Other Activities

Winter break was filled with some fun activities with friends. I love getting the kids outdoors and keeping them active. We had a fun time hiking with Jodi and her girls. Julia and Sadie hit it off and had a blast together.

Emily loves to climb to the highest point of rocks and scare me.

Jodi getting grouchy with Oscar.

The day we first discovered the beautiful little Needle Pointe on one of our rides. Attempting to skip a rock here.

We loved Needle Point so much we went back with our kids. They loved it too. Such a fun little find nestled off of some back roads headed nowhere.

A couple different hikes in the Usery Mountains with the kids and friends. I probably shouldn't be hiking with a stress fracture but my need to be in the mountains doesn't help me make the best choices. Plus it's a great thing to do with the kids and it's at a much slower pace than I would go if I were doing what I really wanted to be doing and trail running in those mountains.

Emily had a great time at her mommy/daughter party for activity days. They had a lite dinner and nail painting.

We had a nice dinner out with just the girls while Daniel had a blast at a parent's night out at the gym.

More Running Injuries

It's been a long time since I've posted running pictures on what started out to be a running blog. Unfortunately, injuries have taken me out of the running game once again. I've had achilles tendonitis for months on my left foot. I spent a fortune going to therapy for it and continued to run no more than 9 miles at a time. Then my right foot started to hurt but I kept on running and even went on to be as stupid as doing jumping jacks with kettle bells, jumping rope and other ridiculous high impact exercise. It was fun but I am paying the price. I'm now the proud owner (not really so proud) of not one but two stress fractures on my right foot. And like a dummy, I continued to run through that pain until I could barely walk. I finally got an x-ray to verify that something was indeed wrong and that perhaps I should take a running break. The Dr. said that not only should I not run but that I also could not do the stair master, eliptical, hike or any other sport that would put more stress on my foot. With previous injuries (and there have been many) I was able to continue everything but running and get back to running fairly quickly. This time he said I could cycle and swim only. I've also taken up rowing which I like but don't love. However, if I could ever get out on a lake and do some real rowing, I would probably like it much more. So I cheated a bit when the kids were off for Christmas and I couldn't get out to cycle during the warmth of the day. I walked on the treadmill at an incline, used the stair master and climbed back onto that eliptical. Today, seven weeks since I've run, the xrays say I have a long ways to go until these stress fractures are healed. Ugh!!! I want to run...I need to run....I'm dying to get out on the trails and run. It feels like my oxygen has been taken away. I'm so thankful that I can get out in the mountains and cycle and still get that little buzz you get from being in the great outdoors. I'm also thankful that I can swim which makes my body feel relaxed and less sore. But I'm kind of over these dang injuries and I'm feeling a little whiney. I want to run and hike and get out on the trails and train for the half-marathon with my friends that I'm supposed to train for. I know there are many worse things in life but this is big to me. My knees are starting to ache more from going around in circles on my bike, my skin smells like chlorine from swimming for so long each day, my ears are getting irritated from all the water and my swim suit is falling apart. With that said, I still have a great time out cycling with these fabulous women. Here are a few pictures of our continuous good times.

Still having fun with cycling, especially when we end up with a good lunch out at the end. I always bring my tortillas home for my kids from my salad. It's pretty funny riding a bike with two big tortillas sticking out of your back pocket.

We have different stopping/snack points for each ride where we get off, stretch and take fun pictures.

We discovered this beautiful little place called Needle Point beyond one of our snack points.

More of us at Needle Point (Fountain Hills area).

Rachel is always a hoot to be around. I love these socks and she had strangers commenting on them as they rode by us. We've had some seriously cold rides these past few months. I never thought I would miss the summer but I do.

Four more weeks until I get another xray. I will behave better and stay off the extra gym machines. I don't just love doing the stair master or eliptical or tread mill but it helps keep up endurance. I've started taking glucosamine for my achy knees and hope that by the time my stress fracture is healed that my knees and achilles will feel better as well.