Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Glass Half Full is Frozen

For the past couple of weeks, while the Midwest has been immersed in an early winter, I've been running outside, sucking it up like the warrior I claim to be. Heck, on Wednesday, I even followed my own advice from my post on Winter Running tips and layered up, completing a 6 mile run in subzero windchills. Because that's how we winter warriors roll. Trying to find our own sunshine, even when the skies are gray and there's snow on the ground.



The Week in Review:
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: run 6 miles
Thursday: strength and conditioning
Friday: rest
Saturday: run 4.5 miles
Sunday: off/injury

On Saturday, the sun was out and the temperature was in the upper 30s. It was a heatwave! I headed out the door for an 8-9 mile run, eager to continue my preparation for my upcoming half marathon and get some Vitamin D. With snow and ice covering most of the bike path, I decided on a route that would take me mostly on roads. Using 4:1 run/walk intervals, which I plan to use for the race, I ran through the neighborhoods by my house. On the way back, I took a detour through a local park, figuring I could get some good selfies for IG and the blog.

Scanning the path for snow or ice, it looked fairly clear and I ran down the hill into the park. All of a sudden, I began to slide. My legs flew out from under me. In what felt like slow motion, I found myself falling to the pavement below. Somehow I was able to maneuver my body to land on my forearms and thighs. With a thud, I hit the ground. I could swear I heard clapping, but there wasn't anyone around to witness my fall.

After a minute or so, I pulled myself to my knees. I assessed the damage. My left elbow, hand, and big toe were talking to me. Shakily, I stood up, brushed off my tights, and slowly began walking down the path. My left big toe hurt enough that I needed to limp a little bit, so I walked for a while. Grateful not to have seemingly broken anything, I considered that I could keep running. That thought made me happy and I set up my phone to take a video for my selfie.


I started to run again and felt pretty good except for that big toe. I was able to run on it for about 3/4 mile and that's when it really started to bother me. I hobbled the remaining mile back to my house. My toe wasn't very swollen but it was bruised at the distal joint. I drove to my office to get an x-ray. While the nurse practitioner and I thought we saw a fracture, the radiologist did not. Just "degenerative" changes. Ok then. I spent the rest of the day on the couch with an ice pack on my toe, cursing my luck and praying for quick healing.

First the 'degenerative changes', then this.
 I'm sure the commenter meant well.
The earlier part of my week was uneventful. I went to CrossFit on Monday where the strength workout had deadlifts! In fact, we had to do 4 sets of 8 lifts at 65-70% of our max, which for me was 125#. Let me tell you how hard that was! We alternated those with glute bridges using a barbell. The Metcom was an AMRAP of rowing, 12 shoulder-to-overhead (I did push presses) at a scaled 55#, and pull up progression (I did the band).


I skipped bootcamp on Thursday because I had my PMHS certification exam, but I did do strength training with Sammy Jo. Gotta get the blood flowing, right? This week, she had me focus on skill work for hips, shoulders, and lats. She also had me do 3 rope climbs (holla!), finishing up with 10 minutes of conditioning work from the bootcamp workout.


So while I'm grateful that I wasn't seriously injured by my fall, I can't help but curse my luck. Allow me this short tantrum: I'm finally back to feeling good and running well after spending most of the year battling my disease. Then THIS happens. Is it just bad luck? Or is the universe trying to tell me something? Time will tell and hopefully, by mid-week, I'll be able to lace up my running shoes again and hit the road. I've got miles to run.

😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕😕

Who doesn't love good news? I had a lot of good news this week, so it kind of offsets my running mishap. As I mentioned on my Friday Randoms post, I passed my PMHS certification exam! In other good news, I found out on Saturday that I was asked back to the All Community Events Ambassador team! The team is downsizing and I was certain I'd be cut, especially after my health issues this year limited my participation. I guess I did enough to earn my spot back and I'm looking forward to running a lot of their races in 2020! Hoping that they'll come up with a discount code to share with you all. 

How was your week? Any winter-related mishaps? Isn't falling the worst? Especially when you're older... Got any good news to share with me?

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.


41 comments :

  1. The universe is reminding you to be careful. We can layer up all we want to be winter warriors but one patch of ice (or one out of control car due to conditions) and it's lights out. I know you carefully assessed the pavement and it totally sucks to fall like that. Now I'm laughing that you took a post-fall selfie! :P I hope you're feeling better today!

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    1. The toe throbbed throughout the night, but I am moving much better today. I'll be back!

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  2. well, shit Wendy !!! that just sucks. I hate hate hate falling on the ice, it's like the pavement laughing at you. I'm just glad you didn't break anything!!! give it a bit of time, you'll be out there again SOON.

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    1. I still can't believe I fell--I mean sh** happens but still... Hoping to be back out there again. I've got a race in 2 weeks, dammit!

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  3. That was NOT the world telling you to stop, it was random fallage! I'm glad you were able to go and x-ray yourself so quickly but not happy about the "older" comment, sheesh! It's horrible for all of us. Trudie is better after her fall last weekend so hope you recover as quickly, too. And a big YAY for all the good things!

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  4. I've had that "falling in slow motion" feeling too and am always amazed that my body manages to contort itself into the least possible injury position without even thinking consciously about it...it all happens so fast.

    Lol at "heatwave" ...same here - this week the first morning it was over 30 I thought "oh, warm!" How quickly we get used to it.

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    1. I joked yesterday that I have mad falling skills--glad nothing serious happened. Still sidelined today but hoping to get to CrossFit tomorrow.

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  5. I don't know which is worse - falling in slow motion or falling so quickly you're on the ground before you even know what happened! Either way, it's no fun... especially since I'm "older."

    I'm back to running in California - cooler temps, but super low humidity. We just might get rain this week, we'll see!

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    1. We're going to get rain later today. Hopefully it washes away all the black ice!

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  6. At the huge risk of jinxing myself, I have not fallen many times (which is quite remarkable considering how uncoordinated and klutzy I am). The two major falls probably took all of 2 seconds (on different occasions), but both seemed like 10-minute productions in slow-mo. Both of those resulted in bruised ribs...not a detriment to running, but to breathing heavily (ha! which we need while running LOL). Hope you heal up quickly!

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  7. Glad it wasn't broken! I ran a marathon with a broken pinkie toe (my doctor said I could if I could tolerate the pain). But the big toe is a whole other thing!

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    1. I've had issues with this big toe before--so while I'm happy it's not broken, I hope it just calms down!

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  8. Nothing can stop the run selfie! Hahaha! I tend to fall a lot on ice, rocks, roots, curbs, flat ground. I'm that graceful. ;) Hope you are on the mend!

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    1. I'm feeling much better today--thinking I"ll be good as new by my run on Wednesday!

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  9. Thank goodness that fall sounds like it was minor! You do not need that! Huge congrats on passing your exam :) I totally should have gotten that long sleeve ink burn top while it was out. It's so cute! Thanks for linking up and have a great week

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  10. Congrats on your new certification. I think it's so important that healthcare professionals like you are equipped to address mental health issues. Yikes on your slip + slide. I hope your toe is on the mend. I can't believe you still took photos. Oh, wait, yes I can. :-)

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    1. LOL! I felt pretty good right after the wipeout, but I'm pretty sure it was adrenaline. Once I started to hurt and stopped running, I hurt badly! Today is better.

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  11. I wish I had good news to share. Best I can do is nothing terrible (although a friend got bad news ��). Hopefully the toe will feel better soon! Nothing worse for a runner than painful feet.

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    1. I'm sorry that you can't find anything good to share! Hope things get better for you.

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  12. Hooray on all of the good news this week. That sucks about your toe though! But glad it wasn't any worse, like breaking your wrist or something. See, there's a good reason I'm on my treadmill. haha! :) Hope that toe is feeling all better soon!

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    1. Seriously! I actually thought about my wrists as I was falling. Crazy but I made sure to land on my forearms. How I did that, I don't know! The toe is feeling better and hopefully I'll be back on the road in a couple of days.

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  13. Good grief Wendy! I'm so glad your fall wasn't more severe. I have taken a tumble on black ice - never good. Hope your toe heals quickly.

    Congrats again on your certification!!

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    1. Thanks Michelle! I'm just glad it wasn't broken! I'm feeling better today.

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  14. Oh no Wendy, I'm so sorry about your fall. Hope everything heals up quick. Congrats on your certification!

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  15. I'm so sorry about your fall! I have fallen a few times while running. Once I ended up breaking my finger. (Of course I was just grateful that it didn't prevent me from continuing to run...)

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    1. I'm going to test out the toe this morning at CrossFit. There are sprints in the workout, so we'll see...

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  16. Getting an instant x-ray are the benefits of working in the medical field! That is really cool.
    And your strong back in that Crossfit pic is impressive - I am sure you get a lot of compliments on that in the summer, when your back is more visible!

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    1. Well, thank you! I don't really hear that about my back, except from my coach. Happy to be strong as I head into my golden years... :p

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  17. Ugh, falling. I fell last week too and it wasn’t because of black ice. I’m just a klutz. And yes it hurts, older or not! I’m glad you’re okay and I hope your toe feels better.

    Congratulations on passing your PMHS and your ambassadorship. They’re smart people to know what an asset you are even if you can’t participate as much as you’d like.

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    1. It's warming up (relatively speaking!) so the black ice should be a thing of the past for now. And yes, I've got mad falling skills!

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  18. Ouch! Hope your toe heals quickly. Not a fall, but an "oops, ouch" moment: the other day the corner of my bed frame landed on my foot (it's a platform bed and the frame isn't firmly attached to the riser, gotta fix that). Thankfully it's only bruised.

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    1. Seems that is the same for my toe--It's still tender but it is better today! Whew!

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  19. Congrats on passing your certification! I hope your toe heals up - sorry to hear about the fall! I admittedly spent last winter sometimes bailing on runs because I was so afraid of falling and breaking something in my foot again (and, plus, I was pregnant...while not showing at that point, it did make me nervous)! I just admire you for how you get out there no matter what the conditions!

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    1. It's still a little sore but with temperatures warming up, the black ice should be gone. I'll be checking it out tomorrow.

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  20. Oh no Wendy! I am sorry you fell. Glad it was too serious and you didn't break anything. Ugh, that is my fear running outside in the Winter. But now that I think about it, anyone can fall anytime. This summer I tripped and fell on the sidewalk. I managed to brace myself to avoid hitting my head but I did bruise my knee and my chin. ¡Caramba!

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  21. Oh and congrats on passing your certification and for your ambassadorship!!!

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  22. Oh no, I'm so sorry you fell and hurt your toe. I hope it's feeling better by now and you had a great run today! I'm so impressed by your rope climbs!

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