You have to start somewhere

Posted on by
1

Yesterday I turned my Garmin on. It was the first time I had pushed the power button since June 30, 2012 and it still had my distance logged on the home screen from that fateful day. I was going to take a picture of the screen, but I decided that I have enough memories from that day and held the reset button until the screen was wiped clean and flashed zero.

Zero is where I am starting from. Zero miles logged, zero minutes on the clock. I am starting my running career again and I have a plan to get me back to where I was. I am using the Couch to 5K training program to safely re-enter the running world and introduce my muscles to the sport with the least amount of shock and impact as possible. By using a pattern of running and walking my boby can slowly remember the way I used to move and not feel overwhelmed.

It will be slow going, but my run yesterday was enjoyable and it didn’t seem like so much work. I am eager to get back to racing, but I will get there before I know it. For now running is just putting a smile on my face.

first run

First Days

Posted on by
Reply

Once again I find myself apologizing for my absence, and while I do truly miss writing on this blog every day, the major transitions in my life do not allow for this freedom at the moment.

 Yesterday I started a new job. I have left the world of board games, where I spent a year marketing and building family friendly games, for the world of technology PR. It’s a whole new genre of work and I can’t wait to dive in and absorb all of the knowledge that I can. I can’t wait to share my ups and downs in this new realm of career building, so wish me luck on my first week.

IMG_1654

(Flowers and champagne on the first day, so far not too bad)

Since I left from my previous job I have been in NJ celebrating my sister’s graduation from college, spending time with my family and basking in the glorious humidity that is the east coast. I had a wonderful time turning off my brain and reveling in a good few hours on the couch in front of the television. I even spent a few days mapping my free schedule around a mid-afternoon yoga class, oh #middleclasswhitegirlproblems.

 If you didn’t catch that I said, yoga class. Yes, I have finally turned to yoga to do my body some good. And after two weeks of only 6 classes total I am addicted! As I slowly incorporate running back into my athletic repertoire, yoga is a great way to strengthen my muscles and stretch them safely and effectively. In addition to a year free of impact sports, my surgeon urged me to stay away from pilates (another new found love of mine before the accident), as he did not want the injury site to be traumatized by stretching. Now, many months later, I am finally able to feel the wood beneath my fingers as I reach down to touch my toes in a standing position. I am impressed with the resilience of my body and how comfortable I am in many yoga positions, and while of course I am only just a beginner, I am excited about mastering this new practice, appreciating my body along the way.

 I even tried a hot yoga class! I don’t know that I will be rushing back to a 110 degree room full of sweaty, nearly naked strangers, who give off a less than heavenly odor as a first impression. But I certainly give myself credit for trying something new and putting my body out there.

I also just want to take a moment to tell my sister, yet again, how proud I am of her and how excited I am for her to enter the real world! I helped move her in to her freshman dorm 4 years ago and last weekend I spent Sunday moving her out of her first apartment. It’s amazing to think that the entire time she was enjoying her college years I have been moving farther and farther away from my own college experience, handling the real world stride by stride, and, well, growing up. Now she joins the crowds of adults who are trying the make sense of what lies before them and I am so confident in her ability to succeed that it reminds me that I am managing the unknown pretty well too!

meandway

So, to all you graduates, adults, parents, and twenty-year-olds who dream of their college days, be proud of what you have gone through and where you are; life is exciting.

WIAW – Recipes

Posted on by
3

Time for some fun food!

Healthy guacamole, woman peas! Yup, I made it with peas!IMG_1604I used 3 very ripe avocados and half a bag of frozen peas (that I defrosted first). I hand blended the avocados and peas together, but I like my guac chunky so I didn’t blend it until it was smooth. Then I added in chopped red pepper, onion and cilantro. I mixed in some garlic powder and lime and then it was munchin’ time.

Waking up with the spring sun has inspired many a morning full of smoothies including, a refreshing strawberry banana smoothie.IMG_1609One banana blended with a handful of frozen strawberries, plus some almond milk and chia seeds. That simple. Blend together and finish with a straw – the only way to drink a smoothie in the morning :)

Chicken dinner – easy but delicious and satisfying after a long day at work followed by a workout. I tossed some chicken breasts in the oven with Trader Joe’s Soyaki sauce and sautéed some broccoli and brussel sprouts with garlic and oregano. I added all of those components to a large bowl with rice and topped it all off with some dipping ketchup. Quite a filling meal.  IMG_1618And that’s it for what I ate Wednesday!

What have you been eating lately?

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

Posted on by
1

Well, these words have certainly been this past year’s anthem. During the early days of recovery this line was chanted day after day by my boyfriend as he smiled with every step I would take on my crutches. And I would sing these words to sleep as I dreamt of the sun rising, one morning closer to a full recovery.

Well almost one year later and I am walking, spinning and now running. And even though the rest of this post will show you just how strong I am, there is still that little voice of the past that chimes in and makes me sad.

I wont harp on it too long, but with the clearance to run also comes the disappointment that I am not returning to the runner I was up to the moment the accident happened. Running was taken away from me and now I have to start over. It is amazing that I can run again, and I appreciate that ability every moment, but it comes with the pain that I have to work to find my freedom and comfort again.

I know that this this feeling of mourning the past will slowly slip away as I build a new relationship with running, starting with reconnecting from the beginning. This weekend I took a Chi Running workshop to learn how to use my body as efficiently as possible to sustain the least amount of impact. If you are in the Bay Area and want a great teacher take a class from Sally!

Look at me go!


I even took everything I learned and put it to use Monday night:

IMG_1613

I was able to use posture and foot placement to run myself down to my good old friend the running path and capture that beautiful neighbor of mine, the Golden Gate Bridge, in the setting sun.

IMG_1614

This is where my strength has gotten me and I know I can only continue to rebuild and grow from this point. I just have to make sure that my strength drowns out that mournful voice of the past as I continue to place my feet on the ground faster and faster.

Taking it Back

Posted on by
2

On June 30, 2012 my life changed forever. In a freak, let’s prove the existence of physics running accident, I broke my left hip. After major surgery and months of recovery I am back in tip top shape. Other than a higher risk of arthritis and some weaker leg muscles that will slowly even out, I feel great.

Recently, I was given the ok from my doctors to return to impact sports, including running! I’ve known for over a week that it’s perfectly fine to move my body in that way, but after such a traumatic experience with my favorite activity I had to mull over my newly found freedom. Since the accident I haven’t even hopped on my left leg and now I am fully functioning and able to feel the pavement fly by under my feet.

But it’s not that simple. I had a major trauma to my left hip and increased impact means higher chances of arthritis, and no one wants that. So, I will have to strike a fine balance between my love of running and my desire to continue living pain free. This is the challenge that lies before me, but yesterday was simply the day I got to take back running!

In addition to my run, I did something else that I haven’t done in a while: Kayaking!

IMG_1575

Just over the bridge in Marin I took advantage of the Cali sun and paddeled out on the water, enjoying the view and a few sea lion friends.

And after all of this activity I  was ready for an easy dinner -

IMG_1582

I lightly microwaved a sweet potato, then cut medallions to line the bottom of a glass dish. I also sauteed some brussel sprouts and broccoli and mixed it together with two eggs and some egg whites and of course spices: garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, oregano. I poured this mixture into the dish and topped it with sesame seeds. I baked it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

IMG_1585

I served this dish with arrugala and avocado and KETCHUP! Yum!

IMG_1584

Little Obsessions

Posted on by
Reply

Most of my days are fairly routine in the sense that I go to work all day (normally with some sort of break in the middle, if I’m lucky), then I take myself over to the gym and either spin or do a body weight workout, and then come home and make dinner, followed by relaxing on the couch, before I wake up and do it all over again.

So it’s those little finds, a new workout obsession, an innovative recipe or a pair of new shoes that I can’t wait to wear, that pulls me through the week.

Lately I have been focusing on my new little obsessions and they have helped me get through some of those rougher stretches of days:

1. Banana ice cream:

It’s so easy to make (literally just freeze a banana and blend it up!) but it’s so creamy and refreshing AND guilt free!

IMG_1567

2. Pampering myself on Sunday evenings

Last Sunday I got a haircut around 4pm and it was the best thing ever! After a day of errands and cleaning the apartment for the week, sitting in a chair while someone else massaged my head and played with my hair felt heavenly.

And only because my hair did not need another trim after 7 days, did I decide to get my nails done this past Sunday. Indulging in the slightly less expensive mani pedi was another simple treat to myself and probably one of the best ways to end a weekend.

IMG_1565

3. New (cheap) workout clothes

Of course I have the staple expensive workout spandex and a handful of pricey tops, but this past weekend I found athletic apparel with a price tag I can smile about.

C9 by Champion for Target makes wonderfully soft and comfortable workout gear, but it won’t leave you feeling guilty at the checkout line. I went a little crazy this weekend and bought a bunch of tops, but at $12 a pop it was hard to hold back.

For all of you fiscally conscious gym rats enjoy shopping…

What are some of your little obsessions lately?