Smile Mile Kids Run Race Report

Today was a nice, cool and sunny morning - around 55-60 degrees F as I played spectator to my two daughters who ran the local Smile Mile race. Unlike the kids fun runs, the participants register and get unique race numbers. My older daughter was number 91 and the younger was number 92.

The kids run this one mile race with their age groups. It begins with 11 year old boys, then 11 year old girls, then 10 year old boys, and so forth. I had an 11 year old girl and a 7 year old girl. So the first ran at 8:15 and the second at 10:15. Fortunately the race organizers sponsor games in the field to keep the runners busy before and after their race.

The 11 year old was up first. Last year she did the race in about 11:48 min while helping a fellow runner who had fallen and was hurt. She helped the girl find a grown up. This is the daughter who has been training with me for the 5K. She took her running watch along, planning to take timed walking breaks. She crossed the finish line in 10:26 min, a PR!!!

The 7 year old didn't run for another 2 hours, but her turn came up and at the sound of the horn she was off. We met her after the first quarter mile or so - she took off a bit fast so she was walking, but still doing ok. The older daughter met her along the back side of the course to encourage her during a stretch she thought was tough for her. Dad ran her part of the last quarter mile, and she approached the finish line with mom jumping up and down and cheering. She cross the finish line right at 12 minutes. I don't recall her time last year, but she did a great job.

After the finish, I went back to find my 11 year old skipping in with one of the late finishers from the 7 year old race. I told her it was time to leave, and she complained that she needed to help encourage the runners who were behind to hang in there and come in (a very proud mommy moment!).

Both finishers received a medal and a chocolate-chocolate chip cookie for their efforts. We all had a wonderful time.

Mom the spectator forgot the camera (how stupid is that?!) but took some pictures after we got home.

On second thought....maybe a couple of weeks won't hurt

Today I went back for my first physical therapy (PT) visit since the initial eval on Monday. It began with a warm up on the bike. While warming up, the PT intern apologized for not answering my question about running on Monday (I ended up calling the main PT who told me it was ok to run). She asked me how my heel has been feeling and I told her that it was a little sore yesterday but doing ok. She then told me that I should consider taking some time off from running completely to really give the plantar fascia a chance to heal up. "No running at all?" I asked. "It really would help," she replied.

After that I got a foot massage, did some exercises, learned some new exercises for at home, and got an ultrasound treatment before leaving. I spoke also with the main PT who was also there and she agreed that, although she doesn't like to tell people to cease their sport completely unless things are really bad, it would help it heal quicker if I gave it a break. "How long, 1 or 2 weeks?" I asked. "No more than 2 weeks," she replied.

(Sigh!) So here is the new plan:
1 - When it is time for my daughter's run, either have my husband go with her or ride the scooter or bike with her.
2 - Hit the elliptical 3-4 times a week to keep up the cardio, leg exercise, and caloric burn.
3 - Try not to eat so much (my body still craves all that food I am used to consuming).

I will so miss the running - and the weather was so great today!!! But I figure, a couple weeks off will give me pain free running later - then I can train for those races.

Suffice it to say the 12K is out for Feb 24th (as is the 3K). But I am hoping I will be ok for the Winter Park Road Race (a 10K) in March.

I am happy to be on the road to recovery!

The Verdict is In - Plantar Fasciitis

According to http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp09001.htm,
"The plantar fascia is a thick, broad, inelastic band of fibrous tissue that courses along the bottom (plantar surface) of the foot. It is attached to the heel bone (calcaneus) and fans out to attach to the bottom of the metatarsal bones in the region of the ball of the foot. Because the normal foot has an arch, this tight band of tissue (plantar fascia) is at the base of the arch. In this position, the plantar fascia acts like a bowstring to maintain the arch of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis refers to an inflammation of the plantar fascia. The inflammation in the tissue is the result of some type of injury to the plantar fascia. Typically, plantar fasciitis results from repeated trauma to the tissue where it attaches to the calcaneus."

This resulting diagnosis was no surprise, since this is what I have suspected all along. Still, there is something about having an expert do some official evaluation to confirm those suspicions.

The good news is that I now have an official verdict and a plan of attack!! Other good news is that the intern doing the evaluation is also a runner and my physical therapist also works for the athletic department of our local university. They know athletes. In fact, the PT told me that she doesn't like to have her patients cease all activity in their sport unless it is really necessary. She said with my reduced mileage, as long as I felt ok, iced it and took care of it, I could still do some running.

My homework is to do some specific stretching and strengthening exercises and report for treatment about twice a week for the next few weeks. Then we see where we are at that point. There didn't seem to be any alarm about my condition or need for any drastic measures.


With all of that, since I ran yesterday I did not expect to run today. My daughter was a little stressed with her school work so I suggested a walk. She then countered by suggesting a run. What a great idea!!! So instead of running in the morning we ran our two laps tonight - 1.42 miles in 18:52 min. It helped her relax to get back to her school work, and saved us from having to wake up early for a run. I like seeing her view running as an outlet or a way to relax.

So now to do some stretching!

What is My Definition of Success?

(Husband and older daughter looking out over the Badlands in South Dakota, 2005)

Today my daughter and I took a different route than running around the block. We actually ran down part of the main road that I normally run on, then cut through the neighborhood a bit. We even ran by the house of one of her friends and chatted with her friend's dad for a bit. It was a really nice 1.54 mile run, running 1:30 and walking 1:00 minute. Total time running was 19:51 min.

After the run with my daughter, I decided to go out for another 3 miles on my own. I made it an easy 3 miles, and spent the time thinking (and talking to myself) about how I would answer the question, "How do you define success?" You see, I have a lot of evidence in my life that would indicate that I am a successful person, however, they are not why I am successful. I had this epiphany one day while sitting in my office at work. As I looked around and saw all of the "success items" on my walls (Bachelor's and Master's degrees, project management certification, company leadership program participation, 5 year and 10 year employee awards, and business cards with the title "Vice President" on them). Had I "arrived"? Could I finally declare success. Even most recently, my small bulletin board is covered with my marathon pictures and my medal hangs there. Another trophy?

And what about at home? I have a nice house in a nice neighborhood, two wonderful kids and a great marriage with my best friend.

None of these things are bad (in fact they are really great!). Goals are good things to work toward and achieve. They help keep me focused on the things that mean most in my life. But it is not the final achievement that marks success. It is who I become while I am pursuing those things. It is how I live in each moment of each day as I reach those goals.

So success, to me, is living the fullest of each moment of each day with those around me in the life that I have, at that moment. It is that feeling I have when I feel I am one with the universe - that I have a specific place in it and I am right where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing. It is the feeling I have when I look at the picture above and feel the wonder of the extraordinary world we live in.

And the run? Well, it was a marvelous feeling easy run. I don't have the splits (seems the Garmin just continued on from the run with my daughter) but the final time was 35:03 for 3.1 miles - average heart rate around 155 bpm. The heel feels about normal - a little achey after the run.

So when I get to run around the neighborhood chatting happily with my daughter....I call that success!! :-)

Two For the Price of One!

(My two daughters at Duck Lake in Yellowstone National Park - July 2005)

I am continuing my heel rest and just running with my daughter this week. Today was our scheduled run and so we ran the two laps around the block, about 1.43 miles, in 18:09 min. We did this running 1:30 and walking 1 min like we did on Tuesday. Again, it challenged my daughter but gave her plenty of walking breaks.

When we got back from our run, my younger daughter wanted to go...so off we went one more time around the block. She and I ran 30 sec and walked 30 sec the entire way.

I got to run with them both this afternoon. What a treat!!

Heel report: Heel has been feeling pretty good. It was a little sore after the trips around the block so I am icing tonight. Before getting out of bed in the morning I have been massaging and stretching and it has made those first few steps much easier.