Best Day of the Year

OBX: a few more pictures

2009-11-16T10:26:00.010-06:00

(Pictures also on previous 2 posts)

My hero! Twenty-fourth state, thirty-some marathons... since multiple myeloma diagnosis 6 1/2 years ago. Every day is the best day of the year: a masterpiece.

On the day before the race, after finding the start line, we visited the visitors' center in Kitty Hawk.
The map of shipwrecks was awesome.

A celebration of a hundred years of aviation

Don at the Wright Brothers Monument

They could see the ocean from that hill!!

Precious days.... I love the beach.

This picture would be better without spots in the sky, the permanent lens spots inside the camera.
Camera is also wearing out. I sense a Christmas present coming!

I wondered about the damage to beaches in Kitty Hawk, Nag's Head.. and down the outer banks as we watched the weather channel coverage of the Ida Hurricane storm.

I loved the race! (See Make It a Masterpiece report if you haven't already.)
Sign in front of Kitty Hawk Police Station on the race course

Didn't get a good picture of the magnificent bridge to Roanoke Island and the finish line. The view of the sound from the top of the bridge was forever!
(Click any pictures to enlarge.)

Still getting occasional knee therapy. Can't seem to stretch out the tight crunch in the middle of my knee joint.
Sweet Pea and I are running/walking nearly every day. Never giving up.
Looking for half marathons after the holidays.

OBX Marathon Pictures

2009-11-12T19:42:00.008-06:00

An unknown woman walking on the beach
on Saturday morning... across the street from our motel... the calm before the storm of a few days later at Kitty Hawk and the North Carolina coast.

Driving the race course on the day before the race: one of my favorite events of a marathon weekend.
Course included pleasant neighborhoods, trails along the sound, views of the Atlantic, monumental loop around (but not up and down the hill!) the Wright Brothers monument, more neighborhoods, and finally across the high long bridge.
Here we are on a shady road around mile 11.

Late in the afternoon we were back on the beach.

Pre-race dinner in our motel room kitchen ... salmon cakes, sweet potatoes

Ready for the marathon and look at those shirts ahead of us at the start!

Water stop at mile 9: they waited for us!
OBX Marathon provided amazing support (water, sports drink, spectators, cheering) for even very slow runners.

My deep appreciation to the race official who came by at mile 15 and assured us that we were keeping up an adequate pace to make the bridge.
Such encouragement has been, in our experience, rare.
But alas, 15 miles was enough for my injured knee.

After the race
And back to the motel for the rest of the day... checking results, enjoying the good food we had bought at Whole Foods and Trader Joes on the way down the day before.

Monday morning, we made it out to the beach just in time for the sunrise.

Lean turkey bacon, still on the stove, did not make it into this picture.
Gluten-free fresh-blueberry pancakes with Bryers ice cream: morning after the marathon breakfast

OBX Marathon North Carolina

2009-11-09T07:37:00.005-06:00

I loved the beach.

OBX Sunday

Sweet Pea and I ran the first 15 miles of the marathon... the best 15!
Through neighborhoods, shade, plus about 2 miles on a dirt road (very hilly) in woods (shade). Late Saturday when we drove the course, that wooded road seemed deserted and a little threatening. When we ran it in the race the next morning, it was not nearly as scary in the middle of the day.. with a couple of groups of spectators plus a water stop.... delightful shade.

Water stops were still working when we came along, spectators far more plentiful than we expected. We weren't last. A course officials assured us that we were keeping the pace to make the bridge.

When we got out on the highway with no shade Sweet Pea and I were both "done"! I want to stop, she said. I was not eager to blast our skin in blazing sun at this latitude even after fall solstice.
We got a lovely ride over a couple more long amazing bridges to the finish where Don had just finished (Good job Don!)

My knee is still fragile, but I think I quit in time.
Also, because of my knee Sweet Pea and I had not managed to get in a long run in training. Good reasons to know when to quit.

Early this morning we got to ride the shuttle (school) bus to the start with Don and have the hour together before the start.

We have no medal, no "time" but we are delighted.
We ran an unofficial half marathon.. Plus!
And had very good day.
Don got his 24th state and had a fun time running, chatting with other runners and taking a huge number of pictures with his phone camera.

Be sure to check out Don's
Make It a Masterpiece entry.

Trail Robbery

2009-11-01T08:33:00.004-06:00

On the afternoon of October 27, when we were on Gateway Trail, a couple of young men robbed a Maplewood man who was walking there.
A man on a bicycle stopped, phoned police, stayed until police came.

The item in the St. Paul Pioneer Press did not indicate where on the 18 mile trail the incident occurred. Perhaps it was in the urban end of the trail, but it intrudes on our pleasure of the trail.

Beautiful Day on the Gateway Trail

2009-10-28T13:24:00.004-05:00

Yesterday... a 15 mph breeze and temp in the mid-50's.
Sweet Pea and I logged 9 miles.

When rainful almost wasn't at all in September, the media said we would have a mostly yellow and not very colorful fall. This month rain has showed up some, and this week the oaks have come through in grand fashion.

Most wooly caterpillers made it across the trail.

In some places deep in leaves, even the trail was colorful.

A new friendly traveler on the trail

A sliver of harvest moon as we neared our car.

Really swell half marathon finisher's medals from the Denver races on October 18

Remembering Denver

2009-10-24T19:08:00.002-05:00

The parks, the fall color... a lovely half marathon

Good memories of Denver, the race, the drive out and back ...
make energy for the workouts at the community center, now that winter seems to have struck Minnesota!

Denver Half Marathon

2009-10-20T20:45:00.005-05:00

That's Sweet Pea on the right ... far right, at the side of the first picture. In the second picture I don't know the identity of the runners.
Snow on the Rockies! Fabulous experience to look out over the parks, past the buildings and see SNOW on the mountains ... especially on a record hot day.
Denver high temp on Sunday tied the all time record of 84 degrees.
My knee is holding up. I taped it according to my therapist's instructions.
Sweet Pea was slowed down by some calf pain that should be less if she tries other shoes.
We had a great run, a great trip to Denver.
And the Denver Marathon awards fabulous finisher's medals!

Be sure not to miss the Denver Marathon report on Make It a Masterpiece.

Columbus Day 3 inch Snow

2009-10-12T10:48:00.002-05:00

Same tree pictured in the previous post.. but 2 days later.

I ran for 30 seconds yesterday, and my knee felt magically totally normal for the first time since I crashed it in a race nearly 6 months ago. It DIDN'T hurt, and I am so ready to run.

We drove through the snow to get some groceries this morning... and there were rows and rows of Christmas lights and decorations. What month is this again?

Snow Ready or Not

2009-10-10T20:42:00.003-05:00

Ah, but in the afternoon the sun came out.

74th Wedding Anniversary

2009-10-07T19:43:00.003-05:00

A family gathering for Don's parents' 74th.
Thanks to the bakery woman at Mount Royal Fine Foods in Duluth for a lovely job on the cake decorating.

Moon Over TCM

2009-10-04T16:01:00.002-05:00

Spectacular full moon over Minneapolis as runners gathered at the Metrodome for the Twin Cities Marathon

We had the delicious opportunity to drive Runner Dude to the start in Minneapolis and pick him up at the finish in downtown St. Paul. While he was running the marathon, we ran 5 miles on Gateway Trail (yes, of course my knee hurts) and made a couple of stops at home. Sweet Pea brought him a hot latte.
Afterward we made him blueberry pancakes (Pamela's gluten free pancake mix) with an egg fried in macadamia oil on the side.

Journey of the Knee

2009-09-29T15:53:00.002-05:00

Today, my little half hour with the manual therapist went well.

Through this whole 5 month odyssey with knee injury, this is the first person who expressed interest my actual running. As I ran on a treadmill, she pointed out several accommodations I am making because of the pain. I am hopeful that I can run more efficiently and with less pain.

The first sports doctor I saw seemed to me to be angry and his referral to a therapist was strictly to assign exercises.
The current referral is for a manual therapist which, by title does imply something more. The hands on therapy is theraputic and instructive.

Two days ago in the 5K race, the pain that bothered most was some IT band pain. Today's session may help. Too bad I can't get another appointment for a month.

Hope springs eternal. I love the walk/running I do with Sweet Pea, and don't want to give it up.

Thanks for all the good comments and caring.

It is apple time in the yard of some family members.

Myeloma 5K

2009-09-27T14:01:00.005-05:00

MMRF (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) 5K Race for Research
http://minnesotamyeloma.blogspot.com/

Around a thousand participants, runners and walkers, headed for the start. Survivor's shirts were bright yellow, others were white.

Race was around Lake Phalen in St. Paul.
A brisk breeze, temperature around 60, rain threatened, but never materialized, which was great for the race and disappointing for the record-breaking draught in St. Paul.
Shoreline restoration project in full bloom: next 3 pictures

Huge posters gave family and friends opportunity to write messages. There were "Running in Tribute" signs available to pin on shirts. Teams of supporters wore matching shirts of various designs and colors. Kids, toddlers in strollers, dogs, wheel chairs, young and old: it was a community day.

On the way home we saw a STUDEBAKER ! Well, yes, a little off subject, but cute car.

Knee report coming Tuesday or Wednesday, following yet another manual therapy session!

Nike Running Shoes

2009-09-23T21:41:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, NIKE!
Newsweek, September 28, ranks 500 big companies: The Greenest Big Companies in America....
And NIKE is 7th (SEVENTH) out of 500!

"Nike requires more than 650 contract factories in 52 countries to have written environmental policies. Its entire manufacturing process generates less waste than its retail packaging. New shoes are made frm green materials, such as recycled polyester." see Newsweek, September 28, page 37.

I love my Nikes.

Weekend Running

2009-09-20T20:03:00.003-05:00

Met at the tennis court north of Stillwater for Saturday morning run.

Geese are flocking: sign of autumn.

Today on Gateway Trail in Washington County, Runner Dude on the horse trail, Sweet Pea on the running trail

Weather today was a glorious 70 at 11am, light breeze from the southeast at 8mph.
Bicycles abundant.....

Don't know what species this little one is... moving fast across the trail.

Back to Gateway

2009-09-13T20:19:00.004-05:00

We haven't driven over to Gateway Trail since April because it isn't worth it for a short run. I keep gently pushing my injured knee. Today we mostly walked, but sometimes ran, 5 miles on Gateway. We saw dozens and dozens of people on different kinds of bikes, roller bladers, three dogs, two women on horses, one dead mouse, a dozen small turtles swimming, a few small children, a big screaming pileated woodpecker, and a parking lot full of vehicles between miles 8 and 9.

And in the evening we had pot roast with sweet potatoes for Sunday dinner.
Flowers planted in Trader Joe's parking lot.

Thanksgiving dinner anyone? This past week was the first time we ever saw wild turkeys in our own backyard.

27th Year for 2 Labor Day Weekend Races

2009-09-08T13:39:00.003-05:00

Foggy sunrise over the hills of western Wisconsin.
On Saturday, in Eau Claire, the Buckshot Races for Special Olympics.
10 years ago, Sweet Pea and I ran our first road race here, invited by my Sister-in-law and Brother.
Lots of kids and dogs and runners of all ages. . .
600 runners in the 5 mile race and about 780 in the 2 mile.

Races are on wide trails and roads in the woods of Carson Park in Eau Claire.
Ooops.. did they borrow that Babe the Blue Ox from neighboring Minnesota? Sweet Pea is running right by.

10 years ago, when we had run our first race, we said, when's the next race? Jessica agreed to meet us two days later, on Labor Day, for the Victory Race in the Webber-Camden neighborhood on the north side of Minneapolis.

Victory, a flat pleasant race, is a great chance for an end of summer catch up with many local runner friends.
Below.. a sample of the flowers in little city yards.. and runners gathering and warming up. Races are 10K and 5K.
Weather, was delightful, as usual, for both the Saturday and the Monday races. And both were celebrating the 27th annual running of their races.

Yes, I'm running some, plus doing all the cross-training and remedies noted in the posts of the past 4 months.

Summer Construction

2009-09-01T14:06:00.006-05:00

Panorama of the season in Minnesota. (taken last week)
September Morn ... September is my favorite month ... At least in September, it is.
Walked a brisk 4K with Sweet Pea this morning. We did the new leg exercises on the big balls.
And oh joy of joys, the therapist I have been seeing reacted to the new referral with, I can do that for you. This morning she read the doctor's notes. She did some diagnostics and determined that something in the right side of my pelvis does not move properly and had me do some pelvic movements that may help. It is really hard to explain.. but she said my muscles would do the work.. and that is how she proceeded. (Manual therapy) When I walk it does feel a little different. I am thinking that if it doesn't help my knee much, it still may help my running. I am hopeful.
When I said I was running short races both Saturday and Monday, she wanted to see me again just before that.

Will that help the pain and swelliing go down on the knee? I guess time will tell!

5K, Painful Knee, Pretty Flowers

2009-08-30T20:06:00.006-05:00

Thursday evening Sweet Pea and I did the Fun in the Forest 5K in Forest Lake. (Race details on Don's Make It a Masterpiece blog.)

I wore my new NIKE stability shoes. The first couple of times I wore them last week, my knees ached in the night. Hmmmm.

This past week I went to a FOURTH (!) medical specialist: a sports doctor at a University of Minnesota clinic. He affirmed all the past diagnoses. Said they could all be caused by my pelvis being twisted when I fell last April, and referred me to a manual therapist. Late September is the earliest appointment available.

Now this knee thing is getting ridiculous. I'd like to scrap the whole matter and just go running, but my right calf is swollen, right thigh is swollen, knee is painfully swollen all the time (sometimes very stiff), and I am concerned about doing further damage. Yes, I stretch, do exercises, massage, rest, get good sleep, take a pile of supplements, and try to get advice from anyone who will listen.

This week: back to the internist, another visit with our naturopathic doctor, a race, and continuing everything in the previous paragraph.

Below: cheerful portion of tonight's post!
Myeloma conference Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis was fabulous. Check out Don's blog:
myelomahope.blogspot.com/.

The Dream Lives On

2009-08-26T17:04:00.004-05:00

. . . . with justice for all.

The hope that cannot die.

"Could the world be about to turn?"

Running with Camera

2009-08-22T19:54:00.003-05:00

Observing rowing races to adds variety to our 4K on Friday.
(Northwestern International Rowing Association Championship Regatta)

And yes, I always have my camera in my pocket when I run. A camera in one pocket and a cell phone in the other doesn't make for a particularly slim silhouette, but that's worth the trade-offs to me.

The pain in the quad bothers me most this week. Every other time I go out it isn't so bad.

Running Again

2009-08-16T19:19:00.004-05:00

Does my knee still hurt? Yes
Is my knee still swollen? Yes
Is my knee stiff and tight? Yes

The swelling and pain is certainly down from May, June, July, so I am running anyway.

PICTURES: Encountered on our 5K today

Continuing Saga of the Smashed Knee

2009-08-12T18:39:00.003-05:00

Yesterday: an appointment with one of Minnesota's best orthopaedic sports doctors in Bloomington ... and a referral for several appointments with my physical therapist.
The new, and third, professional diagnosis: patello femoral syndrome (like runner's knee.. but resulting from an injury.)

How did I happen to go all the way to Bloomington? Well, I've had it with this knee injury, and last Sunday at a race, I asked friends for recommendations.

At the recommendation of the sports doctor, my therapist set me up with knee and leg strengthening exercises.

I've started working on them.
The swelling in my knee seemed to be down some the last couple of days, but the exercises have stirred up some swelling again.
But I will persevere! Watch me!

Also, I'll run and look a lot more like a real runner when I lose 20 pounds.
Weight Watchers tomorrow night!

Our young pre-school guest delighted in the variety of chickens at the Washington County Fair.

Walking . . . . .

2009-08-08T10:43:00.004-05:00

Plenty of time to take pictures of the flowers while walking in the neighborhood.

Our past week has been energized with trips to the model train museum in Bandana Square, playgrounds at Teddy Bear Park and Pioneer Park in Stillwater, a pontoon boat ride and even riding the Ferris wheel at the Washington County Fair. Oh the delight of entertaining a child!

But back to the pesky knee: no healing progress? For all my consulting, I haven't been to a real sports doctor, and will do that as soon as I can get in after the weekend. My most urgent question is will I do further damage by running?

Summer Days

2009-08-03T20:28:00.003-05:00

Tiny toad lives in the spout of the plastic water can that we use to water the pots of herbs on our deck.

An out-of-town high school reunion and a visit from out-of-town family have filled our hours and days.

And my smashed knee has had substantial "rest" ... at least from running.
The inflammation, swelling and pain persists. The joint is quite stiff.

In a few days I will probably resume walking ... perhaps a little cautious running. We will see what another week brings.