A humbling, giving back weekend - Healing day 14

I volunteered at USTrisports Rockcliff Triathlon today. I don't think I've volunteered before, but it was a good experience. Nice not to have to remember all my gear and get everything ready race day, fun to watch everyone race, and really rewarding to answer questions and offer help, especially those who are new to the sport. I had a lot of really nice people ask about me and my lame situation as well. I was placed at the transition area, by myself most of the race. I was there from 6:30am-11:30am. A long day for sure, and I felt bad getting back so late to the family (we camped at Rockcliff that night).

These guys did a great job with the race and as fun as it was to volunteer, it really sucked not doing the race. Amazing course I've yet to do, and stellar prizes. Like 1st place for instance (which I could've been in the running for) won $60 to PowerTri, a triathlon store in Lehi, concert tickets, and a free entry into Daybreak. They were giving away lots of Hammer products too. I can really use stuff like that!

Anyway, later that afternoon I put on the wetsuit and attempted an open water swim. I was really looking forward to it. I haven't done any cardio at all in 2 weeks.

Don't you just love my kids in their caps and goggles (their idea btw)

Unfortunately, it just didn't work. The ortho doc was firm in his statement of "any discomfort at all means you're doing too much" and I believe him. Because of the buoyancy of the wetsuit I didn't need to kick, but just the motion from being in the water was too much. I swam maybe 200 yards and had to call it good. I was hurting pretty good. I didn't need them getting in, but this must've been a funny sight to an onlooker (I only put the crutches in like 6 inches of water Heidi, promise I didn't hurt them!)
I was so hoping it'd work! I miss jumping in a lake and taking off feeling strong and fast with strong arms and a fast kick. I miss that so much. Getting the wetsuit off was horrible! My husband helped me, but pulling it off just put too much stress on the bones and ligaments pulling on the bone. I won't try the wetsuit again for at least 2-3 weeks. I'll try a pull buoy in the pool on monday, but I'm not holding out a ton of hope. I think I'm just going to have to wait another week and see if things are any better.

Makes me think about putting the screw in. Just a better chance everything heals up well. But I really worry about not liking the screw 10, 20, 30 years down the road. You hear people say it is uncomfortable, painful, or they can feel it. I don't know, any advice? I just hope the 4 week xrays look better.

I really wrestled with whether or not to do BAM. I was worried about the weather, and it was a more expensive race to enter, but I wanted to race in those neat venues and see the atmosphere I'd heard so much about that these race directors put out. After volunteering at Rockcliff and seeing the race though I'm just kicking myself. I tell myself "if I'd listened to my instinct and not done BAM I wouldn't have a broken foot, could've saved $25, could've scored some sweet totally useful prizes Rockcliff offered, and I'd still have a whole season in front of me". The whole foot breaking thing was not a direct result of that particular course (BAM), but if I'd just listened maybe I wouldn't be in this whole mess. What good came out of BAM? I mean I met some great people, had a good swim and bike, but not so good it was worth breaking my foot. Any words for me?

Healing Day 8 - Wasatch Back!

The swelling remains much the same, a little better though. Sometimes when I've been up for too long the increased swelling and itchiness that comes along with it and the wounds on my toes and foot just drive me crazy. I melted down a little friday as my Wasatch Back girls were getting started. I was stuck home doing dishes, not being able to carry anything or get around anything quick because of the crutches, knowing I have another week till the pool and another 3 at least till I get back on the bike and 7 till I run and I just let myself have a little cry. I seriously believe my body is/was going through seratonin withdrawls. I maintain such a high level of it consistanly with being outside and exersizing like I do, I think my body was a little in shock. It's been tough, but one week down now, things will be better soon.
Back to the healing, I can put a little weight on my foot if it's in the boot, but I'm really trying hard not to, giving myself the best chance to heal I can. I think I'm going to see what the 4 weeks x-rays look like, and if things aren't healing well I'll strongly consider the surgery. Here are current pics. I find it interesting that most of my swelling resides near and in my toes.

My 'lovely' fat foot. The wound is taking forever to heal and the swelling keeps it feeling stretched and the boot fastens over it which is uncomfortable. The bruising is at it's peak now I think, down at the bottom and side of my foot near the break. My ankle is a pit puffy too, I'm guessing I probably did a little ligament damage.
As a nice distraction I did get to go up to the finish line to see my Wasatch Back girls. Here's what it looked like driving up. And I hear a couple of them got super soaked the end of Saturday. They did great great though, what troopers! I know they're all exhausted and probably sore, but what an experience. I'm definately jealous. I always hear "there's always next year", but that sounds soooo far away. I would've loved to have done my first time when the rest of them (save 1 runner, Lindsey) did their first times. Oh well. I'm glad they had a great time and let me run down the chute with them. Great job girls! My friend Heidi has a good race report and fun pics on her blog

My team. Thanks for letting me hang around guys

Healing day 4 - TOSH Day

My mom and I headed to TOSH (the orthopedic specialty hospital) to meet with a hand/foot orthopedic doctor this morning. They took new x-rays while I was standing which was interesting. We got a better view of the fracture which is very close to a bad place to have it. It was close to a Jones fracture which do not heal at all most of the time. Mine however is right inbetween that Jones and the shaft of the bone. If it were either of those places it would be a screw no questions asked. Mine however is different. If I were a couch potato he wouldn't recomend a screw because I'd do nothing and let it heal. However, because I'm an athlete he doesn't trust me to do nothing. The recovery time is the same with or without surgery but the screw gives us a little added assurance it will heal and stay solid. If the bone ia going to heal on its own it will only do so if I do absolutely nothing on my feet but walk in the boot next month. Nothing for the next 8 weeks meaning no running obviously, no biking (LAME!), and not even any kicking or running in the water. Nothing that will move the foot basically. I barely talked him into letting me swim with a pull buoy (a floaty thing that allows my hips to float so I don't have to kick). But I can't even swim for 2 more weeks. Crutches and the big black boot for 12 more days
So I am a bit dissapointed for sure. I was really hoping to get to bike. My greatest hope though is that the bone will heal completely. If it does I don't have to worry about it happening again due to running, only if I do something stupid again
So for now I be lazy and get fat and go back to the doc in 4 weeks for new x-rays.

Healing day 2

Pain, swelling, and bruising are about the same today. Still can't put any weight on the foot. It felt so strange to wake up and not head out to a workout nor have any scheduled for this week
Life as a mom is tough. We don't get much done. Its about all I can do to feed them. And the poor baby just doesn't understand why I make her crawl after me all the time and why I have to put her down as soon as she gets out of her crib :( I do feel so bad too not being able to take the kids out though. I'm sure things will get better when I can walk on this foot again

Radiologist reading came back today and it is a confirmed fracture of the 5th metatarsal. Next up is a Dr visit with an ortho at TOSH wednesday morning. I'll update after that. Just a note I thought I'd add, I totally appreciate all your comments, Thank You So Much! But I don't expect you to comment on every post. I'm just trying to track my journey through this and progress as it comes.

Healing Day 1

Feeling a bit better today, as long as I keep the foot and leg wrapped up and in the temporary cast I have. I took it off to shower and was so unstable and my foot and calf ballooned up big time. My blood wounds were pretty painful while redressing them with the help of my handy 5 year old assistant (who has also been so helpful with the other kids for me). Here are some pics from this morning - notice - there are some of the wounds, so if you'd prefer not to see them don't look on (they're not super gory though). Sorry I couldn't get the pics to turn

A view of the feet together. I find it interesting how the right foot looks fine on the left side them morphs into this swollen yucky foot on the right side. The bruising hasn't gone crazy yet, but I'm sure it will in the next couple days

Not sure why this is, maybe because of some of the tendon/ligament damage? But I cannot curl my toes past this point on the right foot. Strange sensation, as is being "down" when just yesterday morning I was a strong, fit athlete. It's gonna be a tough recovery mentally I think.
And the lovely blood wounds and swelling a little closer up. That big wound is wierd, it stays bright red like that, but it isn't bleeding.

BAM

I worried a lot about the weather going into this race as it has been raining everyday (and hard a lot of the time) for the past 10 days or so. Woke up at 4am to finish packing, saw a discouraging forcast online, and was on the road by 4:30am, yes A.M. Well, the skies were cloudy at times, but seemed to be ok, thanks in part I'm sure to my friend's (Ann and Megan in particular) no-rain dancing. Thanks ladies!
Swim - 1500 yards, 25:00. Great! This was a really great swim for me today. We swam in Deer Creek Reservoir and I won't lie, it was cold. I swam there 3 weeks ago and really think it was colder today. So yes, getting in, letting the water in my suit (so I can get out and let it drain out helping to remove the suction factor) and putting my face in was, well, brrr. Took my breath away. That hasn't happened in a while. But once the cannon (yes there was a cannon) went off things went great. Wasn't cold, held a good pace, and sighted well - although I do wish the buoys were bigger.

T1 - Slipped a little on the moss getting out and headed into the transition area. I decided today with cold water and cool air temps that I was wearing my lightweight white fleece no matter what. I wasn't gonna let the tempation of a super fast T1 cause me the uncontrollable shivering I experienced at Kearns. A little hard to get on with wet hands, but definately worth it, I was very comfortable on the bike.
So I ran out of transition, and hopped on the bike.....almost. I swung my right leg over the seat like I do, must've lost my balence somehow and put my right foot down to catch myself. I guess I was a little colder from the swim than I thought as the foot/leg wasn't able to hold me up, I rolled it out and fell over, bike and all. It hurt and I was scraped up, people asked if I was ok, but I climbed up after pausing in pain for 10 seconds or so and went on my way.

Bike - 22 miles, 1:08. Again, a good day. This is a great ride that goes through Midway and Heber and has some amazing views! My favorite was some low clouds hovering right on the green moutain side. There were some sections I felt like I wasn't going anywhere for some reason, but I stayed in my aero bars most of the ride, pushed hard, got to go fast here and there, and wasn't passed by more than a couple women. My foot which I knew was bleeding a little, was hurting a bit now by the last few miles. I was hoping and assuming it'd just be a bit bruised and scraped, and was glad I left socks at T2 just in case as it'd be nice to not have the shoes rubbing against my wounds.

T2 - Approaching transition I slid my feet out of the bike shoes while keeping the shoes on the pedals to save time. It was a bit painful sliding the right foot out. Got to the dismount line, swung my left leg over much to the amusement of the volunteer right there who made a "nice dismount" comment. Upon setting the right foot on the ground and hearing his compliment, I let out a scream. It was horrible. I hobbled in great pain to my shoes hoping maybe they'd help, maybe I could run through the pain. Slid the socks and shoes on as comfortably as I could and hobbled another 200 yards. Oh man, so much pain. Not muscle pain, not scrapes, bone pain. I stopped, thought for a few seconds, tried to get going again and was just stopped. I wasn't going anywhere. I couldn't even walk without a lot of pain. I was faced with my first DNF (did not finish) EVER. I started crying. I took my shoes off and threw them on the ground, and started my hobble walk back to T2. The timing guy saw my moment of tantrum shoe throwing and asking me if I was done with the race. I said "I guess so", he asked if I was sure and I said yes. He said "I'm sorry, but I need to take your timing chip". I really cried then. I know it sounds exagerated and it is sarcastic, but it really hurt to let him take it, almost like he was taking one of my kids or something (again, note the sarcasm, having my children taken away would be much worse, you athletes out there understand what I'm talking about).

I cried pretty good walking back just devistated. Devistated at the pain, the injury, the fact that I wanted to, but I just could not finish the race. This course would've been perfect for me. A 6 mile hilly trail run. I had had a great swim and bike, I was gonna cap it off with a "bam" and well, I guess I did, a "bam" to the foot. Oh yeah and did I mention they lost my wetsuit after cleaning up T1? Yeah, no where to be found. Good thing is the race directors will work to get me a new one. Still, what a day.

The medics attended to me for a couple hours, and I got to chat with some kind friends as they came through the finish line. I hung out for a couple more hours with the help of my friend Chuck (who had a great race!) to watch awards then headed home.
We just got back from an Xray and it looks like a fracture on the outside of the foot. The films are going to a radiologist over the weekend and we'll see what he says tuesday probably. NOT that I'm happy about this fracture, but I'm hoping it's just that. The doctor fears there's a chance it's bigger and could need surgery (ie: pins!) to repair. Yikes, I know! But that is worse case scenerio, crossing my fingers that isn't the case. I also have a referall to go see a doc at TOSH (The Orthopedic Speciality Hospital) in Murray. They're smart, sports specific docs that should give me good council.

So what does this mean for me? It means I'm on crutches for the next 3-5 days. I won't be running on it for 4-6 weeks unless it really heals up in the next week (not a good idea though). Luckily I haven't sign up/paid for any other races till late August. But guess what's this next weekend? The Wasatch Back Relay :( I am SOOOO sad about this. Kicking myself for what happened. I haven't officially told myself this until now, but unfortunately I will not be running with my friends :( I plan on coming to at least the finish line to cheer them on and maybe a place inbetween, but no running I'm afraid. I'm totally letting these ladies down.

I'm so sorry guys!

Pipeline Trail

I got my first real trail run of the season (I think) on friday evening. I ran 3.7 miles up Millcreek Canyon on the road then jumped onto the Pipeline Trail which took me back about 4 miles. The very west end of the trail has a great outlook on the valley below, but I was running a bit short on time so I got off the trail at Rattlesnake Gulch. Oh my word, it is sooo steep going down! I believe I descended 700 feet in just over half a mile I think. Then another mile or so back to the car for 9 miles in all. It was a great run, great scenery decent weather although bit windy at points, had to keep stable footing to avoid getting blown off of the cliffs :). I am so grateful for a body physically able to be trained to run in God's country and to get to see these lovely views (keep in mind they were taken with the cell phone, not top notch, I need to start bringing the camera). I also have 3 wonderful children I love more than anything, and I train around them, not on top of them. I'm so grateful for my husband who comes home to be with them and lets me go out and play.
A section of pipe. The trail apparently used to be a whole section of pipeline bringing water down the canyon A "lovely" view of the valley below. We've had a lot of wind lately, I think it's just dust in the air. Can you see the road below?

THE reason I trail run - single track under a canopy of trees!