Sidelined

Along with the benefits of being active everyday, we take a risk. A risk of getting injured. Yesterday was my day on the court. No, not biking or running, but jumping. 

I jumped for a lob during a paddle tennis match. I came down on my left foot and heard and felt a pop in my calf. We had just started the match, too, and I was looking forward to playing. I stopped right away and knelt down to rub my calf. It hurt! I was in denial, I felt this couldn’t be happening to me. It just can’t.

My teammate came over to see how I was. We stopped play and my captain came out of the hut and said “Betsy, it’s not worth it.” She was right…but I really didn’t want to stop. My gut knew there was no way I could run and land on my foot.

I went into the hut and commiserated with my teammates and after some ice and little bit of stretching had to forfeit the match. My captain, Janet, offered to carry me on her back to the car and Chris carried my bag. I had tried calling Bruce but he was so busy he didn’t pick up so I hobbled into his office and plopped into a chair. He was happy it wasn’t my achilles tendon – I’d be out for long term and never be the same. So he slipped on a compression sock, gave me a boot, and crutches. 

Staying off my foot is going to be tough. And yesterday was Brad’s 14th birthday. We celebrated – there is much to celebrate! 

We hope an ultrasound will show exactly what snapped and Bruce will have a better idea of my recovery. 2- 6 weeks? I’ll take the 2 if I get a choice! 

Being active has it’s benefits and I’d never stop to avoid injury. I may even jump in the pool today with a buoy and swim some much needed laps! And there’s always water running….as Mark and Kim say, they’ve got the weight belts and it’s great for recovery. 

I’m on the road and hope it’s fast!

Runnin’ the streets of Chicago

Team Morgan & Noxon in our team wind breakers Photo by Mary O'Brion

When a 20+ mph wind whipped up and slapped me right in the face at 7 am Saturday morning on the streets of Chicago, I was inclined to turn around and go back to my warm car.

Instead, Bruce pulled out the garbage bags he brought to keep us warm. It’s a classic style. A runner’s winter secret. The good ol’ garbage bags.

Style smmyle…who needs pricey techno wind jackets?

We donned the garbage bags after several pit stops at the Fairmount Hotel, warm and private…

As we made our way down to the starting & staging area near Grant Park the wind calmed down considerably- people were wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts, while we felt the thermal warming of our plastic.

The crowds were huge as they gathered for the 5k start – from Coral A back to the Open Coral where there were hundred even thousands of walkers. Through the flood of people we heard the announcer say there was a semi-truck that had an accident or was stuck at an underpass. The police were clearing, but they were-routing the course. A 15 min late start – 7:55 am.  The 15k course would stay the same.

We made several more pit stops to the porta-potties, then shivering, did a short warm up before heading over to the 15k “staging” area. RAM was organized I have to say! We all inched our way up to the front half of Coral A. A guy with a garbage bag jacket stood next to us!

8:35 am and the sun was up & warming us up. We shed our “jackets” and I took off another one of my layers. We all wished each other luck – Toby, Scott, Mark, Kim, Bruce…and the horn went off.

The course was excellent – and the wave of runners immense. All we could hear was the footfall of thousands of people in the streets of Chicago. We ran down Columbus, LaSalle, W. Monroe, W. Jackson, Van Buren, S. Michigan, then back toward the Shed – up a hill at the finish (yeah not happy about that one).

It was cool running between Chicago’s towering buildings absorbing the architecture…then in the streets past town homes, through sun and shade – wind and warmth. I ran steadily with Kim & Toby passing the mile markers/clocks and checking our pace. Every now and then checking in with each other – are you OK? You’re looking strong….

I felt good…but had to go to the bathroom during most of the run – despite my several pre-run stops. I heard some people ducked into a Starbucks for a quick pit stop. I kept my focus ahead – but maybe should have stopped!

The finish could have come a bit sooner! My watch was saying 10.2 miles by the time I crossed the line, but then the satellite reception between the buildings was interrupted and threw off my watch.

I grabbed some Gatorade quickly after my finish and mingled – the sun shining and runners crossing the line continuously. A glorious race day!

Tables of Ghiradelli chocolate (Twilight choc with sea salt & almonds was the hot give-away- & it’s very good!) were for the taking and we headed to the Post Race Party tent for some fondue and hot chocolate before heading back home.

Cooling down at the post race party

On HC Facebook page some people were complaining that the distance was incorrect because of the re-routing of the 5k….come on…give the organizers a break! It was a last minute snafu they couldn’t control and I think they did a great job in quickly responding to the problem.  Handling that many people with a time line – and all of the co-ordination it takes to run a huge race like this has to be 24/7 job the weeks before…Be thankful we all could run!

So….Turkey Trot for some? Which race is next? I’ll be working on core strength, giving my legs a bit of a break and hitting the water for some much needed laps!

But…still a few more run clinics to attend before backing off on running for a little

We have an update on the WGN Show – I found out Friday from the producer that our segment will be aired THIS SUNDAY, THE 13TH at 11:30 am….so check it out. I’ll blog again and Tweet. Also the TWT Indoor Tri is that day. Be sure to check it out!

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Expo at Union Station

 

Time for the Hot Chocolate Race!

It’s a grand entrance.  Union Station in Chicago is the Expo location for the Hot Chocolate 15k & 5k race this Saturday.

It only made sense that Mark and I took the train into the station this rainy, windy morning. We hit the Expo at 9:30 ish – early enough to avoid the crowds. And by looking at all of the packets/bibs that were boxed and ready for racers- this was gonna be huge! The Expo times run from 7 am – 9 pm today and tomorrow.

Goodies include a race wind-breaker jacket (photo to come)…and plenty of options to buy more HC “official” apparel:

Hotc C's very own stylin' gear

Of course all of these shirts, hats, mugs etc. will be available race morning. These running, racing, enthusiasts LOVE the latest gear and apparel. It’s tempting…I caved in and bought a Sugoi base layer shirt – I just couldn’t live with out (lol). Well, I have to keep up with technology. I was tempted to buy a new Sugoi wind breaker jacket with new magnetized sleeves – yah, it’s true. While running at a good clip, you can easily pull off the sleeves of your jacket, tuck them in your back pocket and run much cooler in your vest- price tag is $120.00….I’ll probably cave the next time.

I certainly couldn’t pass up the Twilight Dark Ghirardelli chocolate square – or 2. I love the dark and it’s good for you, too. After all, that’s the draw for the race, the chocolate, right? More at the finish line. Fondue- it’s OTT.

RAM Racing is on a marketing BLITZ with this race….we talked to Dave Wallach, the new Chief Marketing Officer for RAM racing and he said they’re running  ALL of the Hot Choc races across the country – San Fran, Tx, DC and I can’t remember where else. Anyway..it’s big. The website even has a You Tub video on the coral starts. check out their website: Chicago’s Grant Park Hot Chocolate 15k/5k

Organization is good and I’m counting on them to get me to the starting line!

 

 

Long hills, long run, haunted house & hot chocolate

Everybody likes Hot Chocolate, right? Me included. A little hot c straight up after a 15 k run in the middle of Chicago when it’s only 47 degrees sounds warming and inviting….that’s what I’ll be doing Saturday morning.

In preparation, Vachee led our run clinic last Saturday giving us long hill repeats with gradual accelerations on the flats. Lots of flats…then more hills. Pacing was important so we didn’t tire out at the end – and it was a 1:00 hour plus workout.

I tried kickin’ my butt with my heels as I went up the hills, going as hard as I could without falling over It helped me gain some momentum and the extra umph I needed to get up the hill at the top. And I didn’t feel that I exerted too much.

After dashing home after the clinic, Eric was already off to football practice game walk-through and Brad was organizing his haunted house in our garage with his friends. They worked on it Friday after school, then most all of Saturday and more on Sunday. This was a dedicated bunch of 13 & 14 year olds scaring up some screams for Halloween. It was also a lesson in cooperation, negotiation, and teamwork – more than anything else. I was was impressed with their hard work – taking a few breaks here and there to play some football in the back yard- but hey, they kept at it and produced a great “show” yesterday!

Trick or Treaters were lining up to go through the haunted house- only to find that it was closed a few times because of wall issues. Apparently, a few plastic walls were pulled down by accident when scared kids reached out or ran into a wall by mistake. It was dark in there and the strobe lights were going. And the scary music…and creepy skeletons…they thought of it all.

We survived…as did the kids who were brave enough to design the “house” and those who walked through. I like a good scare now and then – gets me running faster when I think I might be chased.

Eric finished up his football and got started right away on basketball. Brad’s in a hiatus right now until basketball starts for him. Love those indoor, 1 hr games with no elements to contend with.

The lightening sirens sounded on Sunday and rain pelted down in the last quarter of Eric’s Jr. Titan game. The game was getting rough – players limped to the sidelines crying from being hit too hard.

Running or soccer next year, Eric? Please?

A 10-mile run yesterday on another gorgeous fall day and I’m feeling very ready for the 15k on Saturday. Looking forward to lacing up!