Sunday, August 28, 2005

Last 5K of the Season, GOOD Run

My husband, neice and I ran the State Fair Parade Day 5K race yesterday. Fall is on it's way here, it was 37 degrees outside when I woke up to prepare for the race...bbbrrrr. The was starting to peak over the mountains so the day warmed up by race time but it was still a bit cool in the shadows, which is nice when I get hot from running.
We got to the race and we suprised to see our 21 yr old niece, she decided to run it at the last minute, it was her 1st race. She was glad we were there. The race started and I was at the back of the pack as usual, so I won't be in anyone's way and get ran over -yeah, really. The front runners were soon out of sight and I was plodding along. The 1st mile I always feel like, ugh, this is hard, I don't know if I can make it, then I get into the goove and settle into a pace. There was a lady in front of me in a pink shirt, I was hoping to pass her but she started picking up the pace the pace at the end, which caused me to pick up mine also, but I just didn't have enough giddyup to pass her. My time was 34:10 (unoffical), my husband got 2nd in his age group, 20:50 and my niece got 2nd in her age group also (24:somthing). It would be a miracle if I ever placed in any race, that would be soo cool. I am happy with my time, it's an improvement over the Humpy's run of 36:14.
So today I'm tired. I'm trying not to overdo it, I was a bit disoriented this morning when I woke up, I hate that. Since this was the last run of the summer, I plan on getting more time in on my bike until the snow comes. I also want to keep up the running this winter,its harder to be motivated in the winter with no races to work for and being stuck on the treadmill.
Maybe I will take a spin class at the gym, we will see.

Still haven't been able to get a hold of the dr. to go over the MRI results or the shoulder x-ray. I'm frustrated. The dr's staff if pretty poor, I get the feeling when I go in there there the girls don't know what they are doing most of the time. I called for the 3rd time to try and set up a phone appt. and the receptionist said I would get the results in NOVEMBER. I said no, that is not what the Dr. said. So we had a little disagreement. Finally she said she would have the dr. call me when he was able, I gave her my work and cell phone number, because I was AT work and told her I would be there until 5 pm. No call received. I got home and there was a message on my machine from the dr, sounding a bit irritated that I wasn't picking up. The girl gave him my HOME #. Pissed me off. When I finally get in touch with the dr, I will let him know the difficulty I have been having with the staff. I just want to know the results....but I already do know the results from the past MRI's. Sigh...

Gotta go get school supplies. My daughter graduated highschool as a junior last year and is starting college tomorrow. My son is 8th grade. I feel OLD....;) but I a RUNNER/BIKER chick.

Aspen

Thursday, August 25, 2005

MRI's Suck but Good Conversations are GREAT!

Had MRI for the vision loss and dizziness on Monday. One would think I'd get used to them, I have had so many of them. But no, I fight the "freak-out" factor of having my head caged down and stuck into a tub just inches away from my face. It's also SO LOUD. One of my ear plugs fell out when she put the cage on and I didn't have time to fix it so I spent what seemed like forever inside this awful pounding, buzzing, throbbing machine. They say there is nothing to feel, but I swear I could feel it "attracting" the water ions in my head, like a flushing of the face feeling. I don't know if those feelings were real or just imagined, but whatever. Didn't hurt, just strange feeling. It was also hard because of the vertigo...I seem to always feel like I'm falling off the bed, even when I know it's flat, not tilted. So I had to keep it all together and get it over with. I was pretty worn out after it was finished.

They kicked me out of there right away and I was still feeling bit disoriented and ears ringing, I found a couch in a waiting area and just relaxed a bit. I was wearing the t-shirt I got in the Humpy's run and a guy walked past and said "cool shirt, did you run??" I told him yes, just the 5K (there was also a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon). He asked how I did and I said it I was happy with my run. He told me he ran the full marathon and he was happy with how he did and it was hard to walk still, as his legs were stiff and sore. So here I am, just finished from being pelted with supercharged magnetic rays, chatting with a SUPER RUNNER, a REAL runner, a MARATHONER - That's 26.2 miles!!! He was in the top 30 or 40 finishers, so he is REALLY good, that's a BIG deal (at least to me). I tell him I'm not a good runner, I'm slow but I enjoy it. He says that's all that counts and at least I'm out there moving. He then had to get back to work. What a nice guy, and how cool to have something positive come up just when I needed it. I went home, too tired to run or bike but feeling a lot happier than when I went in.

There is a local 5K this Saturday, I would like to run it, it will be the last race before the snow comes, I think. I have been feeling pretty good. I will start hydrating myself good tomorrow and decide Saturday morning. The weather is supposed to be nice Saturday, it shouldn't be too hot since it is Autumn here. I do better in cooler weather.

I love my running shoes, Muzino Wave Creation. They rock. Especially good with the Asics running socks. My feet just sink into them...ahhh. Ok, that may be weird, but if you run, you understand.

I stopped at the bike shop today after work. I really love my bikes...I have the K2 road bike and also a Cannondale mountain bike. The bike shop has studded tires for winter riding. That would be fun if I could figure out a way to keep warm without having to dress in so many layers that I am the size of a Sumo Wrestler.

Next week we go to our cabin in the wilderness. We have to hire a bush plane and be flown in. I don't run while I am there, too many bears and the only thing that runs in the wild is PREY! Hope to see swans, caribou, moose, eagles, go fishing, pick blueberries and have a good time. Its a place where your soul can relax, it soaks up the beauty and smiles. I won't be posting while I'm there, no electric, phones, bathrooms...but we have the best outhouse ever :).

Life is Good!

Monday, August 22, 2005

Humpy's 5K 08/21/05

Got my race results from the Humpy's run yesterday: 36 min 14 seconds. Not my best time, but hey, I had a bad week, ok...a bad month, so I'm happy just to finish!!

Here is a link to my soggy, smiley finish. It was pouring rain and a bit windy, but it was a run of a lifetime after a month of MS induced vertigo, weakness and then temporary vision loss a week ago.

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=004M00RX050083&start=0&album=0&adjust=-1


I joined a gym and went for the 1st time today on my lunch break, did a fast weight training workout and then a 4 mile bike ride in the wind when I got home from work. My body and soul are rejoicing and giving a big sigh: it feels soooo good just to feel close to NORMAL again. There is just no way to describe it.

I go for an MRI tomorrow because of the vertigo and temp partial vision loss I experienced last week. I hate MRI's. I also have prostetic innner bones, I had surgery to remove diseased stapes bones that was cause hearing loss in both ears. Anyway, the would not do the MRI last week when it was originally scheduled because the prostetics are metal and they needed to know what kind so the MRI wouldn't rip them out of my head before they would do it. Got it all cleared up and the prostetics aren't metallic or attracted to magnets, so all is a GO!

I LOVE riding my bike. I have a K2 road bike, lightweight and skinny wheels. I love the speed, the wind, the feel of the bike. Riding is easier than running. I can smell things when I ride; flowers, grass, etc. I don't smell things when I run because I'm too busy breathing...HA!

I am not a natural runner, running is hard for me, I'm not really good at it, but it makes me feel like I am accomplishing something and that's why I do it.

I'm part of the Runner's World Beginner's Forum and have found a weath of knowledge there and some wonderful, supportive people. I recently posted there the problem I was having with MS that caused me to not be able to run. Then I shared yesterdays sucessful 5K and beating the monster and got some really great responses from my fellow forumites:

you showed a hell of a lot of heart, determination and tremendous will just to even think about doing this race. I figure if you can handle a cow stepping on your foot, you can handle just about anything. It's people and great runners such as yourself that that teaches and inspires me that the magnanimous power of the human spirit is boundless. Thank you for posting on this board for it is people such as yourself that all runners can draw hope and strength from. You are a great example to many and your contributions are much more far reaching than just your race results

Yes, I have cows and 1 stepped on my foot this spring, broke it pretty good!!! That cow better taste good.....

It inspires me to think you are out there running facing the challenges you face. Kind of puts it into perspective when I am just feeling like a whiner and a wimp that I have no clue what real challenges are. Congratulations to you and your husband on a fine race and welcome back to the world of normalcy.

Everyone's comments are wonderful and supportive.

I don't feel like I am doing anything special by running or biking. It's amazes me that ANYONE can run a marathon, half marathon, 10K or even a fast 5K. It all takes heart, commentment and each has it's own challenges. It's all GOOD! I just want to MOVE.

That's enough for now.



Sunday, August 21, 2005

Not the fastest runner...


This is a photo I created, I think it's funny. Notice the banana peel I'm about to step on. I'm not last, I beat the frog, the old man with the walker and the butterfly!!!

Smile!!!

1st Entry

I'm new to this blogging thing, let's hope I get it right.

I am a late 30's something married lady with a couple of kids. I am starting this to keep track of my fight against MS, which is like a monster or dark shadow that follows me around and rears up and smacks me sometimes.

I don't want this to be a downer, but a motivator. For myself and any other's who read this.

The monster attacked me about 10 years ago, hard and heavy. It took a very, very long time to recover from that attack. I was told not to excercise or do anything that raised my body heat or it could cause an attack. After years of just being seditary, I felt I was getting frail and wasting away and would die early just from being so fragile. That is SOO NOT ME.

I joined Curves, yes, Curves. Not because of I was overweight, like it's avertised for, but because it was as "safe" place, not like gym atmosphere with all these athletes flexing. Also I was able to do the machines, barely at 1st, but quickly gained strength, physically which lead to more self confidence.

I woke up one day after a dr's visit and decided I was going to RUN. I was no longer going to live in fear of MS and I was going this out of rebellion. I bought a treadmill that day and my life has not been the same since. My poor husband, he thought this was going to become a place to hang my clothes off, but I suprised him, myself and everyone who knows me. I ran my 1st 5k (3.1 miles) 4 months later. It was very emotional to cross the finish line. I wasn't fast at all, but I did it. I remember when I could barely walk, move, looked like a drunk because I lost my coordination and slurred speech. It was a BIG DEAL in my life.

I continue to run, have now added bicycling to running and just joined a gym to get some upper body strength going. I still fight the monster, this last month has been a battle and I even lost vision for a short time.

So here is my story, lived and written in defiance of MS.

Live is Good,
Aspen