I am starting this post out with a picture of Caya and Shelby Shoes snuggling last night on the couch.  Life is good!
In my other life, I am a physical therapist.  Most people assume I am in orthopedics since I love sports, but I am actually in geriatrics!  I have 96-year-old patients!  It is sooooo awesome.  I mean, there is no better time spent than time spent with an older adult.  They know so much, give great advice, and really bring such a sharp, beautiful perspective to life.  My patients give me marital advice (I need to cook more...ha ha!), stress advice (let it go), and every other piece of advice under the sun.  I love it!  

I was going to do a work-rant to vent a little, but now that I am sitting down and writing, it is really not needed.  Work is unhealthy and overly-stressful, but I will survive.  I had a mis-manager, and she has relocated.  I also stood up to a co-worker today that has been a really mean bully.  At the ripe age of 32, I just don't have time for mean people any more.     
 

Physical therapy is awesome.  I am glad I made a career change early and did not wait to go back to school.  It has come with some stressors that I did not anticipate (like productivity demands that are impossible to meet ethically) as well as enormous physical fatigue at the end of the day.  I now know that compression socks were not invented for triathletes, they were invented for health care providers that are on their feet all day lifting 200 pound patients out of bed.  

When I do have the energy to fit in some training time, I am paying close attention to the knee status.  It has started having some major swelling within the past month in the back.  Obviously the knee is something that is on my mind often- sorry to belabor the problem.    

This is a pic from a week ago with some moderate swelling in the back of my knee.  It has actually been a lot worse than this.  And no, that is not a muscle, as one friend asked.  That is fluid!  

This is a new symptom, and I have never had fluid in this area.  I am not in pain at this time, though, so the doctor is not concerned (although I am).  I did not have any swelling post race this weekend which is promising, and I am determined to listen to my body, keep the easy days easy, do less, and race sparingly.  

Yes, I said do less.  It is my new mantra.  I will run the least amount needed to enjoy the sport. This is opposite of my old self that wanted to run all of the time.  Healthy knee= Happy Damie. I am now 5 months out from surgery, so I hope to continue to see some progress and good stuff as the knee enters those final stages of healing.  

:)  is the weekend here yet?

   

Showers, Weddings, and Race Reports

I really need to post more often so I don't have to cram all of this in.  This blog is starting to turn into the weekend social review and I haven't had a good rant lately.  Homework for Damie:  rant due next Wednesday on the topic work.  

I enjoyed another insane weekend of social activity.  And since I am an ISFJ by nature  (could be an INFJ- it is close) , I think I am handling all of the group time exceedingly well :)  

Nancy, Laura and I enjoyed some more time celebrating with Joy at a bridal shower.  

We are the best gift givers ever:  plates that are the wrong color, Peeps, and  yet another gift card.  One of us only had only painted the three toe-nails that were showing through the heels, another was wearing her husband's socks, and another forgot to wear deodorant.  We are Joy's classiest friends ever.  

The bridal party:  Nancy, Megan, Jenny, Joy, Damie, Sheila, Laura, and Emily

I was able to sneak in a few more minutes with some PT school friends at another bridal shower.  It was so nice to have a chance to hug some familiar faces- after all, we spent three years of our time sitting together slaving away to earn a doctorate degree only to spend the rest of our lives worrying about our productivity number.  (oh yes, that will go in  Wednesday's rant).  

PT friends:  Diana, Em, Rachael, Damie, Christy

add in another wedding + my birthday+ ultimate fatigue and you have my complete Saturday.  (no pictures for the rest of the night...I was too tired to take pictures).     

And now for a small Rebel Man Triathlon Race Report.  

To start the race- everyone's worst nightmare happened to me.  My alarm clock did not go off, even though I set it properly.  I woke up 50 minutes after I was supposed to wake up- and only because Dave had to go to work and noticed I was still asleep.  Everything was cool, though- made it to the race no prob.  

Los Locos at Rebel Man 2010:  Damie, Joy, Dustin, Andrew, Maggi, Bill, Laura, and Kevin.  Not pictured:  Greg and Miles.  

I survived the 400 meter pool TT swim, but just barely.  By 75 meters I was fighting for position with the girl next to me- and the other 20 people in my lane- like it was an Ironman.  I finally settled down at about 125 meters and worked to pick off people that seeded themselves incorrectly.  My goal of using the walls efficiently turned into me finding some random wall space and diving under people to get away.  The dern swim never gets faster, but I enjoy it more now and panic less.  But- seeing Maggi's swim get stronger and stronger is motivating...maybe there is hope?  

The sunless day was in the high 40s/low 50s (I think) with wind for the bike.  We don't like cold weather in Memphis, and normally I ride with pants and a long sleeved jersey.  I took a gamble and wore only arm warmers with my wet bathing suit (no socks, gloves, or anything else). It was the best move I made all day, and I was comfortable throughout the whole bike. 

I was passed by Kevin on the bike after a few miles, and I know he is a smart athlete and he seemed to be pacing his race well.  I made it a goal to stay with him- and I meant it.  I dropped back out of the violation zone and just watched his legs and matched his cadence.  (not a bad sport, eh?  when you get to stare at a good pair of legs as part of the race).  I have tried to keep up with teammates before, only to fall 6 bike lengths back, then 10, then never to see them again.  This time I was able to keep him in my sight, and it really motivated me to stay on track.  I did start to get dropped a few times,  but I upped my focus and re-matched his cadence.  Although the bike hurt, it paid off to try to keep up with a faster rider.   

When I hit the run, I automatically felt my heavy footfall like a big elephant lumbering down the street.  I decided to focus on running with a lighter footfall and keeping my legs moving with good cadence.  I was running with sheer panic as I had amazing athletes right behind me ready to zoom by me.  I had no pain in my knee, but I sounded like an out-of-shape freight train rolling through the run course because you could hear my huffing and puffing a half of a mile away.  I just don't know how all of the really speedy runners do it.  My hats off to all of the fast runners out there- I want to be you.    

The finish line looked as good as it always does- and every time I finish a triathlon I think...yup, that is plenty for this season.  No need to do that again!  But, after an hour or two, my selective memory kicks in and I start to think that I had fun and want to do another triathlon again.  (just not anytime soon ;)  I finished 2nd OA- completely surprised by the day and very aware that having a good day is a gift and not to be taken for granted.        

The Los Locos Girls- top 4 overall baby!!!!

Weekend Review Finished

Sat night- long overdue. For a better post on Joy's main event, click here.

I pulled up my big girl party panties and attacked night number two with as much gusto as I could muster.  After all, it was Joy's bachelorette party.  

Here is where I told Joy what to expect on her wedding night.  ;)

Lindsey and I finally made it to Raifords, and I outlasted the MawMaw in me unil 4:20am.  I have fallen short of many party expectations in the past, but just like the difference between training and racing, I pulled through when it counted this time.  

And the crew danced all night long with the help of a local bachelor party that we met en route downtown.  

And Laura, Joy, and I decided we would NOT be volunteering at the Germantown Half Marathon water stop.  I slept in as much as I could on Sunday-  but Dave thinks it is funny to bug me after a long night out.  I winced at the thought of the 75 minute run I had on my schedule for Sunday...my longest run post surgery.  

And yes, it sucked just as I imagined it would after dancing in heels all night.  

I am still waiting for a recovery weekend, but since I have 2 bridal showers, 1 wedding, and 1 engagement party this Saturday- followed by a race on Sunday...I don't see any hope for the future.