June 2013 2nd half

 

 
It's Father's day and we are in San Francisco to run the 2nd half of the marathon and earn our Half It All Challenge medal.  Last year, we ran in July and it was cold and misty. The weather was pretty miserable although I prefer cool over hot but alas the Golden Gate bridge was pretty fogged in.  This year, it was in June because of another race in July.  Wow what an amazing day in SF!!! Incredibly clear and comfortably cool.  Running through Golden Gate Park was amazing! I never knew SF had such a beautiful park.  Haight street was incredibly beautiful with colorful murals everywhere.

Marcus was great at helping me stay steady with my pace. The course had some light rolling hills and two down hills. I didn't start feeling pain until the 9th mile just like my training.  However, it became a mental game to push through little milestones through the last few miles. I thought often of SBM who would soon endure pain for double the run distance and it helped me block out the pain. At the end, I was very pleased that my race pace was faster than my last two long training runs at 10:27 avg = 2:18.  We had a great time at the after party and the food was terrific. I really love our challenge medal but I don't think I will return for the full Marathon next year.  I think I'd rather run the Women's Nike Marathon in October if I can get in since it is a lottery entry. We had to walk back to the hotel which was one mile away and my foot really started to throb so I decided to talk to it and plead for mercy!  I iced it when we returned to the hotel and it bounced back fairly quickly.

Next on the calendar was the inaugural JUMP aquathlon on June 23. Wow that was fun! We took the Lady Hornblower cruiser out to the middle of the CV Marina, jumped off the platform, swam 1 mile and then ran 6 miles.  The water was choppy but warm so I was so glad to be in a sleeveless.  Finally I solved my chaffing issue with a rash guard under the sleeveless wetsuit. I loved the event but holy moly the swim exit was rocky and when I started to run through the little rocks, I tumbled backwards in foot pain.  I hobbled my way carefully up the bank and limped into T1.  My Achilles had been hurting from 160 miles of biking that week that I wore an ankle bandage on the run.  The run went pretty well at a 10:20 avg pace so I am improving slowly, but it was a bit embarrassing when Judy, the 70 year old, ran by me like a steamboat! I hope I can run that fast when I am her age! I did run 18 miles total this 3rd week of training for SOMA so my marathon training is on track.

 On the same day as JUMP was the Ironman Coeur d'Arlene.  SwimBikeMom Meredith Atwood would be attempting her first full ironman after only completing a 14 mile run in her training due to hip pain.  She and I have followed a similar tri journey so far but I delayed my IM adventure for foot surgery and she continued after we both raced two 70.3 events. She has endured so many physical issues,  a job, young kids, and weighs 200 lbs.  With all this going on in her life, if she can finish, then so can I.  She needed hip surgery but continued to train the best she could for her once in a lifetime shot at a full ironman.  It was incredibly exciting and fulfilling to watch her stats throughout the night and after a long grueling bike ride for 8:11 hrs, I was worried about her run and the pain she would need to endure even at a sub 16 min/mile pace. But with about 15 minutes to spare, Mike Reilly announced she was an ironman and tears streamed down my face in pride as I watched her live through the website.  I have more confidence in myself than ever before because she has shown me that FEAR IS A LIAR.  Get your brain out of the way and achieve your dreams.

Bunion and Hammertoe 6-9 weeks

Our family has been in a whirlwind of celebrations over the last month.

At 6 weeks, I was able to wear dress shoes to my daughter's Cornell Law graduation ceremony. My instep/footpad is still swollen so I couldn't wear anything too fancy but it beat tennis shoes with a dress! I do walk with a slight limp because my footpad is swollen and I tend to lean to the outside of my foot since my 2nd toe has no flexibility.  However, I was not in any pain. I looked at a lot of pretty feet and shoes at the celebration, eager that one day I will have that too!

At week 7, we had a family vacation for a week in Cancun, Mexico.  I started running 3 miles on the treadmill during this time.  It was far too hot and humid to run outside.  I ran three times increasing to 4 miles indoors for a total of 11 miles for the week.  I iced my foot or went swimming immediately following the run to reduce the swelling. I actually think walking for 8 hrs a day through the tours was more exhausting on my foot!  The ocean was always the best remedy though!

Sailing toward Cozumel

the center of the sun in Chichen Itza

climb, zip, row, swim, walk hills, drive ATVs all day in an oven

Couldn't get enough of the ocean in front of our hotel, Live Aqua

water is so therapeutic!

Week 8, I started preparing for my next half marathon in San Francisco on Father's day, June 16.  I ran every other day increasing mileage to 4, 5, and 6 miles. Total mileage for the week was 15 miles. I am regularly cycling 40 milers, three times a week as well swimming 1-2 miles three times a week.  I have not started bike/run bricks yet but instead, swim after each run to reduce swelling.  I felt no pain in my runs so far but my gait is a little off which can give me slight pain in my knee. At the end of the week, I took the weekend off for my son's medical school graduation and engagement party.

We had a huge family gathering June 1 for Ryan and Aliyah's UC Irvine School of Medicine graduation.  We had close to 30 of the Serrano and extended family plus the Khan family, screaming with excitement.  As some families were cheering lightly for their graduate, we soon felt competitive and went for the GOLD and screamed, whistled, and chanted for our favorite couple louder than anyone! We had a wonderful family graduation party in Laguna Beach afterwards.

Our newly blended family

backyard view looking over PCH into the Pacific Ocean from Laguna beach

soaking my swollen foot after running up and down stairs serving food all day!

On June 2, we all attended Ryan and Aliyah's engagement party in Valencia, CA where we celebrated the beginning of their wedding plans for May 16-18, 2014.  We were shown some of the Indian traditions and were graciously accepted into the Khan home full of color and celebration!

I am now in week 9.  With the weekend off, I jumped to an 8 mile run which went well and felt slower than I wanted but still basically pain free.  I skipped the swim due to the weather and paid with throbbing and longer swelling in the evening. The only pain is on the 2nd toe with the 60mm pin.  The joint connecting the toe to the ball of the foot is inflexible so this can throb over extended running time.  I have never had pain from the bunion surgery.  I then biked 40 and 35 mile routes over the next two days to give my foot some time off the pavement.  My cycling endurance seems to be close to normal now and decided last minute to join the Fiesta Metric Century ride this coming Saturday June 8 for 67 miles.

Thursday was my first 10 miler and 9 wk anniversary date. The pin started throbbing about mile 7 but not too bad.  However about mile 9, it felt like a rock in my shoe and the pain really started elevating and my run slowed.  My route was two separate loops around Sail Bay and Mission/Bonita Bay.  I had to run some incline for SF preparation because I had only run flat over the last couple weeks so I could at least get in the mileage.  So I chose two overpasses to work some elevation and it wasn't too bad however SF 2nd half is hilly so I'm probably going to be hurting just from lack of preparation.  I finally decided to walk one minute at mile 9.37.  I decided it just wasn't worth the pain escalation.  I will likely run/walk SF half next weekend but I will have to accept that it is not a big deal since I'm still recovering.  I have 3 1/2 hours to complete it and I feel like I can still finish in 2 1/2 hours.  I completed the 10 miles rather sad that it was so slow and that I walked for one minute so close to the end but as my mentor, Meredith from SwimBikeMom (SBM) says....just keep moving forward.  It was a beautiful day for a run! Total wk 9 mileage is 18 miles.

Sail Bay

I am a religious reader of the SBM blog.  http://www.swimbikemom.com/blog  She is incredibly inspirational and speaks for all us nut cases that train to finish the best we can, whatever that time is, and knowing that we did it is all the reward we need.  I will be with her mentally as she attempts her first Ironman in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho this month, June 23.  I will live through her experience as I decide between IM AZ or IM CdA, for my first full Ironman. Her blog has really kept my spirits up during my recovery period.  She has survived so much more than me and yet still keeps moving forward.  I can't wait for her to cross the finish line! One day I will cross the 140.6 finish line too.

My wonderful Dr. Jay Berenter cleared me today to exercise as I see fit.  My foot continues to improve daily and I just need to ice it after long periods of exercise. I also lightly wrap it with compression for my long runs.  I hopefully will not see him again until Nov 12 for my preop appt for my right foot bunion surgery Nov 14. Before my 2nd surgery, I plan to have completed at least 3 half marathons, 1 full marathon, 1 half Ironman triathlon, and 2 Olympic triathlons.  I will have completed the San Francisco Half It All Challenge series as well as the Disney Coast to Coast Challenge!  I expect 2014 will have even bigger goals than 2013 because both feet will be ready for the challenge!

left foot still slightly swollen at big toe joint and 2nd toe but they
did run 10 miles yesterday! right foot Nov 14!
 

Bunion and Hammertoe at 4wks

The last couple weeks have been a struggle mentally but also the 2nd toe suddenly would pulsate in the middle of the night awaking me to retrieve an icepack.  This always solved the problem but I also had to eventually stop wrapping the 2nd toe and just let swell and recover with ice.

Although I lost 5.5 lbs in the first 2 weeks, I gained 1.5 lbs back over the last 2 weeks.  I continue to watch my calories but I think I have to change up my patterns or my body overreacts to keep weight on.  I am in the mid 20% bodyfat so it is not like I don't have 10 lbs to lose! I want to lose 10 lbs so I am lighter for my marathon race in September.  I seem to make a calorie reduction work for 2 weeks and then it's a fight.  Well I'm back on the wagon, changing up my foods and exercise regime so I am hoping to drop another 4 to 5 lbs over the next month.

Swim Summary:
I rowed the first two weeks, pool swam week 3, ocean swam every day of the 4th week.  I definitely followed doctor's orders on water because I knew an infection would totally derail everything. 

Bike Summary:
I stationary biked 13-26 miles every day in the aircast starting day 4 in the lounger bike barely breaking a sweat but still turning my legs at 13mph to keep the legs moving. This was supposed to continue until the end of week 4 but I started cycling outside at 3 1/2 weeks.  Luckily my Sidi tri-shoes are easily adjusted across the toe box because I'm still very swollen but without any pain. I cycled 20 miles easy to start, then 30 the next day with small hills, the next day 40 miles with one difficult hill and today at the 4 wk mark, I cycled 43 miles.  I needed to start early because we decided to join the annual Rosarito/Ensenada 50 mile bike ride celebrating Cinco De Mayo so this event is Saturday. I'm excited for the celebration more for my perfect  foot recovery than anything! I had no issues on my training rides but I did ice the foot afterwards and I lightly wrapped the foot as well.

Run Summary
Well, not much going on here except I walked often VERY briskly with Ruby who would much rather run so she dragged me in the aircast like a sled dog! We trotted from 1 to 3 miles at a time. I can say I am nervous about the run because the foot pad is still puffy and the 2nd toe is very stiff.  However, since my weight loss was not happening, I decided to test the elliptical with the arm swingers at week 3.5.  I was able to fit into my shoes by expanding the laces and I was careful not to bend at the toes and stayed at 0% grade.  I did my first effort at 10 min/mile pace for 3 miles and it felt great! 

4week Checkup:
Dr. Berenter took xrays and said everything looks excellent.  The joints are aligned and healing nicely.  I was approved to cycle outside! woohoo since I just finished 95 miles!  He wasn't all into the elliptical yet but with assurance at 0% grade, he approved this as well.  He explained that my 2nd toe has a 60mm pin (bascically the length of the scar!) and my big toe has a screw in the joint!!! WOW! I guess I thought they were tiny!  This explains the pad swelling as well.  The big toe looks bent but the bone in the xray is straight.  I just still have swelling at the joints so it looks bowed on the side and top.  He also explained the crooked scar over the 2nd toe. He said he never cuts straight over the joint so the scar tissue will pull correctly. The pin and screw will dissolve over 6 to 12 months but the swelling will drop constantly. I lather the foot is lotion and vitamin E oil everyday to help reduce the scarring.  Dr. Berenter fit me for new orthotics which I will get at my 6week checkup and he said I could then start light jogging for 2 weeks!!  I think I will be on track to start my marathon training by June 1 so I am super happy with the progress!  Now if my bodyfat would cooperate better then all would be perfect!  Hopefully the elliptical training will help me out!

Bunion and Hammertoe recovery Day 11 - Day 18

Apr 15 - Apr 22 Recovery Day 11 - 18

Everything went well this week.  I doubled my mileage on the stationary bike.  My stitches were removed on Thursday.  That was the first time I felt any pain. One of the knots was buried into my skin so the stitch had to be pulled forward to clip the knot.  This stung quite a bit but it was only on one knot.  I was able to start pool swimming on Friday, day 15. 

I volunteered for 3 shifts at the ITU World Triathlon over the weekend, which ended up being a bit more effort than I anticipated.  I had to walk more due to road closures and the finishline shift required all standing time.  In addition to this, over seven days I worked out over 3 hours a day at the gym.  I've lost 5 1/2 lbs since April 1.  I will try to lose 4 1/2 lbs over the next 2-3 weeks.  I'm using MyFitnessPal to help me track and control my calories and ensure enough exercise to create a deficit each day.  Hopefully my body will cooperate.  However, these are the most difficult 5 lbs to lose and I have tried many times to lose them and not been successful.   I will try my best since dieting while endurance training is extremely difficult.

This week, I swam 2 miles, rowed 8.5 miles, walked the dogs 5 miles, stationary cycled 184 miles, and lifted weights for 2.5 hours. Total exercise hours this week was 22 hours.  This challenging week gave me a throbbing 2nd toe Friday through Sunday night. I had to ice my foot in the middle of each night.  I went to see Dr. Berenter Monday morning to check on the swelling and small lump on my second toe.  He said my foot looked better than most and prescribed 2 Margaritas!  I said "That would probably put me under the table!"  and he said, "EXACTY!".  Apparently, when my foot is throbbing, it means I need to cut back on the exercise!

I did learn that the dissolvable pin in the 2nd toe stays in place for 6 - 12 months.  This concerned me but he assured me I would be light jogging by mid to late May.  I have to start marathon training by June 1.


day 18 post surgery



pre surgery

Swollen but scar is healing well

If you are interested in watching Dr. Berenter perform a bunion surgery, here is a video link below on YouTube by Dr. Berenter.  There is no blood because they put on a tight tourniquet before surgery.  The video is about 19 minutes long.  Also is his facebook page discussing neuropathy laser treatment as well.

http://youtu.be/46tjf1ZPVa8

https://www.facebook.com/PodiatristSanDiego?ref=ts&fref=ts

Here's to hoping for less swelling and more weight loss next week!

Bunion and Hammertoe recovery days 4 - 10

Monday Day 4 - Sunday Day 10

Bandages were changed on day 4 and there was almost no swelling.  I started my 2 a day gym workouts.  My daily workout plan is to row 1/2hr, bike 7.5 miles in the a.m. and lift weights for 1/2 hr and biking 7.5 miles in the p.m., splitting my bike time to give my foot some rest.  Additionally I tried to walk the dogs at least a mile a day, weather permitting.



Day 8 almost no swelling

2nd bandage change day 8

Throughout the week, I felt stronger and had absolutely no pain, even after a 2 hour dog walk.

Although I spent almost all my training indoors, I was able to exceed my 1st week's goals:

Stationary Bike: 105 miles
Rowing: 14.56 miles
Dog walk: 2.25 miles
Wt liftng: 2.75 hrs
Total duration: 17 hours
Total miles: 127.10

Next week, I will increase my bike to 2 hours a day.  My stitches are removed on day 14 - Thursday.

Calorically, I am using MyFitnessPal app to manage my calories and exercise so I can try to lose 10 lbs during these 8 weeks and also maintain my exercise so I don't lose too much of my endurance base. My next race is in San Francisco for my 2nd half on June16.  I hope to be able to pickup my training without much of a loss so I can work towards Half Moon Bay Marathon on Sep 29 and SOMA 70.3 Oct 20.  So far my average calorie intake this week has been about 1350 a day.  I plan to weigh myself after the stitches are removed. Hoping for good news!

Bunion and Hammertoe Days 1 - 4

It's Surgery Day!!!

I planned the surgery date well in advance so I could get the first appointment because I hate starving and waiting.  We arrived at the Surgical Center at 6am.  My surgery started at 7:15 and would take 45 minutes.  Wow, seemed pretty quick for breaking 2 toes, inserting a pin, and shaving off a bunion but here goes....

Loads of sweet staff members explained everything and asked me loads of questions.  They wanted to know every detail of my life.  We soon felt like family and I changed into a beautiful lilac paper robe but with odd openings and a lining in the front...and great fuzzy purple socks too! Blood pressure and HR tested and all was good.  Took a pill which immediately made me a little sleepy.

We took a quick walk to the freezer locker... I mean surgery room.... Lordy is it 40 in here??? I laid down on the crucifix bed...arms straight out for lethal injections...I mean sleepy juice...and suddenly a vacuum hose was inserted into my robe blowing gentle warm air and then the warm fuzzy blankets laid over me...I was starting to drift off to heaven...when he said "you will feel a little pinch"...I wanted to say OMG I am dehydrated! don't hurt me!  You will never find my tiny veins...but I felt nothing and couldn't open my eyelids or mouth...all felt just wonderful...I heard mumbling .... then..."no her HR is fine...she is a triathlete" wow so glad we had that intro earlier about my RHR of 42.  I heard Dr. Bereter's voice, I heard a saw machine sound and then went blackout.

I wokeup when Dr. Berenter said thank you to everyone.  The timing was amazing.  I was rolled to recovery as I quickly awakened and had 2 cups of water and hot tea and graham crackers. Little bits of heaven!  I was out in no time and no pain with a well dressed foot.  But on an empty tank and dying for Subway's breakfast sandwich.  yea yea...ice and elevate 48 hours... I need food. NOW GRRRR

We drove straight to Subway and I went inside to get the sandwich. Yummy food....came home and fed the dogs, started gathering my things to plant myself with toys by the couch and noticed a stream of blood everywhere!...where is that coming from?  Oh crap, my foot is soaked!  RULE 1: do not get wet!  does that mean blood?  Called nurse and she said some bleeding was normal....soaked it up with paper towels around the foot.  It stopped.  Went to the bathroom and it started all over again.  I guess they mean elevate IMMEDIATELY??  More paper towels.  It stopped...no foot feeling so no pain so I never felt the blood leaking either!  Well the good news is I get to change the bandages Monday instead of Thursday!  I get to see the repairwork early!!!

Laying with my foot up for 3 days was HORRIBLE.  1 million TV channels and nothing to watch... So I mapped the bike route for SOMA...yea this is doable...way easier than Oceanside but I just might melt on the run.. need to plan ahead for that one... oohh I think I can fit in marathon training with SOMA!  Maybe Half Moon Bay Marathon instead of the Tikiswim at the end of September???

I stayed ahead of the pain meds for 2 days but they gave me a headache and nausea...by day 3 no pain meds. I felt better without them.  Went to a dog park for 2.5 hrs standing around. It felt great so I went to the gym for upper body work for an hour...What a great break! 

Monday Day 4 - 1st to the gym for stationary rowing for 30 minutes and stationary cycling (in the recliner type so more of a heel push) for 40 minutes.  Worked up a light sweat and went to Dr. Berenter's for the revealing and new bandages. 

WAAALLAAAA!  I love my beautiful left foot!



Dried Iodine and gauze make a nice cast - ok maybe a little blood too
All removed!  woohoo no more itching!



Dr Berenter is also the podiatrist for the Olympic
Training Center in Chula Vista



toes will relax - just positioning from bandages
Pretty amazing though - no bunion - straight toes!



Gotta go with TCSD BLUE!!!

Bunions and Hammertoe - I'm over it. Part 1

Fear is paralyzing - I'm over it...

I've cancelled foot surgery 3 times.  My grandmother gave me these hereditary bunions...of course my mother has delicate beautiful size 6 model feet! It didn't skip a generation either because I gave them to my kids :( 

I have received cortizone injections to run a marathon, and for bruising my foot from heavy pronation and  hard impact workout classes, dissolving scar tissue injections for a neuroma that felt like electricution with every stride, swollen ankles and toes from extensive walking tours from vacation...the list is endless...my feet have been in pain for years...can't even count them so let's say my whole life!  I'm convinced all pretty shoes are made by the devil. I live with orthotics, moleskin and my hammertoe footpad like a lifeline.

I have pretty tough callouses on the bunions from rubbing on the sides of shoes while I run so I get them cut down regularly or they also can really be painful. Pedicures are required, not really a luxury for me.

Dr Jay Berenter at Scripps Memorial La Jolla has helped me with loads of temporary solutions.  He told me once I decide I can't do something, or the pain is too much, then  I will know it is time for surgery.  Not until the last couple years did the left bunion cause the hammertoe. He said it is caused by the bunion and the over-pronation as well.  So not only does the side of the shoe hurt but now the top and bottom?? A hammertoe basically is like a Flamingo's knee cap... the knuckle bends the wrong way and the scar tissue turns the joint into cement with the bone pointing at a 45 degree angle - out the top of the foot and through the ball of your foot - kind of like a nail.  I walk on the side of my foot so the nail doesn't shoot through the base of my foot like a sword unless I wear a footpad.  The footpad has an elastic band stretched over the knuckle forcing it flat (tolerable pain) and the extra elastic goes under the footpad to hold it tight with my weight.  yea, tranisiton is a pain in the ass.  the pad doesn't fit in my bike shoe. I have to take off the bike shoe and sock, put on the pad and sock, then running shoe.

After running a full marathon in June 2011, I decided the foot pain was far too great vs the reward. I said never again....then I found triathlons which would allow me to rotate foot usage. My first year of tri-ing was awesome but I learned I still love LONG.  Short distances are too fast and too painful on the foot.  With 10 months of experience (and increased pronation), the foot pain started to elevate and shots were required but I managed completing my first 70.3 although walking the last 5 miles in excrutiating pain which is about when the hammertoe arrived.  Running with a nail in your foot...well I'd rather give birth...to twins.

I went back to Dr Berenter and told him of my new problem.  He asked me to try the hammertoe foot pad and it was amazing.  It totally worked.  So again I postponed surgery.The pain was manageable. I ran 15 half marathons in 2012 with the hammertoe footpad, numerous olympic triathlons and my 2nd 70.3 race beating my run time alone by 36 minutes.

At the end of my 2nd 70.3 race, I had more energy to give and I wanted more. I was proud of my hard work but I revelled at those Ironmen with Mdot tatoos on their calves....I had tossed around goals for 2013 and I thought about a full marathon again, the full Aquabike, maybe IMAZ in 2014????  That was crazy talk.  Pounding for 70 miles is one thing but 140? Damn that one full Marathon hurt so bad. So then I realized what I really wanted was to run through my current limit without foot pain... I want to be limitless until IIIII want to stop and not let my foot control my exercise.... or my shoe choices.

So what if the surgery makes it worse or I have a new problem?  A pin, bone breaking and knuckle shaving?? OOMMGGG....Shut up Inner Voice! Face your fears! It's time to find out. I'm ready.

 

Part 2 will fill in the results of this timeline: (if all goes well)

 

First week: Surgery Thursday, feet up through Sunday. Aircast Saturday. Monday - start upperbody work at gym. No shower for 2 weeks - stay 100% dry.

 

During 2nd week: checkup appt to change bandage, light stationary cycleing stitches and pin for hammertoe are dissolvable but Dr removes knots.  Water ok by end of 2nd week. See you at the Cove!

 

4th week: can wear regular shoes

 

6th/7th week: light jog, road cycling

 

8th week: full run.  LET THE FULL TRAINING RESUME!!