2016: It Was All About My Feet

Here I sit, in sweaty gym clothes after working out, shoveling the driveway, and cleaning my house. I get a little OCD about greeting a New Year, so things need to be in order before I can relax, pop some champagne, and break out the 7 layer dip.

This year didn't fly by for me. It was full of all sorts of things, new and old, and as I look back I can really say I gave 2016 my all.

The biggest change for me was to start a new job.  I left the fitness industry and started subbing as a Teacher Assistant in my district.  I mostly split my time between two schools, and I really got to know the kids, I still miss some of them.  As spring arrived so did another opportunity, this one at the high school, I'm now in a full time position that I really enjoy.  It's nice to be in an office setting again, to dress up, although there are times when I miss my sneakers.


Speaking of sneakers, I wouldn't be me if I didn't deal with some kind of running injury. The year started out well, I ran the Seneca 7 with 6 other friends, we covered 77.7 miles, my three legs added up to just over 11 miles.  Running around Seneca Lake was beautiful, but I feel like I spent the day waiting on line for a porta-john, or eating!  After that race I could tell it was time to update my Saucony Hurricane's, but a size 11.5 is hard to come by.  I also couldn't justify spending $150 on new kicks when I have so many shoes from working at a running store. I ran the Boilermaker 15k, and kept swapping out different shoes, but none could compare to the Hurricane.

I stepped up my training for the Wineglass Half Marathon, which takes place in October.  By August my right foot was really bugging me.  After one long run in August, I came home limping, and kept limping for about a week.  I figured it was plantar faciitis, and went to PT.  Where I discovered that I had dislocated my cuboid bone, which was why I could barely walk! My right foot is very weak after breaking that ankle three times, my foot couldn't take the pounding anymore.  I went to PT where they used the Grafton's Technique to break up all the scar tissue, and I went ahead with running the Half. Which was stupid, but I had my hotel reservation, and didn't want to lose my spot in a popular race. PT taped up my foot, and it was okay until mile 11, where I pretty much limped to the finish.  I took my first visit to the medical tent, where they taped it again and told me it was time for a rest.

Rest I did, going back to PT, then the chiropractor, where I had gotten my orthotics made.  The orthotics really weren't feeling right.  Chiro didn't help so I sucked it up and went to the foot Dr. Where lo and behold an x-ray showed an enormous bone spur that was pulling on the fascia, and causing nerve damage.  Whoo hoo!! I have to go back next week to get a set of new, rigid orthotics that should get me back to running.

Running?!?  Yes, running!  I've come to the conclusion that I can't run long distances anymore, my foot just can't take it.  So no more 26.2 or 13.1, my longest is going to be the Boilermaker 15k.  I figured if I'm smart, and keep mixing things up at the gym, then I can get back on track again.

Oh, and getting back on track also means to drop weight.  Again.  Early menopause is no joke, the weight comes on and stays on.  I was taking hormones to give my heart some protection, but in April I stopped them completely.  I was getting such bad migraines that I had to do something.  I recently had a physical and blood work done, all my numbers are good so I'm going to do what I can to stay heart healthy.

Which brings me back to the weight issue.  I tried something new a few weeks ago, Intermittent Fasting.  The way I do it, is fast for 16 hours and fit my food into an 8 hour stretch. It's not as hard as I thought it would be.  I'm hungry all the time normally, so I figured why eat something if I'm still going to be hungry?  I skip breakfast but have coffee, eating my first meal at 1:00 p.m.  December had it's challenges, I did have Christmas cookies and wine, but my clothes are feeling better.  I'm going to continue for the month of January, and after the 31st (my 45th!?!? birthday) I'll reassess and figure out my next step.

My goals for 2017?  Add some more adventure!  A trip to the Outer Banks made me miss living by the beach so much, it prompted Mike and I to really think about where we want to be in the next 10 -15 years. We're getting the kids their passports and have our third trip to Disney World planned for this year,

I'm closing out 2016 with a new sense of optimism and hope for the New Year.  I hope to be a good Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter and Friend.  I am thankful for my world and all it contains.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!