Keep the Streak Alive

 Twenty-two days…although it feels a little like 84 years…Some people have Run Streaks where they run at least a mile every day for as many days as they can. I was on a good trajectory for the first 5 days of December with 17 miles already logged and was feeling good. I was thinking about doing some winter backpacking, and day hikes in new places and I was also getting some miles in on the treadmill (you know, to avoid the icy weather…)

So much for avoiding the slippery snow…now I’m in the beginning stages of a different sort of streak: I am on Day 22 of NOT walking or running at least a mile a day. I wish I could say it doesn’t bother me, but I miss it. The sunset walks on the driveway. The quiet treks around Mount Davis. The random Sunday afternoons exploring New Germany, Laurel Hill, Kooser, or Herrington Manor State Parks. Searching AllTrails for a trail I’ve never tried or getting onto my favorite Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.

 

Miles of rocks…no injuries.
 The driveway did me in. 

At the end of my first 70 mile solo hike. 
I’ll be back. 

How was this past week? Last weekend was rough. I started with calf pain on the injured side on Friday. It was mild, on-and-off, and I wasn’t too concerned. Then on Saturday, it progressively got worse and more frequent. Calling the doctor on Sunday, we were directed to go to the ER. Once there, they did a D-Dimer lab which if elevated, can indicate a possible blood clot. Mine was elevated, so I got a Lovenox (a blood thinner) injection, the cast was removed (just two days ahead of my ortho follow-up), and I was scheduled for an ultrasound the next day.

 After a restless, painful night of sleep, we went for the ultrasound and thankfully that showed no issues in the main veins. The pain in my calf shifted from a more specific area to what would feel like a 45-60 minute labor contraction that would not let up for anything. After seeing Ortho on Tuesday, I increased the magnesium glycinate I was already taking, and they started me on aspirin 162 mg twice a day. I was X-rayed again and things looked like how they hoped: The bones that broke are still in good placement (yay!) but they need more time to be stable, so I’m back in a cast for 4 more weeks (not so yay). This time it’s green. It reminds me of the forest. Leo might say it’s for “John Deere.” 

Then the family arrived home and I’ve had some wonderful snuggle and giggle times with the grandchildren, some laughs and conversations with the adults, and a new appreciation of what it means to graciously accept help. I want to be able to be independent as much as I can, but I’ve had more than a few near-falls and some harder-than-should-be touchdowns of the left foot as I try and save myself. 

Twenty-two days. Maybe I need to think about what else I can do to have a streak that feels better than focusing in on what I can’t do. 

• Nutrition: hitting my protein, fiber and calcium goals. 
• Reading at least a chapter a day from any book. 
• Doing something for my education, even just 30 minutes a day. In a week, that’s 3.5 hours towards my continuing education for massage therapy, nursing, and personal training certifications and licenses. 
• I can hit at least 1000 steps on crutches. Maybe go for 2000. 
• Maybe not a daily streak, but I can keep getting the 3x/week of upper body strength training in. 

Twenty-two days. It’s not so bad. I’m figuring out a plan to be able to work some, hopefully my end of year bookwork and taxes will be done in good time, and I’m learning how to be at peace with where I’m at. Not always perfectly, but I’d rather be a work in progress than not at all. 

Onward. 

Love, Dianne