Gimme Three Steps Spin Playlist

Brought back a Linda Lou favorite from November 2013…

Beautiful Day - U2                                           4:08 Warm up

Shut Up And Drive - Rihanna                       3:31 Drills, pedal strokes

Wild Ones (feat. Sia) - Flo Rida                    3:54 Rolling hills

Just A Girl - No Doubt                                     3:29 Comfortably fast with 20” bursts

Back in Time - Pitbull                                     3:27 Harder effort, stand during chorus

Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd      4:32 Build

Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi                       4:13 2' seated climb, 2' standing

Walk This Way - Aerosmith                         3:40 Jumps

Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones                3:44 Build

Some Kind of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad  3:24 Keep climbing

Footloose - Kenny Loggins                           4:18 Downhill

Have a Nice Day - Bon Jovi                            3:49 Pyramid

Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer     3:22 Cool down

What Goes Around - Justin Timberlake    7:29 Stretch

MRI Results

My MRI results confirmed I fractured my big toe. 

 

Wait, what?

There was inconclusive evidence to support my foot pain.  Long story short last week’s MRI of my right foot and ankle revealed no unusual stress or trauma to the area being tested.  A few other minor things popped up but nothing worth worrying about.

Now the doctor thinks my troubles could be muscle related.  Perhaps a muscle strain or inflammation from overuse.  I definitely have ankle instability and would benefit from general ankle strengthening exercises but Boyle said he was confident that when I left his office a few weeks ago that an MRI would show a stress fracture.

 

The only major stress (& totally unrelated to any of my foot pain) was in my toe.  Remember Providence when I stubbed it going downhill?  Well apparently I was so focused on my black toenail that it didn’t even cross my mind that I actually fractured it!

This loser broke her toe running a half marathon.   

Can you believe it?

Anyway, my stitches/non-stress fracture all happening at the same time could be a blessing in disguise as I’m forced to rest and ice.  Did I really just say that? 

Recap:
Week 1 was easy.  I was in a lot of pain from the procedure and the weather was crappy.  Week 2 I stayed busy with after work activities such as my MRI and a lovely drive to Tony Kent Ice Rink to interview skaters for the Mashpee Fitness blog.  Week 3 I’m getting antsy.  External stitches were removed on Friday but I still can’t come out of the saddle in spin class.  Saturday I went for a 3.3 mile walk with Linda only to lay on the couch for the rest of the day.  On Monday my internal stitches punished me for a 12 minute elliptical ride and today a few members caught me demonstrating high knees/high heels and threatened to call my mother.

Womp, womp, womp.

When Turkeys Attack

It’s the 2-month anniversary of my Christmas Eve Turkey Encounter and as I look back on the traumatizing event, I decided to do a little wild turkey research with the help of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  Go ahead and click on the link.  Such a thing really exists!

Wild Turkey Fun Facts

Throwback Thursday?

·      Wild turkeys are the official game bird of Massachusetts.  There are over 7 million wild turkeys in the United States today.  The species almost became extinct in the early 1900s and were completely eliminated from Massachusetts in 1851 due to hunting.

·      Females (called hens) usually weigh between 8-10 lbs.  Males (called toms or gobblers) average 16-24 lbs.  Both males and females reach a height of 3-4 ft.

·      Turkeys run at speeds of 10-20 mph and max out at 25 mph.  (And y'all told me to run away!)  They can fly in bursts up to 55 mph.

·      Turkeys do not see well in the dark.  They sleep in trees at night.

·      Courtship begins during the winter months and it is considered mating season from February to April.

·      Turkeys usually feed in the early morning and afternoons.

Turkey Attacks

You can all form your own opinions but from the view of a survivor, turkeys are evil creatures.  They have been known to terrorize postal workers and attack innocent human beings.

In the fall of 2008, there were daily attacks on postal workers on South Street in Rockport, Massachusetts.  One mail carrier made national news in August 2009 when he used his pepper spray to fend off an attacking bird.

Today wild turkeys are seen together in “gangs” all around Cape Cod after being reintroduced to the Cape in 1989 via Camp Edwards and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

I read a lot of advice but most sources agree: don’t feed the birds and stay away.

What should you do if a Wild Turkey Attacks?

·      Be Aggressive.  Don’t let those giant birds intimidate you.  Make loud noises and wave your arms.  A broom is a useful tool to swat them away.  An umbrella can be used to mimic a male turkey spreading its tail feathers and bully an attacking turkey.  I don’t know about you but I run with neither a broom nor an umbrella.

·      Turkey’s do not like water.  If you are running with a water bottle, throw some water on it.  If you’re in your yard, use a hose.

·      Turkeys usually avoid dogs.  Another reason why I need a puppy!

·      When in doubt: Mace works.

I hope this is the last time I ever have to post about any type of bird but I'd love to hear your stories.  Stay safe out there my friends!

"Either you run the day..."

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.”

~Jim Rohn

Throwback Thursday Olympics Edition

2007 Falmouth Road Race.  I feel like this was a lifetime ago.  At the time I had retired from running.  Then I came out of retirement.  Signed up for a couple races.  Rediscovered my love of running.  I even ran a freaking marathon.  Now I’m mid-breakup until these darn stitches dissolve and this foot gets figured out.

On another note: Lolo Jones will always hold a special place in my heart.  #TeamLolo