Week 1- Done!

I finished up my first week of marathon training on Saturday with a 6 mile run.  It was hot and I was tired, but I did it.  Ben and I went to see Mike Cooley in concert Friday night and didn't get home until after 11, so I was tired when I had to get up and meet people to run at 7.  I knew, though, that it was going to be a hot and busy day, so I needed to get my run in early to be able to do it and not deal with the insane heat.

I've met a lot of wonderful women through my Moms Run This Town group.  One of those women is Angie, who ran with me on Saturday.  Angie also runs with me most Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Angie told me on Saturday that her limit right now is 6 miles, but I'll see if I can get her to extend that so I can run with her more...

I felt pretty good through my first week of training.  I ran Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday will no real pains or soreness.  I was sore after Saturday's 6 mile run, probably because I hadn't run 6 miles in probably around a month or so.  I didn't do any workouts other than running.  I'm hoping to get into the habit of adding a couple of weight training sessions, too, so that I can make sure I'm working my upper body as well.  Another running friend, Summer, challenged me to do 22 push-ups a day for 22 days to raise awareness for veteran suicide, so I am doing that.  Today was day 7 and today's push-ups were the easiest so far.

Today started week 2 and this morning's 3 miles went well.  It was hot and humid, but that's to be expected this time of year.  Tomorrow is supposed to be less humid, so I'm looking forward to that!  I'm also hoping to get some new running shoes this week.  My plan is to get a couple of pairs that will hopefully last me through training and the race.  We'll see...

The day before...

I don't know if anyone other than me will ever actually read this, but that's okay.  I'm going to try to do this for me.  To document my journey over the next 18 weeks...

Tomorrow starts a new phase of exercise for me.  Tomorrow, July 12, 2016, is my first "official" day of marathon training!  I will be running the Richmond marathon on November 12.  To say I'm a little freaked out would be an understatement!

Below is the training plan I am using.  It's Hal Higdon's Novice 1 plan for a marathon.  18 weeks of running 4 times a week.  Yikes!  I don't know how my legs will handle running 3 days in a row.  I'm going to try it this week, at least, and see how it goes.  If they can't handle it I'll do my long runs on Saturdays and then my weekday runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  For now, though, I am following this plan to a T.

I'm hoping to post here as I go along with the training with little tidbits about how it's going and how I'm feeling, but we'll see how often I actually post...

Marathon Training Schedule: Novice 1

WEEK	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
1	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	6	Cross
2	Rest	3 m run	3 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	Cross
3	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	5	Cross
4	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	3 m run	Rest	9	Cross
5	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	10	Cross
6	Rest	3 m run	5 m run	3 m run	Rest	7	Cross
7	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	12	Cross
8	Rest	3 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	Rest	Half Marathon
9	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	10	Cross
10	Rest	3 m run	7 m run	4 m run	Rest	15	Cross
11	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	16	Cross
12	Rest	4 m run	8 m run	5 m run	Rest	12	Cross
13	Rest	4 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	18	Cross
14	Rest	5 m run	9 m run	5 m run	Rest	14	Cross
15	Rest	5 m run	10 m run	5 m run	Rest	20	Cross
16	Rest	5 m run	8 m run	4 m run	Rest	12	Cross
17	Rest	4 m run	6 m run	3 m run	Rest	8	Cross
18	Rest	3 m run	4 m run	2 m run	Rest	Rest	Marathon

Back in the Saddle- or on the Treadmill, whatever.

On Monday I ran for the first time since surgery!  I know I have to ease my way back into it so I don't hurt my foot, so I decided to start with a couch to 5k program.  It eases you into running by making you switch back and forth between walking and running.  I'm really trying to stick to it and not run more than it suggests to give my foot a chance to get used to running.  Monday's run/walk felt really good.  I did my second run/walk yesterday and it felt really good as well.  My plan is to run three days a week, most likely Sunday (or Monday), Wednesday and Friday.  I'm supposed to run a 5 mile race with some coworkers in March, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm hoping to at least be able to run most of it even if I can't run it all.  I'm hopeful that I'll be able to run that and maybe even be ready for a half marathon in the fall.  We'll see, though.  My biggest goal for this year is to stay out of the orthopedist's office!

Here is a link to the couch to 5k plan I'm doing.  Of course, I may alter it as I get further along, but for now I'm sticking with it.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Released from Physical Therapy!

I had my final physical therapy appointment today.  The therapist I've been working with through most of this process was not there since he's off on an African safari, but the therapist I saw said if I can do everything she had me do today, I'm ready to be released!  I did everything she wanted me to do.  I wouldn't say with ease, but I did it all.  I was given the list of my exercises and I'm supposed to do them 3-4 times a week- ideally every other day.  Doing all of them is a great workout, so I'm going to really try to actually do them as much as she recommended.

I've also just started working out again.  I'm not doing much, but I've been trying to get on the bike (my parents gave me their indoor bike trainer) every day or two for about 30 minutes.  So far I've only done it twice, but now that the girls have a play kitchen and dollhouses in the basement it would be easier for me to workout while they play.  I'm really looking forward to getting back in shape.  And a friend and I are even thinking about trying to do a triathlon together this year.  We just both need to learn to swim effectively...

Doing well.

My foot and I are doing really well.  So well, in fact, that starting this coming week I'm only going to be going to physical therapy once a week- and right now I only have appointments scheduled until the end of the year (which means only 2 more weeks!).  My physical therapist has been working me really hard, which is good.  He wants me to be able to start running before long.  Hopefully I'll be able to ease into it at the start of the new year.

Last weekend my parents brought me their indoor bike trainer so that I can start doing some bike riding.  I've got to start with some kind of workouts sooner rather than later.  I'm hoping to start getting into some sort of workout routine very soon.  Hopefully I'll actually get on the bike this weekend.

I'm still weaning out of my ankle brace.  I'm out of it most of the time, but I do put it on when my ankle/foot start to bother me.  So far today I have not worn it at all today and it feels pretty good. :)

Big News!

I went to see my orthopedist on Monday for another follow up appointment.  He looked at my foot, watched me walk and watched me walk on my tip-toes (who knew I could do that again?!).  Then he told me everything looked good, I'm ahead of the curve and he doesn't need to see me anymore. :)  He told me to take it easy over the next month- start with some biking and maybe elliptical, but by the new year I should be about ready to start running!  And this was all the day before I hit 2 months post op!  For now I'm still going to physical therapy twice a week because my therapist is not ready to release me, but I'm fine with that.

As for physical therapy, it's going really well.  He started on Monday having me do most of my exercises without my brace.  My ankle is definitely getting stronger, but still has some strengthening that needs to happen. My therapist did tell me yesterday, though, that I can start weaning out of my brace.  He said to start with taking it off for 20-30 minutes at a time and then putting it back on for a couple of hours- and to keep increasing my time out of it until I'm out of it all day.  He thinks the weaning should take about 2 weeks.  I can definitely tell when I've had it off for too long, so I think I really will wean out of the brace slowly, unlike how I weaned off the crutches and out of the boot. :)

Weaning is really good news- especially since Ben and I are going out to a nice dinner and spending Friday night at a bed and breakfast.  I'm excited to be able to wear real shoes (well, boots, in this case) Friday night and not be in my sneakers.  YAY!

I can drive!!!

Last Wednesday when I went to physical therapy I talked to my therapist about driving.  After seeing how well I did with all of my exercises in just my ankle brace he decided that I could start "experimenting" with driving.  Basically he wanted me to start with sitting in the driver's seat and practice moving my foot back and forth between the pedals and see how that felt.  Then if that felt okay, to start with short drives so as to not tire out my leg since endurance is one of the big issues with which I have to contend.

Thursday morning I drove the girls the half mile to daycare and then back home.  Then Ben's mom drove me to work and I got a ride home.  Friday I drove a little more, but really eased into it over the weekend.  By Monday I was ready to drive to work.  It is so nice to be able to drive myself around again and not always be dependent on other people to get places.  I think Ben appreciates it, too.  We're both getting a little more time alone and getting back into our normal routine, which is good for everyone involved.

Physical therapy is going really well.  He's working me hard, which is great because I can tell my ankle is getting stronger.  I'm still in my ankle brace all of the time, other than when I sleep or when I'm just sitting on the couch in the evenings after the girls go to bed.  I've been doing a little bit of work on a stationery bike at physical therapy, so I have a feeling that my first real workouts post surgery will be biking.  That's fine by me- I'll be happy to be getting exercise doing anything.  I sure can't wait until I can get back to running, though.