The saga continues. Well I have not run since Susan G. Komen 5k race on May 8, 2016. My feet have improved with the rest and active recovery. I still cycled, rode spin bike, did the elliptical machine, and did strength training four to five times a week. My strength training included exercises from home exercise program that I received from my physical therapist. The physician I saw recommended MRIs to further evaluate my feet. I had previously had a bone scan in September 2015, and was diagnosed with a stress fracture of my left foot, as mentioned in a previous blog. “Stress Fracture, the Two Words a Runner Does Not Want to Hear “I was worried that I had sustained another stress fracture due to the amount of pain I was having after my 5k run.
So my appointment today was to review my MRIs. I had already looked at them myself and was happy I did not have another stress fracture. What I did have was plantar bursitis of both feet, and a partial tear of left plantar fascia. What I did have was plantar fascitis, plantar bursitis of both feet, and a partial tear of left plantar fascia. I had the Peyton Manning injury.
I had both my feet injected, and it was so much better than the last time I had them injected. He also recommended tenet for my partial tear of plantar fascia. Tenex is a minimally invasive procedure for people like me who suffer from pain associated with tendon/fascia damage, such as plantar fasciitis. The Tenex procedure uses ultrasound imaging to view and remove damaged tissue. Removing the damaged tissue allows the tendon to heal properly and relieve pain.
After the procedure will be back in the boot for two weeks, and then back to running two to four weeks later. I am still praying I can do New York Marathon. “ With God Nothing Shall be Impossible is my Mantra” I hope my struggles gives someone hope to keep the faith, not give up
This is a follow up blog to “Stress Fracture, the Two Words a Runner Does Not Want to Hear” that I posted in September 2015. It was at that time, I found out that I had a stress fracture.So after the diagnosis I was placed in a walker boot for almost three months. I continued to work out. I also did my other activities with my boot on.
I just rode the spin bike and did upper body weights. I tried to do leg weights, but it hurt my foot. I got my boot off just in time for my ski trip. I was so happy, while it was too soon to run. Skiing was perfect the ski boot was actually more secure that my walking boot. I skied a total of five days, and had the best lesson I ever had in my life. I raced, I skied all day it was fun to be active.
I returned from my trip. My former running coach recommended physical therapy to help me return to running. I complied; I had learned that I needed to listen to someone other than myself. So I asked my friend, and classmates for a physical therapist who worked with runners. I found the perfect one Liz Yerly. She did a video analysis of my running pattern. She recommended new running shoes. She worked on strengthen exercise to work on my core, balance, hips. These are quality area that all runners should work on. I did therapy initially with my plantar fascitis, but I got bored. The exercises I did there were things I could do at the gym. He never changed the routine. Liz always challenged me, and I never got bored. I actually looked forward to going to my sessions. She got me to the point of running a half marathon, which may have been an overambitious goal.
I ran the Star Wars Half Marathon see former blog”Star Wars Half Marathon- The Dark Side” While I was improving I still had pain in my heels, it was manageable. The more I did my exercises, foam rolling, and wore my night braces the better my feet were. Also the race not difficult at all, but it was the most I had run since my stress fracture.
After the race I actually recovered properly; or so I thought. I wore compression socks, I did an ice bath, I foam rolled, and I rested. I had graduated from physical therapy, so I was on my own. I took a week off from running. I walked, did elliptical, and light weights. I tried to run a week after the race, and I could not run. My feet hurt, so I figured I needed some extra rest. So I continued the light workouts.
I had signed up for a 10k on Mother’s Day May 8, 2016. I always run Susan G Komen in memory of my mom. My foot was not hurting at all as I had been resting/recovering. I figured the 10 k would be too much. I thought I could do the 5k. I ran and my feet did not hurt, I did my intervals. I ran for five minutes, and walked for one minute. This was the recommendation of my physical therapist until I was fully recovered.
It was the best run. I had a great pace, and had a runner’s high. I was in heaven or so I thought. Two hours after the race I could barely walk. It hurt to put any weight on my left heel. I was concerned, this was more than my plantar fasciitis. So I decided to see a fourth doctor. I initially treated myself, but I am not a good patient so I figured would be better under someone else’s care. He was also concerned and order two MRI to fully evaluate both my feet. He also shut me down again. No running until I had my MRIs and was evaluated again. My foot continues to hurt even with walking. Stay tuned, I will run again. “You can’t keep a good women down, That which does not kill you only makes you stronger. With God nothing shall be impossible.” I have to encourage myself to keep my spirits high.
Spoiler Alert, if you have not seen the movie you may want to keep strolling.
I give two thumbs up to Captain America. As you may have read in my previous blog that I became a fan after a date. Well, this movie did not disappoint. Marvel knows how to make Superhero movies. I am definitely all in. I want to go back to see it again.
The movie is set one year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Captain America, the Black Widow, the Falcon, the Scarlet Witch ( which is an X-man) stop Crossbones from stealing a biological weapon from a lab in Lagos, Nigeria. What impressed me most in this scene is the fact that the Black Widow is slaying in her outfit, but is still a bad ass. A kick here, a punch there, she is double tripped team and she still wins. Not to mention her outfit is still intake. I am loving it. They catch the bad guy Crossbones. Crossbones blows himself up, but when The Scarlet Witch tries to displace the blast into the sky it destroys a building killing a number of civilians.
There is concern over the fact that the Avengers have no oversight. At the Avengers team’s headquarters, U.S. Secretary of State informs the team that the United Nations are preparing to pass the Sokovia Accords. This will ultimately establish an international governing body to oversee the Avengers. The team is divided: Iron Man supports oversight because he feels responsible for Ultron’s creation and Sokovia’s devastation, while Captain America has more faith in his own judgment than that of the government’s. This is the great divide that is the premise of the movie. Iron Man is my favorite Avenger, but I am with Captain in this movie. He is taking a stand at what he believes in. He is standing by his best friend, who was framed. How can you not side with Captain.
At the conference in Vienna where the Sokovia Accords are to be passed, a bomb kills King T’Chaka of Wakanda. Security footage indicates the bomber is Bucky, who T’Chaka’s son, T’Challa, vows to kill. Captain America formulates a plan to bring Bucky in, because he knows he otherwise would be killed. Captain and the Falcon track Bucky, they find him but are apprehended. T’Challa is also apprehended. He is the Black Panther ( love the name) a new character in the Marvel movie sequels. I call him 42, because he played Jackie Robinson in the movie 42.
Helmut Zemo kills Bucky’s old Hydra guard and steals a book containing the trigger words that activate Bucky’s brainwashing. He infiltrates the Berlin facility where Bucky is held and recites the words to make Bucky obey him. He uses Bucky to help him escape. Captain seizes Bucky and when he comes too he explains that Zemo is heading for the Siberian Hydra facility where other brainwashed super-soldiers are kept frozen.
Captain and the Falcon decide to go on a mission to clear Bucky’s name. He did not cause the explosion that killed King T’Chaka. They know they will not have the authorization of the United Nations. So they recruit Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and the Ant Man. Iron Man assembles his team Black Widow, Black Panther (42), War Machine, and Vision , as well as Spider Man. Iron Man’s team intercept Captain’s team at Leipzig/Halle Airport,where they fight. This is one of my favorite parts of the movie. The Marvel heroes together, although it sucks that they are fighting each other. A case of too much testosterone in my opinion, and it is the woman – Black Widow who basically ends it and lets Captain go. The rest of Captain’s team is captured and detained at the Raft prison, while War Machine is partially paralyzed after being accidentally shot down by Vision. Black Widow is forced to go into hiding because she defined the United Nation and let Captain and Bucky escape.
Iron Man finds evidence that Barnes was framed by Zemo and shows this evidence to the Falcon , who gives him Captain’s location. Iron Man calls a truce goes to the Siberian Hydra facility without informing the UN. He is followed by The Black Panther. The other super-soldiers are dead. They were killed by Zemo, who is Sokovian and wants to punish the Avengers for his family’s deaths. He shows them footage from Hydra’s archives, which reveals that it was Stark’s parents whom Bucky killed in 1991. Iron Man is mad. He also learns that Captain was aware of this. Stark turns on Bucky In the fight, Stark blasts off Bucky robotic arm and Captain disables Iron Man’s armor. Captain departs with Bucky. Satisfied that he has irreparably fractured the Avengers, Zemo attempts suicide, but Black apprehends him. In the aftermath Iron Man provides War Machine with exoskeletal leg braces to let him walk again, while Captain breaks his comrades out of the Raft.
In a mid-credits scene, Bucky and Captian have fled to Wakanda, where Black Panter has granted them asylum. Bucky chooses to return to a frozen state until a cure for his brainwashing is found.
Only thing I find bad about the movie is I wish Thor was in it. I wonder who he would side with. I am thinking Captain. Will anxiously await the next movie in the sequel. Until them we have the next X-men to look forward too at the end of this month. I love the way Marvel movies bring all the characters together. Marvel so trumps DC movies in my opinion.
I just experienced football heaven in April of all months. It is nowhere near September when the regular season starts. My football heaven began on Thursday April 28th. I woke up at 2:30 AM. I had my clothes all laid out. Eagles paraphernalia of course was the number one choice. For now, it is my number one team. By the way I had four teams, now I have two. My sports buddy and my brother seem to think I must choose one. I am narrowing them down. The two remaining are Eagles and Steelers.
Mike and Mike was going to be live at Harry Caray’s in Chicago. I had to be there early because I wanted to be in the front, of course. I got there about 3:15 AM. There were about five people in line in front of me. The door opened at 4AM. We were taken up the elevator, and I run in to get a seat right in front in between the Mikes. Golic and Greeny come out. Greeny starts taking selfies and I got in a few of them.
The show started I see the prompter and I see myself in the center of the screen. I am on TV. I try to keep a smile of my face so I look great on ESPN.
I listen to favorite sports show for four hours. There was talk about the draft, basketball playoffs, and everything sports. I meet people from Mississippi, Ohio, and Wisconsin. I started getting numerous texts from my friends, and Facebook posts saying that they saw me on the show. After the show I get Mike and Mike autographs on my football. After the show Kordell Stewart was available for autographs so I got another on my football.
I then visited the Harry Caray Sports Museum. It had all of the Chicago Sports great: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Ernie Banks, history about the Cubs, the White Soxs, the Bears, and the Black Hawks. It explained the history of the curse of the billy goat.
I was then off to work. I was running on adrenaline due to lack of sleep. I was able to make in through my clinic. Thank God it was not a bad one. The only problem was I locked my keys in my car. I got a ride home figured would deal with it later. I was then off to draft town. I was in awe the moment I walked up. There were so many photo ops.
The draft then starts. We make our way to selection stage. The draft starts as everyone anticipated. Pick one and two were no surprise. Two quarterbacks Jared Goff number one, and Carson Wentz went to my Ealges for number two. The rest was more interesting. We stayed and listened until pick nine the Bears. We then walked around to experience the pro shop, the AFC/NFC locker rooms. The night ended with me returning to my childhood, a ride on the ferris wheel. From the Ferris wheel you could see the whole city: the fountain the selection stages, all of draft town, all the buildings with NFL paraphernalia. It was beyond awesome.
So I can’t get enough of the NFL. I return for day number two. The first thing I do is dive and catch a football. The best part is was caught on camera. I experienced all the photo opts I missed the night before. I also got to see how they make footballs. Wilson is the company that has been making footballs for 75 years. It was quite amazing. I thought I was finished with Draft town after day two.
I woke up Saturday morning and it was raining. I could not resist the urge to walk over to Draft town for the last day. I always tell people neither rain, sleet or snow can stop me. So I put on some Eagles gear, a few layers, my water proof jacket, poncho and snow boot. I grab my umbrella and walk over. The rain was not too bad initially, but I felt that the wind was going to blow me away. I was surprised to see as many people there. It was nothing compared to the previous day, but for the weather it was allot of people. My goal was to get some autographs on my football, then head back home. I was unable to get any the previous day. I get Big Cat Williams autograph, a former Offensive take from the Chicago Bears. The highlight of my day was getting Otis Wilson’s autograph. He was a lineman for the legendary 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears. I also got a picture with him.
The day ended with me seeing one of my ski friends who was in town for the Bacon Feast. She came out in the rain to see me and to expencice Draft town. The last round of the draft were televised from selection square. So we all walk down it was covered and warm which was a plus. We see the last picks of the draft. The 2016 draft was over. It was an epic experience.
Running meets other one of my other obsessions Star Wars. It was the perfect race for my return to racing. I have been on the IR (Injured Reserve) list for about six month due to stress fracture, and plantar fasciitis as noted in a previous blog. I was in a walker boot for almost three months, then I started physical therapy. I still am in therapy for my plantar fascitis. I found the perfect race, to challenge myself. I love racing. Running is fun, but racing gives me the greatest high.
Disney is so organized. I have the pleasure of having one of my high school classmates plan the trip, Laurie Lester Sledge. She is a travel agent for Disney. She was such a blessing. I had not been to Disney since I was in high school. I even talked one of my running friends into running the race with me. She is not even into Star Wars.
The accommodations were awesome. Disney has shuttles for transportation from the airport to the resort. There were also shuttles to Epcot, Magic Kingdom, downtown Disney, Animal Kingdom, the race expo, and all of their other resorts. The only problem is patience is a requirement. The shuttle runs ever twenty minutes so we waited allot. I am not the most patience person so I was challenged.
The race expo was big, but not too big. They had all the key vendors, and vendors who had cute clothes. I have more race outfits than regular clothes. I am always looking for cute new gear. Star Wars Expo did not disappoint. I also got a light saber I have been wanting one since the last movie came out.
Race day was an early start. The shuttle picked us up at 3:30 AM. The race started at 5 AM. While we were waiting for the race to start they had Star Wars movie clips playing in the background.
We started the race. I had to take it easy and do intervals. I ran five minutes, then walked one minute. At the time of the race the most I had run was seven miles, and I still was under the care of a physical therapist. I was feeling good. Each mile marker had Star Wars photo ops. There were so many characters along the race. I am so glad I was not concerned about time. I also ran into one of my college classmates who was volunteering. I was in heaven.
Thirteen miles later, and I was done. I had made it and my feet did not cause me any problems. Toward the end of the race I had some discomfort on my left leg, but my feet were fine.
I would highly recommend Star Wars half marathon for anyone who loves running, Disney, and Star Wars. My next Disney race will be the Avenger’s Half Marathon at Disneyland, but my next big race will be New York Marathon in November.
Iron Man finds evidence that Barnes was framed by Zemo and shows this evidence to the Falcon , who gives him Captain’s location. Iron Man calls a truce goes to the Siberian Hydra facility without informing the UN. He is followed by The Black Panther. The other super-soldiers are dead. They were killed by Zemo, who is Sokovian and wants to punish the Avengers for his family’s deaths. He shows them footage from Hydra’s archives, which reveals that it was Stark’s parents whom Bucky killed in 1991. Iron Man is mad. He also learns that Captain was aware of this. Stark turns on Bucky In the fight, Stark blasts off Bucky robotic arm and Captain disables Iron Man’s armor. Captain departs with Bucky. Satisfied that he has irreparably fractured the Avengers, Zemo attempts suicide, but Black apprehends him. In the aftermath Iron Man provides War Machine with exoskeletal leg braces to let him walk again, while Captain breaks his comrades out of the Raft.
