New Goal Is Tentatively Set

If you aren't moving forward, you're doomed to move backwards. I really don't want that. It took too much to get forward.

This week started ok, but I have been trying to catch up with grading and staying up too late to get up early enough to exercise. Tuesday through Thursday I did nothing but sort and grade outside of working hours. I was almost caught up, the interim grades were due Friday, but Thursday came first.

Thursday was the MRI day and because I have a slight problem with closed in spaces, the doctor prescribed a low dose of something to make me relaxed. All I can say is if my head ever has to also be in that thing they had better knock me out! I was only in up to my chin and I really had to concentrate to relax. (If you're concentrating on breathing normally, you are NOT relaxed. See, I am learning a little something about the definition of relaxation.) Any ways, the relaxant wasn't all that strong and it was my lunch hour, so I decided to get my allergy shots on the way in to work. I'm a great multi-tasker. I dropped off my designated driver, EJ, because the relaxant wasn't any stronger at making me tired than the heart meds I take every day. I get allergy shots weekly and haven't had a problem with them since spring. Today was different though, I reacted to the shots stronger than I have since I started taking them. They ended up giving me shots of steroids, benedryl, and epinephrine to keep me breathing.

A normal person would have called in sick because they had some form of Valium and a shot of benedryl within an hour of each other. However, I am Vickie. I had a graphing calculator workshop to present. It was advertised on blackboards, in classrooms, on our web page and in our office. I couldn't let my people down. So, I drove in to work any ways. By the way, I really should have had a designated driver now. The only thing keeping me awake was the shot of steroids and epinephrine that they had also given me. Let me just say that I'm glad that only 4 people showed up for that workshop. I was pushing all kinds of wrong buttons. I had to apologize to the students for being under the influence of drugs and instructed them to pay attention to their hand outs more than what I was saying. It was all good though. I got the best evals that I have ever gotten from a workshop that day and the students thought it was a lot of fun. Needless to say, when I got off from work at 7, I went home and passed out and didn't turn my grades in on time.

Friday was my training date with Marcela. She took it easy on me because I was still shaky from the various meds the day before and we still don't know what that MRI would say about my knee. We had fun. She wants to make my arms stronger. There is not a lot of hope there, even in my best days my arms were not that strong. She didn't even work my abs, so after the session I killed them on my own. I did a pretty good job. I'm still a little sore.

I got a call from the docs that said they were making a consult with orthopedics and NOT an orthopedic surgeon. I'm optimistic. I feel pretty good as long as I'm not going down stairs or hills.

That's why on Saturday morning before going to work, I jogged the 5 K trail next to the college. It looked like rain, so I tried to pick up the tempo a little, not much. I was surprised that I finished in 37 minutes. If I can shave 7 minutes off, I will be at what Marcela's shooting for. Of course, by the time I do that, she'll be shooting for 25 minutes, but that's my new goal. It's around 10 minute miles. I used to warm up with 8 minute miles back in the day. It's not unrealistic.

With that as my new goal, the next day, I decided to risk making Marcia fuss me out again. I had even told Michele that I wouldn't do that again before the doctor's ok. I don't know why this is making me do irrational things. I went back to that killer trail, fully intent on jogging the first 3 miles and walking the last 2. I ended up jogging the whole thing again. I don't know why sane me quits being in control at the 3 mile marker. If I had of told myself that I was walking at the 2.5 mile marker, I would have done it. I finished in 1 hr and 2 minutes, wow. (This isn't that great. My friend ran her half marathon and was disappointed that she didn't finish in under two hours. 13 miles is over twice 5. If I ran my pace for that whole race with her, she would have had time to go back to the hotel, take a shower and eat lunch before meeting me back at the finish line.)

I have noticed that a lot of people actually feel like tripping joggers on that trail if they are having trouble walking it. I had to jog off the trail 5 times for people either wanting to walk in the middle of the trail or people walking in pairs that didn't want to get closer to each other. The joggers all smile and wave and wish you good morning. The sight seeing walkers do the same thing, but some of the exercise walkers are only not tripping joggers because it's illegal. (I felt that way once, but I didn't do anything about it and I didn't make it difficult to get around me. It really ticks you off to see someone jogging a trail that is kicking your tail when you're just walking it. I think I mentioned that feeling in one of the early blogs. I didn't know that not all people are as polite as I am.)

Any ways, welcome back to work Chele. The best part of my week was getting to spend time with my person (a saying from Grey's Anatomy). It beat 37 minute 5Ks, conquering the killer trail, and getting the best evals I've ever gotten. Thank you for letting me visit this week and I'm so glad I'll get to see you five days a week for a while. I need my person. :)