I had no idea just how limited you are when you can't put any weight on one foot. Which means no weight on one leg. Getting up out of a chair, sitting down on a chair, using the bathroom are all things that become a challenge.
Little things like doing laundry, cooking, wiping the dogs wet feet off before she comes in the house. These all become more daunting tasks.
So here I am to make sure my mom keeps her foot elevated, has ice and does the hard work of healing while I do all the things to make that as stress free as possible. Which includes taking care of my step-dad. And he's not a fan of being taken care of but he's coming around. 😊
As I was preparing to take the time off of work so that I could be here for them I was thinking about my running, or lack of running.
I've been thinking a lot of how I started running.
I started out slow, because I was just starting.
I started out with short distances.
I started out with music.
I decided a few months ago I needed to start all the way over.
Instead of being mad about starting over, I need to just start. I did it once. I can do it again!
Since I was going to be off work and hanging out with my parents, it seemed like I probably could carve out 45-60 minutes to get out of the house for a walk or run.
It isn't happening every day but I am getting out there.
My parents live near the top of a hill and the roads around their neighborhood and defintely up and down. I decided I would run the downhills and as much as the uphills as I could and then walk the rest of the way up. With the goal that each time I went I would run a little bit farther up the hill then I did the time before.
So I put on my running clothes and shoes and took off for my first effort. The hills are stout and I didn't go far but I enjoyed it.
It felt good to be out there and doing something just because I wanted to.
It felt good to be in the fresh air and see the beautiful views.
It felt good to be listening to music with a good beat that helped me keep going.
I saw two eagle flying near the hillside. Eagles are special to me and whenever I get to see one it is a highlight of my day!
Slow and a lot of walking. Not even 2 miles. But I went and enjoyed it!
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| Avoided the rain and it was actually warm! |
A few days later Joe came up and we took a walk together. This walk wasn't to reach any goals but just to be outside and spend some time together.
Then I went to my school's Unified Basketball game. Unified Basketball is for our special education students. They play several other schools in the local area, usually 3 or 4 games. They have student helpers who are out on the court helping point the athletes in the right direction and guide them on shooting or passing the ball. It is my absolute favorite event at our school bar none! The student section is always full. Everyone in the stands cheers for ALL the kids playing. The kids playing have huge smiles on their faces and are haivng the time of their lives. We had 10 seniors this year and every single on of them got a letterman's jacket. They were so excited they didn't want to talk the jackets off to play. 
I'm watching these kids play with whatever ability they have and how they loved every minute of it. They needed helpers and didn't care if it meant they could play. One played using his walker and he had figured out how to run with it and he moved! One young man had a lift belt around his waist with hand straps on it. He walked back and forth across that court with his wonderful teacher assisting him.
It made me think of all the times I haven't wanted to ask for help with anything. I like being the helper and not being the one being helped.
Here are these kids who have to be helped in most aspects of their lives.
They aren't angry about it.
Or grumpy they can't do more.
They are excited to be there.
They are excited to participate.
They are excited to be involved.
I always love how after these games the students who went to watch suddenly know the players names. Call out and greet them as they cross campus. It is a huge part of what makes our school culture feel like family!
How can I be grumpy about being slow and out of shape when I can do it without any help? Time to get over myself!!
Later in the week my friend Wendie came to walk with me. Again, didn't worry about the running part but we walked and talked our way through a 5k and over an hour together.
Both of these walks were such a great reminder of how beneficial it is to just go outside and walk. Even if it isn't for long or for very far.
Yesterday was gorgous! The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was very warm for a day at the start of February!
I was excited to go for my run/walk!
I was excited that I was excited to go for my run/walk!
I took off and had the plan that I was going to try and run up the hills just a bit farther than the first time. I had made a mental not of how far I had gotten last time. Mostly it was one side or another of someone's driveway. If it was the closest side of the driveway I tried to get to the opposite side of the driveway. If I had made it to the far side of the driveway, I looked for a mailbox or crack in the road to get to. That way on my next run I have that as my get past point.
It was hard but a fun kind of hard so I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I stopped a time or two to get pictures (and, not gonna lie, to catch my breath.)
I went a little farther this time by going to the end of the street my parents are on to the stop sign and then coming back to their driveway.
This got me just over 2 miles.
That doesn't sound like a lot but it was 2 miles of totally enjoying the process of pushing myself, being outside and doing hard things. 
I did this run with a little more running up the hills, a little bit farther and a little bit faster. 
I am enjoying making progress instead of being mad that I'm not where I used to be. I'm never going to be perfect so it's silly to try.
But I definitely can be making progress!
Progress not perfection. Might need to put that on sticky notes all over my house. lol
I'm working on what my new goals are going to be.
First goal is walking the Newport Shamrock 5k with my work bestie and her son. I am totally excited about it!
