Crushed by Injury, Inspired by the Comeback

COURTESY OF USA TODAY SPORTS....KOBE....

It's that time of the year again - volunteering for my church's women's conference near the end of an exciting NBA season - where I am so exhausted not only do I miss the games but the ESPN highlights. 

Nonetheless, I woke up this morning to go to the morning glory service and was about to tweet until I almost had to pinch myself to wake up from a nightmare - my favorite active NBA and team go-to player, Kobe Bryant, went down last night with a torn ACL.

I couldn't wrap my mind around it but I read in this order the tweets from Dwayne Wade, Stuart Scott, CP3, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pierce and I had to come to realization that it was true.  With the promise of volunteering and running a company and handling projects, I said a quick prayer and decided to come back to these emotions.

Now back in my room after the evening session and item lobby discussions, I just checked out the post-game interview and find myself in tears.  How could this be? 17 years of giving 190% in both physical and mental preparation and playing through almost every injury possible and this is how it goes down. And the 2nd to worst part is his almost single-handed effort to will his team to the playoffs in the the fight for the 8th seed, a ranking unbeknownst to long-time Lakers fans. Yes, I know your body starts to wane over time but this is Kobe and in my mind, he is invincible and relentless when it comes to athleticism. 

Now needing some Kleenex from all this crying, I go to my bag and open the side compartment and my Baltimore Ravens bracelet falls out. In teary-eyed vision, I start recollecting"the ride". I pulled out my iPad and at first glance, saw the picture of Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis talking after the Broncos loss in the locker room. Wait! Peyton suffered a neck injury, sat out an entire season with the Colts, and came back with a vengeance with his new team, the Denver Broncos.  Ray Lewis was supposed to be out all season after tearing his tricep but worked his way back and retired with another Superbowl ring. And then there was my picture with Adrian Peterson at iHop during Superbowl weekend.  Not only did he tear the MCL and the ACL but he came back as the NFL MVP and only 8 yards shy of a rushing record. 

All of a sudden I am feeling a little better.  I read Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony's tweets again and they are right.  If anyone, I mean ANYONE, can come back from this, it's Kobe Bean "vino" "mamba" Bryant. He will run this course like no other and inspire us all to come back stronger from our temporary setbacks.  #runmambacourse 

No Pain All Gain

It's been a little over a week and I sprinted one day.  Yes, just one day.  This was after I had already run 9 miles and incorporated 3 miles of hills in the effort. I welcomed the totally winded feeling after each 1/4 mile sprint but I measured my desire to return to running based on how I felt the next day.

The sprints did not cause any pain so I felt like I had not accomplished anything. The 3 mile hill runs had my calves and quads on FIRE and that encouraged me to launch a new challenging regimen. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment but in this case if there is no pain, I gain motivation to ensure my muscles are toning and burning.

Since most of my marathons were on flat courses, I always liked the challenge of running at least one hilly one every other month (e.g. Georgia, San Franisco, etc in that order) because the pain the following day had me feeling like I had done 2000 squats.  So how can I gain my momentum and feel the pain with this busy schedule?

I think I found the trick since running outside is not an option at 5am with this Daylight Savings Time (and remember I hate the treadmills).  I searched online for the workouts of great focused athletes and found now-retired Ravens player, Ray Lewis, making workouts look like a full- time job. Download it on your Apple iOS devices - trust!  Four days in a row I selected a Ray Lewis workout and worked out like an active NFL linebacker.  4am I am looking at Mr. 52 focused on not quitting.  After 8pm I am taking out my frustrations of the day with some forceful kickboxing.  Since running marathon miles is no longer a challenge for me, I plan on 6 mile hill runs each day of this weekend.

Lets see if this week's pain helps me gain some encouragement to run the course! 

Getting Back to the Run of Things - Part 1

It is hard to return to running when other priorities have occupied your time. It is harder to even want to return to marathon-ing because it takes too much time that can be devoted to new initiatives and business ventures. No I don't train so I am talking about the travel and time associated to running two marathons a month. And with all the people running/walking marathons now, it just doesn't feel like an accomplishment anymore.  So this month, I will see if I have any renewed interest. 

This week I will wear my new Nike track shoes. Sprint workouts at the local track are better cardio and performance routines. If I can get in 8 1/4 miles and time them for less than 2 minutes each with a 2 minute break in between, I am good for 35 minutes. It's quick and I can focus on my core and arm strength and go to my boxing trainer or my choreographer. 

Check back next week to see how often this routine will be put to the test.

Too Late To Turn Back

Had a good breakfast at the Luxe before my trek to San Diego.  OMG, these ladies at the table next to me are from San Diego.  Note to Self:  Say nothing and ignore them.  You're there for a purpose of running the marathon and not sight-seeing.
They are getting up from the table.  Whew! I made it.
I get to the rental car and map out the trip without 405. (Any thought process of 405 for 2 hours does not even compute in my inner being.)  Hertz Neverlost has me on my way.
2 hours later - I am here!  It pays to do road trips when there is no traffic. I even bypassed the lines at the hotel to check-in.  Convention center is next door.  Off to bib pick-up I go!
I walk into the Convention Center and am stunned by the EXPO.  INCREDIBLE!  Life size Oakley and Under Armour booths.  After picking up my bib and race chip, I walk around to see that EVERY VENDOR has something that will help me finish, run faster, regain energy and relax afterwards but nothing here says pain-free.   Walking around some more and here is Saucony and Under Armour - my absolute favorite workout gear.  Alright I have been here 2 hours, time to get a meal and go to bed.  Because I have no will power of the fun time at the marina, I ordered take-out at the restaurant overlooking the marina - NO PASTA just a burger and fries!

The Ultimate Test

I wake up at 6AM and make some mental notes to myself.  (I rode around last night and am aware of 6 miles from Point A to Point B from the city to Westchester County.  If I run it once I am good and if I get to the last 4 miles, I can run a half-marathon.)

This is my long run so I will have some orange juice.  I did not read about what to eat so good old Tropicana will have to do the trick.

Mile 1 - 8:  I am cruising along listening to some sermons on my iPod.
Mile 9:  I think I am parched.  I need some water.  There is store on the right and I am going to get me 1 Liter of cold water.  I drink it as I walk and throw the empty bottle in the trash can outside of the hardware store.  Time to go!
Mile 14:  I can not believe I am still going.
Mile 18:  I am thirsty again.  It is time to stop at the store and get some more water.  This time 1 liter of Fiji is great.  I walk three blocks as I drink my Fiji.  All gone...now time to go.
Mile 20:  No turning back because I am in the middle of the run and the house.  I have to do a round-trip to get back to the house.  Legs you can do it.  And they did.
Mile 22 COMPLETE and MARATHON it is!!!

Now my legs feel like I did 3000 squats and my feet are on fire so can I crawl up the steps to my bedroom?  How will I put shoes on for church tomorrow?  Flip flops for the rest of the day and minimal movement.

TGIF

It's Friday and I am working remotely in the comfort of sunny Southern California.  Now I must determine how I can make it through a marathon, having only ever run 6 miles.  It is time to take it to the streets and see if I can do 6 miles with no ESPN Sports News.  An hour and some change later, done!

Back on the Internet, all the research indicates that it takes 4 months to train for a marathon.  I have 2 weeks!

No need to panic.  It only cost me a hundred bucks.  One source reveals that a long run for preparation for a half marathon is 10 miles and 18 miles for a marathon.   In my comprehension that means if I get to 10 and feel like I am going to pass out, cancel my entry in the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon and  find a half-marathon to run.

A phone call results in me having to head back to the East Coast - emergency in New York.  Now panic!  Where am I going to run in NY to test out my endurance?  I guess I will have to ride around and set the odometer and mark 5 miles to get this right.  There goes sunny training and swollen ankles for the flight to JFK.

Excited if Only for a Half Day

Mental alarm clock goes off at 3:41AM.  I am alert and ready to get in my 6 miles.  ESPN hook me up for 6 miles.  Done. 

No matter what is said and what phone calls I get - I am going to be happy because I am on a flight up out of here this afternoon.  I pull into the Visitor's Lot and register the rental car.  (Name it and claim it!  I refuse to be labeled as a permanent employee in these environments.)    I walk in and I am numb to what UBCF has to say.  I am smiling because there is a flight with my name on it.

I get a phone call from my trainer. Stunned that it was him and the top of his morning, I ask him about marathons and whether I should run a half-marathon or the real shebang.  He says it really depends on what you feel like after trying a longer run.  Well since 6 miles was an accomplishment on a treadmill, that means nothing on the streets.  I have to do a real 6 miles on the streets.  After doing some more research I decided that the best thing to do is sign-up and if I am not ready, cancel it.  I only lose $100 and I can try it again at another time. 

San Diego Rock and Roll is coming up in two weeks.  Sign me up! 

Note to Self: Two weeks is impossible to be ready but why not try for the impossible.   Oh wait the email registration indicates it is the real 26.2 marathon.  They don't have a half.  Uh oh - this means all or nothing on the first time.

Excitement gone!

What Can Be the Way Out?

It's 3:45AM.  Now this can not be a habit.  It kills my whole day to be up this early and work late.  Oh well can not work out with my trainer because he is on the West Coast and this schedule puts me home only on the weekends.  Not feeling this!  Guess I better run.

ESPN, let me know what is going on in a happy world.  The news is too close to home and too depressing.  Sports is motivational and recreational and I love it!  6 miles done.

I get back to the room and google marathons.  What a whirlwind of information on the Internet exists about marathon training.  Maybe I will run 6 miles three times/week, run a race for a sense of accomplishment, and relieve my stress from being on this assignment with this crazy chic all at the same time, and have some means of fitness in my life.  But how will I eat healthy here.  Do they know what that is here? This all sounds crazy.  It's much easier to find time to work out with my trainer on alternate weekends.

A New Goal to Survive

It's 3:30AM and I can't sleep.  The thought of having to see that crazy chic in meetings all day and deal with her abuse is just killing me. Why Lord, why have you put me here in the one of the most undesirable situations?  Of course, no answer!

I can't go back to sleep. Maybe I will run on that awful treadmill since there won't be any beach run or BH storefronts and fabulous houses to ease the boredom of a 5 mile run.  Okay I will get dressed and hit up the only treadmill that works.  Well the advantage - quiet, peace, privacy, and ESPN Sports News for an hour worked to my benefit because I did a whopping 6 miles - the most ever!  I am excited.

Head to the office and here comes the verbal lashing about a project plan that the UBCF created that is unreasonable even for the smartest and 90/hr work-week individuals.  She created the plan with unreasonable timeframes so why is she yelling at me - the person that told her the timeframes were off from the start.  Note to self: Look at her with a blank stare and ask her if she needs some help - not mental ward.
That worked for about an hour before she marched over for another verbal lashing.  I went to my laptop to add to my tithe.  I need credit with the Lord for my probable verbal slip-up with this chic.

The Stress Build-Up

Flying to work onsite for a project 6 hours one-way no big deal.  Having to connect is another story.  As long as Dulles and Chicago cooperate I will make it through.  So far so good even in the midst of the end of the winter.

But up here in no man's land during the week, where is the sun in May?  No wonder this UBCF (undiagnosed bi-polar control freak) is going off pointing pens in people's faces, yelling at people on the project, acting like she is on a construction site (in fact, those men act better), banging on her desk to ask for an update, and telling me that I cost too much money.  Note to Self:  Don't let it stress you T, walk it off!  It's a recession and you're in New England.  You are working around the hidden reality.

Finally I made it through the day and drive to the hotel where the "manager" informs me that my discount has run out and they will be charging me an extra $59/night beginning next week.  Okay really for a Springhill Suites.  This is not the Ritz Carlton and I am not in any HOT location.  So what I expense it, that is unfair and a complete rip-off.  Note to Self:  Say nothing. Smile and go to your room and look for a better deal.

Get to the room and my handyman calls to tell me that there is a $3700 emergency repair that has to take place on the house.  What kind of emergency is that?  How long can the emergency be an emergency - like a month or two?  Isn't the purpose of a handyman to prevent $3700 emergencies from happening.  I am two seconds from telling off this unhandyman and firing him.  Note to Self: Be kind because he has the keys to the boiler room and the garage.  Pretend like you are going to work with him until you can get home and see what is really going on.

All this stress and no sunshine has got to go.  This hotel has this small compact "gym" with two treadmills and an elliptical.  I HATE running on a treadmill.  I HATE wanna-be gyms that are really half the size of the room with one mirror and three machines.  No scenery and unfamiliar territory in an Obama presidency in New England - I DARE not run outside after work.  Maybe I will get me a Billy Blanks Tae-Bo DVD.

How It All Began

I am sitting behind my desk in an old office building that reminds me of my elementary school,  Slouched in my chair, flying to this client every week, and working more than 60 hours/week is a health disaster in the making.  Eating once a day or at midnight was a routine.  The depression of the looming recession, constant grind to stay afloat and pay employees, and taking chances on projects in unappealing places has sent me right off the fitness track.
My friend (size 2) just complained about her pants not fitting with the magic phrase, TRP, - thigh rub prevention.  That was my cue to return to fitness routine normalcy.  However in no man's land without my trusted personal trainer in a bootleg hotel with only two some-timey treadmills, brisk and rainy spring weather, and an undiagnosed bi-polar control freak client project manager, what am I to do?