Guys, great news! I PASSED MY NATIONAL PTA EXAM!! Okay now that is out of the way...
This means I will shortly be a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and can begin working as soon as that license is active! Woo! I'm a grown up!
Of course life is never perfect and so here is my dilemma...
I have flat feet. Like, feet so flat that my entire arch touches the ground. The inside of my ankles are almost touching the ground. I have worn custom orthotics in my shoes since I was 17. They have worked fine for me since then; I have ran 2 marathons, 5 half marathons and 3 relay races in the 4 years since I have began running. Sure, my feet hurt after all of those races, but I figured it was normal.
Well, since clinicals started in January, I have been on my feet for 9+ hours a day, every week day. And slowly but surely, my feet have become worse and worse. At first my feet were just uncomfortable. I could still run after work but often I would get shin splints less than a mile in. So then I decided I would only run on my short work days and on Saturdays. That worked for a while. No pain, and I was able to kind of train for Ragnar in February. It was during that relay that I knew my feet were quickly becoming a serious problem. Each of my running legs was torture, especially the last one. I had to fight back tears in those last miles, my feet hurt so bad. Ragnar was a fun experience, minus the running part! The front of my shins would burn and burn as each mile went on. My back would hurt from misalignment. My arches, oh my arches! They felt like they were being overly stretched and yet rock hard at the same time.
Following Ragnar, I began my longer hours at the hospital. I was on my feet for even more time each day. And sure enough, I no longer could run on my off days. No more Saturday long runs. No more evening runs in the gorgeous Arizona spring weather. The pain was too much. At one point I came home so frustrated after a short, hobbling 2 mile run that I tried to do some intense self-massage on my shins with the straight side of a butter knife. All it left me was more pain and some gnarly bruising. Note to all: do not try to perform ASTYM on yourself.
Basically, for the last two months I haven't been able to run. I was/am devastated. The pain is just too much. It effects everything from my ankles to my back. Then in a moment of inspiration I remembered my podiatrist mentioned something to me about surgery the last time I was in to see him (when I got my newest pair of orthotics in 2011). I researched it, decided it was the right thing for me and something I really wanted. After an appointment with my podiatrist last week I am now 99% certain that I am getting surgery on my feet this summer. The first one will be late May, the second 6 weeks later in early July.
I mostly made this decision because I want to be a good PTA but I also want to be a good runner. I've realized, with my feet in this condition, that I cannot have both. Being a part of the physical therapy field brings me great joy and is truly my passion in life. However, having throbbing, awful foot pain before lunch time even rolls around tends to take away some of that happiness. I've been a runner since 2009. I've had my ups and downs, mostly ups. I've always been training for one race or another. I've had people ask me lately "What's your next race?" and it's heart breaking and totally strange to have to say that I don't have a race planned because I will be having surgery.
So anyway, that will be my life for the next three months or so. My last two days of clinicals are this week, and then I officially graduate on May 11th. I will get my license but I most likely will not get a job until July, when I can work pain-free. I think these surgeries will be a huge blessing in my life and although I don't look forward to the actual surgery and recovery very much, I know the outcome will be worth it.
If you're wondering what the surgery actually entails, visit this website. Also, besides the HyProCure procedure I will also have my bunions removed.....I know, it's nasty but my doctor thinks it's a good idea to have them both done at the same time! Recovery will be two weeks in a walking boot, then regular shoes! I can't run until two months after my second foot is done, so about mid-August. Perfect time to start training for my comeback race, the Phoenix Marathon! March 2014 :)
ps: I plan on writing a post about the awful things that happened at the Boston Marathon. I'm still trying to process all my feelings about it...
pss: Little brother comes home TUESDAY!!!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Penny boards are of the devil
Scene: the other night. My kitchen. Me and Chic (the 15 year old sister who is basically my clone) are talking and I had the genius idea to try her penny board.
The penny board. It's basically a smaller version of a skateboard. My sister rides it all over the neighborhood and throughout the house with perfect ease. So I think, how hard could it be?
I step on the board, placed in the kitchen hallway, as Chic is trying to tell me the correct way to ride it. I'm not really listening to her though. I step on the board, thinking that it'll be similar to a longboard, which I can kind of ride without any difficulty.
IT IS NOT LIKE A LONGBOARD.
I didn't even make it three feet. The board slid out from under me so fast that I was flat on my back in about 0.00005 seconds. I fell down so fast, I didn't have time to put out my hands behind me or anything! I landed kind of on my left side and mostly my head. My only reaction was to laugh hysterically. I'm on my back, not entirely sure of how I got there, and I roll over and see Chic snorting because she's laughing so hard.
I ended up getting a bruise on my head, hand, elbow and knee and somehow I got severe whiplash in my neck. Yesterday wasn't so bad, today was a whole different story. I can't turn my head to the left or tip my head back. Ouch!!! Even turning corners while I'm driving is painful! I expect it won't last very long, hopefully! Sleeping last night was not fun! Haha.
Anyway, moral of the story is that if I've never ridden a skateboard, I really shouldn't just jump on one, especially on a slick wood floor! Chic was laughing for probably 20 minutes after it happened.
I now have to glare at that stupid penny board every time I see it laying there so innocently. It is evil.
The penny board. It's basically a smaller version of a skateboard. My sister rides it all over the neighborhood and throughout the house with perfect ease. So I think, how hard could it be?
I step on the board, placed in the kitchen hallway, as Chic is trying to tell me the correct way to ride it. I'm not really listening to her though. I step on the board, thinking that it'll be similar to a longboard, which I can kind of ride without any difficulty.
IT IS NOT LIKE A LONGBOARD.
I didn't even make it three feet. The board slid out from under me so fast that I was flat on my back in about 0.00005 seconds. I fell down so fast, I didn't have time to put out my hands behind me or anything! I landed kind of on my left side and mostly my head. My only reaction was to laugh hysterically. I'm on my back, not entirely sure of how I got there, and I roll over and see Chic snorting because she's laughing so hard.
I ended up getting a bruise on my head, hand, elbow and knee and somehow I got severe whiplash in my neck. Yesterday wasn't so bad, today was a whole different story. I can't turn my head to the left or tip my head back. Ouch!!! Even turning corners while I'm driving is painful! I expect it won't last very long, hopefully! Sleeping last night was not fun! Haha.
Anyway, moral of the story is that if I've never ridden a skateboard, I really shouldn't just jump on one, especially on a slick wood floor! Chic was laughing for probably 20 minutes after it happened.
I now have to glare at that stupid penny board every time I see it laying there so innocently. It is evil.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
I hate coming up with titles
So I won't. Haha. Well today I took my first of two big tests and passed beyond all expectations! I needed a 102/150 to pass and I ended up getting a 123. It probably helps that I crammed for a good six hours the night before. Cramming may not work for some but it is how I have passed all my tests in the last two years. I am the master procrastinator. It actually works better for me than studying over weeks and weeks. I have been studying a couple hours a week since January but this week I really nailed it down and it paid off huge! Now all I have to do is keep studying well until a week from Monday, when I take the national exam! And then I will be a licensed PTA once all the paperwork goes through. So excited!!!
Now I keep getting questions about where I'm going to work once I graduate. And honestly, I have no idea! I love outpatient and inpatient equally. There's so many pros and cons to each. So as of now I think I'll just take whatever comes first. I'll do part-time over the summer and then either get another part time or beg wherever I work to move me to full time :) haha.
I am so excited to finally be graduated and to finally be a working adult! Hooray!! But you want to know something I am more excited for?? ELDER CLOUSE COMES HOME APRIL 23RD!!!!! That is three weeks from Tuesday. I seriously cannot wait, and I hope these next three weeks go by really fast. I'm ready for summer to be here! I have a lot of adventures planned so stay tuned :)
Well here's a picture if my gorgeous pup Maggie, just to make your day!
Now I keep getting questions about where I'm going to work once I graduate. And honestly, I have no idea! I love outpatient and inpatient equally. There's so many pros and cons to each. So as of now I think I'll just take whatever comes first. I'll do part-time over the summer and then either get another part time or beg wherever I work to move me to full time :) haha.
I am so excited to finally be graduated and to finally be a working adult! Hooray!! But you want to know something I am more excited for?? ELDER CLOUSE COMES HOME APRIL 23RD!!!!! That is three weeks from Tuesday. I seriously cannot wait, and I hope these next three weeks go by really fast. I'm ready for summer to be here! I have a lot of adventures planned so stay tuned :)
Well here's a picture if my gorgeous pup Maggie, just to make your day!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Banner Desert
For my third (and last!!!) clinical, I am working 40 hours a week at Banner Desert hospital in the inpatient therapy services. Basically we treat people after they get surgery. It usually involves simply getting them out of bed and getting them mobile again. It is the PT's responsibility to decide where they should go after the hospital. Based on our recommendations, they either go home or to an inpatient rehab facility.
It's been a week and a half and so far I really like it. I like that the patients are all always different every day. It's rare for people to stay longer than three or four days. Each day is a different experience, and I think that's where I get bored in outpatient therapy. I've never been one for the same routine day after day, and seeing the same patients day in and day out got almost annoying. It's like every Monday or Thursday or whatever I would wake up and be like, oh great, I've got to deal with so-and-so today.
The great thing about inpatient is that if I get a difficult patient, I know they won't be my patient for more than three or four days. So it makes dealing with them a little bit easier. Also another great thing is getting to work in a hospital! The cafeteria is really all I care about. They have an amazing salad bar that I could eat at every single day and be happy. Which so far, I have. Haha. And something about being a Banner "employee" makes me feel proud of myself, and I am finally starting to feel like an adult. Hahaha! I'm thinking its about 5 or 6 years coming...
Anyway, this clinical is my favorite by far but the only downside is that I have to work two weekends while I am there :( I've never worked a Sunday in my life so it should be an interesting experience. Luckily I get two days off this week and two days off next week for working the weekend. Holla!
On another note, I am still working on my fitness goals but so far I've gotten a big fat F. At the end of the day my feet hurt so bad from being on my feet all day that the last thing I want to do is go to the gym or go running. I need to figure out some way around that... Maybe spend two hours at the gym on my days off? Haha!
It's been a week and a half and so far I really like it. I like that the patients are all always different every day. It's rare for people to stay longer than three or four days. Each day is a different experience, and I think that's where I get bored in outpatient therapy. I've never been one for the same routine day after day, and seeing the same patients day in and day out got almost annoying. It's like every Monday or Thursday or whatever I would wake up and be like, oh great, I've got to deal with so-and-so today.
The great thing about inpatient is that if I get a difficult patient, I know they won't be my patient for more than three or four days. So it makes dealing with them a little bit easier. Also another great thing is getting to work in a hospital! The cafeteria is really all I care about. They have an amazing salad bar that I could eat at every single day and be happy. Which so far, I have. Haha. And something about being a Banner "employee" makes me feel proud of myself, and I am finally starting to feel like an adult. Hahaha! I'm thinking its about 5 or 6 years coming...
Anyway, this clinical is my favorite by far but the only downside is that I have to work two weekends while I am there :( I've never worked a Sunday in my life so it should be an interesting experience. Luckily I get two days off this week and two days off next week for working the weekend. Holla!
On another note, I am still working on my fitness goals but so far I've gotten a big fat F. At the end of the day my feet hurt so bad from being on my feet all day that the last thing I want to do is go to the gym or go running. I need to figure out some way around that... Maybe spend two hours at the gym on my days off? Haha!
Ragnar Del Sol 2013
So I haven't done a Ragnar since 2011. And I've really missed it! Now I remember why I describe it as my "favorite weekend ever"!!!
So this time around, we had a mixed (men and women) group of all YSA people. It was awesome! Since some us had faster paces, they put our start time at 11 am. This kind of switched up the roles of van 1 and van 2. Van 2 usually runs in the middle of the night and during the warmer parts of the day. Well this time, van 1 got to be the lucky ones to run in the middle of the night, which was awesome for me because I was in van 2! Anyway...
Van 2 wasn't supposed to start until around 4:30 on Friday afternoon. So I worked that morning, then my other Van 2 pals met at my house and we set off. We had to pick up Kaley in Phoenix and didn't really account for traffic, which made us about 20 minutes late to exchange 6, where we were to meet van 1 and start our first legs. It wasn't too bad though, since we had one of our runners from van 1 start my first leg for me (I was runner 7, so the first runner in van 2). My van had to do our safety training and checking in and all. So we caught up to our other runner three miles into my first leg, I jumped out of the car and quickly switched spots with him. Then I was FINALLY off on my first run! It was a pretty cool leg, there was no van support so I was on my own. It was a lot of rolly polly hills which made it more interesting. I finished up the leg (about 4.5 miles) and passed on the slap bracelet "baton" to Naomi who promptly ran in the wrong direction. Haha! Everyone who was standing at the exchange was cracking up.
So we each ran our legs in turn in our van. Runner 9, Davin, ran the longest leg of all the Ragnar races! He ran a 13.5 mile leg right off the bat. He even got a special medal! And not only that but he totally rocked it. Did it in 1:45. Totes legit.
Anyway, Kaley was runner 12 so she ran it in to the next major exchange at a high school in Anthem. We then drove to exchange 18 to take a well-deserved nap and clean up a bit. The nap on the gym floor of the anthem community center was one of the best I've ever had. Haha!
Runner 1 was due to come in around 4:45, and so I was getting ready when all of a sudden Holden came jogging up to our car and was like, I've been at the exchange for like 5 minutes already! So I grabbed the slap bracelet from him and started my second leg. I had my music on for the first mile (of only 4ish) but the night was so quiet, clear and beautiful with an almost full moon that I turned off my music and ran in silence. It was so peaceful and one of the best runs I've had in a long time. How often do I get to run at 4:30 in the morning on an awesome trail and feel totally safe? Haha. It was great.
So van 2 finished up all of our second legs in the freezing cold morning. We headed to Fountain Hills high school to await Van 1 as they finished their third and last legs. We took another epic nap (on another gym floor) and then I waited nervously for them to finish their legs. Nervously, because my last leg was 3.5 miles of Fountain Hills. I haven't ran hills in months and so I was worried I'd have to walk some if it.
To my surprise, I totally and completely rocked it. The first mile was so tough, and I did walk a little bit of it, but sometime in there I got this crazy second wind and just cruised up those long and steep hills. I finished happy and smiling, mostly because I was so excited I was done. Haha!!
So van 2 went through all of our legs, and when we sent off Kaley for her (and the very) last run, we drove ahead to the big finish line. Kaley came sprinting across the pedestrian bridge near Tempe Town Lake and then we all ran across the finish line together! It was awesome, and a great finish to an amazing two days.
Our official time was 30:51:51, which is actually really good! We all had a blast and are already planning for next year. Also this fall, Ragnar is starting a trail racing series and they are doing one the McDowell mountains. You better believe we are putting teams together!! Since they are only 8 person teams instead of 12, we have enough interested people for 2 teams. Anyway, that's on the schedule for October and I cannot wait.
I'm also planning in doing another full in September. Whaaaaat?! Big Cottonwood, to be exact :) be prepared for updates on that one!
So this time around, we had a mixed (men and women) group of all YSA people. It was awesome! Since some us had faster paces, they put our start time at 11 am. This kind of switched up the roles of van 1 and van 2. Van 2 usually runs in the middle of the night and during the warmer parts of the day. Well this time, van 1 got to be the lucky ones to run in the middle of the night, which was awesome for me because I was in van 2! Anyway...
Van 2 wasn't supposed to start until around 4:30 on Friday afternoon. So I worked that morning, then my other Van 2 pals met at my house and we set off. We had to pick up Kaley in Phoenix and didn't really account for traffic, which made us about 20 minutes late to exchange 6, where we were to meet van 1 and start our first legs. It wasn't too bad though, since we had one of our runners from van 1 start my first leg for me (I was runner 7, so the first runner in van 2). My van had to do our safety training and checking in and all. So we caught up to our other runner three miles into my first leg, I jumped out of the car and quickly switched spots with him. Then I was FINALLY off on my first run! It was a pretty cool leg, there was no van support so I was on my own. It was a lot of rolly polly hills which made it more interesting. I finished up the leg (about 4.5 miles) and passed on the slap bracelet "baton" to Naomi who promptly ran in the wrong direction. Haha! Everyone who was standing at the exchange was cracking up.
So we each ran our legs in turn in our van. Runner 9, Davin, ran the longest leg of all the Ragnar races! He ran a 13.5 mile leg right off the bat. He even got a special medal! And not only that but he totally rocked it. Did it in 1:45. Totes legit.
Anyway, Kaley was runner 12 so she ran it in to the next major exchange at a high school in Anthem. We then drove to exchange 18 to take a well-deserved nap and clean up a bit. The nap on the gym floor of the anthem community center was one of the best I've ever had. Haha!
Runner 1 was due to come in around 4:45, and so I was getting ready when all of a sudden Holden came jogging up to our car and was like, I've been at the exchange for like 5 minutes already! So I grabbed the slap bracelet from him and started my second leg. I had my music on for the first mile (of only 4ish) but the night was so quiet, clear and beautiful with an almost full moon that I turned off my music and ran in silence. It was so peaceful and one of the best runs I've had in a long time. How often do I get to run at 4:30 in the morning on an awesome trail and feel totally safe? Haha. It was great.
So van 2 finished up all of our second legs in the freezing cold morning. We headed to Fountain Hills high school to await Van 1 as they finished their third and last legs. We took another epic nap (on another gym floor) and then I waited nervously for them to finish their legs. Nervously, because my last leg was 3.5 miles of Fountain Hills. I haven't ran hills in months and so I was worried I'd have to walk some if it.
To my surprise, I totally and completely rocked it. The first mile was so tough, and I did walk a little bit of it, but sometime in there I got this crazy second wind and just cruised up those long and steep hills. I finished happy and smiling, mostly because I was so excited I was done. Haha!!
So van 2 went through all of our legs, and when we sent off Kaley for her (and the very) last run, we drove ahead to the big finish line. Kaley came sprinting across the pedestrian bridge near Tempe Town Lake and then we all ran across the finish line together! It was awesome, and a great finish to an amazing two days.
Our official time was 30:51:51, which is actually really good! We all had a blast and are already planning for next year. Also this fall, Ragnar is starting a trail racing series and they are doing one the McDowell mountains. You better believe we are putting teams together!! Since they are only 8 person teams instead of 12, we have enough interested people for 2 teams. Anyway, that's on the schedule for October and I cannot wait.
I'm also planning in doing another full in September. Whaaaaat?! Big Cottonwood, to be exact :) be prepared for updates on that one!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Fat Tuesday
So obviously I don't celebrate Mardi Gras but I most definitely celebrated the day called "Fat Tuesday" even though I have no idea what the real thing is about... ANYWAY today was one of those days where I came to the realization that over the last several weeks, my diet has taken the road straight to H E double hockey sticks. I could barely run two miles because I am definitely not fueling my body correctly! And not being able to run two miles is a super bad thing because I have Ragnar next weekend. Gulp. I am prepared to suffer and at least I can acknowledge that any suffering I go through that weekend is my fault (and maybe Ryan's too, since most days I'd rather hang out with him than run).
What I'm getting at is that I am doing a diet overhaul. No more of this cheese crisp and/or nachos for dinner every night (no really, that's how it's been) and instead I will stuff myself of fruits and veggies. Smoothies will make a comeback. Cookies will take a back seat. (Sob!) I cannot go into this coming summer looking like an overstuffed sack of potatoes or a busted can of biscuits. Because that is how I felt today when I tried to run. It was awful. And embarrassing. And frankly I was disappointed in myself. I'm (almost) a physical therapist assistant, for crying out loud! I am supposed to be an example to my patients of health and physical activity. How can I tell them to exercise if I barely do it myself? It's a travesty. Anyway. That was my epiphany for today and I hope you've enjoyed this run on post that has no structure or meaning whatsoever.
On one last note: it will be nice to FINALLY celebrate valentines day this year. Ever since I've turned 16, this week has always been the dreaded singles awareness day. Which is why Thursday will kind of be weird for me, and why I still haven't completely warmed up to the idea of valentines day. Oh well. There's a first time for everything!!
What I'm getting at is that I am doing a diet overhaul. No more of this cheese crisp and/or nachos for dinner every night (no really, that's how it's been) and instead I will stuff myself of fruits and veggies. Smoothies will make a comeback. Cookies will take a back seat. (Sob!) I cannot go into this coming summer looking like an overstuffed sack of potatoes or a busted can of biscuits. Because that is how I felt today when I tried to run. It was awful. And embarrassing. And frankly I was disappointed in myself. I'm (almost) a physical therapist assistant, for crying out loud! I am supposed to be an example to my patients of health and physical activity. How can I tell them to exercise if I barely do it myself? It's a travesty. Anyway. That was my epiphany for today and I hope you've enjoyed this run on post that has no structure or meaning whatsoever.
On one last note: it will be nice to FINALLY celebrate valentines day this year. Ever since I've turned 16, this week has always been the dreaded singles awareness day. Which is why Thursday will kind of be weird for me, and why I still haven't completely warmed up to the idea of valentines day. Oh well. There's a first time for everything!!
Friday, February 1, 2013
My sisters's secret talent.
Okay if you just ate or you don't find bathroom humor hilarious like I do then stop reading right now. You've been warned.
Last night my sisters and I got into one of our frequent crazy moods, in which everything is funny and we cannot stop laughing. Basically if anyone outside the family saw us this way, they would be on the phone with the mental hospital within ten seconds.
So Chic is laying on her back, when all of a sudden she says "Shh you guys, be quiet" and does something so ridiculous and so amazing that you probably won't believe me.
She sucked up air into her butt, and then promptly pushed it back out, creating the most magnificent fart I've ever heard.
First of all, how the HECK does one suck air up into their butt?!?! Like, I can't even. Only in my family, right?
Second of all, how did she even find out that she could do this? Was she like, you know what. I'm bored. I wonder if I can suck air into my butt and then fart it back out?
Anyway, needless to say, we spent the next ten minutes laughing and crying as she did it over and over and over again until she couldn't do it anymore because her abs hurt.
I told her she should go on America's Got Talent because honestly, she is gifted.
Only at the Clouse House.
Last night my sisters and I got into one of our frequent crazy moods, in which everything is funny and we cannot stop laughing. Basically if anyone outside the family saw us this way, they would be on the phone with the mental hospital within ten seconds.
So Chic is laying on her back, when all of a sudden she says "Shh you guys, be quiet" and does something so ridiculous and so amazing that you probably won't believe me.
She sucked up air into her butt, and then promptly pushed it back out, creating the most magnificent fart I've ever heard.
First of all, how the HECK does one suck air up into their butt?!?! Like, I can't even. Only in my family, right?
Second of all, how did she even find out that she could do this? Was she like, you know what. I'm bored. I wonder if I can suck air into my butt and then fart it back out?
Anyway, needless to say, we spent the next ten minutes laughing and crying as she did it over and over and over again until she couldn't do it anymore because her abs hurt.
I told her she should go on America's Got Talent because honestly, she is gifted.
Only at the Clouse House.
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