I’m so excited to share with you my experience at the 2015 New Jersey Marathon. It’s all LOVE for this event. I apologize for the novel you are about to read (or scroll through).
The EXPO:
Mr. Sweat Out The Small Stuff and I went to the expo on Friday evening.
When it comes to expos, Mr. SOTSS is more of the “run in, get race number, run out” kind of guy. He doesn’t get too excited about them. His whole running lifestyle is simple, practical and uncomplicated. But he loves how excited I get for expos that I love running so much that I love all the details that go into the race. He thinks I love preparing for a race as much as I love running them. What can I say. 🙂 So the expo, the training, and all that happens from the moment I register for a race until the minute I cross the finish line (and even days after) is a big part of my life. It’s the reason I started blogging. OK sorry, I got off on a little tangent..
The expo is at the race track which is also where the race starts
I’m ready!
The expo was fairly simple. We didn’t stay for any of the seminars that were on tap, but we got a few samples and looked at some running gear and then grabbed our race bibs and shirts. I’ll say that the only part of this year’s NJ Marathon that I wasn’t in love with was the shirt. And guess what? I have so many running shirts at this point it’s really not a big deal. Especially since I signed up for the race a year beforehand at it’s lowest registration fee.
All in all the expo was easy to get to, easy to navigate and quite empty. I’m sure Saturday was probably busier.
Since we went to the expo on Friday we had Saturday to relax without anything on the schedule.
Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a silly day to me because I think we should be lovin’ on everyone every single day. And I hate that it makes some people sad (I was that person for many years). But I’m on board to celebrate it today. Especially with my two favorites:
my doodlebug and my coffee…LOVE!
I found the best candy ever:
YAY! Wonka makes sweetart conversation hearts
I’ve always said those conversation hearts are so chalky and taste like antacid and wouldn’t it be cool if Wonka would make a Sweetart version….My wish was granted!
Be Mine!
I finally made it to the orthapedist and 11 days after falling off the snowmobile got an X-Ray. No breaks! So that’s great.
no breaks
They can’t get me in for an MRI for another 10 days but apparently whether there is any type of tear to the rotator cuff or not, the treatment is the same….rest. Yep, rest. I could have saved myself some $$ on copays.
They gave me a sling so my surrounding muscles that are picking up the slack can get a break but it’s pretty uncomfortable so I haven’t been using it much.
I need to bedazzle it.
This should be a fun weekend. Tonight I’m headed to Mr. SOTSS’ house. My sweetie’s cooking me dinner! I am loved (and lucky)! And because I love him back I’m baking dessert and I’ll even share it with him (although I already tapped into the can of whipped cream I bought to top the dessert with). Tomorrow I’ll be going to the Borgata (hotel and casino) in Atlantic City for a “wolf pack” birthday celebration for my friend Lisa.
The wolf pack from our last trip to celebrate Barbara’s birthday!
In case you care to read about our previous shenanigans at the Borgata you can read this post and this post.
The doctor said I can run if I want and won’t cause any damage to my shoulder but it might be uncomfortable. She said perhaps I should use the bike or elliptical. Since I don’t plan to start running again until 2/21 (which will make 4 solid weeks of no running) I might just ease back into cardio with some biking at the gym next week. Although I have to say I’ve been loving being lazy. It is really weird.
I have been walking with the dog when I can but that’s really all the exercise I’ve been doing.
struttin
enjoying the sunshine and the freezing temperatures
reflective doodle
cold.just.cold
So here’s my life lesson: TIME and REST heal everything
Let’s face it, in this world where everything around us is instant—instant food, instant gratification, instant conversations, instant access to information—it’s hard to grasp the concept of slowing down and taking it easy. I’m going to stop Googling “how to heal faster from runner’s knee” and “how can I train for a marathon in 8 weeks” and instead I’m just going to take it one day at a time. I remember my foot doctor saying to me when I was suffering with ankle tendonitis “If it feels better give it one more week to be sure”. While I can do things like apply heat and ice, strengthen and stretch and foam roll, I think rest and time are really the clinchers in the healing process.
I know in time I’ll be feeling healthier and stronger and I’ll start craving those long runs…In the meantime I’ll enjoy the time and the rest and the healing.
Duncan doesn’t mind all this extra time I have had for him…
the “stop taking pictures” look
stocking up on doodle supplies
The light is just too bright
Valentine’s day means a special cookie!
In honor of Valentine’s day what color would you choose Pink or Red?
Who else loves to squirt whipped cream into their mouth straight from the can?
Hope you are all in a relatively good state of mind. My state of mind is a little bit all over the place today.
I went to the primary care doctor yesterday to address the shoulder that I hurt while snowmobiling last weekend. I probably should have just gone a week ago but you know me….always expecting my injuries to heal on their own in “a couple of days”.
Where is the copy and paste button?
I was forced to fill out the same paperwork because now it’s 2015. I don’t understand this process. I have the same insurance, same policy ID, same contact info etc. Why can’t they just put a big 2015 at the top of my 2014 paperwork? I also had to fill out a questionnaire to show how much of a risk I am at being sick I suppose.
Yes I wear my seatbelt.
They asked me if I wear my seatbelt twice! LOL! Someone didn’t proofread these before they were printed. The reason this is funny is because up until a few years ago I never wore my seatbelt! I actually gladly paid a ticket once for being pulled over and not wearing it. I hate seatbelts. They irritate my neck and make me feel trapped in the way someone with claustraphobia might feel. But after being yelled at by family and friends I finally worked on it, and am proud to say I wear it now! #YAY
So the doc (who I don’t really trust because he was sure I had a stress fracture last May when it turned out to be tendonitis) said he’s pretty sure I tore a tendon in the rotator cuff. He’s referring me to a shoulder specialist (orthopedist). I actually got my referral same day and will be calling that shoulder doc this morning to try and get an appointment ASAP. In the meantime, it’s become a lot more painful. I am trying to keep the arm as still as possible but even typing on the keyboard and lifting a fork to my mouth (which are two very non-negotiable things in my life!) hurt.
Silver lining to all this is that I’m most likely not going to have runner’s knee by the time I get back to running….I was planning to try running again in 2 weeks but I have no idea once I get the official diagnosis on my shoulder what that will mean…Will I be told I can’t run for an arm injury? Hmmm….
And at this point the NJ Marathon will probably become a half-marathon for me since i can’t imagine having enough time to train. Basically I’ll be running into the same situation as the San Francisco Marathon last July, only I’m eerily more accepting of this than I was of the San Francisco Marathon (I ended up running the half very slowly and had a great time anyway). I always do try and find the positive when I’m faced with injury and I do have to say it’s getting easier to accept that running can’t always be the driving force in my life. I hate admitting that but I get this reminder from the universe that my life is full of so much that it’s OK to skip races and running and focus on healing or even just spending more time with the ones I love.
Chester….all 82 pounds carefully balanced on the armrest.
My beautiful and talented niece. She plays the alto saxophone.
Fresh from the groomer….makes me love him even more!
Mr. SOTSS….my sweetie!
Speaking of love…
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and I thought I’d share a different kind of heart story.
#LoveOfaDonor
I’ve been following Anna King’s story over the last 2 years. She was 12 when she was put on the heart transplant list. 6 months ago she finally received a new heart. Now at age 14 she is thriving! She wrote a blog post for Life Is Good and I think it’s a great way to think about love and hearts and all that jazz. Duncan will probably give me a toy from his toy box for Valentine’s Day…subtle hint that Fetch makes him happy.
Valentine’s gift = let’s play fetch!
Tee Hee
Ok…off to make that doctor’s appointment. Have a great day.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Do you think its just a silly commercialized holiday?
And I’m always in love with my main squeeze-best friend-puppy-doodleface:
true love!
But today I bought myself some candy and flowers at Whole Foods on my lunch break (along with some dog treats for Duncan to spread the love and some other good eats for me too!
Must be something about February..Anyway, moving on…after ordering prints, buying frames and finally painstakingly filling the frames to cover off on all my friends and family (of course I forgot to include Gina and Cindy! Sorry guys, you’ll go in the album that’s going to sit on my coffee table)…I hung them all!
before they had homes
The black collage ones went in the hallway…
The window pane style ones went in the corner of the living room (stacked) by my great big oversized chair
And the small frames went on shelves that I painted the same color as the wall and hung above my TV.
I was on such a roll hanging things back up (post having the house painted) that I went up to my office and finally put back my running bling….
The office that used to be my full-time office when I worked from home. I miss spending most days in here. Sigh!
It was quite the accomplishment. This morning Duncan decided he was too short so he wanted to walk up on higher ground. I guess it was his Great Dane complex coming through…
Hey ma! This blows! I can’t squat because my back legs keep sliding out from underneath me….
It’s been rough for him now that the snow has frozen over. He slips and slides isn’t really enjoying it like he did when it was all fluffy and powdery. For breakfast this morning I took a non-traditional approach:
avocado, multigrain tortilla chips and an apple
While I walked to Whole Foods at lunch I passed by one of my favorite places. =) My friends used to call me Mustang as a nickname.
OK enough randomness. Have a great weekend everyone! I’ve got a 10 mile long training run to complete and while love is in the air I’m going to get cozy on the couch with my foam roller to work on some tight areas.
Question: What’s on tap for your weekend? Anyone have any big races? Family events?
When it comes to expos, Mr. SOTSS is more of the “run in, get race number, run out” kind of guy. He doesn’t get too excited about them. His whole running lifestyle is simple, practical and uncomplicated. But he loves how excited I get for expos that I love running so much that I love all the details that go into the race. He thinks I love preparing for a race as much as I love running them. What can I say. 🙂 So the expo, the training, and all that happens from the moment I register for a race until the minute I cross the finish line (and even days after) is a big part of my life. It’s the reason I started blogging. OK sorry, I got off on a little tangent..
All in all the expo was easy to get to, easy to navigate and quite empty. I’m sure Saturday was probably busier.
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