To say that I have been busy since the last time I blogged would be an understatement. I was using these blurbs on running and family as a way to creatively vent and relieve some stress. But, lately, other than running, sleep has been the only thing on my mind and the only real way to relieve stress.
Since you last heard from me I have:
1) Moved to Winston-Salem.
2) Celebrated Lucia's first birthday.
3) Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary with a second honeymoon in Jamaica
4) Started a new job.
5) Accepted new responsibilities within two months of starting my new job and moved a little higher up in the pediatric world of physical therapy.
6) Lost 10 more pounds, although you can still tell that I recently (sort of) had a baby.
7) Somehow acquired IT band syndrome.
8) Been house hunting, and may have found the perfect one.
9) Lost a few years off my life when Lucia had her first "trip" to the ER.
Yep, life is good. Now my IT band syndrome, not so good. While I have been keeping consistent with my training runs, and ramping up adequately during the week to longer mileage, I haven't allowed my body sufficient time to recover. You would think that a 3-day running program would allow you enough rest, but that training plan didn't take into account that I am also on my feet all day.
I accepted a job with Wake Forest University Baptist hospital. Originally I was slated to on the pediatric team, but as I soon found out, the pediatric program was being revamped. It was a bit scary at first because I accepted this job originally to move towards practicing predominantly with kids 0-21 years of age, where as before I was working with adults occasionally. But after being oriented to the NICU I was named the lead therapist for pediatric floors at Brenner Children's hospital. My co-worker, who has become a great friend and wonderful mentor, is the lead therapist in the NICU. Now, this has proven to be the PERFECT opportunity for me, but being the lead therapist for the floors means that I have to cover a lot of ground. I see patients with varying diagnoses, on various floors, and with varying degrees of complications. It also means that I have to learn how to delegate. But we'll get to that another time. Anyway, I found that with my new perfect job, comes a few bumps, a few bruises, lots of running around, lots of standing, lots of time spent networking and rubbing elbows with surgeons, residents and medical students, and a severe lack of sleep, not to mention a severe lack of Mommy and Lucia time. It was really hard adjusting at first, but like anything else it has been worth it. No matter what I will never think I get to spend enough time with my daughter. I just know that we take advantage of the time we do have together, and I trust those who take care of her when she's not with me. As far as time for my body o recover, well, that kind of gets put on the back burner.
Lucia is flourishing, I know I am biased, but she is so smart. I can go on and on with stories of how she asserts her independence, shows her personality, communicates with her body, but this is already getting long, and totally off topic. I will say however, that since those baby steps that I was waiting so eagerly for, Lucia has quickly learned how to pick up some speed, and boy does she ever love to run (or try to run). She loves to run so much that at school one day she got excited and ran towards her teacher with her arms outstretched, and tripped and fell head first into the corner of a cubby. Needless to say that this Mommy was FREAKING out and very quickly went into clinician mode which I'm sure annoyed most of her teachers. After quick trip to the ER (Shout out to Brenner's Children's Pediatric ER, the only level I pediatric trauma unit in the region) everything checked out fine, and we were discharged home with concussion precautions, no stitches, and just a big goose egg on her forehead. Do you like my plug for my hospital, it's not like they pay me or anything;) I really thought my little princess was going to be a girly girl, but seriously she is as tough as nails, and while a lot can change, I am pretty certain she is going to be a little athlete (and trust me, not because I will push-it, but because this child needs a way to release all that energy).
So back to the IT band issue. Yes, BAD BAD BAD. I have being seeing a physical therapist and I have also been getting massages from a guy who worked on my Dad's Achilles tendinitis when he trained for the Baltimore marathon. Since I started seeing him, I have noticed a difference, but the pain is still there. I know I can get through about 11 miles without the pain being excruciating, but two weeks ago I ran a 20 miler and had to run the last 9 miles by walking a minute and running a minute. BORING, but the pain was so bad it was the only way I could get through it. I've tried the IT band strap, but it actually made it hurt worse. My friends at Fleet Feet set me up with a foam roller and an awesome stretching routine that worked much better, and of course my PT endorses the whole foam roller thing as well. I really don't know why I had never used one in the past. I made it through 6 miles on Sunday without any pain at all, but today I ran 3 and just as I was finishing up, the pain started up. So we will see what happens. My plan is to run hard for the first half and then fight my way through the rest. This is a terrible terrible strategy, but the only reason I am doing it is because I know my hip/knee won't hold up for the entire race, so I need to get the speed while I can. This is my 7th marathon so I'm hoping luck is on my side this time. The plan for after the race, REST. I won't be running the Raleigh City of Oaks marathon because I need to get healthy for the Goofy Challenge in January (This will be the first time that I have gone more than 4 days without running since I started exercising again after Lucia was born).
On a more happy note, this will be my husband's first marathon. If you read nothing else in this blog, I hope you read this, because it's the most important part. (So I will bold it to emphasize;)
My husband is a trooper. Not only did he put up with 9 months of a hormonally crazy lady, but he worked hard for almost a year after Lucia was born to allow me to train, allow me to feel like I was normal again, and allow me to be happy. He was and is a constant support system when times get tough, and continues to be my best friend when at times I don't necessarily deserve it. I know a lot of you are saying "well that's what a husband is supposed to do," but Jason really goes above and beyond, and I don't always get a chance to tell him that.
Somehow, by the grace of God, and a little bit (actually ALOTa bit) of help from my grandparents who have watched Lucia every Tuesday and Thursday and occasionally on weekends during our long runs, Jason and I have been able to train to run a marathon together. Now together means we're running the same race, but I fully expect Jason to finish at least a half hour ahead of me, and that's only if I manage to squeeze a PR or something close to it. Words can't express how proud I am of him. He doesn't usually get a lot of credit, and people don't normally peg him as an athlete with his long and lanky physique, but he most certainly is an athlete. He doesn't like to offer up the fact that Lacrosse was his life for many many many years. But all those years of running and running and running in practice (and coaches telling him he could get all the water he needed from the air, true story) has really prepared him for one of the ultimate endurance events. Some people are just naturally good at running, and he is one of them. And I am so jealous! I know that he is doing this race mainly for me, but I am so excited for him. I remember so vividly what it was like to finish my first marathon. It is a feeling that will never be matched. I'm hoping that when he crosses that finish line, his adrenaline will be pumping so hard that he will forget about the pain and realize that, he too, has caught the marathon bug, and that the Inaugural Empire State marathon is only the first of many many marathons that "Team Neves" will run.
By the way N-E-V-E-S, is S-E-V-E-N spelled backwards. My seventh marathon, my last name spells seven backwards, Lucia was born in the seventh month, lucky? Come on, I can use all the luck I can get right now!
