A Swimmer's Life for Me!!!!

Well folks, it's been forever since I've logged in here and offered up the story of my existence. And let's just say it's been a rough few weeks. I'll detail it all as follows:

1) I ran a wonderful 9 mile run the day before summer camp, and was very excited to get the chance to run at camp. My run took me from Jacki's house in Milwaukee all the way to New Berlin and back. That's New Burrlin - emphasis on the Burr-, not to be confused with the same city formerly called Neu Berlin. We must distance ourselves from the Nazis, but I digress. It was a sunny day, if a bit warm, and afforded me the chance to do some heat running. halfway through the run I was out of water and feeling pretty parched so I stopped at a gas station to get more water. I, of course, didn't have any money so I asked the guy if he would fill my water bottle. He said, "Out of the faucet? I don't drink tap water in New Burrlin, but I do drink it at home in Mukwonago." (Ever notice how Wisconsin city names sound like those of African-American High Schoolers) Anyway, with a little effort, explaining to him that I was on mile 5 and had more to go, he filled my water bottle and I headed back. I spent the rest of the day a little dehydrated. Definitely an argument for hydration in the heat. I got a little bit of the feeling that Haterella must get running in the L.J.

2) On Sunday of Camp I got the strangest pain in my upper buttocks - right at the top of the crack/bottom of my tattoo - with shooting pains going down the back of my right leg, and wrapping around to the shin. I never felt a thing in my left leg. I went to the nurse - the same Jacki mentioned above - and she prescribed anti-inflammatories in pathetically low doses, but I followed her advice and it did help me stay out of pain for most of the week. Of course, this put me in the wierdest position I've ever been in at camp. I was the cabin leader, already a tough job, and had a camper that I was incapable of lifting. So here I am in a leadership role having to say to Joe, "Joe, it's time for my camper to go to bed, can you do that for me?" I wasn't sure yet what was happening with the leg/back and didn't want to take any risks. So, Joe lifted my camper all week, and I did everything else. With "Don for Scale" here is a picture of my camper, Ramon. You can maybe see how I shouldn't have been lifting him all week. He is a great kid and we had a great time. Someday I'll tell you about the racist fish that was not hanging at the end of that fishing line.

3) After a week at camp I was still in pain, which meant cancelling the run Forrest and I had planned. Of course, he cancelled it as well, so it was really more like we shouldn't have scheduled it in the first place. In a kismet sort of way, we are both having similar back problems. Upon returning to SF I went to the clinic and had an appointment with a doctor about my back. Having had scoliosis for 25 years, I don't usually see a doctor for back pain, but this was one of those times when I didn't know what to do and thought a doctor might be able to help. Well, I still don't think she knew much, but that's just me. She very perfunctorily said I did not have Sciatica because I could still feel my toes. Why thanks, Doc, but I would surely be here to see you long before I lost feeling in my toes, dontcha think? Anyway, guess what I got? A referral to physical therapy!!!!!

4) Yes, I was released from my last round of physical therapy right before camp, and said a near teary good-bye to my therapist who was retiring. Then I was back before he actually left, with yet another problem. He was confused to see me and even asked if he was seeing me as a patient that day. :-) He was a good guy and it was with hesitation that I returned there without him. But the new therapist is great. After 3,000 questions he ascertained that I had a pinched nerve originating at the L5. Labelled "5" in this X-Ray. So he prescribed some exercises and things are already feeling better. One of the biggest things I'm to do is lie down. Can you imagine that? I'm supposed to just lie there. Who does he think he is talking to? I mean, if I'm not running I'd rather be lying down. So, I'm pretty much loving the recovery. Lots of naps. I'll say that.

5) Instead of running for the past week, I have been swimming, again at the Hearst pool, and although I'm still working on my form, I'm getting better and really enjoying it. My last workout was for 24 minutes, and I intend to increase it by 2 minutes everytime I go, until I reach 35 minutes. At 35 minutes I'll work on intensity. In the meantime I continue to work on my form and to try to figure out how to breathe. As a runner it's tough for me to get used to the idea that I can't just gasp anytime I need to. This has been the biggest hurdle. Add to that the fact that Forrest and I learned how to swim in the neighbor's indoor swimming pool, and you have two people that have no idea how to swim competitively, or even gracefully. The widest point in the pool was probably 30 feet long. So, it's going to be a struggle.

Now, I wait for the release of the Speedo+ iPod!!!!!!! Wouldn't that be awesome? It could measure my laps, my pace, my calories, how many times I swallowed someone else's pee, everything!!!!!

THE RECOVERY PLAN:

Tomorrow begins the full-on recovery plan. It will involve continuing my physical therapy, but will be supplemented by some better exercises.

Over the past year we have worked in PT on upper body strength, so that is the new emphasis to cross-training.

1) Swimming: I'll continue to swim 2 days a week at the Hearst Pool.
2) Running: As my back allows I will begin running on Tuesday and increase mileage the best I can.
3) Gymnastics: Starting next week I'll begin taking classes again at Acrosports. I was doing this when I was at SFSU and I loved it. It works the upper body to death and it's something I really enjoy. So, look out. As soon as that first paycheck from Summer Teaching comes in, I am there!!!!!

With all of these combined exercises, I hope to improve my stamina, my running and my injury prevention, while having a good time and enjoying my exercise again. I'll post again next week to update you all to the progress.

In the meantime, get off your asses and at least post to let us know you are still alive!!!!!!

5 Bottom Plow and So much More

Ladies and Gentleman the five bottom plow:


Normally drug behind a tractor, not a runner, those five blades dig into the earth turning it over making it fresh and ready for planting. I'll leave you to imagine the drag and the extended meaning of Forests metaphor.

That out of the way, I'm proud to say that I have not run a foot since my last post. However, a trip to the physical therapist was most enlightening on Thursday. After assessing the situation he asked what my goals are. He didn't even flinch when I said I wanted to do another marathon. Granted, this is the guy that helped me walk again after the first one, so I thought the coin could fall either way. Either he was going to take it in stride, or he was going to say something like, "Now, you've run two of them. And you are in for your second round of Physical therapy in the last 6 months. I'm seeing a trend here. Are you sure this marathon thing is the best for you?" Thankfully he didn't, so I was spared having to bitch slap him and tell him that I was the one paying the bills and he would do what I said.
So, we've figured out the problem and have devised the beginnings of a plan. It all goes back to that barn in Wisconsin some 30 odd years ago. It looked something like this:

It is here that I fell and broke my arm at the age of 4. It is this accident that, it has been theorized, was the beginning of my scoliosis. No, no one pushed me. If you can believe it I was not the most graceful child, although it was my dream to be a world class diver or figure skater. So, this scoliosis has meant that my body makes a lot of funny adjustments in order to get through the day. What it means most significantly is that my stomach muscles hardly ever work. I use my back for everything which just doesn't cut it sometimes. As I know I've mentioned before, a marathon, in such situations, is much like a rock in your shoe. Imagine, if you will, that there is a rock in your shoe. Now, you could walk across the room and it wouldn't be that big of a deal. You might even be able to walk around the block and not have a problem, maybe a mile, but a 26.2 miles? Your foot would be a bloody messy. Trust me, I've had it happen for 11 miles. Why didn't I remove the rock? I'm not quite sure, but it was a bloody mess. So, 26.2 miles has exagerated what were previously minor injuries brought about by my poor body mechanics over years and years of moving. Frankly, I will continue to keep running marathons, because it is helping me move so much better, that we might eventually fix everything.
With round two of PT Mel promises we will fix even more and get me on the right track. Now if you will excuse me I have exercises to do. Can anyone say, Kegel? Just kidding.

So, the moral of the story is: Don't climb in barns. It's terribly expensive later in life.