Windermere marathon as a volunteer

First off I want to say an E-ism. I'm calling it that because I can't quit thinking it. I can't quit thinking it because it is what I need to hear. It is this. We are here, not to find comfort, but primarily to grow. And growth is rarely comfortable. Why must I sleep? Why must I be awake? Maybe I should go a few nights without sleep and a few days without caffeine (gasp). But. That. Is. Uncomfortable.

Speaking of discomfort, my left hip still hurts in the same way. All the fancy schmancy stuff they are doing has not impressed my hip. It still has the same pain, in the same way, and is still preventing me from getting in a mere 20 miles this week.

Now for the good news. I'm going to the laundromat to do laundry! It's so exciting for me to sit and read and read, uninterrupted, while several loads of laundry are being done at once.

And I volunteered at the marathon this morning. No one I knew broke four hours. (I did not realize how good I used to be, ha. The older I get, the better I used to be.) Unbelievably, the little tourist train went through the finish line with runners trying to get around it. When I looked at the driver, a sweet man at least 90 years old, I softened. After all, he came through about 4:30 and most of the marathoners could brag they beat the train into the station. Or that they didn't just FEEL like they were hit by a train; they almost were.

Here's a pic of my amazing Tim by the Falls. Hopefully someday I will get to enjoy them as an actual Windermere marathon participant.

Dark Gray Bowl, One Tiny Chip

I was driving my son home from the chiropractor in Post Falls and the sky was...dramatic. It was so dark gray it seemed the end of the world, or a hurricane, or something. In the rear view mirror you could still see blue sky, but ahead just gray. Then it all switched. It was suddenly all gray and pelting buckets of rain at us, amazing even for Washington state. It was so gloomy it was funny. Then, directly ahead, a chip in the dark bowl of gray appeared, a chip of sunlight, a literal ray of hope, directly in front of us and only in front of us, just one small semicircle of light. But meanwhile we were still being dumped on. If I take that as some heavenly metaphor for my life, I'm doing pretty well. Truly the dumping lasted about five minutes and then it stopped, the sky cleared up, even the Washington sky, and soon we were home.

Foot still being weird, (right now its doing this shooting burning thing, sporadically, flakily), but core exercises in the pool for physical therapy and at the trainer are going well. And I actually ran OUTSIDE this week once and will do it again tomorrow. Why I ever ran on the treadmill I have no idea; it obviously did not keep me from injury.

Oh. And I got in law school. I even got a scholarship, which seems suspect. I'm sure they will call on Monday and say, "woops". Something about my stellar GPA and LSAT scores. (Um, not). I only applied to Gonzaga. I had all but decided not to go, that I am not interested, and I was getting started with the process of renewing my nursing license and maybe being a nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, something like that. And I don't want to be gone all the time as Mitchell and Collin are still home...

Well, sort of. They are home but they are perfect children and very independent. I frankly need them much more than they need me. However, these next weeks are going to be spent with me trying to prepare for all the huge changes that will be coming in my life in the next few months.

But stuck I am not. I am definitely in the storm, but in a fast car (I got a new slate blue Infiniti G37, thank you very much), and moving, hopefully towards sunshine.

Running Gait Analysis

I rationalized my five mile run this morning since they would need to see any problems in my gait, more typical during the middle or end of a marathon. The run hurt, in all the same places as it did 8 weeks ago, but not nearly as much. Still depressing. Apparently I don't heal. BUT also very, very gratifying--I truly needed a run this morning. Five miles wasn't that easy after 8 weeks off, but it happened and I am still alive.

But I LOVED the gait analysis with the podiatrist. He is an avid runner and made the statement, "I see runners as runners first, patients second". This is so refreshing because so many practitioners I go to make some comment along the lines of, "Well, we are getting older, you know. You might want to consider a different sport" or, "this shouldn't affect normal day-to-day activities".  He found all sorts of stuff wrong with my gait, which to me is GREAT news since it means if I fixed even a few, I could go faster, further, with less energy, better looks, etc.

Apparently, in spite of my Amazing Arches, I am an overpronator, one leg is functionally longer than the other, I am wearing all the wrong shoes, I have bad posture, I need orthotics, my stride is too long, my legs are too good-looking, I have lost too much weight, and my million dollar check is in the mail. He also recommended lots of shoes, as in, specific brand names and models. This guy knows his shoes! I am pretty excited. I am going to get better.

Do-it-Yourself PMA at 0 Degrees

1) As is often the case, the sun is shining, brightly. And it's gorgeous!
2) Although the streets are snow-packed, the snow is more squeaky than slippery
3) Everyone understands if I "stay in" for a day
4) My boys will finally wear their long-sleeved shirts I bought them for Christmas
5) On February 25, it's almost surely true that things will be warmer from here on out
6) It's easier to get the family to gather for movies and hot chocolate
And, last but not least,
THE SUN IS SHINING! (yes I know I already said that)

"stress reaction"

It turns out the PA who called my foot problem "Frieberg's infarction/avascular necrosis" misread the MRI report. What I have is a "stress reaction", which should have healed with my SEVEN weeks off, but hasn't. So six more weeks for me. Woe is me. Methinketh my feet are reflecting the rest of me. "Stress reaction", my foot!

So here are some pictures. I just got back from Arizona. My back was hurting on one side, then the other, then my neck was hurting, badly.

Again. Here are some pictures; we had some good food especially good sushi and good Brazilian food. Meat in general tastes mediocre after Fogo de Chao. My oldest went to Brazil on his two year mission but has yet to experience the restaurant he recommended. On the other hand, we have been three times.

Tim, happy at sushi place

my new rocker bottom sandals

The four men in my life minus one in Scottsdale mall. (We didn't buy anything)

Collin at Fogo de Chao with buffet in background

Meat roasting at Fogo De Chao

Dawn

Shots from the plane, coming back from New Orleans at dawn. For me, it was a good dawn today. Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up and everything seems clearer? I was in the shower and decided to reapply to Gonzaga law school, today. I can still use my LSAT score from last year. (Last year they informed me I applied too late, so I tried earlier this year). It's the only place I applied.

Oh. And I got on the treadmill today, for the first time in six weeks. I walked two miles in normal shoes, not my rocker bottom foot thingers, at a 3% incline in 36 minutes. My foot does not hurt. This is big news.

Yesterday's workout was in the pool with physical therapy. It was sweet! It was the first time I've ever done core work where I didn't feel all twisted and wrong, got a workout without pain, and felt so balanced for hours afterwords. I think I've gone from hydrophobia to hydophilia.

Early morning delirium

I took him to the airport at 4:30 am, then came home, made banana bread, homemade hash browns, and eggs for da boys, who were sleepy but grateful. (I think they were grateful? They ate it, and said thanks--when pressured). Then I did a few deep housework items, then on to the computer. And no, I am not a morning person!

And what is wrong with my left ankle? My feet are literally falling apart... It feels and acts broken and yet nothing happened. Nothing. I swear I am being good. For example, right now, I am laying on the couch catching up this blog. I take calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, trace minerals, and everything else. Hmmm, maybe it's the "everything else".