Taking my Training to the Pool

I’m 11 weeks into my journey with Team in Training and I’m taking to the water for good reasons.  I have commented several times over the last few weeks about how much pain I’m in.  It didn’t always seem like running aggravated it, but any time on my foot definitely did.  So, I listened to my body and took my running to wetter pastures.  It is helping even if I miss running.

Still, I’ve questioned is this pain the inevitable result of running on a largely de-innervated foot or will it get better?  As a Type A personality, I can withstand anything when I have an endpoint or a goal, so again what is the recovery potential?  No one knows for sure, but I’m seeking several opinions…

My foot and ankle surgeon remains less than optimistic, and recommended some new palliation treatments that were sadly not helpful.  So then we assessed the rate of nerve regeneration and lo and behold a simple Tinel’s sign says that my nerve has continued to grow right on target and has reached the metarsal heads (AKA the ball of the foot, AKA the site of my excruciating shooting pain.  This all makes logical sense, the raw nerve endings are exactly at the point of maximal impact during running.  Light Bulb goes off in my head, no wonder it hurts SO MUCH.

So, to decrease the impact on my foot, but continue building my endurance for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon I have turned to aqua-jogging which could be a mind numbingly boring exercise except for the amazing support of my Team in Training Teammates.  Last weekend a few of us aqua-jogged for just short of two hours, this weekend will be longer. I’ll be in the pool during the week too.  We’ll see how long I have to stick to the pool, but it may be a few weeks.  However, as long as there is an endpoint I can do it.  I know I can.

I remain as committed as ever to complete my first half marathon just short of the one year anniversary of my surgery.  I continue to feel incredibly fortunate to be on this journey with some of the most amazing and inspirational people I’ve ever met.  I appreciate everyone’s support more than you know.

GO TEAM!

Blessed

Today I ran the furthest I’ve ever run.  I ran 9 miles less than 9 months after my radical ankle resection and nerve graft.  My ankle is still healing, my nerve is still regrowing, I still have no muscles in the sole of my foot, yet I run.  Every step I take hurts, yet I run. Then I pause and remember how blessed I am to be running.

I am blessed to be on the road to recovery. I am blessed to have dear friends who have picked me up when I’ve fallen over the last 9 months.  I am blessed to have parents who dropped everything to spend a month with me in New York while I had my surgery.  I am blessed to have remembered that I love my profession.  I am blessed to have a friend who’d help me finish a triathlon less than 8 months after my surgery.  I am blessed to still have this leg.  I am so blessed!

Today, while I was running, I mostly felt blessed to have joined Team in Training, to have met these incredible people who are helping me run further than I ever thought I could. Who are helping me to achieve this goal I have set for myself to run the Walt Disney World Half Marathon a few weeks shy of one year after my surgery.   Along the way, I have pledged to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Along the way I’ve met a group of amazing people, for that I am blessed.

Every Sunday before our runs, someone shares their story of what Team in Training or LLS has done for them, a few weeks ago one of our coaches described joining Team after his mom was diagnosed with an untreatable form of chronic leukemia.  He described Team as “saving his life.”  I get this, I feel the same way, or maybe just similarly,  I get it nonetheless. 

I am blessed.  I ran further today than I ever have.  I was supported every step, every painful step, by my teammates.  I feel strengthened by these people who all have amazing stories.  I run because I want fewer lives affected by cancer.  I run because I need to.

I am so grateful to so many for your generous support. Yes, I am blessed!

First few steps towards a Half Marathon

My alarm goes off at 550 am. I groan, Sadie snorts and buries her head in the pillow. I hit snooze and briefly debate staying in my bed. However, when the alarm goes off the second time, I open my eyes and begin my stretching routine that will let me get out of bed. Sadie retreats under the comforter declaring it too early with a loud huff. My puppy may be smarter than me, but it is time to get up to head to my Team-in-Training practice.

More stretching, eating and wiping of cobwebs off my brain, and I'm ready to head off to SantaMonic for a planned 4 mile run. It's a great group of people with a great energy all joining together to run either a full or marathon and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'm not sure if I find the fund raising task more daunting or the running, but I'm committed to do both.

Cancer has changed my life, changed my life permanently.  I'd rather not have had to face it. I'd rather not be in pain all day, every day, whatever I do.  I'd rather not have known it, but I still know that all of the changes aren't bad they are just there.  Before I started down this road, I'd let myself get out of shape. I'd put my own health on the back burner in lieu of my medical training, work, other things that seemed more interesting. Since my first series of surgeries health and fitness have been staples in my life.  I've complete several traithlons, and am now training for another.

However, its not just about the races, the athleticism, I want to give back to the cancer community that has supported me. I want fewer people to know this pain and fear. I want cancer in all its forms to become treatable, for fewer poeple to die.  Raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research as a part of the Malibu Tri, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society as a part of training for the WaltDisney World half marathon, somehow this makes sense to me.  It feels right.  I chose to give back rather than kick, scream and cry.  (Though, I've done that to).

I'd be incredibly honored if you'd help me support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training by clicking here.

Before each Sunday morning run we have a moment where someone shares what Team-In-Training has done for them, invariably I cry. But I feel so blessed to have been able to have met these people and to run again on my foot I can't feel. Cancer sucks, but my life is blessed.  So while you all are snuggled up in your beds on Sunday mornings and my dog is hiding under my comforter know that I will be running and doing my little part to give back to the cancer community.

Thank you