December 21, 2012

It has been WONDERFUL to have Jeremy home!!!! I did ask him to help me with a HUGE favor while he was home.... We have a squirrel that seems to think MY ATTIC is his vacation home... WRONG!!!! Poor Jeremy, he has tried everything.... There is a hole where this varmit is getting in. There is some inhibiting factors on getting this squirrel. #1 our roof-line has a wierd angle; #2 the side of the hole is on a very steep hill; #3 to go from the inside of the attic you cannot reach the hole due to the wierd angle of this part of the roof.... So Jeremy in PURE military style has taken on the mission of the squirrel... He has borrowed a high powered pellet gun from a friend and has been shooting at it. Now he has been mindful of the recent horrible tragedies where a person has gone nuts and shot people. Plus the other thing, we live very close to a grade school. So YES - he is been cautious of shooting at the squirrel. Now this is a U.S.A. Marine who has a sharp-shooter status... He says that he has hit the squirrel - he thinks in the rear quarters... I did not hear the squirrel yesterday but this morning - HE'S BACK!!!! I could hear him early in the morning, running in the attic and clawing away.... We just had our first blizzard yesterday... so this squirrel is thinking he has a pretty nice deal winter vacation home... No - this is not going to happen... So Jeremy is wrestling with the squirrel that is out-whitting a Sargent in the U.S. Marines.... hummmmmm.... Right now, the only thing is that the poor squirrel has a sore bottom.... I think it may be time for me to treat the squirrel to a nice cocktail... Or go the humane way and use the live trap. Either way - that squirrel is going DOWN!!!!! My running has not gone has well as I have hoped. These shin splints are a bitch! I have received the compression leggings. They really do help ALOT. When I first tried to run with them - I did not have any issues. It wasn't until I was a few miles in that it started acting up. I have really been taking it easy on them. The weather till yesterday has been fairly mild. I have been running outside as much as possible. I have just be running shorter distance and also taking rest days. (That is SO UNHEARD OF for me!!!!) I think I have gotten up to about 5 miles and then it really starts in. The leg wants to give out and it really starts to hurt... I tried to do the treadmill. I don't know what it is - but it JUST ABOUT KILLS me, no matter what the distance. So I have been running on the Cybex - that seems to be MUCH MUCH better. I cannot go as far as fast on those machines.. But it better than not doing anything. Plus they are so EXTREMELY boring --- I just keep thinking I want to go outside and play.... So with my 100K in December challenge... We just figured - I have completed 50 miles (or 80.4672 km). Leaving me 12.13 miles to go and I have 10 days. Now we have Christmas in there so I know that will knock off a day or two. So I have to concentrate on a minimum of 1.5 miles per day to finish. That would even put me over in the number of miles for the challenge. So I am still in the running (LOL) for this challenge... But as always --- I am moving forward. ALWAYS AND FOREVER FORWARD!!!!!

December 7, 2012

Well, we have started the 100K in December challenge. It is not going as well as I would like. I am still dealing with quite a bit of pain and swelling in my calves. I have been doing Epson Salt baths and Ibrophen to help calm things down. It has helped ALOT. I finally went to the Dr. about it... It was not my regular Dr... but he suggested to have compression sleeves on my calves.... So I have ordered some that are designed for runners they should be here today. I am hoping that they fit properly and that they help. Right now, I have been keeping my running distances short. The weather here has been so WONDERFUL this week that I have been running from Sunday through Wednesday in shorts!!!! Yesterday, I finally had to break out the underarmor pants again. I try to take advantage of the weather whenever possible. This time of year - you just don't know. So far it has been so incredibly mild. For me this is GREAT!!!! But my legs don't want to play... So now they are thinking that I have Shin Splints... YUCK!!!! So the only thing is to lower the mileage and have compression on the calves. Oh well.... we knew that sooner or later I would probably develop a runner's issue... I finally have... But I have been running quite a bit even with my issue --- I am up to 26 miles in this challenge of the 100K in December. Overall for the year, I have done 1,035 miles in 2012... So now to have shin splint issues - are we really surprized!!! No... But it does hurt... So today I have deemed as a run rest day... I have ran 6 days straight with no breaks... I will still get my exercise in... I will go to BodyPump tonight for an hour, that will be my exercise for the day. Tomorrow, morning I plan to get a run in before I leave for Madison, WI for the day... I don't know if it is because I am having these issues with the shin splints --- but I have noticed increased issues with my restless leg syndromes. Sometimes driving from work to home (about 1/2 hour) is absolutely horrible. My damn leg wants to jump all over the place... Not cool, especially when it is the leg that controls the pedals... I hate that... It doesn't happen all the time when I am sitting - just some times... The other really Hell is at night - it wakes me up and feels like there are hot ants crawling up and down them... This is why I do not sleep very long. You say, there are drugs to help you.... Yes, I have TWO different anti-spasm drugs that I take at night... This does help ALOT - this way I do get some hours of sleep... I do not take and do not want sleep drugs... I just need the nerves to calm down. But I do not want to take so many drugs that I am a zombie and cannot function. I have a very busy and productive life. I also thrive and LOVE being busy and productive... It would kill me if I was a slobbering veggie in a corner somewhere.... That is what I keep fighting and will continue to fight!!!!!! I will survive shin splints, cuts, bruises... but the MS will not have an open door to distroy my body... That I will fight anyway I can... The running has helped me progress SO VERY VERY much... It has been an amazing journey. I absolutely embrace it daily and am very thankful!!!! All I can do is continue my fight... every way I can... Plus, I have already made my committment to my running goals for 2013. #1 - 10 mile Syttendi Mai run in May... then #2 half marathon in the fall... Then of course, there is all the 5 and 10K's that I will do through the season... I need to get over the shin splint and hopefully start working on maybe doing some long runs now and then... I need to keep those up during the winter... It would be nice to do 12 to 14 miles like once a month.... just till spring... Then I can really start working towards the 10 mile race... I liked what I did this year of running my 12 mile route once a week... This is good to continue. I will probably go the same route it is a good route with lots of challenges... Right now, the goal is to take it easy on the mileage but still finish my 100k challenge by Dec 31st. The other is to finish all my Christmas projects. Plus, we are SO VERY EXCITED that my son will be home for Christmas with his new girlfriend. That will be so nice to have the whole family around the table!!!! That is what REALLY makes me HAPPY!!!!! Isn't that what the Christmas season is supposed to be about??? We rejoice in the birth of our Savior but also to celebrate and enjoy each other!!!!! I know that is what it means to me!!!!!

November 30, 2012

I have enjoyed and VERY MUCH needed my running vacation... This is not to say that I have not ran at all - because I have. The runs I have done have been few and short. I am still having issues with my legs/knees - so I have not wanted to push it to hard. Tomorrow I start a new challenge (I cannot stay away from a challenge!!!) - 100K in December. I don't think I will have too much problems with this challenge... It ends up equated to = 62 miles/4 weeks = 15.5 per week = 2.22 per day.... This is very doable - even if I have to come inside and do the dreaded treadmill. So my plan is to start tomorrow - but no long runs - I want to keep them shorter maybe if my legs heal more then some longer but carefully and then there is the weather factor. It has stayed fairly mild so far but, you never know when the extreme cold and snow could break loose. So this challenge I will play by hear... Some will probably be outside and some inside. But my real concern is the knees and muscles... I really want to be able to do my goals for 2013. These goals are - do the 2013 1000 mile challenge; run the 10 mile Syttendi Mai race 100%; and run a half marathon race. Those are my plans at the moment. Hopefully my body allows me to accomplish these goals. This December 100K challenge, I will take it easier. My times have been slower lately due to the knee aspects and also running in the darkness. Yes, I have a headlamp but still it is difficult to see every divet and bump in the roads. So I think it best till we get more daylight to take it slower. The biggest factor is continuing moving. Last week was Thanksgiving holiday. We did a very unusual thing by going out to dinner. Actually it worked out very well. It was alot less work and afterwards we could go home and relax. For me it was to relax a bit before going out and do my Christmas shopping. This is the first year, that I ever started on Thanksgiving night. But I did it... I was 3rd in line at Shopko. Then continued through all the rest of the stores that I had mapped out. I was done and home in the early afternoon. Then rested, had a nice turkey dinner, and went and saw a WONDERFUL movie at the theater with Brian, my husband. So it was a good day for me. I did not get all my treasures wrapped yet (usually I do that also) but I should have that done this weekend. Then see - I just don't have to deal with anything else. Right now, my concentrations are on my fitness and also working on finishing my quilting projects. Since I am slowing down on the amount of time on running - it gives me more time for my sewing. I really enjoy my sewing plus it is very helpful and theraputic for someone with MS. Another symptom with MS is a lot of muscle stiffness/tightness/cramping/spasms... This is all muscle even the hand muscles - so my sewing helps to keep my hand muscle limber. Plus, quilting you use quite a bit of math/geometry - so this is helpful with the cognitive aspects of MS. So as you see, as I am making a present for someone I am also helping myself and my well being... I am so very HAPPY that my son will be home for Christmas!!! He will also be bringing his new girlfriend with him. That will be so wonderful that we can all be together. I am so happy that Jeremy is moving forward with his life. He has gone through some very difficult situations personally, ect... but he is perservering... See where I get my determination from - or is it the other way around??? Or is it that Irish Catholic thing that is way to imbedded in me and my children??? So I am continuing to ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD!!!!

November 21, 2012

YES, YES, YES --- I COMPLETED THE 1000 MILE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I originally signed on to the challenge, I really never thought I could really do 1000 miles... Come on, that is crazy... let's think about this... I am a 50+ year old women, with Secondary Progressive MS, who just stopped using a cane a year and a half ago.... But I did do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to get it done before the weather really turned and it got horribly cold. Last weekend, we did the Jingle Bell 5K in Rockford. Oh my, there were ALOT of people - that race was HUGE!!!! There were many big time runners. I was having problems with my right leg - the muscle had spasmed on me during a run a couple of days prior and it was bothering me. But I was able to do the run. I just took it easy and paced it out. I actually did an amazing amount of miles that week --- 49 miles!!!! It is good and bad... It got me closer to my goal but on the other hand - I think I over did it. I am still feeling the effects in my knees and calves... So now, that I have finished the challenge - I am going to take a BRIEF vacation from running (at least a few days). Then we will see.... Right now, I am going to enjoy my Thanksgiving holiday... This year, we are going to a resteraunt for Thanksgiving... which is so nice... no work!!!! Then after I am going to break my usual tradition of starting and finishing my Christmas shopping on the day after --- I am actually going to start Thanksgiving Day... So the store I am looking at opens at 9p - I will be in line waiting for it to open - like all the other nuts... But actually I have always enjoyed the Black Friday sales - I am able to stretch my limited Christmas budget - I have always meet very nice people in the lines and chat with them... Plus I have EVERYTHING done in one day -- I have everything very stratigically mapped out with what store opens when - what I want at that store - then I move to the next... That is the way I enjoy it... I enjoy the fun of the "hunt".... I wondering if with all my running - will it help me running through the stores????? LOL... Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't eat too much and enjoy and treasure your family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 16, 2012

Well, I am REALLY REALLY close to the 1000 mile mark, ONLY 38.37 miles to go... Holy cow!!! Right now, I am really trying to have it 100% completed by Thanksgiving Day!!!! Wouldn't that be something truly AWESOME!!!! When I joined this challenge - I did it mainly for "kicks", and seeing how many miles I actually do would be interesting, and if I got even close to the 1000 miles that would be pretty cool. But NOW to see that I have actually done this blows my little mind!!!! Last Saturday we had a 8K race in Winnebago IL. It was a nice race, the weather was actually warm... Considering this is NOVEMBER - I was wearing SHORTS!!! I got about 1 mile in and all of the sudden a VERY VIOLENT storm broke loose.... There was lightening EVERYWHERE and close - you could feel the little hairs on your arm stand at attention... The thunder was so loud. I just went DAMN... Oh well, maybe this is how I am going to meet my maker by getting hit by lightening... Then I thought, no - I am to low to the ground and just went for the screw it theory and just kept running.... A few people actually quit and that point but not this die hard runner... Let's get real - I was already a mile in, paid my money and damn it if I don't allow the MS to knock me down why should I allow a little rain!!!!!! So yes, I finished and actually recieved 1st place for my age division. The rest of this week, I have been really working on keeping up my miles. I have been doing pretty well. I actually figured out if I really work, I have a GREAT opportunity to have my 1000 miles in by Thanksgiving Day. That is MY goal!!!! I have been doing pretty good with that... I have even gotten in some double runs during the week which is close to 10 miles. So that really helps. But the damn MS is once again doing anything it can to beat me down.... DAMN MS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night I was running and about 2 miles in and all the sudden my left (weaker leg) knee felt like it wanted to fold in backwards. I did not let it happen and kept it going forward. But it did ALMOST get me to fall and drop me down like a stone. I did NOT fall and kept totally upright. I slowed down at that point and then felt like it was better and just continued on my 4.77 mile route. I continued and afterwards went to Pilates class. But still my muscles on the outside of my knee felt tight and weird. They seemed to be getting stiffer. I was planning on getting in another 4.77 miles in this morning but, with the knee still feeling stiff I decided to take a day off. Plus, I am even going to take BodyPump off tonight. We do ALOT of squats with very heavy weight. So maybe a day of rest and alternating heat/cold will help that muscle. I really do want to do the 5K race tomorrow. I tried to do it last year but, the day of the race there was a very cold, windy, rainy day. I decided that running in the COLD rain was not worth getting REALLY SICK. Plus for someone like me - getting really sick could cause my MS symptoms to really FIRE UP and take me months to get back to where I am now... So I did not chance it. This weekend - the weather is supposed to be nice -- about 50 degrees and sunny. So hopefully if I baby my knee today I will be OK. It is wierd because it only hurts or feels stiff if I move certain ways. Otherwise it feels fine... So some muscle probably spasmed on me while I was running and I forced it to stretch and strained it. I did not snap the muscle believe me - I know what that feels like and that WILL DROP YOU DOWN JUST LIKE A STONE. Plus - PAIN - OH MY GOD!!!! This year I have been so good with my injuries. They have all be EXTREMELY minor (skinned knees) but NO MAJOR ANYTHING!!!! It really makes me so DAMN mad - here I am acheiving a goal that I never thought in a MILLION YEARS I COULD ACCOMPLISH and then my body decides to mess with me... DAMN MS, DAMN MS, DAMN MS!!!!!!!!! I will NOT LET YOU WIN - NOT NOW OR EVER!!!!!! DAMN MS, DAMN MS!!!!! GO BACK TO THE BOUGHS OF HELL WHERE YOU BELONG - DAMN MS!!!!!!!! So now that I have ONLY 38.37 miles to go... I will finish it, it will happen, and I will have it done before Thanksgiving... I may have to run slower but to bad... I will NOT LET IT WIN!!!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER LET THE MS WIN.... NO MATTER WHAT IT THROWS AT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 2, 2012

We survived our second 10K last Sunday in Sycamore IL. It was a really nice race, extremely organized, and there were 1526 racers!!!! I was 53rd out of 64 of the women in my age catagory!!!! The fastest women in my age group was 45:14 - APSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! My time was 1:12... It could have been better but I fell the first mile in, did NOT get hurt but about 1/2 doz runners helped me up -- VERY VERY nice!!!!! LOVED the start of the race - they shot a cannon (yes real cannon) about 6 times... scared Lisa and I to death!!! We started at the armory in Sycamore. On the whole it was fairly flat, the rough part really was coming into the park toward the end. They had speed bumps in the roadway so I had to be VERY VERY mindful of my stepping. So even with the fall.. I probably could have been down to 1:10 or so... This is better than the last 10K in Monroe but that was some serious steep hills and grades - time was 1:15. Getting closer to finishing the 1000 mile challenge I am currently at 881.85 miles since 2/14/12.... only 118.15 to go!!!!!!! I did have one "down" day this week. It was after the race and then John's class (that ALWAYS kicks my a...). But that is good!! Now I am back and feel great!!! I hope this weekend to be able to get in some fairly long runs. Maybe not a real long one but at least some 5 to 6 milers in... That will get me over the 900 mile mark and well on my way to finishing the goal.... It will be very interesting to see how many miles I can really get in before the end of the year... My next races are a 5K Jingle Bell and a 8K in Winnebago. Both of these are this month. I hope that the weather holds and it is not too horrible cold or rainy or snowy... But time will tell! This time of year is the BEST for me with running. I love that it is not so hot outside that I get SO over-heated and fatigued. Yes, I still get very hot in the cooler weather but it is so much easier on the recovery. I know that I am improving with my overall stamina and that is FANTASTIC!!!! It is difficult to go out early in the morning. It is pitch black outside and cool especially when you have a nice soft,warm bed that very very inviting... So I have been doing more evening runs because the warm bed has me in its clutches. I do like the early morning runs because it gets you all energized for the day. We celebrated Halloween this week. I did not pass out the candy. Brian, my husband, did that. I stayed AWAY from the candy and just worked on my sewing/quilting. So I stayed true to my nutrition and had my salad and a piece of vegan pumpkin pie -- yummy!!!! I have discovered a new nutritional love --- raw oatmeal... It is GREAT!!! I took it with to the race and it was perfect... You take some regular oatmeal and mix with a cup of yogurt and add some fruit pieces and let it set in the frig overnight. It is great protein and calcium. After a long and hard run, I tend to have an upset tummy. So I want to eat but really can't. So this was the PERFECT food... I could just slowly eat it and it was calming to my tummy. Everyone has to find what works for them and their bodies. I know that my nutrition has been a GIANT factor in my progression. Not just losing over 120lbs... but everything - fatigue, cognitive issues, neuropathy, and all the other WONDERFUL MS issues... I have gotten to this point through A LOT of very HARD WORK!!!! I never say never and ALWAYS willing to try... To me, to give in is like giving up... that is ALLOWING the MS to win... to HELL with that!!!!! Not going to happen on my watch --- when MS came to me it did not know what a stubborn, pain-in-the-ass, Irish-gal it was dealing with.... So just go and do it -- whatever it is ... go.....

October 26, 2012

This morning was WONDERFUL!!! It was cool and clear - perfect for running!!! This week has not been my best running week in terms of mileage. Either the weather has been uncooperative or I have been just too fatigued. Oh, well.... Right now, I feel like I am back to my full game!!!! HEY!!!! Over the last weekend, I got in some nice longer runs. It felt good!!! I even did one run that was over 10 miles (not by much because nature was calling). But I am getting closer and closer to my 1000 miles... To date, I am at 866.56 miles --- only 133.44 to go by the end of the year!!!!!!! So even with the weather starting to get more "iffy" I think I can still make my 1000 miles... This weekend I cannot run any long runs since I have a 10K on Sunday. So tomorrow, I plan to do maybe about 5 or so. Then the following weekend, if weather allows, I can knock out some longer miles. I have to admit it is getting harder and harder to get up in the early morning to go running. The weather is cooler, the bed is warm and plus it is dark outside. Right now, it is getting light about the time I return to the gym about 6:30am or so. That will all be changing VERY SOON as we change the clocks back an hour. But my headlamp is working out GREAT!!!! It works just perfect! Between my reflective vest and my headlamp if a car doesn't see me - then they really have issues!!!! LOL!!!! I am not out there to look like a "fashion plate" - I just dress appropriate for the weather and try to be safe. I hope we have a warmer winter this year so that I can continue running outside as much as possible. I am AMAZED this year of HOW MUCH I have improved!!! When I first started coming to the gym, now mind you - I had built myself up tremendously and it took me about 5 YEARS to get to the point that I could even handle walking on the treadmill --- PLUS ACTUALLY wear athletic shoes due to the HORRIBLE neuropathy in my feet!!!! Last year, with my first year of running - I could only run in the morning when my energy level was at its highest. Now, I have NO problems with running in the evening after a FULL day of work. It is AMAZING how much my stamina has improved. Do I still have fatigue issues --- YES -- but so much better. I have some days where everything I do is VERY labor intensive - other days not a problem... It is very odd... Right now, I know I am coming off a fatigue time and it is wonderful... I always feel good not just physically but psychologically too. I do understand where many people with MS have depression issues. It is so VERY VERY HARD when you don't know from day to day where your energy level or the pain level or the cognitive issues or.... is going to be. But it is not only the energy level but everything is affected... Maybe you do not have the energy to even talk with other people let alone due something that demands high energy. So it is really hard!!!! I know this week I was doing well then Tuesday's exercise was EXTREMELY demanding and took me some time to recoop. But that is OK.... I can ALWAYS recoop - if I need a rest day or two - so be it... It took me a long time to get to that realization but I have. I really don't like to let my exercise go any longer than two days... Then I don't feel very good about myself. So this morning after not having a really GOOD run since Tuesday - was WONDERFUL!!!! Even though, I did go to exercise classes and run on the treadmill on Thursday --- it is not the same... I just feel better afterwards, I feel more energetic and more alert. So this weekend, I am SO LOOKING forward to my second 10K run... I know that this one is on flatter ground than the race in Monroe, WI (that was a HARD RUN). So if I can do that - this one is NOT a problem!!!!! We will see how my time stacks against that run!!??? It will be interesting!!! It is really difficult for me to run really fast because then my legs get all out of sequence and then I have greater tendance for falling. This is why I think I like the distance running. It pushes and strengthens my endurance plus makes me overall physically stronger. Plus, you do more of a pace run - so that I can tell my muscles we are running the same pace - then they do not have the sudden change that really causes the nerves to sometimes mis-fire. These are all great things!!! Right now, the sun is shining and I hope that it continues through the weekend for the race. Yes - ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD!!!!!!!!