, at least right now, running is exercising control over my environment.  I guess it all depends on how you look at it.  Admittedly, there are some days when running seems like a job --- the days when I’m not having fun or when my Achilles is killing me.  Those are the days when I just want to get through my mileage and be done.  Then, there are other days when running seems like pure relaxation --- the days when I am in the zone, when I am able to push myself and fade into the background music on my iPod and escape from everything else.  Those are the days when I want to feel that endorphin high forever.   If I am having one of those days when running seems like a job, it is OK to run on Shabbat?

Even with my recent “issues,” I am still fortunate enough to have more of those days when running seems like pure relaxation instead of work.  Coincidentally, most of my long training runs are scheduled for Saturdays --- on Shabbat.  A few weeks ago I half jokingly told Liberdy that the gym was where I came to worship instead of temple; maybe it wasn’t such a joke looking back on it.  For the next few months I will use Shabbat as a day of rest and spiritual enlightenment, exactly as I am commanded to use Shabbat.  Instead of going to temple to find that spiritual enlightenment, I will find it in my running shoes (and my calf compression sleeves, Michigan hat, Michigan t-shirt, etc.).  I’ll find it with increased mileage, with increased pace, and (God willing) with increased self-confidence. 

Next Friday, when I speak to these three amazing women, I am going to remember this.  You see, two of them are runners.  One of them is even running this half marathon with me.  In addition to saying, “Shabbat Shalom.  Enjoy your weekend.  Relax.  Have fun,” I am going to say something else.  “Have a good run tomorrow.”  If we don't remind one another to do this, we could easily forget that running is a wonderful way to celebrate so many different things.  We could also forget how lucky we are to be able to celebrate our Judaism in this way.

Shabbat Shalom.

Sometimes Everyone Needs a Little Lombardi for Motivation.

If you grow up in Wisconsin, as I did, it's impossible not to know who Vince Lombardi was.  Lombardi is still a legend in Wisconsin.  Even though I was not a huge NFL fan until moving to New Orleans (at which time I became a Saints fan), I have always been intrigued by what Lombardi was able to do and his approach to coaching.  There always seems to be a Lombardi quote that is perfect for any situation.

Despite my somewhat positive post of Monday, in light of admittedly crappy news from the doctor I have let this get into my head.  But tonight, even though I am exhausted and sore, I'm throwing down the gauntlet.  No more of this self pity bullshit.  I'm not going to finish a half marathon and a marathon that way, even if I am hurting.  Moreover, Lombardi would never have stood for my current attitude.  Lombardi said the following:

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

So tomorrow morning, whether my achilles hurt or my feet hurt, I will go to the gym and work with Liberdy.  And tomorrow night, whether my achilles hurt or my feet hurt, I will get in my training run.  This is me getting up after being emotionally knocked down.  This is my ode to Lombardi.

I Jinxed Myself --- But "I Won't Back Down"

I got too excited.  I’m thinking that as a result I jinxed myself.  I had an afternoon that wasn’t wonderful.  Saw the doctor today to go over some x-rays of my feet.  Who knew that I had more issues that tendonitis in my achilles --- which, ironically, is present in both feet and not just my right foot.  Doctor commented that I must have an extremely high pain threshold as I didn’t feel any other pains or even realize that other things were happening with my feet.  I figured that any aches and pains were the result of too many years of not taking care of myself.

Turns out that my tendons are very short, much shorter than most people’s tendons.  As a result, I have very little flexion.  Put it this way, in my good foot I only have 10% flexion.  Doctor was pleasantly surprised by how flexible I am in terms of stretching, etc. but that has very little to do with my feet.  I have always had these “bumps” on top of my feet --- at least I have noticed them over the last year or so.  They never really hurt or caused problems, so I thought that is just how my feet are.  Who knew they were bone spurs?  I also have the good fortune of having bone spurs on each of my heels.  Together, all of these ailments are not, “making my feet happy,” according to the doctor. 

He mentioned the word surgery, and I stopped him pretty quickly.  “If I need surgery, it’s going to be AFTER the marathon in October.”  He gave me a prednisone prescription because you can’t inject cortisone directly into the tendon because the tendon could burst.  That will apparently cut down on the inflammation.  He gave me soft orthotics for my running shoes as opposed to the hard ones.  The motion control shoes will help.  I am to continue my ice and stretching regimen.  I had to promise that the Chicago Marathon will be the first and only marathon that I run.

I called my sister as I left the doctor; my sister is also a doctor.  I told her what had been relayed to me.  She asked if I was still going to do the marathon.  “Of course,” I said.  I then added, “I may be ignorant but I’m not completely stupid.  If it gets unbearable or to the point where I could lose my ability to walk, etc. then I will stop.  If I don’t get to that point, then I am crossing that finish line and then I’ll deal with everything else.”

What pissed me off the most is that it got into my mind and got me worried.  I ran today and instead of running freely and having fun with it, I ran nervous.  I realized it, though, and will make a point not to do that again.  I am going to put 110% into this.  If I can’t run 4 days a week as a result, I will find a way to train more efficiently and still be ready for the big day.  If I have to go 6 months without wearing high heels, it is a sacrifice that I am more than willing to make.  If I have to take more frequent ice baths --- bring them on.  Even if I have to get “puffy” from the cortisone, my attitude will be the puffier the better (besides, I am still kind of used to bring puffy from before the weight loss). 

So, I got bad news.  It wasn’t the worst thing I could have heard.  I can still walk and run.  I just have to be more careful.  Nothing is getting in the way of this marathon --- even if I have to crawl across that finish line.  

I played competitive tennis growing up.  In high school, I used to listen to Tom Petty’s song, “I Won’t Back Down” before big matches to get psyched up.  In college and law school continued to listen to that song before my exams and during trial competitions.  Even now I listen to that song before trials.  I added the song to my playlist and it will become a staple during my runs.  Tom Petty has gotten me through this much --- he won’t let me back down from the rest of it.

Achilles Addendum

I bought these special calf compressin socks to sleep in that are supposed to help with "recovery".  I tried them out for the first time last night.  I woke up and my achilles feels amazing for the first time in a while.  I'm very pleased, and it seems that it was money well spent.

I'm Starting To Feel Like A Runner

It has been a week.  I’m sorry.  Things were crazy.  I have been in New York, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, and Milwaukee.  I have been to amazing running stores in both New York and Chicago.  Fear not, I wasn’t cheating on Varsity Sports (www.varsityrunning.com ).  I still LOVE my local running store, but I do live in New Orleans.  New Orleans simply isn’t as big as New York and Chicago and doesn’t have the variety and options available in those cities. 

When I saw the running store in New York ---- New York Running Company (http://therunningcompany.net/new-yorks-homepage)  ---- I believe that my Facebook status update was, “I am like a pig in shit.”  They had the cool compression shorts that I had been wanting to try, and several different brands of them.  They had many different kinds of calf compression sleeves.  Plus, they had an amazing sale.  I simply couldn’t resist.  And, it was right next to my hotel so I had to wonder in.  In Chicago I went to a store called Running Away Multisport (http://www.runningawaymultisport.com/).  It wasn’t as large as the New York Running Company, but it was amazing.

 In between my trip to New York and Chicago, I was able to determine (with the help of a doctor) the cause of my achilles issues.  Even though I had been fitted for shoes, my shoes were too neutral.  As a result, it was straining my achilles.  The more mileage I was putting in, the more strain --- even with the calf compression sleeves (more about those later).  It wouldn’t have been something that Varsity Sports could have caught because to the normal eye (i.e. anyone but an orthopod, or truly a podiatrist) my feet seem appropriate for neutral shoes.  But, under careful analysis my feet pronate slightly and are somewhat flat and you can apparently only determine that with special machines.  Who knew?  Obviously, not me.  Bottom line, a great salesperson named Ashley took a ton of time to help me at Running Away Multisport.  She used the same special machine to look at my feet.  She watched me run at different speeds on a treadmill in different types of shoes.  She was extremely patient as I tried on many different types of shoes.  When all was said and done, the Nike Lunar Haze (http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/commerce/women?hf=10001^12001&t=Women%27s%20Running%20Shoes#/?ll=en_US&ct=US&pid=395402&cid=1&pbid=INSPI_233941_v9_0_201011232309&path=lunHaz1101&piid=18679&p=PDPiD ) felt the best.  They aren’t pretty, but they feel good and I felt the relief immediately in relation to my achilles.  Those shoes, along with the new calf compression sleeves ( I bought several different brands between my New York and Chicago excursions) , and along with my icing and stretching regimen and I should be OK. 

I started to realize how funny I must look to the average person who knows nothing about running.  Calf compression sleeves, running shoes that are simply ugly, a Michigan hat and t-shirt --- and the piece of resistance otherwise known as the best birthday gift.  You see, a few days prior Gen and I had been chatting about hydration and water belts, etc.  Brooke and Gen were absolutely amazing and got me the water belt for my birthday (along with other incredible running stuff).  I was blown away, and I'm not someone who is easily blown away --- I think I kept it together, though, even though internally I was doing a happy dance.  So try to picture the complete ensemble.  I may look like a fool, but I have never been happier.  Moreover, if you care more about how you look than how you feel while running then my thought is that you really aren’t so much of a runner.  (I equate it to those women who put on makeup before going to the gym --- if you are really going to gym to work out, you are going to schvitz, so why bother with the makeup?)

It was absolutely amazing to be able to chat with Gen in person about the upcoming events --- Shamrock Shuffle in a month, our respective half marathons in May, and the Chicago Marathon.  (By the way, you can read all about her training on her blog Bring Me Sugar --- http://genruns.com ).    It made me even more excited than I already was.  I love having someone who I am doing these races with and to virtually train with; it makes it so much easier.  I have friends in New Orleans who I will be able to do some of the training runs with, but when it really comes down to it other than Liberdy (trainer extraordinaire) and Gen (virtual and actual running partner) I am on my own in terms of training.  I did feel terrible for Brooke, who had to endure hearing Gen and I “speak running,” but I had fun. 

I got to spend time with my amazing friends over the last few days.  It was the shot of energy that I needed.  Plus, my friends are amazing.  I hadn’t seen many of them since September when I was last in Chicago socially (I had been there for work in the interim but unable to see them).  Logically, I know that I have changed a lot since September in terms of weight loss, attitude, being in shape, etc.  But I “see” myself everyday and don’t necessarily realize these changes.  I guess I finally saw the changes during the past few days.  It was pretty neat; I’ll openly admit that.  (And, as an aside, they looked amazing as well and I got so caught up in everything that I don’t know if I got a chance to let them know that.)  We hung out and got to talk and catch up.  It had been too long and some things are just better in person than over email or the telephone.  I had my first cupcake in about 11 months (Brooke made AMAZING cupcakes that are apparently only 4 Weight Watchers points --- I don’t understand how the points work, but that is relatively low in points from what I am told) and I hope that I didn’t look ridiculous eating it.  It was SO good!  We had dinner at what is, in my humble opinion, the best new restaurant in the US for 2010 --- The Girl and the Goat (http://www.girlandthegoat.com/).  The food was amazing and was surprisingly healthy (obviously depending on your choices).  Stephanie Izard, the chef, continues to amaze me each time I am there and she is always lovely and fun to chat with.

Tuesday is Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras is about excess and blowing off steam in preparation for Lent.  Obviously, y’all have figured out that I’m a Yid so Mardi Gras has no religious meaning to me.  But, in a somewhat ironic and very New Orleans twist --- Tuesday (i.e. Mardi Gras) is the day that my hard core training starts for the half according to the 12 week schedule that Liberdy put together.  I’m ready to go and ready for whatever pain comes with it.  My "Mardi Gras break" --- including the running stores and time with my friends --- has given me the fuel I need and extra motivation I need to kill these things (keep in mind, my definition of “kill” is likely different than yours).  Either way, I’m starting to see myself as a runner --- a half marathon runner and a marathon runner.  Thank you to my friends and family for helping me get there.

Happy Mardi Gras.  Happy running.  And if you see me in my ugly shoes, calf compression sleeves, water belt, Michigan hat, and Michigan t-shirt --- try not to laugh.  But even if you must, it doesn’t bother me in the least.