Biting the Bullet

Yes, it is official -- I have registered for the 2015 MORE/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon in New York City on April 19th.  Call me crazy, but I need a somewhat lofty goal to get me through the cold winter months.  The 12th Annual MORE/Fitness Magazine Half-Marathon is an all-women's race that brings together thousands of women of varied backgrounds, ages, sizes and fitness levels.  The entire race is in Central Park which is one of my very favorite places to run!  There will be plenty of spirit, support and fun during and after the race at the post-race festival.

I am up to three pain-free miles on the treadmill and I know that I can do this by April. It has always been my experience that all-women races are super empowering to the participants.  Who wants to join me?  Check out the link at: http://morefitnesshalf.com/. Registration will close soon, so why not bite the bullet too?  Hope to see you at the starting line!!!

Great Etsy Store for Runners

I have been eyeing an item on Etsy for the past two years and finally bit the bullet. I purchased a running medal holder for my best running buddy as a holiday gift and of course decided that I needed one too!  What great gifts - we love them!!!

I hung the holder up yesterday and several hours later, proudly displayed some of my marathon medals.

I will definitely purchase another two plaques. The choices are amazing.  Here are my two other favorites:


                                                  and...


You must check these out at:  Strut Your Stuff Sign Company - Running Medal Holders, Signs and Gifts. Happy shopping!!!  Let me know which one(s) you choose.

Bucket List

So, today was not one of my better days.  With that in mind, I decided that I needed to do some daydreaming and put together a bucket list of marathons that I must do before I am 90. Daydreaming always makes me feel better.  Here goes...

U.S. Marathons

1.  Big Sur International Marathon - Big Sur to Carmel, California          http://www.bsim.org/site3.aspx
This one is at the very top of my list because the course boasts the very best scenery.  I better run it sooner than later because it is very difficult.  I am not planning on any fast times in this one but will run it by 2017 -- that is a promise!



2.  Twin Cities - Minneapolis to St. Paul, Minnesota
https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic_twin_cities_marathon
Twin Cities has been called the most beautiful urban marathon in America.  This looks like a great fall race.



3.  Disney World - Orlando, Florida
http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/
Who wouldn't have fun running through the Disney parks?  And... the finisher's medal is so cool!  I guess I am a bit nuts since I really want to do the Dopey Challenge as described on the website:  Are you ready for the ultimate endurance challenge? Then take part in four days of fun for a total of 48.6 miles in the all-new Dopey Challenge! Participants will run the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon, and if you complete all four races within the pacing requirements you will be awarded the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge medal and the brand new Dopey Challenge finisher medal for a total of six pieces of "bling."

4.  Flying Pig - Cincinnati, Ohio
http://flyingpigmarathon.com/
I love pigs so I am intrigued by the name alone!  Actually, Cincinnati is a great town and I have heard rave reviews about this marathon.  Also, it seems easier to find good marathons in the fall than in the spring, so when I hear of a fun, well organized spring marathon, I am very tempted.  Okay, I must have the pig shirt too!




5.  Honolulu - Honolulu, Hawaii
http://www.honolulumarathon.org/
The course goes along the water with a 5 am start -- who could ask for anything more?  I suppose that I can wait a while to run this one because there is an added bonus:  no cut-off time!!!                                                            

6.  Napa Valley - Napa, California
http://napavalleymarathon.org/
Known as the "biggest little marathon" in the west, this marathon features a picturesque point-to-point course that is primarily downhill except for the first six miles of rolling hills.
The race is limited to 2,300 participants so there is plenty of "elbow room."  I will have a big support team of avid wine tasters for this event!

  

My daydreaming continues with some international "flavor."  The list that follows will require a lot of frequent flyer mileage points, that's for sure.  Stay tuned for details on these marathons in a separate blog post.

International Marathons

1.  261 Women's Marathon - Mallorca, Spain

2.  Venice - Venice, Italy

3.  London - London, England

4.  The Great Wall - Tianjin Province, China

5.  Athens - Athens, Greece

6.  Berlin - Berlin, Germany

7.  Amsterdam - Amsterdam, Netherlands

8.  Vancouver - Vancouver, British Columbia

9.  Niagra Falls International - Buffalo, New York to Niagra Falls, Canada


So, what marathons are on your bucket list???

Knee Surgery and My Christmas Gift

Well, I finally bit the bullet and, on November 6th, 2014, had arthroscopic surgery on my right knee.  My orthopedic surgeon said that my surgery would be a "slam dunk" and it truly was!  During my orthopedic consult, the doctor explained that he was extremely confident that the surgery would be successful since the pain I was experiencing was due to a medial meniscus tear and not at all due to arthritis; if I had arthritis in that knee, the surgeon would not have been able to guarantee such good results.  Fortunately, my right knee is arthritis-free, miracle of miracles with all the years of running so many miles, not to mention all the pounding from four years of college basketball and tennis.

The surgical procedure was only 45 minutes long and primarily involved cleaning up the torn meniscus.  I actually walked up three flights of stairs to my apartment post-surgery and then proceeded to become "best friends" with the IceMan ice machine, one of the greatest creations ever made.

The IceMan

Knee Pad & Wrap for the IceMan

For three days, rest, elevation and ice were of paramount importance. After that, I was able to move around pretty well; the biggest issue was the swelling, especially because I always stand while working. 

I started physical therapy five days after surgery, but only went three times.  I found that I could do all the exercises myself and have been quite diligent.  The most important exercise is the Supine Straight Leg Raise - it strengthens the quadriceps (frontal thigh muscle) without putting any pressure on the knee. It is also critical to regain full range of motion in the knee joint as quickly as possible.

Supine Straight Leg Raise
www.thephysicaltherapysourcehipknee.blogspot.com

For six weeks post surgery, I spent as much time as I could on the upright bicycle, trying to maintain some semblance of aerobic fitness.  Then, on Christmas Day, I decided that it was time to "test drive" the knee; it was an absolutely beautiful day in Fairfield County, CT -- the sun was shining and it was about 45-50 degrees.  I actually ran one-and-a-half miles outdoors and it was sheer bliss!!!  I cannot think of a better Christmas present to have given myself.  The best part was that my knee felt so great.

I know that I have to come back slowly so I am integrating a little running with lots of indoor cycling.  I must keep reminding myself..... in the long run, SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.  At this point in my life, it's all about perseverance -- I want to be able to run for as long as possible, so I must be patient.

Are you considering arthroscopic surgery?  Please let me know if you have any questions about the procedure or the recovery process.

Mighty Meniscus

So, now we live in a new apartment that we really love!  I was really ready to get back on track with my running and life in general.  But, not quite so fast!!!

Yes, just one more hold up.....  my knees -- they are very unhappy!  I have had issues with my left knee for years, but have managed to continue to run, clearly compensating by placing more pressure on the right side of my lower body.  I have made peace with being a lot slower and have been grateful to just be able to keep on running (or jogging, as the case might be).

Well, when packing to move, I had to carry lots of heavy boxes and furniture up and down stairs -- lots of them!  During this process, my right knee finally rebelled!  I went to the orthopedist last Friday, had MRI on Saturday, and by Monday, was told that I have a "significant tear of my medial meniscus."  Oh, and the x-rays on Friday confirmed that my left knee is totally arthritic and in need of a knee replacement at some point.

So, I am disgusted...

 and... quite sad!!!

  

There will be no running right now, and, of course, the orthopedist informed me that I would be better off swimming or cycling in the future, after a week or two of total rest.  Ughhh - I was born to move!!!  I was born to run!!!  This transition of sorts will not be easy.  I cannot totally give up running but will start cross-training more.  

So, what's next?  I get to start cycling in a few days and will do physical therapy (yes, I will do all the exercises by myself, not with a physical therapist -- I certainly know what I need to do) to see if that can help.  If not, the orthopedist said that arthroscopic surgery would be helpful.

In the mean time, I am getting a cortisone shot in my arthritic knee next Wednesday - yeah! I had one five years ago and it was a big help.  


In the mean time, I just got a new client to coach -- she wants to run 10K's.  I will live vicariously through my running clients for a while.

I miss running.
  

In some way, shape or form, I will be back! As one of my clients said, "deferred, but not defeated!"

Starting Over

I have been an MIA blogger over the past 45 days.  This was in no way purposeful, but rather, circumstantial.  

I was thrown a curve ball and finally struck out!

As you may recall from previous blog posts, strike one was dental surgery, strike two was my adverse reaction to the steroids that were prescribed post dental surgery, and "strike three, you're out" was a phone call from our landlord informing us that she decided to put the house that we had been renting for the past seven years on the market -- we needed to move PRONTO!!!

Do you know how much a family of three can accumulate in seven years?  Ughh, TOO MUCH!!!

Alas, my marathon training plans have become no more than good intentions.  The reality was that in order to be able to relocate within our four week deadline, every spare moment had to be devoted to purging and packing, and of course, finding a new, suitable place to live in the same town that we currently resided.

It quickly became apparent that I needed to defer my 2014 NYC Marathon entry to 2015.  I also knew that I would not be properly trained for the September 27th Zooma Half Marathon in Cape Cod, MA so I have wisely withdrawn from that race.

The good news is that we found a great place to live and that my upper body is now extra strong from lifting tons of heavy boxes.  I have truly missed blogging and am glad to "be back!"

Stay tuned for many more posts in the upcoming days and weeks.  

A Great New Fitness App

I was recently asked to review a brand new app, called EveryMove.  The EveryMove App developers are on a mission to get the millions of Americans who are investing in their health "the recognition and real-life rewards that they deserve!"

The EveryMove Mobile App is available for iPhone (itunes app link) and for Android devices (Android app link).  I downloaded the app on my Samsung Galaxy phone and was ready to go! The app is very user-friendly -- the initial set-up, where I entered some personal information, took less than five minutes.  

EveryMove users earn points for hundreds of activities, not just for playing sports and participating in typical fitness exercises.  You can get points for yard work, moving boxes, and so many more every day activities.  I love that you can earn points for an active lifestyle without having to engage in a formal exercise program. The best part is that your EveryMove points translate into discounts on interesting items or donations to a charity.  

Although my original intentions were to test out the EveryMove App for the entire month of July, I had to have emergency oral surgery on July 9th and was unable to do any form of exercise for two weeks; so, I was only able to "test drive" the app from July 24th through July 30th.  Below are some screenshots of my data from the past week -- as you can see in the second screenshot, I got enough points in my first week to receive 30 percent off my purchase from the Zeta Technology Group (FYI... I earned my first 300 points by just "joining the movement).  Prior to reviewing my choices for a reward to earn, I had not even heard about the Zeta Technology Group -- my guess is that many people do not know about this group; therefore, it seems logical that companies could benefit from offering rewards through EveryMove.

My EveryMove Profile Page

My EveryMove Activities -- see points awarded for each activity!

My EveryMove Activity Insights -- each color represents a different classification of activity.

One of the most awesome features of the EveryMove App is its seamless integration feature which allows you to sync your EveryMove App data with hundreds of tracking devices, fitness applications, and even gym equipment.  I have not had an opportunity to sync to the Garmin Connect yet, but certainly plan to do so in the near future.  Below is a screenshot showing some of the very many sync options:

EveryMove App Connects With Many Other Health & Fitness Apps and Activity Trackers

EveryMove believes that we "sweat better together."  So, they have made it easy to join their online community where you can connect with your friends, co-workers, and family to cheer each other on and compete on leaderboards.  So far, I have connected my EveryMove app to Facebook, but have not yet checked out the full online community nor the leaderboards.  I am very self-motivated so I do not personally need this feature; however, I love motivating and encouraging others and plan to use this feature once my personal training clients join the EveryMove Movement. 

Another great feature of EveryMove are the congratulatory emails that I get every time I am rewarded with a badge or an active day bonus.  I am currently in the process of moving from one home to another in the same town and am getting many bonuses for my three to five hour packing-and moving-boxes-days. Unfortunately, moving is a tremendous hassle and this is certainly not my favorite way to exercise.  I prefer to run, run, run!!!

I strongly recommend the EveryMove App!  Download the app and let's compare notes.  I look forward to your thoughts about this awesome app in the Comments Section below this post.  

So, what are you waiting for???

Join the EveryMove Movement today!!!