Walked 2.86 Miles

 

 

It's the season for training.  The day before, Greg and my sis did 11 miles. My mom-in-law and her friend did 12 miles.  I slept in and hung around the house.  I've decided officially to not attempt the half in 3 weeks.  It's official, because I gave my bib to a friend.  I feel good about this decision.  In fact, I'm a little relieved that I don't have to worry about the race any more.  I was stressed that I would feel forced to push my ankle more than I should and I worried about prolonging my recovery.  On race day, I will fulfill the role of driver, carrier of excess clothing, cheerleader, and anything else to support the 6 friends and family in our running group.  It's a role I'm comfortable in and it's pretty fun.  I also hope to get some good pictures of our team. 

 

 

 

 

I started this walk by hanging out with my hummingbird for a few minutes. Do you see him?  He's that speck on the power line.  He lives in the tree right outside of my house and I look for him every time I'm outside.  I have grandiose ideas of taming him.  I would love for him to come down and see me more.  Still it's fun to hear him sing and catch a glimpse of him up close every once in awhile. 

 

 

 

 

Since it was Sunday, I decided to spend a bit of time walking around the Winterhaven school.  School has been in session that last many times I've walked by here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a huge (huge!) group of mushrooms in their side yard.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These signs started popping up and it was only after the fact that I realized they were for May Day.

 

 

 

 

 Allium is one of the hardest flowers for my phone to capture.  I love to see them hatch from their casing.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This industrial building is now boarded up.  I have a feeling it will be torn down soon for the new Max line.  

 

 

 

 

This guy was on the same building, right at eye level.  Even though I knew he was harmless, I was still a bit squeamish taking this since I was so close to touching him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walked 2.96 Miles - to pick up dinner

 

 

Today I did something brand new.  Instead of just walking, I walked to a destination to pick up dinner.  This was kind of a big deal to me.  I'm pretty self conscious about how I look after walking.  Let's face it, I'm a sweaty girl.  It's not the best look for dealing with the public.  But I decided it was time to leap this hurtle.  While there isn't too much to walk to in our immediate neighborhood, there are endless choices in the next hood over.  Luckily it was a cool evening, so I wasn't too much of a mess when I picked up take and bake pasta at Taste Unique on 21st and Division (I highly recommend it!).  Now that I've done this once, I'm excited to try more destination or errand walks.

 

 

 

 

I love daisies.  Whenever I see a patch of daises, I'm instantly transported back to the fourth grade.  My backyard had a tree stump that started about 3 feet off the ground and was easily 4 feet wide.  We are talking a huge stump and it was surrounded by daisies.  It was my favorite place to read.  

 

 

 

 

This was posted very high up a telephone pole and I admire the number of staples used to ensure this would stay put.  While this person is most definitely entitled to their free speech, I think New Season's is a great asset to our community.

 

 

 

 

There is nothing prettier than seeing a long row of flowers.  

 

 

 

 

I apologize in advanced if I post too many lilac pictures over the next few weeks.  It is one of my very favorite flowers.  Seeing them brightens my day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I've always loved this corner at 25th and Clinton.

 

 

 

 

I really dig the skull that is etched into the metal.  So creative!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This mural is on the building that houses Taste Unique.  It's really, really odd.  I can't figure out what the message is or why this dude is pointing at me.

 

 

 

 

I found that carrying food isn't conducive for taking pictures.  Although, I did have to stop once to take this. 

 

 

Walked 3.16 Miles

 

 

Today was cloudy and windy and perfect.  Such a drastic change from the record breaking temps of last weekend.  I was so happy for the cooler temperature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sky had huge black clouds.  Towards the end of my walk, the rain started.  It was a very light mist and it was so refreshing.  It just felt good.  I put my phone in my pocket (I never do this!) and just walked.  It helped me process the feelings I'd been having the past couple of days.  I know it's normal to get down about something like an injury and that's alright.  I did that and now it's time to carry on.  Missing one race is nothing.  I'm back to walking and even if I can't go as far as I did a month ago, I'm still out seeing my beautiful neighborhood. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many cats were out today!  And they were all uber friendly.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walked 3.01 Miles

 

 

It was a record breaking hot day!  81 degrees when our normal average is in the 60's.  While I was very excited to have a break from the rain, I was quickly over the heat.  I headed to Ladd's Addition and its shady trees.

 

 

 

 

My neighbor's apple tree is so pretty right now.  Really, everything is blooming at the moment and it made for a really beautiful walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another reason I wanted to head over to Ladd's is that I've been dying to see the construction.  I've felt so behind since my sprain.  I catch glimpses on the bus everyday, but I really wanted to climb the Gideon pedestrian bridge to get a closer look.

 

 

 

 

Being Sunday, I could get a lot closer to the site than usual when it's filled with construction worker bees.  Having a train pass by made it feel even more industrial.  

 

 

 

 

This remnant of track will be gone soon, I'm sure.  I've  noticed that track is being pulled up in many places to prepare for the new track.  I can't help but think of all the history that will be one step closer to being lost forever.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This hole is what I wanted to see more of.  There are steps leading down into this sucker.  There are temporary mobile offices set up to the far right. This project is growing.  

 

 

 

 

Wasted Mirror Pond is such a shame.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This row of flowering trees was just stunning.  I walked back and forth several times, because it was just so overwhelming pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a hard walk for me.  3 miles was a lot for my ankle.  At about 2.5, I was slowed down and my limp started to come back.  I realized that the half is probably not going to happen.  There is just no way at this moment in time that I could walk a half.  And the thought of another half marathon in pain is just hard to wrap my brain around.  I had such high hopes for this race; my only goal was to not have pain and to actually kind of enjoy it.  I think if I do another half in pain, I'll never attempt another.  Granted, I still have a month to go and things could change, but for the first time I'm resigned that they won't. 

 

 

Walked 1.46 Miles

 

 

I'm slowing getting back on the horse.  Although, I don't know if a horse is the proper metaphor for walking, but you know what I mean.  With really beautiful weather, I decided to head down to the corner of Holgate and 17th to see the newly demolished Semaphore.  This is the future site of the Holgate Max station and it is a nice flat, not too far, destination for my still gimpy ankle.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High up on a branch is a squirrel laid out flat and sunning himself.  The weather just couldn't be better and it was nice to see this squirrel enjoying it too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is where the Semaphore sat for over 50 years.  I was always scared to eat here, but now I'm a little sad that I never did.  Other locals have told me that I wasn't missing much.  It will be incredible to see the transformation this corner will have in the next 3 years.  So exciting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today was all about tulips!  There were everywhere and just so gorgeous.  I just couldn't get enough of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walked .82 Miles - To the Scene of the Accident

 

 

It's been 12 days since I sprained my ankle.  Last week, my ankle was extremely swollen and I could only get around by walking very slow with a very pronounced limp which I called my swagger to make me feel better.  I only worked one day last week and spent almost all the time on the couch with my foot up.  From the moment I hit the ground, I was more mad than anything.  Why? Why did this have to happen?  Why now when I have such a full plate and not being able to walk just didn't fit into my schedule.  After working so extremely hard this past year to walk without pain, why am I know back to square one?  Why me?  

 

 

 

 

I carried these emotions and many more with me all last week.  I also thought a lot about walking.  I missed it.  Luckily, it has been super rainy which made it easier, but there were also a few sunny glorious chunks of time that I lamented being gimpy. I saw my chiropractor a few days ago and he told me that I didn't tear any ligaments (Thank goodness!) and there was no reason to stay off my ankle.  Ever since I fell, I wanted to walk back to the scene of the accident.  For some reason, this kept gnawing at me especially since it was so close to my house.  So when the sun came out in the afternoon, I decided it was time to get some closure.

 

 

 

 

I slowly, gimpily, walked the 5 blocks to where I fell.  Here is the spot where my tumble started.  This crack, besides maybe a 1/4 inch of moss, is completely flat.  There is nothing there.  I spent some time standing here and thinking about how I felt when I fell and all the thoughts that have been polluting my head since.

 

 

 

 

Then another thought popped into my head:  This is the year of no mistakes.  Part of my full plate was preparing for TEDxConcordiaUPortland's event last Saturday.  The first speaker of the day was Anis Mojgani.  Much of what he talked about has stayed with me and I can't wait for the videos from the event to be posted online so I can watch them again.  One thing he said is that he and his friends decided to name 2012: The Year of No Mistakes.  What if every action has a reason?  What if every decision has a purpose along our path in life?  If this is true, then there can be no mistakes.  

 

 

 

 

I started to think about my sprained ankle using this mode of reasoning. What if this fall was part of my life's journey?  What good could come from this unexpected bump in the sidewalk?  What have I learned as a result of this fall?

 

 

 

 

Instantly I realized that I had learned (or more appropriately - re-learned) many things.

 

1. My husband is a good man.  He catered to my every need with no complaints even when that meant getting up so my ice pack could be adjusted a few inches every 5 minutes.

 

2. My sis is clear headed and amazing.  During the immediate ordeal, she took charge and took care of the situation.

 

3. I don't have to feel guilty for saying no.  My crazy week with a million obligations quickly became one with almost none due to my physical limitations.  I'm good at burning out by offering to give more than I can.  Physically being forced to turn things down was a good lesson for me.  I'm hopeful that I will be able to say no more in the future and not be racked with guilt for wanting to have more free time.

 

4. Walking is extraordinary.  Even with this walking blog that I love so much, I still find myself downplaying it.  I tend to say things like "I'm only walking".  As if it only really counts if I'm running.  Let's face it.  I hate to run.  I always have and with each injury I dislike it even more.  Walking is fun.  Walking is exercise.  Walking is learning my community and taking time to see all the beauty around me.  Walking is powerful and I missed it when I couldn't do it.  I have learned that there is no need to downgrade walking and I want to focus on giving it the positive attention it deserves.

 

5. Life is good.  Yes, these last 12 days were hard.  It still continues to be hard and I haven't fully lost my swagger yet.  But it's amazing the perspective one gets when it suddenly takes 10 minutes to walk 20 feet to the bathroom.  When taking a shower is a completely exhausting and scary event, because you can only stand on one leg.  When it's just easier not to eat, because the thought of cooking something basic is too stressful to worry about.  I take all of these things and life, itself, for granted in my normal existence.  It took this injury for me to appreciate how amazing my daily life is.  Normal is good and I'm excited to return to it.

 

 

 

 

I returned home from my walk with a much clearer head.  I only walked about 14 blocks in all and it took me 40 minutes.  I'm far from returning to the physical path I was doing so well on.  I am still undecided about the half marathon in May.  But my 'why me' thoughts have vanished.  Yes, a sprained ankle sucks hard.  Really, really hard.  But changing my mindset and deciding that falling wasn't a mistake has lifted my spirits and given me a fresh perspective that I'm truly grateful for.