Well, here we are!!!!

It has been many moons since I last posted about my quest for better health. Last year I had many accomplishments and many set backs while training. I ultimately ended up not being able to continue training on bike or foot due to some health issues. Last year, I had a major surgery that took a significant amount to recover from. I thought I was doing great and begin my training for a 5k. I did complete a 5k, and worked up to riding 22miles on my bike. I was feeling fabulous and though I had my ups and downs with training, I was happy with my progress. Before long I began having some issues from my surgery which I thought I had healed from. It turns out that I had only healed superficially. This caused painful problems that lead to my scar being re-opened and a drain tube put in. This was followed by several months of  having to "pack" the area twice a day.  The newly opened wound caused pain, drainage and enough problems that I was forced to discontinue my workouts. After several months of packing the area the wound would just not heal, add that to the fact that my stoma was prolapsing and what do you get??? ANOTHER surgery!!! This December 4, I went under the knife again for the 8th time in the past 4 years. Once again I had two surgeries. Thanks to many prayers from family and friends, this surgery was not nearly as big as the last set of surgeries last December. I have had a wonderful recovery, and give thanks everyday for my health. In the mist of my health dilemmas, my dear friend gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. One day while lamenting over the fact that we want to be in better shape, we decided to train for a half marathon. I am not sure why this seemed like the best goal to set, but we both felt it would be a fantastic challenging goal that as we worked toward it we would get into better shape.

A little over a week ago I had my post surgery check up with my surgeon. He said things looked great and removed the uncomfortable stitches. I was so happy! I expressed my desire to start exercising and he told me that would be okay as long as I took it slow and didn't overdo it. That night my wound started leaking and by the next day reopening. Dang the fact that my body doesn't like to heal!!!! I was a little concerned but with the holidays I just kept about my normal routine, taking precautions not to tear anything. about 5 days later my bottom started hurting and I realized the wound was getting bigger and was having drainage. I called in, and was told just to try to keep the area dry. I decided I would pack the wound and pray that it would close.

Time was quickly approaching for my Friend and I to start our training. Her parents are leaving for a mission in June and there just so happens to be a half marathon in her home state of Oregon in June. We decided to make the trip a vacation/farewell/run a half marathon type deal. I was nervous to start training for, well, many reasons. There are the obvious reasons that I am nervous about healing properly, then I have that voice in my head reminding me that I am not a runner and training last year was very difficult.

Up until last night I wasn't sure how I felt about all of this. I was sorely tempted to step back and say, maybe not now, maybe I will wait. Then I realized that I had made a commitment to my friend, and I am always good on my word. I know they say that they only real failure is to not try, but I was (still am) afraid to start something that I didn't know if I could finish. All my runner friends may think a half marathon is easy, in fact my brother trained for 3 months and ran  a half marathon in less than 2 hrs!!! But, I am not doing this to impress anyone. I am doing this because darn it, I was told 4 years ago that I should NOT be alive. That there was not physical way my body should have kept going. But here I am ,alive, and for the most part healthy. I CAN do it, I WILL do it! It will be difficult, there will be days when I want to quit, but I will do my part, and give it my best. I won't be the fastest I won't be the strongest but I will give it my all  and in the end, that is what matters.

This morning I woke up with an excitement and determination. I realized I was tired of waiting to be "better" to start, because the reality is I may never be better enough, that is just my reality. But I have decided to not let that stop me. Today was going to be the first of many days of training. I reflected back to last year to when I first started training. I was only able to walk/jog 1/4 mile in 25 min. I knew that I could at least do that. I posted on fb, because I knew the more I shared my goal the more accountable I would be. I realized that today marks 4 weeks from my surgery. It is the first day of the first month of the new year. I thought, "What a great way to start things out!" I was nervous, would I look ridiculous in front of my friend? Will I be able to make it? Well, I am super excited to announce that I did make it, and I think we did pretty well.

We decided to start with c2 5k program, and warmed up with walking for 5min. We then alternated 60 sec. jogging with 90 sec. walking. Guess what? It was cold, a lot of our pathway was covered in snow, but we did it! We were out for 35 min. and were shocked to realized in that time we covered 2 miles!!! I could almost cry out with joy! I am far better off than when I started last year! The jogging felt SOOOO good on my body. I was challenging, but not overwhelming. I know that I will have my set backs, every good goal has them, but for the first day out, I couldn't be more pleased! I am on a workout high right now. I really need your encouragement because it really fuels my desire to prove I will do this.