Things Can Only Get Better!

So true!

I had so many goals for the year 2013. None of which I was able to accomplish "as is". Unforeseen injuries will do that to a person. So what do you do when goals can not be completed because of circumstances beyond your control? You let those goals evolve into something new. And so my goals evolved into simply completing the races I had signed up for. But even that had to change to finishing the races that I ran in and not quitting. I can honestly say I did my best and finished those races I ran in. Does this make for a successful year or a year of failure?

I believe it was a year of success. Why? Because I learned some lessons that in the end will make me a better person and eventually a better runner. And just what lessons did you learn, Cristina? Well, I am glad you asked.

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that what I tell you now is my own experience and should be taken as such. If you are injured by all means see a doctor!

Lesson #1 Get a second opinion!
At one point in our lives we will put in the training and then get injured. We will be told to either a) Hang up your running shoes forever (see another doctor) or b) Heal up and then start to slowly get back out there.

When I first got injured after the Walt Disney World Half Marathon my podiatrist told me to just quit running and then he slapped a boot on my foot. I quickly figured out that this man was not a runner and just didn't understand. But I did take his advice, I transferred my bib for a foam race to my niece, and then sought out some knowledge from the internet. I slowly got better. But I wasn't healed when I did the Expedition Everest Challenge in May and I paid for it with pain. Would I run again? I had to get some answers and some help! 

This time it was in the form of a sports medicine/chiropractor. It did help... a ton. He assured me that I didn't need to give up running and that we could get me back out there on the trail. Then he electrocuted me, used medieval torture devices, and basically helped me to begin to heal. Note: I have a high pain threshold so it isn't his fault that we didn't know I wasn't ready for the Tower of Terror Ten Miler. But I felt great! I didn't feel 100% but not many people do before a race, right? Someone is always battling some injury. I felt way better (although I had a little bit of pain still) and I thought if I toughed it out I could finish but I wouldn't be setting a new PR. Little did I know I would be setting a new PR in my pain threshold! Which leads to...

Lesson #2 Never give up...but be smart about it!
If you clicked on the Tower of Terror Ten Miler link then you know what happened. I pushed and did not quit the race! But the next month I was getting more treatments , not running, yet healing. I did make the decision to transfer my Thanksgiving day Run 4 the Pies Race bib to my niece again. You have to be smart about your injuries and like Kenny Rogers says in "The Gambler"..."know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.". During the race I knew I wasn't injuring myself any further and that I could push and so I did. However, I didn't want to go into a race knowing I may have to quit halfway in because I was permanently damaging myself.That is why I transferred my bib. I knew I had to heal and so I am. I had to re-evaluate what the causes could be and what to do to prevent that pain again. So, in my opinion, it is better to not start a race because you are being smart about what you know you are ready for rather than dropping out mid-race because you were an idiot and disregarded all of the warning signs that you shouldn't have run that race in the first place. Healing time is our friend. Which leads me to...

First run with no foot pain!
3 miles, baby!

Lesson #3 Time is both a friend and an enemy in a runner's life!
Why is time an enemy in a runner's life? Because it can both try your patience (when healing) and your nerves (when the balloon ladies are breathing down your neck). Right now I think time has been my friend. I have taken the time to do some physical therapy. It has helped me heal so much. I think at this point I am at 85% ready for my 10k in two weeks. My foot feels good...very good (knock on wood) but my lungs are bad...very bad. I have lost my endurance. But I kind of don't care about that. I know I will get it back. I am just jazzed about my feet. On Saturday I ran/walked 3 miles with no foot pain and no numbness. This is the first time that has happened in almost a year! If the only thing that bothers me during the 10k is lack of endurance and lung power then I am okay with that. I would rather have a tough race than a painful one.

So, in my opinion I have had a successful year of lessons learned. Yes, my original goals went down the proverbial crapper. Who cares about the original goals when the trials you endured give you new insight into yourself? I have a whole new year to make entirely new goals and have those goals evolve into something else. The point is I HAVE GOALS and I intend to always strive to accomplish them. Therefore, I will always be successful because I will never give up trying to become a better me. So was my year a failure or a success? I have indeed had a very successful year. Here's to the new one!

FOAM FEST February 2013... Being An Athletic Supporter....

Our Foam Fest Team Name and Logo

How many of you have looked forward to a race for a few months and then had to bow out due to an injury? Yeah, it doth sucketh. The number one reason I was looking forward to this one was because it was going to be my first race with my nephew. This was his 17th birthday present from me...his favorite aunt. The number two reason was it just looked awesome. How often do you get to act like a five year old again? But I found myself sidelined with a heel injury. 

MY new team logo for MY shirt.

My heel started killing me about two days after the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Within two weeks (three days before the Foam Fest) I was sitting in a podiatrist office hearing the bad news. Achilles tendon in a rare spot, bursitis, bone bruise, and pre-bone spur. The cure? Three to four weeks in a boot and then heel lifts that would gradually decrease in height. Good news was it was treatable without surgery or voodoo witch doctoring. I was also assured I should be good to go for the Everest Expedition Challenge with plenty of time to train. Bad news...I was out of the Foam Fest.

I am basically being pushed forward
a little and trying not  to fall over.
I am the lime green one with
the freaking huge boot. 

I was sad but I was thankful that nothing had to be operated on. I was also thankful that I had friends who cared more about me healing than missing out on a race. I decided I wasn't going to miss out on everything though. I asked my niece Caitlin to run with her brother in my place. I would go to support my kinfolk and my friends. I also asked my friend Heather to keep an eye on my niece and nephew for me during the race. So Gimpy (me) was going to the races with her team "Rollin' with my Foamies". I wrapped my boot in Cerran Wrap and headed down to Miami. 

Look Auntie T! Foam.

TIP #1... Have something to do while they run.
 This was my first experience being a supporter and not a racer. I never understood how my family didn't get bored just standing around at a race waiting for a glimpse of me wogging by. But now I was in on the secret. Being a supporter is actually kind of fun if you have a job to do! My job was official team photographer.If I could find a position on the course (where I wouldn't be in the way of the official course photographers) then I would stand there and take photos. Because you are dedicated to taking photos of just one group you can get some really great shots! After seeing my photos after the race my friends didn't feel the need to buy any of the official race photos. So snap away if you aren't in the way!

Time to familiarize themselves with the
texture of the foam....or just play with it.

Before the race began my team decided to play with foam left behind from the start of a wave before theirs. I had a blast just watching them play around with it while I snapped photos. These are the kinds of moments the official photographers ignore. The foam had a really weird texture and didn't leave your hands wet like bathtub bubbles will. I thought to myself that maybe they wouldn't get all that wet but they would get muddy. I thought wrong.

A FOAM starting line!

And they're off!

Soon it was time for them to line up for the race. The start line slowly began to fill up with foam and the crowd began to jostle for position. My team became more giggly and smiley as the foam piled up. To be honest I did too. It was pretty cool. 3...2...1...GO! Through the foam they ran and were soon out of sight. Now it was my turn to race. Unfortunately I had about three quarters a mile to walk/hike to get to the giant slide towards the end of the race. I gimped along as fast as I could. Up a hill, then down a hill, then up a hill, then down a really dangerous gravel hill, then across a field, and then I was at the slide. I noticed the wooden walls were not too far away (about a quarter mile) across the field. Eh, I came this far why not go over there. Besides, I knew I would have enough time to gimp back to the slide because of the wait time to slide down. So I gimped my way over to the wall.

TIP #2... Cheer for other runners.

Here come my Foamies!

As you already know by now I love to high five race supporters and volunteers while I run by in my races. It gives me a boost of energy and it is downright fun to do. So I decided why not do that here? Except this time I would cheer for them while I sat on the ground. The hike over there killed my foot which made standing difficult. Too much too soon. So, I cheered and called out "I love your costume!" or "You got it!". But the best example of a support team I saw that day was a group of racers.

Up and over Foamies!
You can do it!

I knew that the Foam Fest supported Special Olympics but I was surprised when I saw a group come racing down the road. Talk about awesome people! I wish they would come cheer for us at Disney races or better yet compete in them with us. You should have heard them cheering each other on. And they stuck together as a team. They all patiently waited for the last one in their group to make it over the wall. Then they hugged, patted each other on the back, and took off towards the next obstacle before the giant slide. I kind of wish I had taken a picture to make an inspirational poster. Made me smile. 

But wait! Is that the neon colors of my Foamies racing towards me? YES! First my friends Amanda and Lara came racing up and over the wall. Apparently they decided to race each other. About ten minutes later I saw Michael come running towards me with Caitlin not far behind him. Up and over they went. About two minutes later my friend Heather and the two other members of our team came trotting towards the wall. Up and over. 

Arrrrggghh!!!

Gimp, gimp, gimp...over to the slide I went. Lucky for me there was one foam obstacle before the slide for them to conquer. This plus the wait in line gave me enough time to make it over to the giant slide. And I mean giant! 40 feet tall! I was proud of them all. Especially of my nephew Mikey because he is afraid of heights. Look at the picture! They look like ants up there! One by one (except for Heather's friend Robin who was also afraid of heights) came sliding towards the water. Heather (as seen in the picture) was the only one to actually splash into the water. The rest slowed themselves down and walked off of the ramp. It was so much fun to watch and take pictures. 

Michael finishing his first race!

And off they went! I knew I didn't have very long to get to the finish line. At least not with my foot starting to hurt. But dang it, I was determined to get there before they did! I personally think I should have gotten a medal for my epic journey back to that finish line. Remember that gravel hill I talked about climbing down? Guess what I had to do on the way back? That's right...climb back up. After that I thought I would be smart and cut across a field rather than stick to the road. Seriously folks. You should have seen it. Comedy of errors and volunteers on atvs watched as they passed me by. But that is okay. What doesn't kill you today makes you wish for death tomorrow.

The four horseman of the Apocalypse?
Naw, they just smell like horses.

I made it back in time to see Michael the mud monster come racing towards the finish foam. I was proud of him and he was too. Then I saw a sight that made my heart happy. My friend Heather made sure Caitlin wasn't left racing by herself. With the smell of horse pooh scented mud in their nostrils they came racing for the finish foam. One by one they crawled through the foam trying to get clean but grinning ear to ear. It was awesome.

You guys smell like winners...in a barn!

We found Lara and Amanda and had their foamie team picture taken as a group. In my heart I wish I could have run with them but I knew I had done the correct thing for me and my gimpy foot. I wanted to heal and be able to run another day. And I will. Meanwhile, I was reminded yet again of a fundamental truth. There is joy in serving others, there is joy in sharing other's happiness, and there is joy in simply being together doing something silly.

So, if you are sidelined with an injury might I suggest volunteering? I guarantee you will have a greater appreciation of those who cheer you on at your own races. And I know they will thank you for it. When you finally do recover go out and run a race or two where the joy is in the silliness within the race and not the personal record at the finish line. You'll wonder why you hadn't done it sooner.

Until next time...
Cristina