Dry socket...

I was starting to get excited about restarting the C25K program this week, but instead will be avoiding anything that will jar my body. Why? When I woke last night (a few times) I was in extreme pain from a tooth extraction. This really surprised me since the tooth had already had a root canal several years ago. The reason for the extraction was simply because I had broken it and there wasn't really enough left to repair. All was going fine until the wee hours of the morning.

A dry socket really doesn't make a lot of sense for me since I don't usually use straws or smoke or any of the several activities that increase your chance for one. Oh well, I know how to take care of it, even without returning to the dentist.

Even so, this diminishes the things I can do physically. Yoga? Nope, the downward position of my head increases the throbbing. Running? No way. Ah, but I can still ride the bike and I can still belly dance. And chains. It looks like it will be a productive week after all.

891.3 Miles

(3.1, during my first 5k)

Yesterday morning I participated in my first 5k. I was pretty nervous about it beforehand, but I knew that I could do it. This is what I've been getting ready for for the last month. Cool, huh? I ran some of it, walked most and came in at 44:12. I was told that was a pretty good time, but I am looking forward to doing better. One of the coolest parts? A friend, who had just learned of this last Sunday, showed up to show her support. That was so sweet!

I am still not sure how I feel about it all. I know that there was no sense of exuberance at the end, more of a quiet knowledge deep inside that I completed something that I'd set my mind to. And that, I think, is better for me than wanting to shout about it.

Today I am hurting in unexpected places like my shoulders. I figured my legs would hurt, possibly even my hips and lower back (I definitely need different shoes), but my stomach and my shoulders are surprising. Still, it's almost as if my body were telling me that it's here, and alive, and very much ready for more.

During this week I will not be running. Not because of the pain, but because I'm going to do a 7-day detox and it's not a good idea to push yourself during something like that. So I'll be spending time on the treadmill (walking only), enjoying my yoga, and maybe a little belly dance or hooping. Next week I'll be starting Week 3 of the Couch to 5k over again. I'm determined that I'll be able to run an entire 5k by my birthday.

Brianna took this as I was finishing up. 

Pushing through...

This week hasn't been what I'd hoped. My time for my goal hasn't improved that much, but I'm still pushing myself each time. I can't seem to get past the 3.5 minutes. I'm frustrated and in pain and angry about it all. My feet feel heavy sometimes, like there's no Light in them. No oomph.

I know this will pass. I know I will do fine. I just wish I were just as sure about other areas in my life.

Quiet...

I can't help but wonder if anyone really reads this. I'm sure some of my friends do, I wonder about the rest of the world.

If you happen to be wondering why I've not posted in a while, I'll tell you. I have a hard time being deceitful. A seriously hard time. Even telling a half-truth while keeping silent about the rest just eats away at me. Strange, huh? So, what does that have to do with this blog? I haven't been telling the whole truth about my miles. Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, I'm not adding miles to my progress. And I'm very honest about where I am at the 30 minute mark. But I haven't been telling the whole story. And, while most (if not all) of you may shake your head and say that it doesn't matter, it matters to me.

I can't tell you what my actual miles are right now. After the end of the month I will be able to tell it all. Why? Because I have a goal that I'm trying to reach. And I've not told some very important people about it yet.

So, in the meantime, I won't be posting my miles. I won't be posting pictures of the treadmill or the bike. I will share about belly dancing and chains and strength training, but that's it. Because I can share all of that without telling half-truths.

Yes, my honesty matters that much to me.

Other movements

Between the sunburn and the pulled muscle, today was not what I'd hoped for. The sunburn is preventing me from wearing a sport-bra and the pulled muscle is hindering my walking, much less anything else. Still, I did a bit of yoga this morning and a light session of chains. I was starting to feel guilty about this until I remembered that I did do a little yard work yesterday. Not a lot of it, but there was some shoveling and pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt a couple times.

So, a cool shower, some more salve on my back, a little arnica on my leg, another few glasses of water and another night's rest will set everything back on track.

888.2 Miles

(1.4 treadmill)

Tonight we camp, sleeping on the ground. Our blindfolds are still in place.

A slower treadmill day. I think part of that was the fact that it was so much earlier in the day, part of it was the restless night I had. Still, I'm please with my 30 minute mark. My legs are feeling stronger and I've noticed more endurance. That makes me really happy.


I still have 32 miles to go before I reach Lothlorien. At the rate I'm going it won't happen until some time in July. I still haven't decided what I will get for myself, so I guess it's good that the treadmill is taking longer.

886.9 Miles

(1.1 treadmill)
(1.8 treadmill)

I didn't post yesterday so this is a combined entry.

Yesterday was only 1.1 miles. I'd had an appointment in the morning and felt kind of out of it physically when I was done. It's not a big deal and I feel a lot better today.

Today was 1.8 miles at 30 minutes. A lot better. I'm hoping to increase that even more by the end of the week. Wish me luck.

Monday -

Tuesday -

883.9 Miles

(1.3 treadmill)

Today was a much slower pace. Mainly because I was pretty sore in my lower legs. I guess that's normal, but it still cut my speed a bit. So, my walking was only between 2.5/3.0mph. Not much, I know. There were a few bursts of speed in the middle, but I had to keep them at 2 minutes each before my calves started to really burn.

I still did my squats, but not the chains. Part of that had to do with time since I spent a good portion of the morning talking business with a friend. She's a healer and had been running her business (Oasis Healing Arts) out of her studio for a while now, so she knows a bit about small businesses.  When I got back home it was time to start a lot of other things, but the treadmill came first.

Now, it's definitely time for some sleep.

Other Movements

Today was a no-treadmill kind of day. When I got back from the dentist my heart felt kind of wonky. Now, it very well could have been the simple fact that I'd been at the dentist. Or just because I didn't have enough water before I left. Or whatever. Regardless, it didn't feel like it was at a normal pace again until it was nearly time to pick the daycare kids up from school.

I still moved, though. I did my squats, weights, and stand-up crunches while they were drawing & eating snacks. Then I repeated the squats before my shower. Interestingly enough, my shins were sore today. I'll blame it on the sandals from Monday.

Tomorrow will be an awesome treadmill day! Let's see how far I can get.

882.6 Miles

(1.8 treadmill)

We passed through an open glad and are still blindfolded, even while sleeping.

I believe today is a personal record on the treadmill. I made it to 1.8 miles in 30 minutes. I know that might not seem like a whole lot of miles, but 4 of those minutes are only 2.5mph and 4 are 3.0mph. That's the way the program goes. There is more variation in between the warm-up and cool-down, so I certainly am not just plodding along.

Today I had my headphones on and a Pandora station with a great beat and I think that helped keep me moving at a better tempo. As time goes by I know my distance will increase, but I have to take this a bit at a time.

Yesterday was a bit of a bust as far as a workout, part of that had to do with the walk from where we parked to the Memorial Day ceremony. Normally that wouldn't have been anything at all, but I wore sandals. By the time we reached the "gazebo" my calves & shins were on fire. Why did I buy shoes that wouldn't stay on unless I kept my toes tightened? I have no idea. Truly. As soon as I can I'll be getting something that has a strap or a different construction or something (flip-flops are out of the question).

I'm a little worried about my goal. Forget that, I'm thrilled about my goal! I will succeed at that one and will be able to know that I can do it. That goal will help me reach toward the next one. Yeah!

Now, however, I'm literally dripping sweat. Seriously, it's dripping from my elbows to my pants (which are now being held up with a safety pin so they don't fall off while I'm on the treadmill.) No, I'm not going to buy more right now. Instead I'll add elastic to the waists of all my capris and get to the end of June before any clothing purchases.