This site is to update my progress on my marathon training and my fundraising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. You will get to know me and my brave friend, Mikey, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was three.
I know it has been quiet around here lately, but I've been super busy training with increased miles, water running, and P90X! Not to mention meeting with a nutritionist who is helping me get the proper proteins and carbs for training for a marathon (which I will go into more details in another post). Unfortunately, all of my activities came to an abrupt halt a week and a half ago. I came down with a bad case of bronchitis which turned into pneumonia, so no running for me. I've been so weak and tired that I could not even summon up the energy to write a post. However, that is not a good excuse for my neglect, and I was reminded of that when I received the profile of Olivia. There are kids out there fighting for their lives against leukemia with little to no complaint. They are not giving up. They are not sitting around whining. So it is time for me to get off of my butt.
In an earlier post I mentioned meeting the Cleveland Team in Training Honored Hero, Olivia. Today, I'd like to tell you a bit more about her.
Age: 12
Birthdate: April 23, 1998 Diagnosis: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Diagnosis Date: April 2010 Current Status: Finished chemotherapy in November 2010. In Remission!
Parents: Karen & Gus
Siblings: Daniel, Claire & Anabel Favorite Activities: Skiing, Pottery and playing with dogs, especially Border Collies Favorite Sports: Volleyball Favorite Book/Movie: Harry Pottery Series & TV Show The Nanny Favorite Foods: Grandma’s Lebanese food
The free video editing software I have only has the very basic features, so I’m not able to point things out like I wanted. (I guess that is why the software is free.) I was able to slow down the recording. Hopefully, you will be able to better see what I explain.
In a normal running gait, your heel hits on the outer side first and then rolls toward the inside. As the heel starts to lift, the foot rolls back out so that the ball of the foot is flat on the ground providing the spring necessary to propel forward.
When I wore my clearance, “running” shoes, I did not have the adequate support, so my foot remained rolled in too long. I was already starting to spring forward before it rolled back out. This put extra stress on the fibula contributing to my break. The sports medicine doctor already figured this out before the gait analysis.
There was one new thing discovered that also probably contributed to the break. There is a weakness in my hips. The weakness is shown by the way my hips dip when I run. Normally, the hips stay in a horizontal line – parallel to the ground. On this video, you can see that my hips dip down into a 45-degree angle when I run. This also places stress on the fibula. I had the perfect triangle for a break – lack of experience, wrong shoes with an overpronation, and weak hips.
What does all of this mean? First, I restarted running gradually. I used the elliptical a lot and completed just a few short runs every other day. I slowly built up to a mile. The movement of my ankle was corrected by purchasing the proper running shoes, and the physical therapist prescribed strengthening exercises for my hips. Nothing that can’t be corrected.
I am now up to fifteen miles a week, but I still keep the running to every other day. On the off days, I cross train with P90, elliptical, and water running. The cross training helps me continue to work on the cardio and work my muscles without the added stress of continuous impact.
