back at it

Between my injury, travel, a brief slight cold, holidays, and unpleasant weather, I went three weeks with very little exercise. (But plenty of food.) I think I got about four runs in, and those were pitifully short and included walking breaks.

But my hiatus is over! I'm exercising again! And I feel much better.

As an update on the IT band injury: it's getting better. I had another follow-up with the running doctor on December 27, and he said I should stick with physical therapy once a week and start building my mileage back up really slowly. So I'm doing that, and I haven't felt any pain in my knee on the last several runs. My main thing now is getting used to my new running gait. Changing the gait is good because it prevents me from striking with my heel, but it's frustrating because it seriously feels like learning to run all over again. The farthest I've gone without a walking break is two miles. Two miles. I used to spend more miles than that just warming up.

Luckily my new triathlon training is giving me a chance to keep active without worrying about such low running miles. Right now I'm swimming twice a week, biking twice a week, and running three times. I got a trainer for Christmas so I can ride my bike in my apartment now, which is exciting. And today I had my first swim lesson! I've got three more to go and I'm hoping they will help with my form and efficiency.

So I'm feeling good and excited about keeping up my new workout schedule.

Missing Grandma

My Grandma died on December 21, 2013. She was 84 years old. Six days later would have been her 60th wedding anniversary.

Grandma had Alzheimer's disease, and spent the last two years in assisted living facilities. Grandpa and my aunt still took her out to eat a few times a week, and she would come to the house for Sunday lunch and holidays. She even went on a few vacations. But she often didn't know who anyone really was, and as time went on it became harder for her to talk much. Occasionally she would make her familiar silly face, or say something funny. But in a lot of ways, she just didn't seem like Grandma anymore. At least to me.

Two days after Grandma died I went with my parents to "identify the body" before she was cremated. It was the first time in a long time that I saw her when she wasn't sitting in her wheelchair, or propped up in bed. Instead, she was laid flat and I thought it looked like she was just taking a nap, letting her body rest "horizontal" for a bit before she got up again, perhaps to make us lunch. And seeing her like that, looking like she used to before Alzheimer's changed her life? That's when it really hit me. I had already seen her decline gradually, but the finality of it all began to sink in. And then I finally let myself really miss her.

I loved Grandma very much. We all did. She was smart, and funny, and loving, and very good. I loved visiting her in Lubbock for a week at a time as a kid. And I will forever cherish the time I spent living with Grandma and Grandpa in Richmond after college. Just reading back through blog posts in which I mentioned her has brought lots of fun times to mind, like Mexican lunch on Saturdays and Rook games and looking out for her turtles in the back yard.

We held Grandma's funeral on Monday, December 30. It was beautiful. Grandpa got up and read from Proverbs 31 about the Noble Wife. Ryan read about love from 1 Corinthians 13. The priest remembered her love for turtles in his homily. I read the prayers. Sunni read a beautiful poem she wrote the night before Grandma died. A soloist sang Faure's Pie Jesu. We all cried.

I do not mourn for Grandma, because I believe she is in a much better place now. But I'm sad for Grandpa, and for the rest of us she has left behind. We all miss her dearly.

Love you Grandma.

2013

Overall, I'm really pleased with my 2013.

• I spent the winter seeking out hills and running in the cold. It all paid off when I ran (and enjoyed) my first marathon.

• I hung out with my family in Las Vegas, which I always love. I also ran a half marathon there.

• I survived non-stop school from mid-January through mid-December. My PhD is still a long way off, but I'm definitely getting closer.

• I had lots of fun times with friends, and continued to grow my social circle and find community in Charlottesville.

• I went on weekend-vacations with Grandma and Grandpa to the beach and to Washington DC. I also spent a lot of weekends with family in Richmond.

• I got a promotion at work, and got to move into a bigger office space.

• I went to Boston for the first time, and enjoyed hanging out with my aunt and Sunni.

• I didn't despair when I got a running injury while training for another marathon, and instead started swimming.

•  I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my grandparents in New Mexico.

• I witnessed Ryan's college graduation, and got to see where he lives and works. 

• I took part in the most beautiful funeral service ever. (More to come on this one.)

Here's to a healthy and happy 2014 for all of us!