Post-ACL Surgery

Maverick's surgery went well yesterday. He stayed at the vet overnight and we went today to pick him up. When they brought him out to the waiting room, he was SO excited to see us. Trying to keep him calm was pretty hard. But we got him in the car and I think he fell right asleep knowing he wasn't at the vet's office anymore.

To make sure the healing process goes well, he has to stay in his kennel for 8 weeks. The only exceptions to that are when we take him outside to do his business, or if we are home and can supervise him, he can be out of his kennel if he is just laying on the floor. We got him a large dog pillow and ever since we brought him home 2.5 hours ago, he has been laying on it and hasn't really moved. He is really groggy from all the medicine, which is good, because resting is the best thing for him right now.

It is going to be a long 8 weeks trying to keep him from moving much at all, but it is definitely worth it! After the first 8 weeks, we'll do physical therapy with him here at home. That will last another 8 weeks before he can go back to full normal activity. We are glad everything went well and that we can now start the road to recovery. Here are some pictures of him after we got him home.

Bode (the top of the picture) was glad that his brother is home

Poor Maverick and his shaved leg

Maverick and his Dad

ACL Surgery!

Today is the big surgery day! No, I didn't get injured while running (knocking on wood that I don't). Our black lab, Maverick, is the one who has to have surgery. I dropped him off at the vet this morning on my way to work and the poor guy had no idea what was going to happen to him. He was just happy that he got to take a ride in Mom's car!

Maverick went on a pheasant hunting trip with his dad a little over a month ago. That is where he hurt his knee. After one vet trip, we watched him to see if it got better after 10 days (it didn't), then another vet trip and an exam, the conclusion was that he tore his ACL. One option was taking him to K-State to have the surgery, but with that being farther away and having to make several trips out there, we decided to have our vet do it. He is a great vet and highly recommended, plus it is more convenient and less traveling for us and Maverick.

I will try to be patient throughout this day until I get the call this afternoon saying everything went well. I'm not great at being patient about things like this, but I'll keep myself busy and thinking of other things as much as I can! Just wanted to include a picture of him hunting ducks on the river a year or two ago. He loves to hunt with his dad and only being 5 years old, it was very important for us to get him as good as new. That way him and his dad can have many more years of hunting together!


I will make sure to give an update once we are able to bring him home tomorrow.

Just Run

After taking 3 days off from running or working out over the Christmas holiday, I really needed to get moving! I was feeling anxious that I hadn’t exercised (another reason I think I am addicted to working out), so I was excited to get off work and head home. It wasn’t too terribly cold outside, so I decided I would bypass the treadmill and run outside. Plus, for the next 6 months, the days start to get longer. Every day we have more sunlight which makes me extremely happy!

My training program said I should run 3 miles. But, since I skipped my 4 mile Saturday run, I decided I needed to do 4 to make up for it. I knew the general route I would take (having my Garmin, I knew I could go anywhere I wanted to), so I started running. I had my long sleeved running shirt on underneath my t-shirt, my headband that covers my ears, and my gloves since my hands were frozen last run when I didn’t have them on. I usually run in my shorts. I don’t particularly like to run in long running pants. Well, I should have last night. For about the first mile and a half, I couldn’t feel my thighs! My pace was not very fast because I know that when you are numb, it’s hard to tell what your muscles need. I knew they’d warm up, so I took it slow at first and then they finally got warm. After that, I felt great!

Because I wasn’t worried about a fast pace when I was trying to warm my legs up, I decided that this run wouldn’t be about pace at all. I would just run. I would listen to what my body wanted and follow its lead. That is hard for me since pace is something I closely monitor. I also wasn’t too worried about mileage (just enough to know where to turn around to make it back home). As I was nearing the 2 mile mark, I thought I would go another half mile to make it 5 miles total since I was feeling so good. I was just enjoying the run and not worrying about time and pace.

I was almost to my house and about to finish up my 5 miles, when I decided I would go a little farther. The route where I walk my dogs is about a mile, so I thought I would do that. Tim McGraw’s song, “Live Like You Were Dying” came on my shuffle and that song has a special meaning for me. It makes me think of my husband’s father who I was never able to meet. He passed away when my husband was a freshman in college. It also makes me think of my brother and the train accident he was in over a year ago. I am very lucky to still have him here with me. Just this past weekend, he and I were looking at pictures from the wreck and talking about his experience and the thoughts that went through his mind when the train hit him. Listening to him talk about it made me even more thankful that I can sit down and have a conversation with him!

While listening to that song, I think I was smiling (if people would have seen me, they might have thought I was a little strange). I think it also made me speed up a little knowing that I was lucky to be able to run. I felt lucky that my brother can go and do things because of who was watching over him that day and keeping him safe. It also made me sad thinking of my husband’s father whose life was too short, and I didn’t even get a chance to meet him. I should not take for granted my ability to walk out my front door and run because not everyone can. Running is not something everyone likes to do, but we all should be thankful for being able to do what makes us happy, whatever that may be. For me, it’s running. Living life to the fullest and “live like you were dying” are great words to live by and I think that song came on at just the perfect time. It carried me another 1.2 miles to finish my 6.2 mile run (a 10K)!

Every once in a while it’s good to forget about time, pace, miles and training programs, and just get out there and run. I enjoyed the scenery, seeing the Christmas lights still up on people’s houses, the people out and about, the fresh air, the hills, my music and my thoughts. It was nice to “just run.”

Road ID: Safety First

I hope everyone had a very Merry (and safe) Christmas! While driving to my hometown amidst all the holiday traffic, I was hoping and praying that everyone would be safe during their holiday travels. And that made me think about doing a post about safety while running. I usually don't think too much about it because I do take the necessary measures:

- I run on the sidewalk whenever possible.
- If I have to run on the street, I run toward traffic like you're supposed to.
- If it is dark outside, I don't wear my ipod so that I can hear everything going on around me.

But the one thing I didn't do was carry any identification with me. Living in a small town similar to the one I grew up in, I feel very safe and comfortable. But, you can never be too careful. And my husband always asks many questions about my safety while running, and it just got me thinking. About the same time, I had gotten an email from Road ID. I had heard of Road ID many times with all the races I've done, but never checked out their website. After getting that email, I checked out their website and decided that I should get myself a Road ID for when I run outside. That way I wouldn't have to worry about losing my driver's license on a run.

After much looking around on their website, I chose the Shoe ID. I attached a picture of my shoes and you can see it attached to my left shoe. {As a side note, these Saucony's have the most miles on them and I am due for a new pair. Might use some Christmas money for some new running shoes!} My husband thought I should get the Wrist ID instead, because people might not check my shoe if I was hurt. But I also knew that the Wrist ID would be something I could easily forget to put on. With the Shoe ID, it is always attached to my shoes. I have a few pairs of running shoes, but they are attached to the ones I use for outside running, so it will always be with me! And it is reflective and you can never be too reflective while running!

If you don't run with any identification, or you'd rather not run with your driver's license, click here to check out Road ID's website. I am not getting anything for writing this post. This is just my own opinion on a product that I purchased. And it does make me feel safer while running! There are enough lines on the plate to put a multitude of info that someone might need. My Road ID has 5 lines of info for me. And there is room for a 6th line, so I used it to put a saying on it. I had "I RUN BECAUSE I CAN" put on the 6th line. That was just to remind myself every day that there are many people who can't physically get out and run and I am super lucky that I can!

Enjoy the rest of your holiday season and have a Happy New Year and be safe!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

I changed my blog design again. I was browsing through and found this red and blue one and thought it would be perfect. As basketball season is getting into full swing, I thought I should use my blog to show support for the Jayhawks! I also thought I'd share about the event I went to back in October. It was called Ladies Night Out with Bill Self and the proceeds went to breast cancer research. Not only was it a cause that is near and dear to me, but I got to meet Coach Bill Self, the assistant coaches and the players. It really was a great night and I think all the ladies who attended had an amazing time! It is definitely an event I will try my best to attend every year!

We also got a tour of Allen Fieldhouse and all the basketball facilities from Bill's office to the locker room. I could make this a really long post, but I thought I'd share a few pictures from the evening instead of talking too much about it. The pictures speak for themselves anyway.

Here I am with Baby Jay

National Championship Banners in the Fieldhouse

Me with Josh Selby - so glad he is eligible to play now!

I thought this one was great! This is Jeff Withey and you can see how tall he is. I'm not short by any means (5'9"), and his jersey is like a dress on me! And his wingspan is really long!

Me with Coach Self

It was a great event and they raised about $40,000 for breast cancer research, which is amazing! Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go KU!

Half Marathon Registration...Check!

I am registered for my first half marathon of 2011! I am very excited for this as it is in wonderful (and hilly) Lawrence, KS! This is the one I decided a while back that I was going to do, but the online registration just got up and running recently. The race is April 17, 2011 and along with the half marathon, there is a 10K, 5K and a 1K Fun Run.

The cool part is that all half marathon finishers get a finishers medal. I'm not fast enough to ever get a winner's medal, so a finishers medal is perfect for me! Finishing is a challenge in itself, right? All the way through high school, I got tons of medals from track, golf and gymnastics, so to be in my 30s and getting medals again makes me feel great! Silly, maybe, but medals have always given me pride in my accomplishments and this should be no different!

This race will be unpredictable for sure! The weather in itself is very unpredictable in Kansas. In April it could be hot or it could be cold! I ran the 5K at this race in 2009 and it was really cold and rainy. Not the most fun conditions to run in, but the race in itself was fun and well organized. I skipped out last year because of all I had going on with planning my wedding. I heard from people who participated last year that it was again very well organized and a lot of fun, so I can't wait to find out for myself this year! On the website, the race is described this way:

Prepare for an incredibly challenging tour throughout the beautiful city of Lawrence. A course that will take athletes through the University of Kansas as well as the rural lake views of beautiful Clinton Lake. This exciting Half Marathon will truly have a touch of everything! Just like the city of Lawrence!

Incredibly challenging are great words to describe it after I looked at the course map and elevation map on the website. And I should know that the hills on the KU campus are truly challenging. I spent many college years walking up those hills to my classes! If you'd like to join me at the race this year, check it out here!

Running Quotes

First off, let me start by saying that I'm glad I'm home for the evening. We had our first freezing rain of the winter, so I drove 30 mph on the interstate to get to my cozy house. Have I mentioned I hate the cold? And that I hate winter? I don't mind snow if I don't have to get out in it or I am skiing. Other than that, I prefer warm weather. Now, on to the post.

I have always been a sucker for quotes. That is probably why I love my new shirt so much! Give me a good motivational quote and it can truly be inspiring! As a runner, the same is true, and there are tons of great running quotes out there! I thought I would share some of my favorite ones with you.

• "There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open."

• "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

And that one for me is especially true. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't run to win races. I'm not a fast runner, but I enjoy running. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a race, whether it is a 5K or a marathon, and whether I finish first, in the middle of the pack, or last!

• "Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

• "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." -John Bingham, running speaker and writer

• "Running long and hard is an ideal antidepressant, since it's hard to run and feel sorry for yourself at the same time. Also, there are those hours of clearheadedness that follow a long run." -Monte Davis

Running is a way for me to de-stress and I love the calmness that comes over me after I run.

• "What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate." -John Bingham, running writer and speaker

• "Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." -Edward Stanley

This doesn’t apply to only running but the fact that people who exercise are healthier than people who don’t. And I’m a much happier person if I work out consistently. I feel out of whack if I don’t.

• "If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." -John Bingham

• "I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought." -Arthur Blank

• "Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!"

• "A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding."

I have said it before – participating in a long distance race will take you through every emotion possible and it will affect you in ways you never thought you could be affected! Especially the first one you finish! It's a feeling like no other!

• "You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face." -Gatorade

I love this one because I do sweat a lot and if I forget my towel, it’s hard for me to get through the run!

Do you have any others? What are your favorite quotes? I would love to hear them!!!