Taking Baby Step!

I am pretty sure that this video says it all.

Karen

Just Checking In

It's past time for me to update everyone at where I am with my work outs and progression of my knee since I have not blogged in almost two weeks. Sorry for not keeping up as I should I am a believer in blogging for some reason it does me good.

I have not been able to consistently work out as I should, my knee is probably about 95% better which is so wonderful and I have to share that I have learned to be patient and let my knee heal and for me that is difficult, I have always been someone who when I have a task/goal in front of me I push to get through it so this injury has really ticked me off but it has taught me that in some cases its best to let things work thru then jump back in at the right time . Today I brought my work out clothes with me to work in hopes that I can change after work and go to the track to get some run/walk in but not sure how it will play out but I am so ready to give it a shot so today is the day hopefully and what I mean by that is I have been on the go every single day with work! With the Florida State fair to the Spring Expo and now the Strawberry Festival my life has been go go go go go and I am needing some time to just CHILL! Understand I am not complaining but I am just ready for all these events to slow down a bit :-)

Be blessed and thankful today for what the Lord has given you..........sometimes I forget to do that but today at this very moment I want to say I am THANKFUL what about you?

Chat at you tomorrow.

Karen

Flatwoods Trail Ride-Fun Day!

Today was the first day that I have gotten out in the past two weeks or so to exercise since my mishap with my knee which by the way is doing so much better so I am hoping that I can start running again and I have a feeling that sometime before the week is out I am going to give it a try but will work into it slowly.

I went with Lori, Raul, Ryan & Sarah today to Tampa to a bike trail that seemed to go forever but the trail was absolutely wonderful and it was like a breath of fresh air to get out and get active again and I can not wait to do it again. This was the first day out on my new bike and it took a bit of getting used to. I am not used to having my shoes clipped onto my pedals and it takes some getting used to especially when you are stopping!! I could share some stories from today but I am afraid that I would get into trouble but let me tell you we all had some great laughs today and everyone was a good sport in spite of the mishaps. On the trail we did get a bit confused on the direction to go but we all made it back to where we started and we put 14 miles on our bikes today which was way more than what we planned to do. All in all though it was an awesome day, spending time with friends and family was so much fun and it was a time to build great memories with many more to come on this new adventure with these bikes :-).  Oh and my friend Stephanie came to ride with us all the way from Bradenton she got in about 4 miles since she was not their when we got started but it was great to see her. After the ride we all had to go to Leroy Selmons for lunch and if you have not been there GO! They have the best fried green tomatoes you have ever sunk your teeth into. 

                                                   (In this picture my sister Lori and me)

I filmed a video today also but was unable to upload the it onto this blog for some reason so if you are reading this blog and want to see the video just shoot me an email and I will get it to you.

Going for now but will catch up with you soon....PROMISE :--)

Be blessed this week.

Karen

Things are looking up.

Well its been just about two weeks since I have been able to train and I tell you I have just about had it with this knee crap! I sound disgusted because I am but I have good new to share....my knee is feeling so much better and I have had NO pain in the last two days so I am grateful and pleased. I am still going to ice it and stay off of it for another few days or so and gradually get back into it. I have had the opportunity to speak with a professional triathlete who has given me pointers on how to take care of my knee and I have found some stretching that has really helped as well so I feel like I am just about to get back on track.

Tomorrow I will be going out on a bike ride with my sister, nephew and Sarah. We will be going to Tampa to ride and I am looking forward to it. Just the fact that I will getting out and doing some type of workout sounds awesome. I am not looking forward though to having a sore bottom!!!!!! But its going to happen I just know it! My new bike has a seat that looks like it should fit a small child and I tell you what its something I am just going to have to get used to so I will suck it up :-).

Well I am going to close now but I wanted to catch up on this blog. I will make sure to have some shots from tomorrow to shoot your way.

Be Blessed.

Karen

Walking Instead Of Running Today

It's been since last Monday since I ran/training as you may already know from my last blog I shared my frustrations about my know giving me problems yet I continue to experience problems with it still! My pain has gone way, way down and I think is much better but I still have some pain that will just all of a sudden show up, its just crazy and I am so ready to get past it so I can finish my 8 week training.

Today after work I decided to get all my gear together and get out to the track and give it a try. My training schedule called for a 10 minute run, 5 minute brisk walk, 10 minute run. I started the 10 minutes with a walk then I tried to push into a jog but my knee is just not ready for it just yet so I just decided to do the full 25 minutes with a brisk walk and it ended up to being about a 2 mile's. I was glad to be able to do that and it put me back in that space that I have been missing for the past 7 days but with out the running which I miss. I am praying that I will be back at it 100% soon.

Anyway I am looking forward to the rest of the week.

Karen

Totally Ticked and Aggravated!

Ok so how do I really feel? I am ticked off and aggravated that I have not been able to train and its been 3 days so far! Tuesday morning I woke up with pain in my right knee and the pain seemed to be sporadic but when it would rear its nasty head let me tell you it hurt! Yesterday seemed to be a bit better but not to much but today is much better but I am not at the point where I think I should hit the pavement running. The crappiest part of this is that I only have 7 more days until my 8 week training period for a 5k is completed. This set back has really bothered me and its on my mind constantly but I have to remember that my body is telling me to give it a rest and just let me recover so that is what I have been doing but I do not like it. This running thing has become an important part of my life and one that I find in a strange way relaxing if you can believe that! It's like its become a friend that allows me to clear my mind and also spend some quality time with the Lord. I tried to set up my trainer for my bike but ran into some difficulty so I am going to take it and the bike to the Flying Fish where I bought my bike and let them give my some direction on how to set it up correctly but until then I hope to do some riding while waiting on my knee to get back on track but I hope it will be quick....like tomorrow would be nice!

I decided to do some investigating of my own and I found that my injury could be "Liotibial Band Syndrome" (what a mouth full) .DESCRIPTION:  Pain on the outside of the knee (not usually accompanied by swelling or locking.) The pain is sporadic and disappear with rest, only to reoccur suddenly, often at the same point in a run. Depending on the individual, this could happen at four miles, two miles or just 200 yards. The pain often goes away almost immediately after you stop running. LIKELY CAUSES: This is and overuse injury. The iliotibial band is a band of tissue that begins at the outside of the pelvis and extends to the outside part of the knee. The band helps stabilize the knee. If it becomes too short, the band rubs too tightly on the bone of your leg and becomes irritated. The tightness is usually the result of too much strain from over training. REMEDY: Patience (my favorite!) This one takes a while. Give yourself plenty of rest, reduce your miles and ice frequently. You can keep running , but cut your run short as soon as you begin to feel pain. Cut way back on hill work, and be sure to run on even surfaces. Look into some deep friction massage with a physical therapist.  The other part of this is to do some leg raises to strengthen your hips and  be conscientious about the iliotibial band stretch.

Well there it is in a nutshell but I am no doctor but I think that my research has hit the nail on the head for what I am feeling. I am ready to get back on track though NOW.

The picture above is my youngest Jack Russell Areana, she turned 1 the end of December 08. 

She keeps my on my game!

Gotta run!

Karen

Totally AGRIVB

A Wet Day Today...All Day..Monday Feb. 2nd, 09

Rain, Rain, Rain all day long!

The rain has been needed so I sure do not want to complain but it slacked off for just enough time for me to get my run in at the track. My run this evening consisted of an 8 minute run then a 5 minute walk and then another 8 minute run. My knees did better but I felt like I weighed a ton for some reason. But I made it through and that is what counts. Tomorrow is my off day and I am glad but I will be back at it on Wednesday.

My video blog goes into more detail so make sure to watch it, I just am really at a lose for words and it is probably has a lot to do with me, I am just about to fall asleep so I need to hit it, I have a big day tomorrow with an early start.

Have a great day!

Karen

Change UP Today Super Bowl Sunday.

 It's Super Bowl Sunday and I am looking forward to watching the game and have some dinner but first I wanted to share my outcome from today's training.

This afternoon I got in my training and today called for a 5 minute run, 2 minute brisk walk and then repeat it 5 times. All day today I felt tired and I am sure it was from not being able to fall asleep until 2 a.m.! Feeling like that made me want to skip my workout and just get it in tomorrow but I knew that was not the right thing to do so I pushed through it and finished. As far as feeling on my game with training today.....I Did NOT! My knees were not doing the best today but I know that I am still getting myself into shape and I am not done with this 8 week regiment yet so I am looking forward to a day when I go out to train and its just a breeze with no bumps. HEY, I am not complaining but I know it seems like it, I am only sharing about where I am now and how I am feeling today. This journey is a challenge and one that I choose endure and glad to do it. Here is a great quote that I have heard through the years "NO PAIN NO GAIN". Now that is how I feel this evening but bring tomorrow on!

Till Tomorrow,

Karen