I’m starting to think about MdS as a restful vacation with a bit running thrown in. I’m not underestimating the desert...
Bad news and excellent news
LizaSo me and the “Rebound Air Walker Low Top” will be together for the next five weeks. That big oval at the top is a pump. Makes me feel like I’m wearing these:
And the sports medicine podiatrist says if I run Western States it’s likely I’ll make the fracture far worse and probably not run again for the rest of the season. So, yeah, that sounds pretty foolish. He said I could probably run Leadville if things go well. A friend wrote me that “This is one of those reminders that you better damn well like the journey because you may or may not make it to the desired destination.” Yup. There’s no way I would risk not being able to run for the rest of the year for this particular race. It’s about the running, not the racing. Don’t get me wrong, I am a bit heartbroken. In the end, I didn’t care a lick about how I would have placed; I just wanted to finally run the darn course and be part of the grand spectacle. Oh well. Maybe third time’s the charm. I’m still going to make the trip. My pacers, Chris and Brian, and I will put ourselves to good use.
So now for the excellent news. The podiatrist said I could aqua jog or use an Alter G treadmill. The aqua jogging is obviously not excellent. And the Alter G is a $75,000 piece of equipment.
It pressurizes the air around you, which can decrease your weight by up to 80%. Here’s a great piece about the Alter-G by Peter Sagal of NPR “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” fame. And here’s the whacky thing: my local YMCA has one. Of course it’s crazy expensive to use. ($680 for 20 sessions.) So I wrote the YMCA a letter and asked if they might waive that fee. (In point of fact, I offered to trade all sorts of teaching for that waived fee.) AND THEY AGREED! Never hurts to ask indeed. So tomorrow morning I will be running for two hours on the Alter-G. I cannot believe my good fortune. The kind fellow who rules the Alter-G told me very few people actually use the thing. (I believe he said four.) And he said I could book my training times for the rest of the month. I tried not sound too impassioned as I strung together thank yous. I did manage to avoid saying, “You’ve saved my life.”
I am stuffed with all sorts of Vitamin D info, but it’s very late, so I’ll save it for the morning. We all went bowling tonight. It was a work committment for Eliot. There was cuteness — and beer.
John Howard, Jr.
This sounds like the greatest news. Never heard of such technology. It sounds like astronaut stuff.
So does this mean you stand a good chance of running in Ireland?
lizahoward
Oh yes! (I sold my soul to some leprechauns and they assured me it’d be fine.) I think there is some relationship between the amount of money you spend traveling to a race and the likelihood you’re going to be injured.
footfeathers
At least you know the details and duration. It makes it so much more settling. You should ask for another pump boot, so you’re balanced (and walking funnier). Looking forward to lining up with you at Leadville, so I can say, “Oh, the 1st place female for the second year, yeah, we were chatting at the start line.”
The weeks will go quickly. Be smart.
lizahoward
I’d be so much taller with a second boot too — like 5’3 or something. I wish it was more sign-able. I could get some good autographs at WS.
Very much looking forward to lining up with you at Leadville.
olga
Excellent news on the G-TM indeed. I think I am sadder for you not going to WS than you are:) Leadville just doesn’t strike my fancy. But I am so very glad you can run in a meantime. Beats the other option. I’ve been there.
lizahoward
Thanks Olga. I’m pretty sad, I just can’t wallow in it anymore. Eliot will disown me and there’s just not enough ice cream in San Antonio.
Bryon Powell
Heal up quick, Liza! Glad I’ll get to see you in California anyway. 🙂
lizahoward
Thanks and same! Let me know if I can be of any use to you out there.
mtnrunner2
Cool technology; I had no idea the Alter G existed. You’re pretty lucky to have that available.
Five weeks seems like forever but it will be gone before you can say “Roll out!”
lizahoward
I feel unbelievably lucky every time I step onto that contraption. It needs a better name though — or at least a shorter one since I’m going to be raving about it all the time. AG? G?
And thank you for the link to “Roll out!” 😉 I’m still Transformer illiterate. I mean, I watched hours of Transformers cartoons when I was little, but that was a century or so ago.
Trimble
I hope you are tall enough to run in the alter-G! It may just suck your little frame right up- be careful!
🙂 glad to hear the news- at least there is hope in sight!
lizahoward
Suck up my little frame? Pot calling the kettle black? And I think it would actually shoot me towards the ceiling if the zippers failed.