Staying Grounded, Staying Afloat

Life has been full of ups and downs this summer.

Thankfully, I've got running and yoga to keep me grounded. And I've always got my sense of humor to keep me moving forward.

It's been a really full week and there's lots to read here...

I could not get my legs all the way up this time!

Just when I thought it was safe for Matthew to get moving again, we saw the orthopedic surgeon on Monday. We showed her Matthew's SUP pictures and a video of him doing a backflip off the dock into the water. She did one of those, hehe laughs, like this isn't really funny though, and then she dropped a bomb on us. Matthew is going to need surgery. He has a cyst in the bottom of his tibia (the long bone in the lower leg), which most likely was the cause of his fracture. While the fracture is healing, the cyst is not filling in with bone. She guaranteed us another fracture if we don't go ahead with the procedure. Needless to say, both of us were stunned and saddened by this news. He'll have surgery next week. Hopefully, his recovery will be much quicker than after the fracture. But it will be back to school on crutches and no activities for a while.

There's nothing like real life examples, right?
French gymnast Samir Ait Said snapped his tibia on a landing after the vault Saturday in the Olympics.
Reportedly, he has suffered 3 fractures in this same bone in the past.

After digesting this news and not sleeping very well, I got up before the sun on Tuesday to get a few much-needed miles in. Mother Nature already had the thermostat turned up to hades but I did get to see a beautiful sunrise. I ran about 5 miles and headed to a meeting, feeling much better than I had earlier.

no filter

On Thursday morning, I got a late start for my run and really struggled with the heat and humidity. I finally had to start walking after about 3 miles. I tried to run but it just wasn't happening. The sun felt like a giant burning orb. I did eake out 4 miles somehow but I wasn't proud of this run at all.

That sun! It burns!

I almost cancelled on Becky, but knowing I have to miss next week for Matthew's surgery made me suck it up and go. I'm so glad I went. She worked me hard, having me do kettlebell swings with a 30# kettlebell alternating with 50# medicine ball hoists to a box. Then I hung from the rope alternating with handstand at the wall. These handstands were kind of scary because she had me start in a push-up position and back myself up the wall until my nose was touching. That took a lot of control (ie core) to keep myself upright and not toppling over. I left feeling strong and quoted my favorite mantra to myself: I can do hard things.

Nose and toes to the wall

I did yoga at the studio twice this week. Wednesday's class was all hip openers. On Friday, my back was sore from the work I did the day before and we had a substitute teacher, so I was a little leery. As it turns out, this class was perfect for me. She hit all the high points.

Cocoa is judging my pose. Silently.

I'm having issues with my Lululemon yoga mat. It may be a cute mat but it's rubbery and if I slide my feet wrong, it makes a farting noise. I'm really starting to worry that people in class think I'm farting all the time. Like when I reposition my feet for a pose, that farting noise happens. I may have to stop using this mat. I realize that people do fart in yoga class. I just don't want it to be me. I once had a yoga instructor who farted ALL THE TIME. She was a sweet, older woman and I tried not to laugh. No one else seemed to be amused by it. Maybe this is karma.

Maybe I need to grow up. But let's face it, farts are funny.

Anyways...I finished up the rest of the week with fun!

Friday, I headed to Lake Michigan to SUP with Matthew and his girlfriend. We teased him that he should have paddled Orlando Bloom style:

Can I just ask why he needed to do this?

Except instead of the paparazzi that greeted Orlando, Matthew probably would have been greeted by the police once we returned to shore. Not that he would have done that. Not my baby.

Our SUP is rated G

On Saturday, I rode 18 miles on the bike with my sister and her man to the Chicago Botanic Garden. We rode on mostly bike paths through some very pretty wooded aka shaded areas to get there. We walked the grounds a bit before we had lunch. It's beautiful but it was really crowded. I was wearing my cycling shoes so we didn't walk too far. Note to self: bring walking shoes. We stopped to pose in front of a fountain. 

I'm still feeling a little fearful of this pose, since I was attempting King Dancer when I fell off the rock a few weeks ago. Probably wearing cycling shoes didn't help me either!

Ron wanted to play along.

Sunday morning was cooler but still humid. I ran 5 miles, but stopped twice at the playground to do my upper body work: hollow hangs, scapular pull ups, and body rows. 60 reps total of each. I also attempted a headstand on this platform. Being so sweaty, I was scared to death I'd fall off. I was pleased to get my legs all the way up, but on the way down I botched the landing and went off the platform. Yes, the ground is hard. And because I was so sweaty, I came home covered in wood chips. 

The camera catches everything!
You can see the actual headstand on Instagram.

How was your week? How are you coping with the heat? Naked SUP--yay or nay? Should the farting yoga mat stay or go?

I'm linking this post with my 2 favorite link ups: Tricia and Holly's Weekly Wrap AND Ilka and Angela's Sunday Fitness and Food LinkUp!