Hello there and welcome to my blog!
If you’re new to The Right Fits, let me catch you up on my current situation. This post, this post, and this post are a great place to start. Basically, I was an avid marathoner, running 3-4 marathons a year, and was well into training for the Antarctica Marathon when I broke my tibia and fibula on a wintry Minneapolis run. My trip was cancelled, I had surgery on my leg/ankle, and now have a plate and 10 screws in my leg. I’ve been documenting my recovery here in my weekly recaps on the road to (hopefully) get back to running marathons again.
(Also- if you just stop in for the link-up, be sure to check out this recap of our recent trip to Palm Springs!)
Here’s how this past week went in fitness:
Monday: Complete rest other than a PT appointment at Mayo.
Tuesday: Morning swim.
Evening personal training with my friend Ericka of EDK Training. 
Wednesday: Morning solidcore class, PT appointment at Mayo
Thursday: 45 minutes on the elliptical, 45 minutes of PT exercises before work. At this point, my PT exercises include a ton of lunges, BOSU ball squats, balancing on one foot, and more; it’s like a little mini-workout in itself to do it all!
Thursday evening, I walked over to cheer for the TC 1 mile. One of the girl’s I coach was racing it, as well as several of my coworkers who ran in the corporate wave. Additionally, a bunch of people from my run club raced it (including Dustin!)
It was sad not to be racing it; I have run the TC 1 mile many times. But it was still great to cheer and be a part of the event.
There are several waves, ending with the elite waves for women and then men. Those waves are SO fast! Incredible.
A lot of people run the TC 1 mile to increase their chances of getting into the TC 10 mile in the fall; I believe finishers go into a first round of the lottery for guaranteed entry.
Friday: I had to be to work early, so I went to the gym after work. Pretty quiet there after work on a Friday! I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and 45 minutes of PT again.
Saturday: The JB double- i.e. solidcore class (50 minutes of a strength/pilates type class) followed by Surge Cycle (45 minute spin class)
I may not be running with Tilda yet, but at least I’m walking well enough to take her to the dog park! We spent about an hour there on Saturday:
Sunday: The JB double again! solidcore class (50 minutes of strength/pilates type class) followed by Surge Cycle (45 minute spin class). The spin class was Cardi B music only; it’s usually a hip-hop class (with a warning about explicit lyrics) but all Cardi B was a fun change.
Summary: 1 swim, 3 solidcore classes, 2 spin classes, 2 workouts on the elliptical
Even if I forget to mention it here, I’m doing at least most of my PT exercises every day and going to PT appointments at Mayo twice a week.
Still no running…but hopefully soon. For now, I’ll just make sure I’m the most diligent PT patient ever!
I did click “register” for the first time since breaking my leg, though it is for the Drumstick Dash 10k in November- a long ways away! My sister Cresta in Eden Prairie and I are co-hosting our family for Thanksgiving and the Drumstick Dash has something for everyone- 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 5k, and 10k, and it’s very close to my house with a route around Lake Harriet (and my niece’s name is Harriet- it’s her race, haha!)
I am contemplating the Torchlight 5k in July as I haven’t missed that one for ages and a group of my coworkers are doing a corporate team; I should hopefully be able to run 3.1 miles by mid-July. But my PT reminds me to be patient, so I haven’t registered yet, just in case. She also gently reminds me that I have to reset my expectations with regards to speed; it will take a long time to get back to where I was before breaking my leg…
Well, that’s it for this week.
As always, I’m linking up with HoHo Runs and Taking the Long Way Home for their weekly wrap. Check it out!
That drumstick dash sounds like a great event with all those different distances. Ive been wanting to run our local thanksgiving race for years now but its hard when we travel out of town. (One of these days I’m going to run it and just be late for dinner…haha).
I bet it is exciting for you to look forward to upcoming races but I agree, that it is best to be patient (and slow). No need to rush and risk further damage.
I haven’t been in town, in Minneapolis that is, to run this Drumstick Dash in many years, so I’m really excited to do it and to be able to jog to the start line from my house 🙂 And it’s fun that most of my family members will be able to participate, with so many distances.
It was fun to click that register button, but November is far enough away to feel confident about it. Still not ready to click that button for July!
Looks like a great week of training! That’s a ton of workouts and with all the PT exercises on top of it. You are definitely diligent with the PT, especially to go to a gym on a Friday afternoon and do it. I think you will surprise yourself when you do get back to running. It will take some time to get used to the time on your feet and pounding (that you don’t get with xtraining), but I bet that cardiovascularly, the spin classes and elliptical will pay off. Hooray for going to the dog park and being confident… Read more »
Thanks Amy! Yes, I think I can wait on the 5k, it doesn’t fill up. I think the pounding of running is going to be a shock…even jumping will feel so weird! It’s been FOREVER!
Being injured is no fun!
I can’t believe it’s been 12 weeks–i know it probably feels even longer to you! It has to feel exciting to get some races on the calendar. Fingers crossed for that July 5k!
Yep…12 weeks. So long! I’ve made a lot of progress, but it’s hard to think about how much running fitness I’ve lost. I just have to go easy on myself as I build back up (hopefully soon!)
Thanks for hosting the link-up!
solid core and cycle is a tough combo! You are getting to be a great swimmer as well. Nice job on the workouts this week
Thanks Deborah! My swim lessons have definitely help me before more efficient as a swimmer. 🙂
Could you still do the 5K in July, but walk it? I know walking is definitely not the same as running (or racing), but at least you’d be apart of the event (?). I registered for my first “post-surgery/recovery” races with the mindset that I’d be able to walk them as a back-up plan if my running wasn’t back yet. Just something to consider 😉 That 1-mile race sounds a lot like the 1-miler I did a few weeks ago…numerous flights (based on “speed”) and some invite-only elites as well. I was elated to run a 7:53 mile, but the… Read more »
Yep, your 1 mile sounds very similar! It’s cool to race a 1 mile, not something you do very often as a distance runner. The men’s elite wave winning time was 4:03 and the women’s was 4:30 something- SO fast! It was fun to watch!
I might still do the 5k, even as a run/walk…we’ll see. It’s going to be humbling though.
It sounds like you are getting stronger every day. All that solidcore is impressive! I think I would be toast after a class – I can’t imagine spinning after. Your dog is so cute – and the trees look lovely!
Thanks so much Coco! I hope I’ll be back to running soon!
It’s so great that you’re progressing so well and getting excited to race again! I think you were so wise just to sign up for the Thanksgiving race, but I love hearing your cautious optimism. I think it’s contagious. 🙂
I love the idea of a Cardi B spin class!
Cautious optimism is right….I don’t want to rush into it and set myself back.
Oh wow good for you for having your eye on future races. Turkey trots seem like a billion miles away but we all know how time flies. Great week of activity for you. The outdoor pool at the gym has been filled. Hopefully if this cold rain ever clears, I’ll get myself there.
So jealous of an outdoor pool! Ours don’t open until after Memorial Day but there are two 50m ones I’m excited to try!
I love that you have registered for a race in November and may try a shorter distance in July! But I also love your attitude – patience is key and of course different expectations. But I am just so happy you are at the point where you can start to consider doing some races given what you have been through these last 12 weeks.
Thank you so much Shathiso- it hasn’t been the easiest 12 weeks, that’s for sure. But it’s exciting to think that running will exist in my future, even if not for quite awhile 🙂
You’re such an inspiration! I am 8 weeks post surgery and still having a lot of pain because of stiffness in my ankle and not being able to get my foot flat in the boot when I walk. My PT wants me to put as much weight on the foot as possible in the boot but it HURTS. did you experience any of this? Stiffness? Loss of range of motion?
Yes! It hurt a lot in the boot in the beginning. I was still limping so much. But it gets better- hopefully quickly!
Ugh I feel your pain though…it’s a tough path.
So glad you’re thinking of events, but your PT is right – best to wait for now on the summer ones. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Thanks Allison!
Wow! Great work on all your PT! I was the best PT patient ever too after my meniscus surgery in Feb 2017. I think doing the PT and staying fit through other activities really helped my recovery and I’m confident it will really benefit yours too! That’s exciting that you’ve registered for something, even if it is all the way in November. The way things are going, it’ll be here before you know it!
Thanks Jennifer! Runners make great PT patients apparently 🙂
Awesome week Jessie! I love all the PT that you are doing. It’s totally going to pay off when you get back to running.
Thanks Kim!
Your recovery sounds like it coming along great! I think you have done a superior job keeping up your endurance. Just looking at your feet and legs in that pic, they look the same. The swelling must be very minimal now? I think signing up for a November race is a wonderful way to motivate yourself to take it slow, while having a goal, as you return to running.
Thanks so much! The swelling is much better, though my PT said as I add running back, I should expect swelling again.
November is a long ways away but it’s something to look forward to!
I remember my PT days post stress fracture. Doing ALL the exercises was time consuming but well worth it. Single leg EVERYTHING!
Haha, exactly! So many exercises but hopefully they will pay off!
Great recap! You are making great progress! I like the continued optimism in your updates, and can’t wait to hear about that first time back out on the roads (probably treadmill first, but eventually…)
Thanks for following my progress Eric! I cannot wait to get back to running regularly!