Everyone who knows Gene knows how much he likes to be busy, especially working, cleaning, building, and being productive in general. Sitting around vegging and reading is just not his style. So how can he stay busy while walking on crutches for the next 7 weeks? The dilemma.
Fortunately, it is football season, which helps to pass the time on Sundays. This Saturday we are going to go look at motor homes at the expo and go to "Wine, Dine and Step Back in Time" which is taking place at Agate Vineyards, Butte Creek Mill, Crater Lake Cellars and Del Rio.
I have made a list of other possibilities, but would encourage anyone reading this to send me ideas:
Gun Range; check Tempo; go to Movies; pick up video; visit friends; wine tasing; fishing; visit an art gallery; gambling; visit health club and inquire about facilities and trainers; visit Rogue Valley Running - 161 E. Main St (between First and Pioneer); make a new recipe; install Rosetta Stone on computer and learn Spanish; visit Barnes & Noble and Starbucks; browse Goodwill; attend an auction and/or garage sales; go geocaching; and my least favorite idea of all (but this is not about me)- go to Harbor Freight Tools.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Training Errors
Now that we are finally on the road to recovery, it has occurred to me that many of our friends may think that Gene's broken hip is a result of running a marathon and they will miss out on the satisfaction of undertaking such a challenge.
Gene's broken hip is a result of training rules we did not follow.
Rule #1: Do not increase mileage more than 10% per week. We really did not do this until August, when we doubled mileage from one weekend to the next.
Rule #2: Listen to your body and stop if it becomes painful. This one is more difficult, and I cannot fault Gene for this. He broke that same hip when he was 11 years old, hitting a tree at about 45 mph while on a toboggan. The resulting arthritis in that hip makes it more difficult to determine if the pain is from overuse or "Uncle Arthur" as Grandma used to call it.
Rule #3: Always keep good form and do not modify your gait in response to pain. In Vail, Colorado the month before, Gene was running five miles (another violation of Rule #1, as we had been walking 2/3 of the time and running 1/3), he slipped on an icy bridge and hurt his knee. In response to that, he began to run a different way to keep the pressure off his knee, which then puts additional pressure elsewhere.
Rule #4: Crosstrain. How can a recumbent bike or eliptical machine compare to being out in the early morning air? But crosstraining allows one to use muscles in different ways and gives overworked muscles a rest.
Rule #5: Not taking rest days. The strengthening of muscles does not occur when exerting them. It occurs during the rest days, when they are rebuilding stronger, in response to the additional stresses that were placed upon them. Bones also become stronger, if given adequate rest days.
Rule #6: Not doing enough strenth training. Muscles must be strong to endure a marathon. They act as shock absorbers when one is running, keeping much of the force of each step from impacting the bones. When they become fatigued, they are no longer able to absorb that impact, and stress fractures can result.
Rule #7: Follow your marathon plan. Our plan up until about two weeks before the marathon was to run 1/10th of every mile and walk the rest of the time. A couple weeks before, we decided we would run 2/10 of each mile. Race day arrived and we stood with a crowd of thousands. The race began and we started a slow jog, along with the rest of the crowd. We ran past thousands of cheering spectators. We ran past high school bands, drum bands, a bell choir, cheerleaders, Christian bands, Rock bands, a harpist, and we ran especially fast past the country music band (torture for the ears and the thighs). A few times, I worried that we were doing this completely different that we had trained and we forced ourselves to walk, but we felt so good and the adrenaline high caused us to just keep running.
We have learned (and I have read, so I cannot take credit for the idea) - The key to a successful marathon is not crossing the finish line; it is arriving at the starting line well trained, with no niggling injuries.
We had the best summer of our lives. Yes we have had some injuries, but so have most athletes - I love referring to ourselves as athletes, because I have never been one before. I was always selected near the end when choosing up sides in school. Gene's back has not felt this good in years. He told me this summer, "I feel great, and I am not ever going back"!
Gene's broken hip is a result of training rules we did not follow.
Rule #1: Do not increase mileage more than 10% per week. We really did not do this until August, when we doubled mileage from one weekend to the next.
Rule #2: Listen to your body and stop if it becomes painful. This one is more difficult, and I cannot fault Gene for this. He broke that same hip when he was 11 years old, hitting a tree at about 45 mph while on a toboggan. The resulting arthritis in that hip makes it more difficult to determine if the pain is from overuse or "Uncle Arthur" as Grandma used to call it.
Rule #3: Always keep good form and do not modify your gait in response to pain. In Vail, Colorado the month before, Gene was running five miles (another violation of Rule #1, as we had been walking 2/3 of the time and running 1/3), he slipped on an icy bridge and hurt his knee. In response to that, he began to run a different way to keep the pressure off his knee, which then puts additional pressure elsewhere.
Rule #4: Crosstrain. How can a recumbent bike or eliptical machine compare to being out in the early morning air? But crosstraining allows one to use muscles in different ways and gives overworked muscles a rest.
Rule #5: Not taking rest days. The strengthening of muscles does not occur when exerting them. It occurs during the rest days, when they are rebuilding stronger, in response to the additional stresses that were placed upon them. Bones also become stronger, if given adequate rest days.
Rule #6: Not doing enough strenth training. Muscles must be strong to endure a marathon. They act as shock absorbers when one is running, keeping much of the force of each step from impacting the bones. When they become fatigued, they are no longer able to absorb that impact, and stress fractures can result.
Rule #7: Follow your marathon plan. Our plan up until about two weeks before the marathon was to run 1/10th of every mile and walk the rest of the time. A couple weeks before, we decided we would run 2/10 of each mile. Race day arrived and we stood with a crowd of thousands. The race began and we started a slow jog, along with the rest of the crowd. We ran past thousands of cheering spectators. We ran past high school bands, drum bands, a bell choir, cheerleaders, Christian bands, Rock bands, a harpist, and we ran especially fast past the country music band (torture for the ears and the thighs). A few times, I worried that we were doing this completely different that we had trained and we forced ourselves to walk, but we felt so good and the adrenaline high caused us to just keep running.
We have learned (and I have read, so I cannot take credit for the idea) - The key to a successful marathon is not crossing the finish line; it is arriving at the starting line well trained, with no niggling injuries.
We had the best summer of our lives. Yes we have had some injuries, but so have most athletes - I love referring to ourselves as athletes, because I have never been one before. I was always selected near the end when choosing up sides in school. Gene's back has not felt this good in years. He told me this summer, "I feel great, and I am not ever going back"!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Road to Recovery
Yesterday we saw the orthopedic doctor. He showed us the bone scan photos and panicked me for a moment, because I thought he was indicating that the facture was in the "ball and socket" part of the hip. He decided to do an x-ray after learning the pain had significantly increased since twisting the leg Monday (after the bone scan had been done). A fracture, approximately in the middle of the femoral neck, which went all the way through the bone (a displaced fracture), was clearly visible on the film. Dr. O recommended pinning it, because he was worried it might do a little "shifty, shifty". It was in perfect alignment so we also had the option to leave it alone. We felt not having the surgery was too great a risk because "if it does the shifty, shifty it could cut off the blood supply, causing the bone to die and requiring a hip replacement".
Originally we were scheduled to come back the next day for surgery, but getting dressed was so difficult, we went directly across the street and Dr. O did the surgery last night. He assured us the surgery would be nothing like the surgery when Gene broke his hip when he was 11 years old - just a one inch incision and a little "pokey, pokey" putting the wire through the muscle and screwing it in place.
While Gene was in surgery I sat in a waiting room - freezing, while I read and watched some of the first game of the world series (sorry, it doesn't get capitalized - it's not like it's the SUPERBOWL). I moved to different chairs, trying to find someplace that did not have cold air blowing on it from a vent above. Each seat proved to be just as windy and not hiney-warmed like the one I left. Finally I remembered that Gene had a shirt in the closet of his hospital room and went to retrieve it. Apparently, that is when the Doctor arrived to tell me how the surgery went, but we missed each other and I sat for another hour before hearing my name called over the loud speaker. So I still have not conversed with the doctor.
I sat with Gene in the recovery room and accompanied him back to his room, where he slept except to wake up and complain of being nautious. I left a little after midnight. When I returned this morning he was still sick - pain medications do not agree with him. He has discontinued all medication for pain with good pain results, but battled the sick feeling all day. So he is still in the hospital. I think he will be home tomorrow.
I cannot believe how tired and achey I am (considering I have done nothing but sit on my hiney for two days) - so I am off to bed, missing Gene but happy that finally, after 17 days we are on the road to recovery!
Originally we were scheduled to come back the next day for surgery, but getting dressed was so difficult, we went directly across the street and Dr. O did the surgery last night. He assured us the surgery would be nothing like the surgery when Gene broke his hip when he was 11 years old - just a one inch incision and a little "pokey, pokey" putting the wire through the muscle and screwing it in place.
While Gene was in surgery I sat in a waiting room - freezing, while I read and watched some of the first game of the world series (sorry, it doesn't get capitalized - it's not like it's the SUPERBOWL). I moved to different chairs, trying to find someplace that did not have cold air blowing on it from a vent above. Each seat proved to be just as windy and not hiney-warmed like the one I left. Finally I remembered that Gene had a shirt in the closet of his hospital room and went to retrieve it. Apparently, that is when the Doctor arrived to tell me how the surgery went, but we missed each other and I sat for another hour before hearing my name called over the loud speaker. So I still have not conversed with the doctor.
I sat with Gene in the recovery room and accompanied him back to his room, where he slept except to wake up and complain of being nautious. I left a little after midnight. When I returned this morning he was still sick - pain medications do not agree with him. He has discontinued all medication for pain with good pain results, but battled the sick feeling all day. So he is still in the hospital. I think he will be home tomorrow.
I cannot believe how tired and achey I am (considering I have done nothing but sit on my hiney for two days) - so I am off to bed, missing Gene but happy that finally, after 17 days we are on the road to recovery!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Orthopedic Doctor
Seventeen days after our initial visit to the emergency room, and after 10 days of steady decline, we finally see the orthopedic doctor this morning to (hopefully) get the official diagnosis.
I have my list of questions and have done a considerable amount of research on the internet (not all of it encouraging) and am hoping for a compression stress fracture (on the underside of the femoral neck) rather than a tension stress fracture (on the outside) and I am praying it is not in danger of becoming displaced (which will require surgery). If it were to become displaced, there is a chance of avascular necrosis (lack of blood supply causes a deterioration of the bone where it meets the hip socket), which would result in the need for a hip replacement.
So off we go - praying for the best.
I have my list of questions and have done a considerable amount of research on the internet (not all of it encouraging) and am hoping for a compression stress fracture (on the underside of the femoral neck) rather than a tension stress fracture (on the outside) and I am praying it is not in danger of becoming displaced (which will require surgery). If it were to become displaced, there is a chance of avascular necrosis (lack of blood supply causes a deterioration of the bone where it meets the hip socket), which would result in the need for a hip replacement.
So off we go - praying for the best.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Broken hip
Well, after nearly two weeks, the verdict is in - Gene has a stress fracture or fractures in his hip. Most likely it is in the femoral neck (the bone above the femor, below the ball which fits into the hip socket).
On one hand it is a relief to at least know, especially since the pain has been getting worse and worse (since he began walking on it), and yet it is painful and worrisome, especially when well-meaning friends comment that this is the end of the running (which is not true from the research I have done).
Right now we are waiting to get an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, and Gene is back on crutches.
On one hand it is a relief to at least know, especially since the pain has been getting worse and worse (since he began walking on it), and yet it is painful and worrisome, especially when well-meaning friends comment that this is the end of the running (which is not true from the research I have done).
Right now we are waiting to get an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, and Gene is back on crutches.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Depressed Stage
Gene has now entered the depressed stage of recuperation. He is still in a lot of pain, and we still do not have any diagnosis as to what has really happened to his hip. This hip pain is all too familiar to him - causing him to relive the long recuperation after he broke his hip when he was a child.
Today we go to the hospital for a bone scan, but they do not have an MRI scheduled until next Friday, so it will be over three weeks before we have an accurate diagnosis. To make matters worse, his cholesterol is up, in spite of all of our exercise and eating right this summer, making him wonder - what is the point? It is hard to remember how great you feel out on the trail, pushing your body to it's limits, and forcing those limits to expand, when now you cannot walk unaided across the room.
We will be having a word with the doctor today.
Today we go to the hospital for a bone scan, but they do not have an MRI scheduled until next Friday, so it will be over three weeks before we have an accurate diagnosis. To make matters worse, his cholesterol is up, in spite of all of our exercise and eating right this summer, making him wonder - what is the point? It is hard to remember how great you feel out on the trail, pushing your body to it's limits, and forcing those limits to expand, when now you cannot walk unaided across the room.
We will be having a word with the doctor today.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Marathon stats (up to 17.5 miles)
I went online and these were our marathon stats, up to the last timing line we crossed:
Distance Time Pace
10k 1:14:49 12:03
8.9 mi 1:47:50 12:07
13.1 mi 2:44:29 12:33
17.5 mi 3:45:33 12:54
Not bad for a couple of beginners. Of course the men's winner finished the entire race in 2:31:22, 13 minutes before we hit the half-way point. The women's winner finished 2:45:24.
Gene is still on crutches, but he drove into work today. He has physical therapy this coming Monday and Wednesday, a bone scan on Friday, an MRI the following Friday, and a Dr. appt on Monday the 27th. Maybe then we will actually know something. I have to be honest, I am a bit concerned, as I would have expected more improvement up to this point, but at least the physical therapist can begin to give him some exercises to help him begin to recover.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Appreciation
Nothing makes one realize and appreciate all one's husband does, more than an injury which prevents him from doing it. This week I have had to (or will have to):
Load, start, and empty the dishwasher
Pick up my own drinking glasses
Gather up the newspapers, magazines and blankets I leave lying around
Take out the garbage
Take out the recycling
Bring in the trash cans from the curb
Feed the dogs
Shovel dog doo - which I usually say I cannot do because I don't have the right equipment (testicles)
Mow the lawn
Rake the leaves
Stop at the store for bread and milk
Make the coffee
Get my own coffee
Bring in the newspaper
Review the days activities with the crew
Take the office recycling to the transfer station
Turn in the beverage cans
None of these, in and of themselves is huge, but Gene does them all, constantly, without expecting any credit (and often without any conscience appreciation) by me.
In fact, this morning he took the recycling from the kitchen to the bin, on crutches, even though it took two trips and I heard him drop a lid twice, which means getting down on crutches to retrieve it.
So Gene, thank you for all you do, every day, without complaining and without making a big deal out of it.
Load, start, and empty the dishwasher
Pick up my own drinking glasses
Gather up the newspapers, magazines and blankets I leave lying around
Take out the garbage
Take out the recycling
Bring in the trash cans from the curb
Feed the dogs
Shovel dog doo - which I usually say I cannot do because I don't have the right equipment (testicles)
Mow the lawn
Rake the leaves
Stop at the store for bread and milk
Make the coffee
Get my own coffee
Bring in the newspaper
Review the days activities with the crew
Take the office recycling to the transfer station
Turn in the beverage cans
None of these, in and of themselves is huge, but Gene does them all, constantly, without expecting any credit (and often without any conscience appreciation) by me.
In fact, this morning he took the recycling from the kitchen to the bin, on crutches, even though it took two trips and I heard him drop a lid twice, which means getting down on crutches to retrieve it.
So Gene, thank you for all you do, every day, without complaining and without making a big deal out of it.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Portland Marathon
Gene and I got up early Saturday morning, packed, and departed for Portland, stopping in Eugene for breakfast with Kylie. We arrived at the Hilton in Portland, picked up our entry packet, and checked into the hotel.
We then went to Sharna and Eric's for dinner. We met Eric's aunt, Chris, and Kylie arrived. We had a great dinner and headed back to get a good night's rest.
Sunday we got up early so we could eat and have time for our breakfast to settle, got dressed and headed to the marathon. We lined up near the sign for those who expected to finish the marathon in 6 hours. At 7 am the race began and we crossed the starting line about 10 minutes later.
Gene and I were both pumped full of adrenaline and jogged quite a distance before slowing down to a fast walk. Thousand of spectators lined up along the way cheering and clapping. We felt great and continued at a quick pace, jogging about half of the time, knocking off mile after mile in just under 12 minutes per mile. In addition to the crowds, there were thousands of marathon volunteers, handing out Ultima, Gluekos, Gummy Bears, water and encouragement. Gene and I took care to drink at each aid station, and ate our peanut butter squares.
Along the route were cheerleaders, a bell choir, a harpist, bellydancers, and many bands. Down along the railroad district a band began to play "Now I'm a Believer" (the Monkees song). As I walked, I began to sing along. Around me, dozens of other marathoners joined in. After the railroad district, it began raining as we traveled through a neighborhood, where a mother and her children stood along the sidelines, handing out jelly beans. Then came a tedious section where we traveled along part of a highway, with only plastic cones separating us from noisy, fast moving traffic.
Finally we arrived at dreaded mile 17, which goes up the steep incline to the St. John's bridge. As we started up, a loud speaker blared the football touchdown song. It is amazing how inspiring it is to hear that song! It was also uplifting watching the marathoners around me as they bucked up and continued along their way.
We decended the bridge and began traversing through another neighborhood. Gene began to have some difficulty with his hip, which became worse and worse. We stopped and stretched, and I tried to convince myself that it was only cramps. We hobbled over to the next cross street, so I could call the girls to pick us up, accepting that we would not finish this race. The rain became heavy and we began to get chilled as the girls raced frantically through heavy traffic trying to get to our location. A marathon assistant on a bicycle stopped to help and called for a pick up. We heard the respondant say that there was an aid station about a mile down the road and we could get help there. I told him if we had the ability to walk a mile down the road, we would have the ability to finish the marathon!!! A very kind spectator, pulled his vehicle up so Gene could wait inside. The girls arrived - Heroines in the Blue Bomber (aka Sharna's car).
We spent the next few hours at the hospital emergency room, and then an inordinate amount of time filling prescriptions and traveling to three pharmacies to try to purchase a pair of crutches before giving up and borrowing a pair from Eric's Aunt Chris.
In the emergency room Gene apologized for ruining my dream. He told me how he had planned for us to cross the finish line holding hands. I assured him that we will run a marathon again.
As I drove back from Portland today, I contemplated the fact that I failed to keep the resolution I had made to walk the Portland Marathon. I still want to cross the finish line of the Portland Marathon, but the reason for the goal was so that I would be inspired and motivated to exercise. That was accomplished, and it was made enjoyable by Gene. One day early last summer, Gene was not able to accompany me on a two hour walk on Saturday. I remember realizing how long two hours was when I walked it without him.
We are in this together, and together we will triumph!
We then went to Sharna and Eric's for dinner. We met Eric's aunt, Chris, and Kylie arrived. We had a great dinner and headed back to get a good night's rest.
Sunday we got up early so we could eat and have time for our breakfast to settle, got dressed and headed to the marathon. We lined up near the sign for those who expected to finish the marathon in 6 hours. At 7 am the race began and we crossed the starting line about 10 minutes later.
Gene and I were both pumped full of adrenaline and jogged quite a distance before slowing down to a fast walk. Thousand of spectators lined up along the way cheering and clapping. We felt great and continued at a quick pace, jogging about half of the time, knocking off mile after mile in just under 12 minutes per mile. In addition to the crowds, there were thousands of marathon volunteers, handing out Ultima, Gluekos, Gummy Bears, water and encouragement. Gene and I took care to drink at each aid station, and ate our peanut butter squares.
Along the route were cheerleaders, a bell choir, a harpist, bellydancers, and many bands. Down along the railroad district a band began to play "Now I'm a Believer" (the Monkees song). As I walked, I began to sing along. Around me, dozens of other marathoners joined in. After the railroad district, it began raining as we traveled through a neighborhood, where a mother and her children stood along the sidelines, handing out jelly beans. Then came a tedious section where we traveled along part of a highway, with only plastic cones separating us from noisy, fast moving traffic.
Finally we arrived at dreaded mile 17, which goes up the steep incline to the St. John's bridge. As we started up, a loud speaker blared the football touchdown song. It is amazing how inspiring it is to hear that song! It was also uplifting watching the marathoners around me as they bucked up and continued along their way.
We decended the bridge and began traversing through another neighborhood. Gene began to have some difficulty with his hip, which became worse and worse. We stopped and stretched, and I tried to convince myself that it was only cramps. We hobbled over to the next cross street, so I could call the girls to pick us up, accepting that we would not finish this race. The rain became heavy and we began to get chilled as the girls raced frantically through heavy traffic trying to get to our location. A marathon assistant on a bicycle stopped to help and called for a pick up. We heard the respondant say that there was an aid station about a mile down the road and we could get help there. I told him if we had the ability to walk a mile down the road, we would have the ability to finish the marathon!!! A very kind spectator, pulled his vehicle up so Gene could wait inside. The girls arrived - Heroines in the Blue Bomber (aka Sharna's car).
We spent the next few hours at the hospital emergency room, and then an inordinate amount of time filling prescriptions and traveling to three pharmacies to try to purchase a pair of crutches before giving up and borrowing a pair from Eric's Aunt Chris.
In the emergency room Gene apologized for ruining my dream. He told me how he had planned for us to cross the finish line holding hands. I assured him that we will run a marathon again.
As I drove back from Portland today, I contemplated the fact that I failed to keep the resolution I had made to walk the Portland Marathon. I still want to cross the finish line of the Portland Marathon, but the reason for the goal was so that I would be inspired and motivated to exercise. That was accomplished, and it was made enjoyable by Gene. One day early last summer, Gene was not able to accompany me on a two hour walk on Saturday. I remember realizing how long two hours was when I walked it without him.
We are in this together, and together we will triumph!
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