August 15th and 16th

Tuesday and Wednesday

SUMMER BLUES

The last two days have seen a return to some good work at the weight room and pool.  Tuesday I even added 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. Other work with weights, bike, swimming and water running.

Orthotics continue to feel ok, up to about 5 hours a day now.  Completed 15 minutes on the elliptical yesterday with no discomfort during exercise.  But Achilles tendon still is tender to the touch.  No less tender after 6 weeks of no running.  Quite disappointing.  But I can swim and bike and lift and pump in the pool.

Continuing physical therapy 3 times a week.

Cross-country practice at Liberty is going pretty well.  The boys all say they are keeping up with their logs.

Stats –

I-Mad and I-Mid = 4

Sleep = good

Weight = stable

a.m.HR = 54BPM

August 11, Friday

Now I am sitting in the office waiting room of the Rothman Institute in Manahawkin. Today I am picking up my Orthopedics that have been designed for my feet my Dr. Schick (Faith). Doctor Faith  is very confident that they will prevent reoccurrence  of my nagging foot injuries, both Achilles tendonitis and plantar  fasciitis.  After 2 weeks of therapy I’m beginning to see some improvement did both of these items. I am tempted to run a little bit at Ocean County Park tomorrow during cross-country practice.  But I should stay true to my pledge to resist running until my Achilles tendon is totally pain free.

I will update and finish this post after I am fitted with my new Orthotics.

I am now walking with my new Orthotics. Doc says I should only wear for one hour for the first day and had an hour everyday for a week. I am pleasantly surprised that they are not hard and rough on my feet. They are comfortable and seem to be very supportive. The InStep on the right is higher than on the left which the doctor says is to balance my foot strike. I was not aware that I needed to be balanced, but we will see how that works. She said if the InStep is too high it can be adjusted. I have an appointment to return in three weeks for an evaluation. So, continuing the physical therapy, getting used to orthotics  and trying to stay somewhat fit in the pool, I will give to the end of August for this to play out.

August 8th,  Tuesday

Another well-attended (12 guys) summer workout for the Liberty cross country boys tonight.  Top guys ran over 9 miles in a solid 60 minutes. The coaches sense, and I think the boys sense also, that this can be the best Jackson Liberty cross-country team in quite a while.

Dylan Stinner defended his title in the “Cutest Towel ” competition tonight with a possibly even more adorable towel than last week.   Note the three, yes three, fairy princesses!

Gonna be tough to beat.  Dylan is on fire!

August 6th & 7th

Sunday–

Returned to training mode today despite continued sore Achilles tendon. My body was feeling sore and tired and grumpy from lack of running replaced by a foreign set of exercises in PT.  It felt good to get back to work. Clocked 40 minutes in the weight room, and swimming, and running in the pool.   Finished up with 20 minutes in the hot whirlpool.      Not training can not be an option!

Monday –

“Rainy days and Mondays” will never get me down. ?????

Started out on this wet Monday with one hour of physical therapy. Then I spent an hour at the clubhouse lifting, swimming, biking and water running. I am pleasantly fatigued. Also added 20 minutes in the hot whirlpool. This was another day I was determined and happy to get in some good work.

Stats –

I-Mad and I-Mid  = 4/5. Not improving much.?

a.m.HR = 54BPM

SLEEP =11 hours on Saturday. !?

Weight = #152. holding steady

Workout = 2 days of solid cross training ???

 August 5th, Saturday

Another good workout this morning  for the Jackson Liberty boys cross-country team at the trails of Allaire State Park.  The guys say they are maintaining the logs, and the turnout for practices has been best I’ve seen in my time at Liberty.

Below are pictures of the guys from running strides in ‘Beautiful form‘ after a long run on  the trails.

Very Pretty!

My status is stable, doing PT and lots of exercises, not running yet.

August 4th, Friday

Another day of PT and a long walk on a beautiful summer night.  Today marks the second day that I sm off the anti-inflammatory pills. Yesterday both of my feet were a bit more achy than in recent days, but all felt better after an hour of PT this morning. I need a day of pool  work to burn some pent-up energy.

Stats –

I-Mad= 3.5

I-Mid = 3

For new readers; I-Mad and I-Mid  are my indexes to keep track of the level of morning discomfort in both my InStep and Achilles tendon.  (0 = no pain.  10 = unbearable.)  This is measured during the first few steps getting out. of bed.

a.m.HR = 54BPM

Weight = #152

Sleep = Averaging 7 hours

Workout = PT + 2 mile walk

August 3rd, Thursday

A good Thursday night practice with the Liberty cross country boys at Carasaljo Lake Park.  The boys are psyched for this season and anxious to log their summer training in their new log books.  I bribed them into checking out my blog tonight by promising to post a picture of the group.

I recorded each one of the guys this evening while he was running  strides so each could personally assess the fluidity of his own stride. They all seemed to become more graceful after watching the video.

THE BOYS!

Dylan won the cutest towel award this evening with an adorable one representing the movie “High School Musical.”  It is going to be hard to beat.

Keep up the good work guys!

August 2nd,  Wednesday

Working hard at PT and missing  running.  Both feet are feeling better and getting stronger.  Plus my physical therapy director, Rebecca, administers healing foot and calf massages with her magical fingers.?

Stats-

I-Mad and I-Mid = 2/3

SLEEP = 7/8 hours average. Rising uncharacteristically early on PT days.

Weight =  #153 ?

a.m.HR = 54BPM

More PT

Still working on PT as the month of July ends. Half hour weight room session yesterday: not bad.  Still refraining from leg activities except walking. My PT sessions consist  mainly of exercises to strengthen ankle and foot muscles. This is something I have never attempted before and find quite interesting.

– 3 more days of anti-inflammatory pills

– 11 days until I pick up new Orthotics

– 4 more weeks of physical therapy.

July 24th, 25th, 27th, 28th

Started physical therapy for my sore feet this week. I am so far pleasantly surprised at the professionalism and the kind of work I am doing. I think it will definitely help strengthen my feet and prevent recurrence of these injuries. I will not be doing any activities except prescribed PT for least one more week.