Walking Marquette
Today is only for walking. I am doing the “prep” for my EGD and Colonoscopy. These two tests will help determine a diagnosis. Soon we may know why I have gastric issues and cramping during and/or after some runs. We are looking to verify or eliminate Celiac Sprue or Celiac Disease and Dr. Stahl thinks we will find Celiac based on some of my blood work, my history, and my reactions to eliminating Gluten. Before the meds started to work on me, too much, I took a very short walk on Presque Island. These are views of Lake Superior. Not much sun today so I tweatked the photos a bit.
Photography led to my weight-loss and eventually to me becoming a runner. I was unhappy. I was not writing. But the trails they healed me. I love to run trails, hike, and take camera walks as cool downs from long runs.
For the serious photos I use a Canon S5 IS and for Christmas I received a Casio EXFilm 10.1 mega-pixel that I can carry on runs or skiing. Photos above with the Canon. The photos below are from the hospital this morning where I consulted with Dr. Stahl about my procedures tomorrow and I used the Casio (which just happens to fit in my purse too!)
I look for hope when challenged. Trails are a natural place to find that hope. Looking out the hospital window at the bleak February sky was a bit of a downer. But I knew I’d find some beauty on the island.
My training schedule is interuptted this week by medical tests and a subsequent heavy work schedule to make up for the two days off (Monday and Tuesday). I think it may be Sunday before I get a decent run.
Goals, Weight Loss, and Planning for My 1st Tri!
Weighed in this morning at 143.4 lbs. Starting point was 198, or after massage school 204! Ten more pounds to go! Gonna take a slow year to lose it though only a pound a month now (I hope).
I want to do the Teal Lake Triathlon. But will need a road bike to train and use during race. No funds with my current medical expenses. Anyone have an extra bike? Of course in considering a bike we have a challenge, my 5 foot 3 inch height!
The tri is a Sprint Triathlon: 1/4 mile swim in Teal Lake, 20k bike north of Negaunee, hilly course, 5k run along the lake, then 2 loops through residential area.
I am looking at creative ways to raise money for my medical deductibles and hope to help raise awareness to Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease. Feel free to comment on suggestions. Or you can email me at callingthedragonfly(at)gmail(dot)com.
Morning Trends, Another Smoothie Day
More Raspberry Goodness!
Raspberries, 1 cup
Banana, fresh, 1 medium
Bolthouse Farms – Vanilla Chai Tea, 8 oz (Soy protein)
TOTALS: Calories-329 Carbs-67 fat-4 Protein-12
This morning’s smoothie was blessed, again, with summer raspberries from Sylvia (Mike’s Mommie). She has an awesome garden and she gifted us these raspberries to put in a pie. But lately they’ve been slipping into my smoothies. I enhanced the protein of this shake by using Bolthouse Farm’s Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai. Normally, I slip a 1/2 tablespoon of Barlean’s Flax Oil into my smoothie, but I forgot. Also, quite nice is fresh ground nutmeg, spicing up your smoothies in winter is suggested to keep your “agni” a-fire (more on agni later). I’m facing one of those days where I leave for work in the morning and come home after 8pm. I have a 7-hour shift at work, followed by Yoga at Mukta with Kristen Karls and then on to the Marquette Food Co-op for a Gluten-Free Class 7-8pm.
Smoothies: So Delicious!
Heavenly Smoothies!
So Delicious Coconut Milk, Chocolate Yogurt 6 ounces
Raspberries, 1 cup
Banana, 1 medium
TOTALS: Calories: 339 Carb: 70 Fat: 7 Protein: 4
A wonderful new smoothie experiment and I cannot wait to try the other coconut yogurt flavors at the Marquette Food Co-op! The raspberries were local and frozen this summer. Oh sometimes you need a taste of summer on the last day of January!
I would like to increase the protein of this smoothie without taking away from the wonderful taste. But I have not yet researched solutions of a protein powder that is gluten, dairy, egg and soy free. If you have a solution please share your comments.
Turtle Mountain’s info on their dairy-free yogurt:
All Ages & Abilities
The Noquemannon Ski Marathon has multiple events to encourage participants of many different levels. The 50K marathon and 25K half-marthons were joined by the new Noque 12K this year. The return of the 10K and 15-mile snowshoe races were also an exciting addition. If your wondering what it take to put on the Noquemannon visit the Fun Facts! I hope you enjoy these photos from outside the Superior Dome in Marquette (visit my Flickr set, too!), for other photos visit Andy Greggs.
Intensity isn’t all Black & White
I wanted to take part in the Noquemannon this year, but even though I am intense, I did not have the ability this year. I am driven, but sometimes that leads to injury. Oh and then there is illness. I seem to live in a land that is either hot with color or stone cold white ice. Oh and I ought to use that ice, it is better for injury than the heating pad on my psoas attachment to the lesser trocanter. But I got my butt off the couch and off my pity-party(slash)heating-pad and went to the Superior Dome. More photos will follow. Promise. And healing, that will come too.
Dome it–Windchill -14
As I left for work today the thermometer said 1.6 degrees. I never stopped to check what the windchill was, I just stared the car and listened to the power-steering pump whine as I ducked back into the house for coffee and my bag of running gear which I now pack in one of those eco-freindly shopping bags. The square bottom is great for shoes and my Clean Canteen sits well right next to them. I did not plan to run outside today.
Walking and running at The Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University is free this winter! I hate running indoors. I hate running on concrete. But as I rehab an injury I am happy for the option. This is my second Dome run and I “do” like it more than a treadmill. My core is not strong enough to stabilize on ice, at this time. Today was hard for me, running a 5k when I was to be racing a 12k cross-country ski on Saturday left me a little melancholy.
This is a great wall to stretch in front of and it is just down the hall from the Olympic Education Center within the Dome. I tried to console myself with the fact that I am running my 5k faster than any of my race times last summer and fall. I remembered to be grateful for my tenacity and my ability to work thru injury and my ability to heal. Plus, I am blessed to live in such an inspiring athletic place as Marquette, Michigan.
I love running to the right side of this big roll of turf. I don’t think anyone loves running in circles but at least the photographer in me loves all the angles, beams, curves, and lines that surround me in this magnificent structure. One day I promise photos of the outside.
There She is the Finish Line. The race I am not competing in on Saturday is the Noquemannon. I was going to do the new 12K distance, classic ski. Next year! And who knows I might be up to the 25K by then.
Happiness is…Oh Lucy!
Happiness is…Oh Lucy! Or should I say lucy with a lower case cursive “l” ? I went to Starbucks today after a swim at the YMCA of Marquette. I had heard Starbucks carried a line of gluten-free snacks. They had Kinda Bars, and lucy cookies! The lucy cookies came in tiny pouches that are clearly labled “No milk, eggs, peanuts or tree nuts” and “Gluten Free” in fact the cookies, “are made in our own carefully controlled bakery” and “as an added precaution they test for trace amounts of milk, egg, gluten, peanuts and almond.”
You can follow @lucys_tweets and @Starbucks at Twitter and let them know how happy you are for gluten-free and vegan options at Starbucks nationwide 
I bought the Chocolate Chip and the Cinnamon Thins and will save a package for later this week. I opened the Chocolate Chip and loved the little crunchy dunkable cookies that have 0mg of cholesterol and trans fat. a serving is 3 cookies, or 130 calories (but there is a fourth cookie in the bag and I ate it). Let me tell you my enthusiasm was contagious as all heck at Starbucks today. We danced around the store klookingat Kind Bars and lucy cookies and the little slips of paper announcing the coming of “Food Should Taste Good” chips.
I was also happy after my swim today. It wasn’t powerful but after several laps of testing out my hip and psoas muscle I was able to loosen up and swim for 20 minutes with a mix of breaststroke, side stroke, and backstroke with flutter kicks and also elementary backstroke. I hit the hot tub and was sure to position myself to fully benefit from the jets on insertion points for the rectus femoris and psoas.
Taking Care
Photo: Pocket Ore Dock
Location: Marquette Lower Harbor from Bike (or Running 
) Path
Photographer: Kim Nixon
The greatest lesson I have learned in the last 14-months has been to take care of myself. I have not lost 52 pound and become a runner by ignoring my mind and body. The recent injury and health challenge is just another layer in learning self-care.
Last night I over ate! (Big Smiles) Please realize that in December just ingesting food was a roll-a-coaster of nausea and pain. Most of the month of January I woke with shaky hands and no energy. But the process of eliminating gluten and the realization that I just cannot do dairy and then coming to terms with it all, has seen me through to the healing side of this adventure. I have a long way to go as I attempt to get the nutrition aspects of my body understood and I can aid the body by feeding it what it needs to restore iron stores and other nutrients. I have to learn new go-to foods. What my body likes before and after runs. But yesterday I over ate! I had no pain. And I had a cookie (gluten, dairy, casien, and egg free).
I have not made it back out to the trails since my psoas strain, but I did make it to the dome, figuring running on solid non-iced surface would be best and that run while jarring was good, fast and hopeful. But I long for trails and I often run alone so I love coming across this article by Go Sonja, Tips for the Solo Woman Runner at RunColo.com. I don’t run the distances that Sonja Wieck does, or that Megan Killian runs, but I will be in the over one-hour run class as soon as I am done rehabbing this injury. I was there in November when it was common for me to run 1:15:00 and I wanted to go further, but I’d shut myself down mentally when the body still wanted to go. Part of it was a scheduling issue and pre-worrying about what Mike at home was thinking with me gone so long. The advice she gives will help me.
I like how she advises runners on refueling on the way home rather than coming in looking like you cannot help yourself or being short-and cranky with family cause you need some fuel. As a woman I often feel Like I serve others best by getting right back home. Good to remember to serve me first. A little self-care and awareness goes a long way. I also love the advice on how to get past the “hurt-locker” while on the trail. I have not been running with a pack, and I hate to say it I was doing just over one-hour runs with no hydration. That’s going to change right away! As I have been rehabbing with very-short runs I am learning that hydration is my friend. I have more energy and I feel smoother.
So, taking care. I now need to figure out what to eat before runs now that I am gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and maybe casien-free, too. Suggestions for both pre and post-run foods most welcome.
Area Images:
Flickr Photos
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