Back to school again and a new plan
Yesterday was the boys’ first day of school…again!
The first day of school always feels like another New Years Day. A new beginning. So I have been telling myself for the past couple of weeks that this would be a new beginning for me as well. I am starting a new plan. It’s called moderation. I’ve never done tried this plan before, but I’ve heard that it’s the way to go.
I’ve made vague references to having “issues” regarding working out recently, and I guess the reason that I haven’t just written it all out until now is that I’ve been seriously bummed out about it. Two weeks ago from today was my week to start back with running and begin my training program for the Women’s Half Marathon in November. My first run of two miles went pretty well. I was slow and there was some walking, but my hip felt fine and I didn’t have pain afterwards.
Two days later I set out for another two miles and I thought it went even better. I did the two miles with no walking and shaved a minute off of my pace from the previous time. I was feeling really good about it right when I was finished.
However, as the day wore on my hip started aching, and I iced it. When I woke up the next morning it was really painful…the pain was back in full force, as strong as it had ever been. I was limping and felt morose. After multiple orthopedic visits, oral and injectable steroids, four weeks of physical therapy, and six weeks completely off of running I was right back where I started. I felt like all of that time and considerable money (all eight PT sessions, two ortho appointments, and the meds all required co-pays) was just a waste.
I limped around for a couple of days and finally came to the conclusion that I just shouldn’t run. The orthopedist had warned me that this could happen, because the root of my problem is a congenital defect in my hip. The ball of my femur doesn’t sit in my hip socket quite right, which is what eventually led to my IT band tendonitis. It’s a mystery to me that I was able to run for two years without this intense pain and now I can’t, but that’s just the way it is.
So for now, my running days are behind me. The ortho told me that I would almost certainly have arthritis in my hip when I am older, and it just isn’t logical for me to continue stressing it just so that I can keep crossing finish lines and getting medals. I really want to be able to walk when I am 70.
I withdrew from my Ragnar team and I don’t plan to do half marathons this season. I’m not going to say “never again” to running, because who knows? Maybe if I take a really extended amount of time off of running, like a year or something, I can go back to it. I still think I can do shorter races which don’t require training to be able to complete, like 5K’s or obstacle course runs (shorter ones). Of course I’m thinking “run/walk” when I say that. Races and events are fun, and I don’t want to think that I can never do them again. I still want to be able to do family 5Ks, and I think I can. I just don’t think I can run three times a week and continue to pile on the miles during training any more. Time will tell what I am able to do.
Realizing that I was going to have to give up on my Ragnar dream really put me in a funk. I didn’t work out at all for a week. I just kept thinking about what I really want to do as far as fitness goes, and finally I came to the conclusion that I just want to get back to basics. The ModelFit program has been amazing and I have learned so much. Chris the trainer is a great guy and I’m so glad that I met him and got to work with him, but for now I just want to go back to what I love…Bodypump, yoga, the elliptical, biking, swimming, walking.
To that end I went back to the gym on Sunday for Bodypump for the first time in over six weeks.
It felt great.
Afterwards I did twenty minutes on the elliptical.
I don’t want to be a fitness model. I don’t have to try to be this middle-aged, overweight athlete. I just want to be healthy. My new plan is to try to get some kind of exercise every day, try not to get pulled into the lure of “excessercising”, and to try to eat well. I really hate making any pronouncement of what I’m going to do, because then it won’t happen. I just want to try to break my “all or nothing” mentality.
So back to yesterday and the first day of school…new sneakers.
I drove Mack to school since I had about six grocery bags full of supplies for his teacher from her wish list.
Hello Mrs. G! Ready for third grade.
Albert McGhee = “Mack”.
Cal’s school starts an hour later than Mack’s. After I got home from taking Mack to school I drove Cal to his bus stop where he met up with his friend Cameron.
The bus stop is .7 miles from his house and eventually Cal and Cameron may walk there, but for now I’m driving him. I stuck around so I could watch him get on the bus…
his first time ever riding a school bus to school. In our county, if you live closer than 2 miles from your school, there is no bus. We are only about a mile from their elementary school, but the middle school he is going to is quite a bit further away.
When I got home I made breakfast, featuring strawberry butter and cantaloupe from Parkesdale Farm Market.
After breakfast I took Chewie for a long walk since we didn’t walk to school yesterday.
It was already scorching hot, even at 9:00 a.m.
After walking I showered and got cleaned up to meet some friends for a moms’ back to school yahoo lunch.
We went to Bowled, a local favorite.
My friend Kathy recently won $200 in gift cards from Bowled by getting the most friends to “like” their Facebook page, so she treated me!
I got the “this ‘n’ that”, which is a 1/2 and 1/2 combo of wrap and/or sandwich and/or salad and/or soup. I got the BLT&T (BLT & turkey) and black bean soup.
Both were good, but the black bean soup was really outstanding. Kind of spicy. Kathy also ordered the sweet potato chips (made fresh in house) with Thai chili sauce and I had to try them. Amazing.
I had a great time hanging out with the ladies. Thanks for inviting me and treating me to lunch Kathy!
After lunch I ran back home for a few minutes, then picked Mack up from school. We hung out at home for a bit until it was time to go pick Cal up.
He will ride the bus home some days, but today I had to pick him up so that we could make it to karate on time. New school, new car line.
I got there pretty early because I was worried about the timing and making it to karate, so Mack and I had to sit in the car line for about 25 minutes. He got his daily reading done while we were sitting there. It worked out fine, though, and we made it to karate. I spent almost the entire hour and a half (the boys have back to back 45 minute classes each) filling out forms for Cal’s school. I did the same thing for Mack’s school on Sunday after his open house on Saturday. Filling out the same info on form after form, year after year, is so annoying. Aren’t we in the digital age?
Each teacher had a rules sheet that Cal and I had to sign. Geez.
Cal’s middle school is a “fundamental” school, which means they have strict rules. I was never interested in a fundamental school for the boys for elementary, especially since our neighborhood school is so good, but mostly because all the rules freak me out. Parents must attend all the PTA meetings, you must sign all homework and the agenda every day, and a ton of other things. It just makes me nervous that I’ll screw up somehow and Cal will pay the price. I guess we’ll get used to it.
Before we left to pick Cal up from school I stuck a few frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot with some potatoes and poured a little lite balsamic vinaigrette over the whole thing. When we got home from karate the house smelled awesome. This looks kind of gross because I forgot to take a picture before I cut everything up, but it turned out pretty good. I love the crock pot.
Now I’m caught up through the end of yesterday! Wish me luck in my quest for moderation. It does not come naturally to me.
My DSS is at Thurgood in the gifted fundamental as well. And I will tell you that we don’t like it for the same reasons you list above: Our mistakes or oversights become his demerits. If we forget to sign something – even the smallest one-word worksheet – it’s the same punishment as if he forgot a semester-long project. Unfortunately, it’s by far the best middle school in south Pinellas, so we’re sticking it out – and he actually loves it.
Good luck to Cal there – maybe he and my Riley will hook up!
Sorry to hear about running
I’m also an all-or-nothing runner – which is why training for races helps me stay focused. I hope you do well with moderation and fitness for fitness sake. Be sure to set some goals for yourself – that will help.
I’m sure we’ll get used to all the rules and everything at Thurgood, but for now it’s pretty daunting. Maybe I’ll see you at a PTSA meeting, since we have to go to all of them, LOL. Thanks.
So sorry to hear about your hip! I can only imagine how frustrating it is after all your work at PT.
Hope you start feeing better soon and if you’re ever interested, I’m always up for Dali + Yoga!
Thanks! I’ll definitely let you know the next time I’m up for Dali + Yoga. Lately the weekends have been so crazy!
I wish you much luck in your quest and I am sorry – so sorry – that you have to give up running! I know how much you loved it and what accomplishments you made and were still looking forward to making.
I did terrible over the summer and find myslef lacking in the motivation department, but I WILL work out today, tomorrow and Friday. I thought Thursday would happen too, but I had the opportunity to work and make $, so I will call that exercise for Th. I will keep you posted on my progress as well. I will have to wait until next week to do better with eating due to my sister visiting, but I will still try my best not be be completely terrible. Everything in moderation has always been a mantra of Cathy Campbell. It’s like I hear her saying it when I say it. I hope the week goes well and you get started with your goal! oxoxo I am off to do bands then a 10 mile bike ride if I’m lucky.
Sorry about your hip. I’ve been there, done that with injuries, and I totally empathize with your feelings. There is a grieving process that I had to get past. Loss of running friends, getting over an exercise routine, no more heavy running sweat sessions, etc. BUT I can say the experience was freeing. I could wake up each day and do what I wanted. I told myself “sweat once a day” and if I felt like taking a spin class I did it. If I wanted to do Body Pump, awesome. Go for a swim, why not? I wasn’t restricted to a schedule and had to meet X number of miles. I didn’t get mad at myself if my pace was slower on a long run. I didn’t compare my times to my friends. I just did my thing. Ah….
So yeah, I’m with Tori. I’m up for Dali + Yoga too, maybe before the baby comes end of September. This has been on my to-do list, but i just haven’t gotten to it.
Thanks Carolyn. I’m still in the grieving process with running, obviously, but I hear what you’re saying about it also being liberating. Not to mention the fact that I don’t have to get up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturdays for long runs anymore
I just need to make sure I’m slacking on other cardio just because I’m not running.
Dali + Yoga is great. The room they do it in has this huge beautiful view outside. I’ll definitely let you know the next time I’m going!
I’m so sorry to hear about your hip. I’ve been battling a hip issue since March, so unfortunately I understand! Between the ortho appointments, the MRI, physical therapy, and now the chiropractor I’ve spent I think over $1,200. Yowza! I hope that you’re able to find something that satisfies the way running does – and that perhaps with some extended time off running can be in your future after all!
Thanks for the commiseration Jen. It sucks when our bodies won’t cooperate with our desires. A friend just gave me a reference for a different ortho who specializes in female athletes and hip problems…so now I’m torn whether to continue to seek a solution or continue to come to terms with the end of my running “career”. It’s so hard to let it go! I’m not sure I want to shell out a bunch more money only to be disappointed again, plus I’m not sure if my insurance will pay for me to do another round with a different ortho. I may check into it. Sigh.
Wow, back to school already..> The kids here still have 2 weeks of summer vacation left!
cheers
Well, that’s the difference between living in the arctic and living in the tropics
I am so bummed for you. I want to try swimming sometime this year so maybe I can hire you to give me some lap lessons so I can see you. Best wishes during this transition period for you!
Thanks Kimi. I am a TERRIBLE teacher, but I’d love to swim with you some time!
I’m so sorry to hear that your hip is not cooperating. Really sorry that you have to pull out of the fall events. I’m glad you have it in mind that you can hopefully get back to shorter distances in the future. I understand the moderation challenge – it’s really hard to not be all or nothing. {{{hugs}}}. Stupid genes.
Thank you so much Carrie. It’s so great to have runner friends who understand, and supportive friends in general.
So sorry about the hip troubles, hopefully you’ll be able to run again one day!
Thanks so much Jen!
I’m so sorry to hear that, Caroline. But we all need to listen to our bodies. Sometime they whisper to us, sometimes they scream. Sounds like yours had something to tell you.
Definitely. But that doesn’t mean that you and I aren’t going to hit up another mud run some day
I am all for that! I had so much fun at the last one!!!
Hi Caroline, I have been following your blog and love it. You have a way of just being very real about life. I am so sorry to hear about your hip and running. I wanted to say that I loved your idea of moderation. I am also an all or nothing thinker sometimes and the concept of moderation seems like a foreign one even though it is really common sense! Good for you for letting yourself process your emotions about it and then just giving yourself permission to go out and do what makes you happiest. Keep posting about how it’s going for you, I think you have been very motivating for me. Thank you for being so open about your troubles because it has helped me see a better perspective.
Caroline, I went back and read this blog. It had gone to junk for some reason. So sorry about the hip defect, must be from my dad’s side. My aunt Lee had similar problems. Good luck with the new routine. I think Larry at the Y fell in love with you. He talks about you every time we go. MOM
Aunt Jan told me Paul (my cousin for those of you who aren’t my MOM) had a hip replacement. She said it was a ball and socket issue, which is what I have. She said they told him it might be from an old football injury, but I’m thinking it may be the same thing I have…congenital. Cal has it also. He was diagnosed when he was like 2 when I took him to a pediatric ortho because of his foot turning out (like mine). That is funny about Larry! Nice guy.
I am so sorry that you have to give up running, I know you loved it so much. This news makes me sad.
Thanks Jules. I hope you are doing better! I need to catch up on your blog. I’m very behind on all my blog reading
I know what you mean, my inbox is full but I want to read them all…I managed to get through some tonight but my inbox is as full as when I worked full time
Nolan’s school is a “fundamental” school then too…it’s actually a magnet school for gifted kids and hi-yi-yi – I feel like the parents have as much to do as the kids. He loves it though (well, we are only on day 3, so that may change) but like you I keep hoping I don’t screw anything up – especially once maternity leave is over and I don’t have as much “time” as I do now.
I’m so sorry to hear about your hip. I know how much you love running.
Cal is also in a gifted magnet program at his school. Part of the school is non-magnet, just fundamental, but the gifted magnet program also has to adhere to the fundamental guidelines. I’m sure we’ll both get used to these schools and it won’t be so daunting. Thanks about the stupid hip