The Midlife Reframe

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  • Becoming Grounded…and Total Randomness

    With things being totally hectic over the past couple of months…

    I’ve found it hard to focus.  Especially with not being able to run  That was a form of meditation for me. 

    I have found other ways to get my fitness fix, with some prompting from the man in my life (we’ll call him Mr. Y) and I am grateful for that.  He is very patient with me as he is still getting to know my moods and my mental illness. 
     

    I have been doing meditation and yoga at home, as I have posted in the past.  But I have to say.  It has really made me pause the past couple of days and I am now trying to be more aware.  Of how I love the smell of my coffee in the morning.  How great smoothies taste.  How I have way too much “stuff”.  How I love my sneakers.  How comfortable I am in my running gear.  How much I love food – fruit, greek yoghurt, dried cranberries.  How grateful I am for my support system.  How much time I DON’T spend enjoying the silence around me…and I thought, “I’ve gotten caught up in stuff”.  Time to get grounded!

    This means more time to meditate, more yoga, a hunt for my mala beads (let them choose me), more fitness and more awareness.

    A yoga blog I love is Yoga Girl.  She shares a lot and I love it.  Her good times, bad times, her emotions.  It’s all laid bare.  She is non-apologetic about sharing her feelings and I think it ROCKS.  I mean, we’re not happy ALL the time…and I think that’s okay.

    I’ve also been reading other fitness blogs (i.e. Fit Grampa – a new blogger) and yoga blogs.  The blogging runners (some listed here on my page) I follow keep me excited about the prospect of running again, AND I am getting to learn of some really cool races outside of Nova Scotia.  Really looking forward to doing some of these!!  I also have a great twitter feed FULL of awesome supportive runners/bloggers (Bagtownblogtrotter, Michelle The Runner, Janet of jan.etc, and so many others!  To list them all….that’s another blog post…lol).  This is something I am really thankful for 🙂

    My mission for the rest of the summer is to not move so fast that I miss the things that make me HAPPY.  To enjoy what I can do now, knowing that eventually I will be able to lace up and run.  Because there are some that don’t have that luxury.
    ****As I finished editing this post ….I am happy to say that I have an MRI appointment!  I call tomorrow for details 😀      

  • **Not running related** Hot Temps, Long Weekend and Beer in a Boot!

    A long weekend….yippeeeee!

    I was very lucky to have a long weekend.  While most folks go camping, or travel to see family, I spent it at home. My man and I went out for an awesome walk around Lake Banook (part of the course for Epic Canadian).  It was a gorgeous night.  We finally hit summer here in Halifax.  Hot temps were on the menu and I tried to make the most of it!
    My daughter was on a sleepover extravaganza most of the weekend with it being the end of the school year.  We took an evening and spent it out at Peggy’s Cove.  Funny how we forget all the beautiful places around us.

     

    To top it all off – CANADA DAY 🙂  The nation’s 147th birthday!  With it being a such a warm and beautiful day, my man and I hit the road early to see what was going on.
    We ended up taking a break from scootering around to have some beer in a boot at Celtic Corner in Dartmouth! 

    32oz of beer….in a glass boot that I was able to take home with me!  I also had poutine….because it’s the Canadian thing to do 😉


    We strolled around the waterfront and chilled out by the water before heading back over the bridge to my daughter and a family dinner at my parent’s place.  Best way to end a long weekend (well extra long since I took Monday off!)

    To all my Canadian friends, I hope you had a great Canada Day.  And to my friends south of the border, an early Happy Independence Day! 

  • Dr. Bill Stanish, The Knee and OMG My Teenager is Graduating from Grade 9!!!

    Today was the day!!

    I arrived at Dr. Stanish’s Office at almost 8:10 (traffic/construction/etc held me up) for my 8:15 appointment.  I registered and sat in the waiting room for my name to be called.

    A guy two seats over was slurping his hot beverage….and I mean slurping.  I gave him the “REALLY?!??!?!” look.  It was like nails on a chalkboard, lol.

    I didn’t wait long, it was like 10 minutes and then I heard my name….YAY!

    Went into a little curtained room and waited.

    Dr. Stanish arrived shortly after and we went through how I injured myself and my whole physio treatment.  We also discussed the lovely click and snap of me knee.  Joy.  He was impressed with my quad strength, as that usually dies with a meniscus tear.  I told him I have been rockin it with my exercises!

    He is setting me up to have an urgent MRI (which means I am on the cancellation list here in Halifax, NS), so I am hoping sooner rather than later.  I told him that not running is KILLING me.  He told me not to worry, he’s going to get me fixed up.  Once we have the MRI we can get the ball rolling 🙂 Happy happy happy!!

    I was in and out in 20 minutes.  He is a wonderful Specialist and super easy to talk to.

    That being said, my knee hurts like hell today.  It’s getting grumpy more often than not….jerk…lol.

    OFF TOPIC – MOMMY POST 😉

    Tomorrow is my daughter’s Grade 9 Graduation…..holy crap!  How did this little person get to be 15 and getting ready for HIGH SCHOOL!

    We’ve had our moments most recently, but I love her to pieces and hope to help her through the next 3 years….instilling that these years ARE important, that you can have fun and buckle down, and to enjoy them as much as possible.

    She is thinking about trying out for the Rugby Team, so we’ll be getting her body in tune over the summer.  Good thing Mom was a personal trainer for a short while….it will come in handy!!

    So, stay tuned for more knee fun…and I am hoping to get more cycling in, so this may take precedence in my posts, along with SUMMA FUN!!  So hang on tight…it going to be an AWESOME RIDE!!!!!!!



     

  • Defeat Depression Day!!!

    Move for Mental Health

    So while my running tweeples and peoples were racing or attacking their long runs today, my daughter and I went to the local Defeat Depression Event 🙂

    This is a 1/3/5km run or walk.  Since I am gimpy, we walked.

    This event means alot to me, having the “fraternal twins” of mental illness (anxiety and depression). 

    The weather was 50/50, the threat of showers hanging over, but what a great group of people to walk around Downtown Halifax with! 


    Earlier this week I cycled with the man in my life.  Well he ran, I cycled 😉 

    We went around the beautiful Lake Banook in Dartmouth.  It has a run/bike train around it which is great.  It is also the home of many canoe clubs.  They also have the Dragon Boat Festival here every year!

    I caught this beautiful shot once we hit the other side of the Lake.  It felt great to be out and speedy…even if it was on two wheels.  lol

    I finally see the ortho specialist Wednesday morning and I can’t wait!!  I am surgical, of that I am certain.  So it’s just a matter of when and where.  I’ll go anywhere in this Province to get it done!

    Hoping to get out to the Public Gardens later for some relaxation and maybe some awesome pics 🙂

    Tonight is the regular #RunAtChat on Twitter.  Awesome runners and fun chats.  A good way to end a Sunday Night.

    Until next time….

  • Physio and the "Franken-Knee"

    Yesterday was my last maintenance visit…

    with my Physiotherapist and I was manipulated, I spinned (like spin class spinned to a hot sweaty mess) and was then poked.

    Behold, the Franken-Knee:

    We did acupuncture to bring down the swelling – it felt really weird (as usual) and part of me wanted to vomit when she manipulated them…..lol.  Good thing I had not eaten lunch yet!!!

    I see the Ortho Specialist one week from today.  By this time, I will know when my surgery is and can plan out recovery and eventually my return to RUNNING!!!  I cannot tell you how happy I am now that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.  I last ran exactly two months ago today, hours before my injury.

    IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

    But what I am still amazed at, how runners are in tune with their bodies.  I have always been aware of my body mechanics since my IT band injury which occurred before my first half.  Muscle activation, foot strike, knee position, core activation.  You can say what you want about us crazy runners – we KNOW our bodies.  It’s one of things that makes me focus inwards.

    Although, even though we are in tune with our bodies, we don’t always listen!!  It’s the stubborn “I can get it looked at after I finish running *insert distance/race here*”…or “I can run through it…it’s not that bad”.  Until we see someone…and it IS that bad.  Double edged sword.  Ha ha ha ha.

    I can’t wait to get back out there.  That being said I have gone through my gear and realized that I need a few things….like shorts, tops, My Soxy Feet and will be getting some BioSkin to support the ol’ knee when I return to running.

    So….what is your favourite running gear and why?  Feel free to comment below!  I love getting suggestions for new gear 🙂

  • It’s a Happy Friday the 13th! Random Post!

    I know that sounds weird….

    Especially if you are one that is a little superstitious (queue Stevie Wonder).

    Today I learned that my Ortho Specialist appointment is on the 25th 🙂  That is a little past two months since my injury.  I am super excited for this consult and look forward to moving on with my treatment!!  I have already started planning out my races for when I am better.  Because I’ll be able to run, which I miss, terribly.

    The past while has been hard with my depression/anxiety and finding new ways to work out.  Finding a new apartment, being super busy at work, making time for those I care about and making time for me, well, it has been a little draining.  I sleep a lot.  I find that some days the battle with my illness just drains me.  It’s hard to explain unless you’ve been in the situation I guess.

    In all of this, rescue kitty Jax has been settling in well.  She has met our other cat Nala and so far there has been minimal hissing and growling…..yay! lol

    The cats are a great stress reliever for me right now.  Having a rescue kitten is a great experience.

    So I am wondering what now….besides yoga, walking and strength training, are there any other suggestions from blogger peeps??

    (And yes, my bike is still broken, I need to remedy that and SOON)! 

  • jan.etc: Lunenburg Muffin Run <- Happy Monday! Totally doing this next year…..because MUFFINS!!

    jan.etc: Lunenburg Muffin Run: The Muffin Run is an annual 5K run around the very picturesque town of Lunenburg. The additional selling point being that after the last per…

  • Fitness, a Rescue Kitten and my Chaotic Week

    The RollerCoaster Week…

     So, I’ve been trying to get my fitness in during a crazy busy week of work and looking for a new apartment to live in.  

    This week has been filled with yoga. I am gearing up shortly to do some gimpy leg squats and ride the recumbent bike. 

    I am getting my legs stronger and trying to focus on my core.  Even on the days I don’t want to.  Which is the same for when I am running.  Hoping to get this lateral meniscus looked at soon so I can get my recovery moving along and start running again 🙂

    I am a morning workout/running kind of gal.  Not saying that I won’t work out any other time….it’s just my preference is the morning.  Wonder how many folks prefer the evening?  Feel free to comment!

    Work has been absolutely bonkers.  My desk is a disaster zone and trying to dig myself out.  But that being said, busy makes my day go by fast and I am doing what I love.

    In the middle of all of this…I said yes to a rescue kitten 🙂

    We named her Jax.

    She is all cozied up in my bathroom and has been out a couple of times securely wrapped in some cozy t-shirts to spend some quiet time with myself and my daughter.

    She’s made the weekend interesting and is changing up our dynamic for the good!



      

  • Happy National Running Day!!

    Enjoy your run 🙂

     

  • Today is a Schlumpy Day

    A day where no matter what I do to make myself feel better…I still have the schlumps.

    I should have gone for a walk right now, but there are days that I just don’t have it in me.

    Like today.

    This is one of those moments that, for me, having depression/anxiety sets off some alarm bells.  Not because I think I am going to go “down the rabbit hole”, but because that is what the D/A combo does.  The panic switch is set and I can’t turn it off.

    THIS is when I miss running.  Even a bad run.  I should have gone for a walk…..BLARGH.

    If there are any of you out there that are experiencing the same thing….we all have these days.  Find an outlet…walk/run/bike/talk.  Even if you don’t want to…..take the first step.  It’ll make your day a little bit better 🙂