It appears my back has packed up. The last running I did was in December and I miss it desperately. I have had a back scan and there is massive imflammation in the sacro-illiac joints plus there is still the arthritus. I have had a cortisone injection (tooo einaa sore!) - which I had 20 Feb 3.5 weeks ago. There has been some measure of relief but really not a lot. I am working with a Biokinetist and still doing pilates in a bid to strengthen up the core. The mornings are just too hectic with pain but generally it gets a bit better during the day. I am walking and started running 1 minute for every 4 mins walking. It feels fine when I run and I can't work out if it increases the pain a day or 2 later. The next step is an MRI and then who knows. I am not quite ready for the next step.
I am really working hard on staying positive and being patient and not being rude to my body and treating the pain with respect. Gosh don't I sound grown-up. Trust me I don't feel like it much of the time.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Friday, October 7, 2011
Wild wild thang....
Wow that run was wild - wild landscape, wild distances, wild beauty, wild coastline....
3 days in the Transkei on the Wildrun (www.wildrun.co.za), 112 kms and about 21 running hours later. 1 x bruised bashed knee, 1 x vrot toe - no skin left, 1 x very proud person.
Fi and I flew down on Wed and then caught the transfer bus to Kei mouth. There was lots of nervous cheeky chatter in the bus with most people saying they hadn't trained enough - hmph those that say that the loudest are the biggest fibbers! We had briefing, dinner unpacked and repacked bags and had an unsettled nights sleep.
Day 1 45km +-7h50m, Kei Mouth - Kobb Inn
We set off early the next morning and caught the ferry across the Kei Mouth. It was freezing cold!
It was a long long loooooong day - 45kms, just under 8 hours. In my bid to keep my feet dry I took a lot of sand in the front of my shoes which caused a blister on my 2nd toe. I strapped it up but made the error of not taping the toe next to it - more on this later. When my shoes did eventually get wet it stopped the sand coming in and saved my toes from further damage. I battled a bit with energy and trying to maintain good intake of fuel. The last river crossing and sight of Cobb Inn was very welcome. I loaded up on food and had a more uneasy nights sleep - I was stiff, sore and my feet really sore! I had caused a large blister on the toe next to the strapped one.
Day 2 - 35km +- 7hours Kobb Inn - The Haven
I took a fall about 2kms into the race. Once again I was trying to not get my feet wet (silly girl) and paid a steep price on a very slippy snotty rock with a very painful knock to my knee and scraping off of skin. The knee got more and more inflamed as the day wore on and I got slower and slower. Fiona disappeared at some point. I ran most of day by myself and really enjoyed the solitude. I only got a little bit lost so felt really good at the self navigation but it was always a relief to see the photographer coz then I knew I was still in the right place. The rule was pretty simple - keep the sea on your right at ALL times!! The downhills were seriously painful but I shuffled along. This sort of event requires digging really deep and just ensuring one step at a time is made in the direction of home - which was The Haven - which was similar to Heaven to me at that point. Once again LOADS of food and even a savanna in the evening! Toe was restrapped and I had a voltarun tablet for the knee.
Day 3 - 35km +- 6 hours The Haven - Hole in the Wall
I should have had a Voltarun jab for the knee but there were so many walking wounded at the medics that I gave it up. Ooops bit of error there! Anyway I was really fit and strong by this day, not to mention mentally good with it being the final day. Fi and I stayed together on this day. Once again beautiful beaches, wild headlands, big hills to climb and descend. I got to the medics and got a voltarun tablet. There was only one support table a day but they were good and full of cheerful people and energy-filled drinks. I ran strong on the flats, walked well on the ups and hobbled the downs! We were accosted by kiddies asking for sweeeeets sweeeets and even one cheeky chap wanting R10! We climbed a seemingly never-ending set of mountains - up, down, up, down, up..... And of course you eventually get to that final up - oh my that sight of The Hole in The Wall was spectacular. I couldn't speed my way down - hobble, huff, cheer, hobble, huff, cheer! I even forgot about the Zambezi sharks in this final river crossing. Fi and I giggled our way across the river to the end. Gosh what an achievement and adventure. I was very privileged to run in that beautiful part of the country and very blessed to have the body and head to carry me through it all.
3 days in the Transkei on the Wildrun (www.wildrun.co.za), 112 kms and about 21 running hours later. 1 x bruised bashed knee, 1 x vrot toe - no skin left, 1 x very proud person.
Fi and I flew down on Wed and then caught the transfer bus to Kei mouth. There was lots of nervous cheeky chatter in the bus with most people saying they hadn't trained enough - hmph those that say that the loudest are the biggest fibbers! We had briefing, dinner unpacked and repacked bags and had an unsettled nights sleep.
Day 1 45km +-7h50m, Kei Mouth - Kobb Inn
We set off early the next morning and caught the ferry across the Kei Mouth. It was freezing cold!
It was a long long loooooong day - 45kms, just under 8 hours. In my bid to keep my feet dry I took a lot of sand in the front of my shoes which caused a blister on my 2nd toe. I strapped it up but made the error of not taping the toe next to it - more on this later. When my shoes did eventually get wet it stopped the sand coming in and saved my toes from further damage. I battled a bit with energy and trying to maintain good intake of fuel. The last river crossing and sight of Cobb Inn was very welcome. I loaded up on food and had a more uneasy nights sleep - I was stiff, sore and my feet really sore! I had caused a large blister on the toe next to the strapped one.
Day 2 - 35km +- 7hours Kobb Inn - The Haven
I took a fall about 2kms into the race. Once again I was trying to not get my feet wet (silly girl) and paid a steep price on a very slippy snotty rock with a very painful knock to my knee and scraping off of skin. The knee got more and more inflamed as the day wore on and I got slower and slower. Fiona disappeared at some point. I ran most of day by myself and really enjoyed the solitude. I only got a little bit lost so felt really good at the self navigation but it was always a relief to see the photographer coz then I knew I was still in the right place. The rule was pretty simple - keep the sea on your right at ALL times!! The downhills were seriously painful but I shuffled along. This sort of event requires digging really deep and just ensuring one step at a time is made in the direction of home - which was The Haven - which was similar to Heaven to me at that point. Once again LOADS of food and even a savanna in the evening! Toe was restrapped and I had a voltarun tablet for the knee.
Day 3 - 35km +- 6 hours The Haven - Hole in the Wall
I should have had a Voltarun jab for the knee but there were so many walking wounded at the medics that I gave it up. Ooops bit of error there! Anyway I was really fit and strong by this day, not to mention mentally good with it being the final day. Fi and I stayed together on this day. Once again beautiful beaches, wild headlands, big hills to climb and descend. I got to the medics and got a voltarun tablet. There was only one support table a day but they were good and full of cheerful people and energy-filled drinks. I ran strong on the flats, walked well on the ups and hobbled the downs! We were accosted by kiddies asking for sweeeeets sweeeets and even one cheeky chap wanting R10! We climbed a seemingly never-ending set of mountains - up, down, up, down, up..... And of course you eventually get to that final up - oh my that sight of The Hole in The Wall was spectacular. I couldn't speed my way down - hobble, huff, cheer, hobble, huff, cheer! I even forgot about the Zambezi sharks in this final river crossing. Fi and I giggled our way across the river to the end. Gosh what an achievement and adventure. I was very privileged to run in that beautiful part of the country and very blessed to have the body and head to carry me through it all.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wildrun - bring it on!!
Oh my goodness we set off for the Wildrun tommorrow - @Santacruzrulz and I on NOT a whole bunch of training. We saw some pictures from the guys who ran it last week - it looks absolutely stunning. I am a tad concerned about the 14 river crossings due to this irrational fear I have of sharks, crocodiles and pirhanas.
Our training has been somewhat haphazard due to bodies behaving in a very dodgey manner, work that keeps interfering with training (how rude) and well, .... simply life.
I did get to run the The Crazystore Magaliesberg Challenge (www.trailrunning.co.za). This was a 31.5km run. I have to confess I was a broken chickie trailrunner at the end of that race! Hopefully if there are any of those days on the Wildrun it is the last day!
Fi and I have done a few lists - you know one master list and 35 other lists! I confess I lurv lists.
I have packed loads of running bras (well endowed and running are not best friends), 2 pairs shoes, sunglasses, my new fabulous camelbac hydration system, back massager and chocolate - right I guess I am about ready.
Our training has been somewhat haphazard due to bodies behaving in a very dodgey manner, work that keeps interfering with training (how rude) and well, .... simply life.
I did get to run the The Crazystore Magaliesberg Challenge (www.trailrunning.co.za). This was a 31.5km run. I have to confess I was a broken chickie trailrunner at the end of that race! Hopefully if there are any of those days on the Wildrun it is the last day!
Fi and I have done a few lists - you know one master list and 35 other lists! I confess I lurv lists.
I have packed loads of running bras (well endowed and running are not best friends), 2 pairs shoes, sunglasses, my new fabulous camelbac hydration system, back massager and chocolate - right I guess I am about ready.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Poppie power
I love this image. I have a new macro lens for my camera but I am seriously under knowledged! There has been much travelling, working and training these past few months but that is for another post. I am just warming up.....
Monday, March 14, 2011
Simply beautiful
There are moments of such beauty if you simply pause to observe (and then run like the blazers to find where the camera is hiding to get this moment!)
Stunning sunset in Joburg.... Love this time of the day - it means its closer to having a glass of wine!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Take a moment
I am feeling so full of gratitude at the moment - it is a wonderful, full, whole feeling.
My Cara dog (my first born!) just fills me with love. She always looks in the windows to see where I am in the house. As soon as I step outside she is near me. When I garden she lolls around me touching me in someway and never EVER says no to a cuddle.
I looked out at my garden yesterday - the sprinklers were on and the leaves were all glisteny and green and fresh. I got such a surge of contentment.
I walked back into our bedroom this morning and Kayla had climbed into bed with Doug. There was this little person with messy mushy bed hair and a huge grin at being tucked up under her Daddy's arm. And then there was this man with a goofy grin on his face and a "look at me" expression with his arm tucked around his little girl. There was that surge again.
I ran this morning and felt immense gratitude for my body. It works so beautifully - my lungs taking the air in and letting it out, my heart faithfully pumping the blood around my body, the muscles contracting and expanding so well and aiding the joints in my forward movement, my ears hearing all the chirruping birds and the noise of my foot fall, my eyes taking in the blue sky with white clouds and the stunning colours of the trees moving from the greens to the oranges, my skin feeling the sweat pour down my face and back and the cool wind drying it off - and again, clearly, there was that surge.
Thanks for awareness and the space in between the tricky stuff.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Bielie Mielie Fees
We went off to Reitz this weekend. Doug and Fiona were doing a 90km mountain bike ride and Kayla and I went along for the ride. Rietz is this very small dorpie in the Freestate in the middle of farming country. After we dropped Fi and Doug off at the start in Frankfort (about 60kms down the road) Kayla and I went back to Reitz for some Bielie Mielie Fees. It was fantastic! It was so authentically Afrikaans and somehow so simple. I stuffed myself full of deep fried pastry things, sausages, pankoeke en alles. Kayla and I wandered around. I never once said to her to hurry up - we did it all at her pace. We went on the funfair rides and my child proved again the strength of her need-for-speed gene. I went on a big fast ride with her. I squealed my way around the ride (naturally) and she just giggled and giggled. There were these huge farming tractor things that completely dwarfed everything around them. The majority of men were the opitomy of the Boere - wif their kort broek, lang kouse, comb in the socks and the vroumense het baaie mooi kruller in hul hare and baie mooi rokkies. It was such a wonderful experience.
It had been raining a lot and the place was very muddy and wet. Well Kayla found as many puddles as she possibly could and splooshed through all of them. She was sopping wet and filthy dirty and as happy as a lark!
It was a great weekend away is this awesome country of ours!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)