Oh, my aching body

A funny thing has happened to me this year.  Not funny ha-ha but funny peculiar.  Okay, so maybe not so funny at all.  I turned 50.  Doesn't seem like much...people do it all the time.  Unlike Logan's Run, we are not hunted down and exterminated for surpassing the ripe old age of 35 (that's what it was in the book, right...it's been a few years!).  However, given events of the past spring and summer, being hunted down may not be all that bad after all!!

Finally content with the official diagnosis of Osteoarthritis, the swelling and pain in my right ankle has almost disappeared.  Still twinges every now and then, and while Chicago looms large (crap...9 sleeps!!), I am still determined to cross that finish line, regardless of the time and method (aka crawling).  However, Friday morning I woke up with this...

Really?!?  Did I hit it, you ask?  No.  Did I get a scratch, and therefore an infection you ask?  No.  Did I turn 50 in the last 12 months you ask?  YES!!!  Seriously getting tired of all the crap my body it throwing at me these days.  Really, really tired of it.  Granted, the swelling has gone done, and is almost back to normal.  I did go to see Dr. Stacy (who is wondering where the "I don't seek medical attention unless it's lopped off, spurting or blue" girl has gone), who also decided it's not an infection or rheumatoid.  Yet.  I'll pick up some anti-inflammatory meds later today and then hopefully by the end of the month can get a "clean" (no swelling anywhere) rheumatoid test and see if it's lurking inside me somewhere, like a pesky roommate that won't move out.  Poor Dr. Dave though...he starts on one part of my body and works his way around (right ankle, left IT and knee, left interior shoulder tendons...).  He did refuse to tough the elbow until we know what it is though.  The good news is while it is unsightly, and somewhat awkward to rest upon, it doesn't hurt and hasn't restricted movement in the arm.

Which is a good thing, since I refuse to give up on Crossfit again.  I'm still not jumping (no double-unders or box jumps) or running, but I am getting to be a champ at the rower!  I am doing step ups, and managed two PRs in the past week, both at back squat (125#) and deadlift (155#).  I've had a love/hate relationship with the WODs this week, as Tuesday was Karen (150 wallballs...yes, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY...IN.A.ROW!!) and last night was a chipper that had even more squats in it.

1. 70 KBS (26#)
2. 60 double-unders (I rowed 500m)
3. 50 air squats (OUCH)
4. 40 sit-ups (love these...truthfully!)
5. 30 push-ups (from the toes, with band assistance...thanks coach Ty.  I'll get someone to take a photo to explain, as I don't think I can articulate it properly.  But it's awesome!)
6. 20 pull-ups (rainbow bands...big blue, little red and teeny-tiny purple for the last 5 or so!)

My time for Karen was 10:55 (8#) and my time last night was 13:54 - considering there was a 15 minute cut-off, I'm happy I finished before that.  Got all cocky and pointed out that I love chippers, because you chip away at everything.  Guess what tonight's WOD is?  Yes, another chipper, except this one goes the other way.

1. 10 HSPU (yuck)
2. 20 hang power snatches (hate these)
3. 30 burpees over the bar (seriously?!)
4. 40 T2B (are you trying to kill my shoulders, coach?)
5. 50 walking lunges (these I can actually do...)

Yes, I know I can just not go to Crossfit, but then that would make me sad.  Very, very, very sad.  So I shall go, grumble, maybe even drop an F-bomb (or twenty) and then walk out, sweaty, gasping for air and feeling awesome for doing it.  

Off to marshal for the Harvest Half in the morning.  I went to Banff this past weekend to watch all my friends run in Melissa's and I've decided just watching absolutely sucks.  Bad.  At least marshaling, I can dance around, ring a cowbell and feel that I have an actual purpose for being there.  My goal right now is to get past Chicago and reassess my running career and make some decisions for the winter/spring and summer next year.  I think Crossfit will play a HUGE role in my physical life, and that's not a bad thing.  Think of all the money I'll save on race fees, hotels, airfare, shirts and runners alone.  A nice offset to what I spend on Crossfit, Paleo treats, Oly shoes, Reebok socks, etc...  A nice trade off!!

Ending on a very happy note, Mom's house sold, she's doing much better medically and we can now look at moving her on to somewhere permanent.  The stars are all lining up.  

Yay for fitness,