Well onto the next Phase......

Hey Hey Friends!!!! Well, Whaddya Know?!!!!?

So a LOT has happened since I last really blogged. I finally completed in my first Ironman at Louisville 2009-which was AWESOME. 

While training in 2010 for my second IM, I fell at CrossFit and broke my right foot pretty badly. I was in a boot for MONTHS and spent most of 2011 rehabbing. I rehabbed poorly! In 2012 I bit off more than I could chew and wasn't ready and had yet another set of injuries including one which put me back into a boot for the rest of 2012 and into 2013.
   
 I started out 2013 with a goal of running the Marathon Relay for GO! StLouis! I ran, slowly, my first 7 1/2 miles in years! It felt good and bad. Racing and competing hasn't been in my lifestyle for several years and I have been itching to get back into it. Maybe this year will be the year I can do something cool again. I have missed my racing body and being to eat chocolate cake guilt free knowing I will burn it off on a 100 mile bike ride on Saturday. I haven't even ridden 50 miles on my bike in years. So on a physical note, things have been moving rather slowly.

On a personal level however, in 2010, Matt proposed to me while I was in my wheelchair with my broken foot and created a spectacular event called DiamondMan where he made a mock triathlon that I could do in my wheelchair while about 30 friends and family members watched and cheered me on. Of course I won the entire race and my prize was a diamond engagement ring! How cool was that!

We married on October 8, 2011 in Destin Florida. It was a small beach wedding with just our family and our wedding party. It was PERFECT! We even completed our vows with a plank! (had to throw in my personal flair)

We were able to spend two wonderful weeks in St. Barths for our honeymoon and fell IN LOVE with the small island. We have been dying to go back!!! 

How can you not love this view!?

So since then we have been renting a house in U-City and loving life. Getting used to the idea of being married has had its challenges as expected but I think we are figuring it out pretty well. 

So now onto the next phase.........




****Matt has decided to give me lessons in math. As most of you know I completely SUCK at math and if it weren't for my fingers I couldn't get through simple addition. Fortunately I married a very patient man and he is willing to take his time and make sure I can accurately add.

Lesson 1.

1+1=3

This is the goal. He is willing to keep giving me lessons until I can get it right. 

1+1=3. 

Wish us luck!

Multiple Personality In Order!

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING when you're wrong and someone else is right-again! 

So Dr. L told me to wear a brace or a boot. I don't want anything in the world to do with that damned boot ever again. I don't know why I held on to it. But I did. And it feels good when its on. 

Suck!

So I'll wear it around the house and the dumb brace in public. How annoying all over again. I swear!

Ok, so the rest of Today is NOT SUCK! 

I dug out some of my torture devices I use on clients and literally sat down and worked out a program for this 'new client I'm training with a bum foot.'  So apparently I have to create an alter ego and train her. This outta be interesting! I'll have to treat her just like any other client, and make her show up to scheduled workouts, that have a progressive plan. Tell her to quit whining and when she starts bargaining for an easier exercise....HA-LAUGH MWHAAAHAHAHA!  I could treat her like crap and get my inner "Jillian" out on her. 

So if my mother reads this she will sigh, because she always has known I have multiple personalities. When I was younger and I did something stupid, I would say to my mom that I didn't do it, but the 'bad Kristen' did. I would walk away and get the 'Good Kristen' and she wouldn't get in trouble. Its actually very stupid because if I left her to go get the 'Good Kristen' then I was obviously the 'Bad Kristen' when I got caught and I would have been punished immediately before I could change back from werewolf to human. However, my mom was a good mom, and she let me stew in my own conscience until I fessed up. Or convincingly blamed my younger brother.  

Anyhooo, so if I have to make up an alter ego, and have potentially weird conversations to her about her glute med's-THEN SO BE IT!

New Client: Gina

seriously-my goal is to tell her from "Jillian" .....

".....DAM GINA!!......."

RIP! REHAB! REVIVAL! RACE!

SOOOOOO, Were Back.

WELCOME to Project R4.

This is going to take on a journey from injury to racing-FROM SCRATCH! We WILL be competing in one more IM before "Project Baby." (which is hopefully taking place next Aug/Sept)   I have learned a few things in the last couple of years about perseverance, determination,  rehabilitation, and cake. I have lost a lot of money signing up for races I eventually couldn't compete in.  I have learned that no matter what you think about your abilities, your body is always one up on you. I have learned that sometimes I don't know my body best, or what's best for my body- or at least what I 'thought' was best----ok or what I just 'wanted' to be best. And I have learned that I love cake.

Sooooo-Today, Tuesday October 23, 2012-Im going to vow to be consistent with my rehabilitation, and smart about my activities and have a purpose for what goes in my mouth. (shut it you sicko's)

Yesterday I got the diagnosis of a torn ATFL in my left foot. 7 weeks ago I stepped out of a car the wrong way and rolled my ankle laterally-outside. It hurt like a MOMMMMMMA and fortunately I was on my way to my chiropractor anyway. Throbbing like crazy the whole way, when I reached her house-she immediately set me up with ice and elevation and "just so happened to have kinesio tape already cut for a lateral ankle sprain"---SERIOUSLY! I hobbled on it for a few weeks, and then finally got a diagnostic ultrasound on it. Showed major inflammation. Not so good. But from there we decided to get X-rays because the pain was pretty bad and it didn't seem to be getting better-more like a bit worse. X-rays were clear. A few weeks go by and now 7 weeks post injury had a follow up ultrasound to see how inflammation was doing-oops... too much inflammation in the way of an obvious tear in my ATFL-anterior talofibular ligament.  Google it. Its kinda underish-in front of ish, the ankle bone. Worse case-6 months no running. Worse Worse case-surgery! But we're so not going there. Treatment: boot/brace/ water running/anti-inflammatory diet/Graston when needed/Lotta Love.

Last nite I came home and dug out that old boot I had such a hatred for when I broke my RIGHT foot in 2010. However once I slipped it on it almost felt like cotton surrounding my ankle. OOOOOOHhh it felt so good. Damnit! I am not giving in to the boot!   Only at home ...ahhhhhhh

So On with the boot, and off running. I vow to start with GETTING MY CORE STRONG AGAIN! AND, making time to swim. I think I need a new gym otherwise I talk too much to people I know. It's been 3 years since my last race so I am starting from S CRA T C H!!!! Fighting multiple small injuries for over a year now this one will be just another set back to ground zero.

It's all good! I'm going to document the journey up's and down's and hopefully more up's! Life is really all about the lessons you learn


Breakfast-Oatmeal and cooked pears with maple syrup, pecans, craisins, nutmeg and cloves. NO WHEAT! (wheat is a pro inflammatory-didyaknow?)

PROJECT R4 is underway!

Sketcher's Shape Up? or Ship Out?

I was approached by a woman wanting my input as a trainer, on the latest fad shoe-Sketchers Shape Ups. I had seen the commercials just like everyone else claiming a" firmer behind, toned legs and core and improved balance." WELL.... I come at everything like this a little skeptical but I agreed to try them out for her.(She has knee pain and didn't want to try them out if I thought they would be harmful).

So I took them out of the box today and put them on. My first reaction was WIEEEERRRRD! They look kind of bizzare, or rather DORKY (if I can use an old school word). Kind of like a Moon Shoe. It felt like I was walking on 16 layers of sole. The rounded heel instantly caught me off balance and I had to try to catch myself from toppling over. WELL-GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION!

NOT.

I generally know what I am doing when it comes to walking but I found myself having to constantly readjust how my feet hit the ground. I felt like a total goof ball. I tend to hyperextend my knees back when I stand and this just exacerbated this. With my bearings in check I headed out the door to try them 'in the real world.' If I wasn't consciously activating my glutes and trying to step with a flattened foot I had the potential to really do some damage to my knees, ankles or lower back.

Each time I took a step sideways it threw me off balance a bit. These shoes definitely take some getting used to because you are constantly and consciously forcing the stabilizers to activate. For the women who are unfit and try these out, I would caution strongly against them outside the home for fear of falling.

My best suggestion for the shoe is to use them in a gym setting when you are working on core and balance. I did a set of squats with one of my clients today wearing the shoes and it really made me think of driving through the midfoot when I stood up. You can not use your heels to press into the floor because it is rounded, and you would have a Humpty Dumpty incident on your hands.

Bottom line: wear them cautiously-consciously-carefully. I would not try to run in them because it is an unstable surface and the chance of falling is greater. If you are moving quickly on your feet, I would not suggest them either unless you have had time to really get used to them.

(and.. lastly... Can't we make them any cuter????)
GAWSH!

LONG TIME NO TALK...

Weeeelllll,
Ok so you may have been wondering if I have fallen off the planet or taken a trip to the moon, and the quick answer is probably yes to both. My previous existence on this planet has been altered by an absorption of my couch and processed foods that I had been forced to give up during my Ironman training. While life has been good, all too good in the past few months, it is now time to get back to my functioning self and burn some calories again.

Motivation has finally struck back, and so has my mood to recap the last few months to anyone who has a few minutes to sit and listen or rather, read.

However, not tonite. :-). (teaser, yes, I know)

It's bed time. I have another day of trainings and motivational ideas, and ...etc ahead of me and I need my beauty sleep so I can at least look cute while I am squirming in my chair b/c I am being forced to sit still for longer than my body and brain can sustain in one day.

Nitey nite... but fear not.... the blogger is back :-)

FIT 4 FUN. FIT 4 LIFE. FITNESS PARTIES

If you and your friends are interested in hosting a fitness party please contact me at:
314.677.0235
or speedokhm@hotmail.com

Sessions are 90 minutes and include information gathering, warm up, exercise, fun, laughter, sweat, cool down, stretching, and nutritional advice. Perfect for birthday parties, wedding showers, baby showers, neighborhood gatherings, or any excuse to get your friends together for a healthy bonding experience.

Cost:
$75- 1-6 friends
$125 7-12 friends
$175 13-18 friends
$225 18-23 friends

Please indicate your fitness level ranking:
1- 2- 3- 4- 5

1-couch potato

3-moderately fit

5-athletic, fitness enthusiast.


One on one personal training is also available.

HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO CATCH UP ON BUT...... OMG.. IM GOING TO DO AN IRONMAN IN A MONTH....

SO much has happened in the past few weeks since my last blog and at the moment (story of my life..) I don't have time to update this all right now. But today.. in the last 24 hours.. I have had a few things come to a major realization.

1. Wow what a year I have had and I am blessed by my friends who support my decision for this sport to be a part.. a MAJOR part of my life.

2. I AM GOING TO TAKE ON THE MOST PHYSICAL CHALLENGE I CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE... IN A MONTH.. I WILL BE A CHANGED PERSON ONCE I START .. AND FINISH THAT RACE.

ON AUGUST 30.. I WILL BE AN IRONMAN. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

DO YOU?

HONESTLY DO YOU ?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT HAS TAKEN TO GET TO THIS POINT?

Granted- I am not physically in the condition I had hoped for by now.. but I am going to endure it and pursue, and dream big, and finish what I started anyway! So many people along this journey have doubted me, judged me, persecuted me for the lack of time I have for family and friends and other social obligations because I have to train, or get up early to work or this or that... but it matters most, what lies behind my decision to complete this enormous feat.

... some of you care, some don't and that's all OK. For those of you who will read these next coming blogs and have emotions stir up inside you that you and only you can relate to.. .... thank you. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for your support, and compassion, and your belief that ...well..... Being an IRONMAN is an accomplishment that I can ...well.. that I CAN!

I'm off to meet with a client who is a 16 yr old kid aspiring to PR his 500 yd free time this year. I can see soooo much of myself in him and realize how much the next 16 years will change him. It certainly did me.

I promise to catch up soon.

I have GOT TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS.. AND MY FIRST AND ONLY 100 MILE RIDE THIS YEAR.. urgh.. BUT NOT LAST..

:-)

Thanks for reading...

and supporting!!!!
xox
k