Training and New Diet Plan :)

So... Summer break is nearly over.  I start my externship on Monday, and school in a week and a half.  I'm nervous to be in school, externing, working, and training, but I guess I'll find the time.  I think it helps that running isn't a chore for me, but instead an outlet for my stress and anxiety.  Running has been such an escape and a treat for me, even though some days I have no energy when I'm out there.  

I had a nice weekend and week of visits.  The boy came last weekend which was exactly what I needed before starting all of the craziness this fall.  We had a fun filled weekend of ferry boats, concerts, adventuring onto the ledge of the tallest building in America, and of course tons of Lou Malinatis pizza.  My dad stopped in on his way to Rochester, NY and we had an awesome day eating ice pops and walking the beach, and some downtown shopping.  It was a nice break from life, but I swung right back into gear after everyone left working during the day and running in the evening.  :)

I'm definitely getting nervous about the 5K coming up.  It's about 2-3 times the distance I've been running during training, and I'm still running a little/walking a little.  I'm hoping to get to the pool sometime this week, to do some swimming to help me with building stamina and controlling my breath.  I've been running both my neighborhood, and a free outdoor track I found near my school.  I enjoy changing it up a little everyday.  I think when race day comes I will have a lot of adrenaline and motivation, but I'm gonna push myself this week to run a little farther... I'm hoping for 1.5 and 2 mile runs.  

I also have tried to make some changes to my diet.  I may not be at risk for obesity at this point or anything, but my daily diet is sometimes pretty awful.  I was watching "my half ton son" and "I eat 33,000 calories a day" the other night (Yes. I am aware I have issues...)  and although at first it prompted me to go out and order stuffed jalapeno and bacon cheesy bread, I really started to think about my diet.  I decided it was time for some adjustment.  I went food shopping today, and for the first time most of my food went in the fridge instead of the pantry and freezer.  I bought tons of good fruits and veggies and even decided I would try ground turkey instead of beef for tacos (ugh... will let you all know how that goes... not sure how it's gonna turn out).  I'm trying to go into the school year, and the Bucktown 5K in a much better place physically, mentally and emotionally :)

  

My longest run and a new outfit... so HAD to document :)

Yup.  Leg in a locker at the track. 

Chris needed a wallet holder which ordering our concert tickets online.  That would be the fake foot, with the wallet in the flip flop toe slot.  

Ottobock Live and Becoming a Speed Demon :)

I was told about an Ottobock presentation going on downtown, and decided to check it out.  Ottobock makes the C-leg I wear for walking, a microprocessor knee which uses a computer chip programmed for the exact stride I would like.  I definitely had no idea that i would be one of a few amputees in attendance.  The event was filled with mostly prosthetists and prosthetic students who wanted to learn about the latest technology.  Luckily I found a few people I had met at the Running Clinic.  It's kind of cool showing up at events and knowing a few people.  having only lived here a year, it's not often that this happens to me, and it is really awesome to see how one opportunity opens so many other doors. :)

My dad and I have been battling my insurance company a while regarding coverage for prosthetics, and currently I have pretty limited coverage.  After the presentation I spoke with several of the reps regarding insurance coverage and the best ways to work my way through the system.  I was nervous to talk to any of the reps about my new quest to run, since I use their competitors running blade :) Sorry Ottobock, but Ossur has the best blades on the market. By the end of the night, I had a handful of business cards, a sparkly Ottobock pen (score. :P), an opportunity to be a part of a study regarding new microprocessor knees, and even an offer for a coffee date with a prosthetic student, which I politely declined :)  It was a little overwhelming, but definitely great networking practice for me.

I also had an appointment with Dave, the prosthetist who started the Blade Runner Club.  Getting to his office was a little tricky, but I managed.  When I arrived he paged the receptionist to "Send her back to join the party!"  I went back and watched another patient, around my age taking his first steps on a C-leg.  I spoke with him and his dad for a while, explaining the difference between a few of the knees and about some of the opportunities around Chicago.  Dave told me to come back to the workshop area to meet everyone which was pretty cool.

Dave and Melissa watched me run, and made some adjustments.  he shortened the leg a little, so that the blade would catch less while swinging it around (basically... I had been "stubbed my toe" as I swung around every so often, causing me to stumble a little.  He shortened it so that I had more clearance between the blade and the ground when swinging it around).  He also decided yet again I needed it to be "more aggressive" and faster.  He watched me run again and then asked me to try something different.  He told me to look straight ahead, focus on the exit sign, and run full speed as fast as I could towards it.  I wasn't really expecting a huge difference.  I was sure I had been going at about the top speed I was capable of.  I tried it anyways.  Holy cow. I was running so hard and fast that I felt the rush of air past my ears (and we were inside).  He seemed pretty content with his adjustments, and told me to go home and run on it for a few weeks.  I found an empty parking lot on my run later that night with a beautiful smooth surface and decided to give it a try.  Sprinting is by far the most fun I've had running, but it definitely drains my energy pretty quickly... Something to work on :) I found a great little track downtown, as well as an awesome indoor pool to swim laps to help with building muscle tone and breathing stamina.  :) I have about a month before my first 5K.  The training has officially begun...

Ossur Running Clinic 2012

Went to the Ossur Running and Mobility Clinic today :) Taking the bus to this clinic was a little interesting.  It was basically directly west of where I live, in West Humboldt Park.  For mom's sake, who is no doubt going to be the first to read this... it was an "interesting" ride, to a "unique" part of town.  :) Let's just say my bag was on my lap, strap wrapped around my forearm the whole way.  No worries... the park we were in was super safe... just in a sketch neighborhood.  

When I got there I was relieved to see a few Blade Runners that I had met at the last event.  I quickly popped the running foot on, and felt my energy shift from girly-girl to hardcore. :) I saw Dave, the prosthetist whom I have an appointment with next week.  He saw me and said, "Hey! Run for me a minute."  I go, "Um... ookay?"  So I nervously started jogging for him on the track.  He ran with me and said, "Good, stop for a sec" and before I even knew what was happening, there was a wrench in my leg and I was holding the top of his head for support.  (These Chicago prosthetists crack me up.  So far, my impression of them is that they all squat down and make adjustments to your leg, all while introducing themselves and asking your name, decide that you are capable for the next 5K, and sign you up whether you wanted to do it or not.)  Anyways... He looked up at me and said, "I'm gonna make you faster, kay?"  I'm not sure Dave was expecting my response when I tried running again after his adjustment and said, "Woah. Um...What did you do?" He laughed and we compromised, making smaller changes to the foot so I could gradually get used to a more "aggressive" use of the blade.  Dave seemed perfectly ok with making adjustments without my consent throughout the day, mostly while I was conversing in between drills.  We'll have to see about fixing that. He may be stronger, but I can kick.  :) 

They asked us to split up into two groups.  The first group was for people who have never really run.  These people were learning how to run step over step instead of a hop skip type of run.  The second group was dubbed the "Advanced Group"and was for "those who have run before" (aka all the ex-miliraty men, some triathlete girls, and um... me).  It was weird to think of myself as an "advanced runner" today.  I mean... I just started?

 It's funny... Being petite, people assume that I've always been an athletic person.  I also have a fairly good stride for a new amputee runner, mostly because I have always had an amazing socket, and have always made an effort to walk as naturally as possible.  However, I was definitely was in the less experienced spectrum of the "advanced" group.  We did a few drills on the asto-turf.  I was really really nervous to have so many people watching me run.  I have always been weird about having others watch me walk because I want to do it perfectly, and running is no different.  But the CAF and Ossur guys were awesome.  They really helped me to improve my form (I need to relax my shoulders and arms... too tense... go figure :P).  I really really love running on a track.  It feels so nice on my knee and ankle.  Plus, it's the perfect place for a slightly OCD runner to be, with a clearly measured distance, and lanes to stay in.  It was funny.  The first thing the trainer told me, was to slow down.  That's new. :) I realized a major reason why I get burned out and have to walk it out so much, is because I need to slow down my pace a little.  It's hard being new at this, because I want to FLY.  But, I was running a lot longer and had better form when I slowed it down a little.  

We ended with a relay obstacle course: weaving in and out of cones, running through a narrow rope strip, hopscotching through hula-hoops that we had to do like military style tires, leaping over some ropes, running backwards, and back through again.  I had my "Blade Runner" shirt on and they were calling me Oscar Pistorius as I ran through. :) I think I mentioned before that I have never really had a ton of amputee friends.  For me just being somewhere with a ton of amputees and prosthetists is kinda crazy amazing still.  It's weird being around so many people who get it, and who aren't staring, except because they are trying to watch your gait and make adjustents. :) All in all it was a great event, I met some really cool people, and learned a lot.  And I totally scored a T-shirt and new Ossur Leg Bag... Totally worth it.  Now it's time to focus on 5K training... 

Heading out to the clinic

Feeling strong before leaving :)

The "Advanced" Runners :) 

(To find me: look for the hot pink shoelaces...)

Sometimes it's ok to run away from it all...

"This is where I take out my frustrations, my fears, my sadness, my insecurity. This is where I find my faith, my hope, my dreams, my happiness. This is where I belong."

I just found out today that a friend of mine got some pretty awful news from her scans for cancer today.  She has been struggling nearly her entire life fighting this disease, and now has been given six months.  I read all this and immediately slammed my computer shut and broke down.  I think it was a combination.  Thinking about her. Her family.  Her friends.  And then thinking about my sister, Chelsea, and what it would mean if anything ever came back on her scans.  I am a woman of faith.  I believe in God.  I believe in good, and in being in the present, instead of dwelling on what could be.  I'm an optimist and I believe that there is good in every person.  But sometimes... I'm allowed to feel sad.  And pissed off.  And scared.  

After talking to my mom and my nurse, I literally ripped my clothes off, threw my running gear on, popped the running foot on my socket and bolted out the door.  I've never run so hard in my life.  I wasn't thinking about far my running strides were.  I ran without stopping for the longest I have done so far.  I listened to the song "Never Alone" on my ipod at least three times throughout my run.  I felt such a connection during this run.  To life, to death, to god, to myself.  It was amazing and powerful and exactly what i needed to do to clear my head.  

(Note to idiot boys who almost hit me while running the light, waving at me to be assholes, all WHILE I HAD THE CROSSWALK AND RIGHT OF WAY: Yes. I did yell profanities at you while flipping you off.  No I don't feel bad about it.  Honestly...You are lucky you were in a moving vehicle because for a small person, I had a serious amount of pent up rage inside of me, and I think bad things would have probably happened to you.  Also... I believe in Karma. And I'm thinking nearly hitting a one legged girl with a car is not great for you.  So on that note...Have a wonderful day!)

I'm the kind of person who likes to have an answer for people.  I like to find a way to fix things, even if in a small way.  I decided when there is nothing I can do to change something, I need to focus on something I can do.  And running is something I can do.  I may have lost the leg God gave me, but the one Chris made me just hurts more when I kick people with it.  I run with two beautiful legs.  Running seems to be a pretty amazing stress reliever for me.  It allows a person to accomplish something when they feel like they can't accomplish anything.  Jennie, that .93 mile of anger, sweat, sadness, and extreme pain from a stump that wasn't feeling good to begin with, was for you.  Because sitting around and crying wasn't doing it for me today.  You were 100% my motivation today.  

"Every day you either see a scar, or courage. Where you dwell will define your struggle" -Dodinsky

Gear Check!: Volunteering, meeting "Blade Runners" and new kicks...

I was invited to come to the Terrapin 5k last night, to meet the "Blade Runners".  The "Blade Runners" are a group of amputee and other differently abled individuals who participate in different 5k events in the Chicago area. I decided to volunteer for the event, since I love helping out and organizing.  I showed up, got suited up in my official volunteer shirt and badge, and was placed at "gear check".  It seemed simple at first: rip the top part off the bid number, attach it to the bag with a zip tie, and throw it in the box that matches.  Simple. Ha. Simple until you have 8,000 people all throwing a bag at you, then asking for their bag because they forgot something, all while asking you for directions to the start line, in 100 degree heat.  I'm not sure why people bring 40 pound backpacks to a run... I'm strong for my size, but I'm not a body builder.  I stuck it out for about 2 hours before I snuck away. :) And somehow managed to sneak another volunteer shirt (they were nice running sweat wicking shirts).  I found the "Blade Runner" tent, right as the run started, and met a few of the volunteers who work with them.  The tent was littered with bags shoes, and legs.  Tons of legs.  No longer than 30 minutes later, I watched the team come in, and knew that I was so in.  Everyone was so open and welcoming to me, answering questions and giving me advice.  I must say, I think in order to be a prosthetist for Scheck and Siress you need to be drop dead gorgeous.  :) Totally thought I was at Seattle Grace Hospital allowing Mcdreamy and Steamy check out my leg.  Definitely made some connections, and leaving the race I knew that I would be running with them very very soon. Even thinking about doing the September 16th 5k up in Bucktown :) 

Today I had the day off, and decided I was sick of checking out Nike running shoes online.  I went downtown only to find out that Niketown is remodeling and is closed until the Fall.  A little bummed out, but ended up hitting up Water Tower Place instead, which, for a girly girl who loves to shop, is not exactly an awful place to be.  I got some awesome kicks which will definitely help provide a more supportive run.  Best part is that they are grey and PINK! :) I also found a great running gear duffel in bright pink.  

My knee is finally starting to feel normal again, and I was able to do my little "hop-skip" down the subway stairs without feeling a stringing pain shooting through it.  I'm still taking it easy, but am thinking about going out Saturday or Sunday for a short jog to see how I feel.  Next time I write... I'm sooo gonna be up and running :)

ok... had to pose in each shirt hehe

offiicial "blade runner" team shirt

Terrapin 5k shirt

Second Volunteer shirt... that I didn't steal... just borrowed for... um.. ever :)

new kicks :)

yay pink! :)