Road to Recovery

Since my last post on September 20 things have gotten a bit interesting. The following weekend I went out to do a 15 mile run at Fort Stevens after a few really good 4-7 mile runs during the week and strained a calf muscle. I was only 2.15 miles into the run and had to walk back to the camp site. Denise was able to run a great 15 miles that day with her foot taped and ran another 20 this past Friday.

We both continue to undergo PT and this past Saturday I was able to run 18 miles at a time 3 minutes better than my best time for that distance. Had a fair amount of discomfort at the end of the run and took a bath in cold water only with a bucket of ice added to make it even colder!

Since I cannot run during the week while going through PT and "rest" I do a hard hour on the bike each night keeping my heartrate around 145 for the duration. This allows me to continue to build lung and heart capacity for the stresses of a marathon. PT is going well and includes ultrasound therapy, ice massages, regular massage, electric stimulation in addition to stretching and strengthening exercises. Last Monday I would have rated my physical level at 5% of where I was a few weeks ago but 9 days later would call it about 70%. Will go to PT again this Thursday and again next week Monday and Thursday while trying to run 13 miles this Saturday. Also have accupuncture scheduled next week with Ivan and a massage scheduled early the following week with Lorna.

We leave on Thursday October 22 for the race on the 25th! Congrats to all that ran the Portland Marathon including Dee Dee, Mark, Curt, Cecille, Stephanie, Mehgan and Mary.

Finally, I have added my friend Mary recently diagnosed with cancer to my training shirt and John, brother of a client that passed away last week. Please pledge if you can so we can make a difference in the cancer fight.