Running into the new year...

I'm back in Chi-Town after an awesome vacation in Colorado with my family.  I had an interesting time at both airports on this trip... Anyone who has metal in their body can testify that getting through security can be a complete nightmare.  On the way home I think my running leg which was packed in my carry on received more attention than I did.  However, on my flight back I spent 45 minutes waiting in line before receiving a full body pat down and watching the TSA dude unpack everything I had because I refused to be "Cast Scanned."  Um... Sorry airport security... My doctor informed me to avoid all unnecessary radiation to my body.  I have become quite talented at pretending to care what ignorant people say, and laughing appropriately at the jokes I've heard 4,000 times.  (Or you could just pat me down and send me on my way without talking...) After they decided I was not a terrorist, I got to sit on my bag while the TSA man tried to zip it back up. I tried to tell him...

I have had some issues with my prosthetic over the last few weeks, the most difficult being skin irritation.  One fine day last year, my leg felt very loose and even friends at school noticed I wasn't walking correctly.  I got home only to find out that the liner I wear underneath my socket (It holds my leg on with suction) had torn and I basically had been dragging my 7 1/2 pound hunk of titanium/carbon fiber around rather than walking with it.  I took an emergency day off school and was fitted for a new liner, but since this time have had a really hard time getting used to it.  I have run a little, but really have not been "training."  I'm trying to start up again this week, with some new ideas about how to take care of my skin.

While I was home over the break, a good friend of ours Katy Tartarkoff, did a photo shoot of me running, changing my legs, and a few with my family.  Check out some of the shots she took of me below.

My first 5K of 2013 is the Chicago Polar Dash :) I'm excited to start fresh this year.  The goal is to run at least 5 "5K's" in 2013, and I'm attempting to run an entire 5k this year, without stopping.  I signed up for the Polar Dash with my friend Erick from the track. We want to start this year running and it's exciting to run with a new partner.  I'll be sure to update afterwards with pictures and of course crazy stories :)

Awesome shots Katy took :)

My new inspiration to run.  My sister gave my mom and I the idea and we made these over break.  Each time we run we add 1 stone to the jar :) (I'm such a "visual" person...)