Greetings, one and all. Just a quick post to say hello. Hope everyone is having a good summer so far. The news has been almost uniformly awful :-/, so I'll avoid talking about it here.
Instead, I'll focus on something positive: I'm finally able to start running again, at long last. Woo hoo! It had been 14 months, between a lingering issue with my hamstring last spring/summer, followed by my surgery and then a standard-issue New England winter.
I was able to start again in June, and got two weeks in, once again using the Couch to 5K (C25K) app I used to get started a few years ago. I was finishing the final run of the second week, and feeling good... only to have my 18 month old running shoes fall apart as I was finishing a run. Specifically, the heel came off my left shoe mid-stride.
Luckily I escaped with a sore left knee, which healed quite nicely during the time it took to order new running shoes online and wait for their arrival. (I have an uncommon shoe size, so even specialty running stores typically don't carry anything that fits.)
Anyway, they finally arrived a few weeks ago, so I was able to start anew. Since I'm starting up again after a long layoff, I decided to repeat the first two weeks, lest my penchant for injuring myself kick in yet again.
I completed the first run of week 3 this morning before work, and am just now beginning to feel my stamina returning. As I mentioned in previous posts, I put on weight post-surgery. I was concerned I would have a hard time losing it, given how high my testosterone was pre-surgery, even after taking Spironolactone for years.
My doctor, who is also a runner, assured me that my body would remember once I started exercising regularly again as my daily dilating schedule became more manageable. And... she was right. :c) I've put a nice dent into the amount I need to lose in a short period of time. I'm not really seeing the results yet (although my stylist, who saw me for the first time in six weeks last Friday, immediately commented on it as I walked in), but I'm beginning to feel it. For now, that's plenty.
I have a long way to go, but I feel a lot better knowing that I'll get back to my regular weight by sticking to my normal workout routine. It will take patience and a lot of hard work... but so did my transition. I did that; I can do this. In fact, I can do pretty much anything I put my mind to, I now realize. :c)
OK, off to cook dinner here, then work on my *other* big project. More on that soon... promise. :D Have a good week, everyone!
***
Since I'm out pounding the pavement again, what better band to end this post with than... Pavement? Check out Stephen Malkmus absolutely shredding during his guitar solo on "Summer Babe (Winter Version)", one of my faves of theirs.
I was going to post a clip of them performing "Cut Your Hair," probably their best-known song... but then I remembered Wilco had covered it a few years ago during one of their Solid Sound festivals, held in North Adams MA. They devoted an entire show to cover versions, starting with a killer version of Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back In Town," followed by "Cut Your Hair." Speaking of shredding, Nels Cline absolutely tears the place down here. Enjoy!
Finally, a great song from the first of two masterpieces Stevie Wonder released in 1972, Music of my Mind - "Keep On Running":
This is the album that contains "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)", my favorite Stevie song:
Hopefully that's enough tune-age to hold everyone over until my next post. Enjoy!
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5 comments:
So great to hear you are able to get back to a regular run Miss Cass. At the risk of sounding like our hero Bobby "watch the knees!" Orr, " knee joint pain has always been my nemesis, so I have to caress the pavement.
It really is difficult to admit there was anything good to say about testosterone, so maybe we should instead say, it takes less calories to maintain us these days, and hopefully I'm getting used to that finally!
Great upbeat post my dear!
Love, Halle
xxoo
Hey there! Awesome news on the running! (Not so much the losing a sole whilst actually running!)
After my car accident I have started to run shorter 5K distances just to get exercise - the fitness routine I was using prior to the accident has too many twists for my back right now, and long distance puts too much pressure on my spine for too long. I'm trying to run 3 or 4 times a week, but a tropical heatwave here in the Netherlands has put paid to that for this week. 70% humidity and high 20s don't make a pleasant environment for pushing yourself.
Good luck with the weightloss - I am looking at trying to lose some size - weight doesn't bother me per se, but favourite dresses becoming tight certainly does :)
As Halle said: great upbeat post - smiling reading it, which is something that I need in the morning! Thanks!
Finally: Have you heard the new Muse songs. I think that they are amazing, can't wait for the album - and according to Matt on twitter there should be an absolution style rock track coming soon as well!
Chat later,
Stace
@Halle: My biggest concern with testosterone was how my body would adjust to losing it all so suddenly, given how high it was. But other than more soreness than usual after some of my runs, I seem to be doing OK. I've started to ice my right foot/ankle (the one that causes me problems) when I get home, at my sister's suggestion. Hoping that takes care of the soreness (along with simply rebuilding my stamina, of course). :c)
@ Stace: I feel you with the heat. It's been very humid here this week (the dew point is currently 75!), so I'm being careful not to overdo it. I have a tendency to push myself too hard, but so far I've managed to resist the urge. Heat stroke and stress fractures are not fun (as I've had to learn several times). 9_9
Best of luck with the running/weight loss yourself, Miss S! I have a bunch of dresses I can't wait to wear again. :D
And finally: yes, I have heard them, and I also think they're amazing! I've been meaning to drop you a line to see what you thought. I bookmarked an article to send you, but I can post it here too:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8466062/muse-matt-bellamy-new-single-something-human-interview
Can't wait for the new album, and to see them again. They were amazing when I caught them on the Drones tour!
Oh, the endorphins are flowing again! Don't you love it? I'm glad you can take advantage of that wonderful and natural high, Cass.
For me, just the opposite. The smoke in California has been so bad that we must stay inside. No running. Been like this for weeks now.
Oh, and I love, love, love the music.
Calie xx
It's astonishing (and heartbreaking) to see how out of control the fires are out there. Hoping they can get them under control asap.
This has been the most uncomfortable summer I can remember, weather-wise. We've basically had Alabama-level humidity here non-stop since mid-June, with no end in sight. I'm staying active (including my running), but I know from experience that I run the risk of heat exhaustion - or worse - when I push too hard in this kind of weather. It's frustrating, but what can you do? At least it isn't snow...
Glad you liked the tunes. :c) Have you heard the new Ry Cooder and John Prine albums? Both are stellar. I'm also loving Neko Case and Lucero's new ones as well. It's been a great year music-wise,and there are lots of great albums coming out in the fall (Alejandro Escovedo, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson, and Paul Weller, to name a few). Can't wait to hear 'em all. :c)
Let's catch up soon, hon! It's been far too long!
Hugs,
Cass
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