Funny thing happened “for me” (?!) today…

a random dog peed on ME and my brand new recovery boot this morning! 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

The “incident” happened when we were at a dog park on this exceptionally lovely day. I was sitting on a rock (sporting my new recovery boot for this tibial stress injury I’m currently dealing with), with my face in my phone, tracking my oldest son, @nmkef - running in the LA Marathon, while Tony threw the ball for our 2 puppies.

I’ve been working on shifting my perspective when thinking about/addressing challenges I face as “why is this happening FOR me?” vs “why is this happening TO me?” And looking for the “gifts” in challenges as my friend, @laura.coleman27 puts it.

Hmmm…why did a dog pee on me and my recovery boot!? What is the gift here?

Perhaps it was a message about being present with the ones I am with?! Maybe pay better attention to my surroundings?! Or - perhaps I needed some humor and a good laugh to get me out of my head?!

My heart and soul was with my oldest son, Nick, running his first marathon - a state away. I was so excited for him and wished I was there cheering him on and seeing him cross the finish line! (Which he did and, and did it exceptionally well!).

I believe there is some truth in all of it and I think perhaps I really needed a good laugh?!! 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

It turns out that I had to hurry home and change, clean myself up, clean my boot and get myself to a much needed Reiki share with @terryloujordan - one of the most incredible people I know. My story of being peed on started us off with a good laugh when honestly some more serious challenges are being faced by others. We all agreed that humor really helps get us through challenging times.

Do you think of challenges in this way? Looking for the gifts, lessons? It seems hard in the toughest circumstances though. Does humor help you too?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀
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My first workout for rehab/recovery of this left tibia stress injury.

Just finished up an hour of upper body cardio on the Versa climber with a seat/feet on a stool, an air bike using my arms only, and the Ski Erg sitting on a stool.

I’ll also be swimming with a pull buey (to limit kicking), doing upper body strength training and core work, and eventually I’ll bring in lower body work.

This is in the Altitude Training Room at @evolution_healthcare_fitness in Portland. Why altitude training? Here’s what I copied from evolutionhealthcareandfitness.com:

“Scientifically Backed Benefits
Altitude training conducted in an oxygen deficient (hypoxic) environment and is pursued for many reasons. Most commonly, it is utilized as a tool to trigger physiological changes in the body that are aimed at improving performance. The body’s most basic physiological response to a lack of oxygen is an increase in EPO (erythropoietin) and a resultant increase in red blood cells. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to the body, thus the increased number of red blood cells leads to improved oxygen delivery. Some of the most noteworthy scientifically backed research indicates:
* Improved performance
* Improved aerobic fitness
* Increased strength
* Pre-acclimation to high altitude locations
* Accelerated recovery and return from injuries
* Maintenance of fitness while injured
* Increased fat metabolism
* Increased mitochondria production
* Increased energy production
* Increased capillary density
* Increased oxygen delivery”
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Sadly, I’m having to pull out of the Boston Marathon. I’ve got a Grade 3 medial tibial stress injury with ‘possible’ anterior tibial fracture component. 6-8 week rehab/recovery before running. I’ll be in a boot 2-4 weeks.

I’m of course bummed but I’m also very okay. The journey (training for the Boston) has been a gift beyond measure for me: running/connecting with friends, pushing my fitness, being outside in the beautiful Northwest, non-stop learning about the sport, and more. There are much bigger things to be upset about. I’m grateful to have a strong, healthy, resilient body and know that I’ll be even stronger after rehab!

I’m receiving care from @brad_farra DC, CCSP, CSCS
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician & Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (I mispoke and said “health and conditioning coach” in my video - oops) at evolution_healthcare_fitness (Evolution Healthcare & Fitness) in Portland. I really resonate with his methods and appreciate that he’s also a badass athlete!

Day 1, here we go!
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“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler ...

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@laura.coleman27 is the best! She’s in a recovery boot but is still out there riding my pace in the cold and rain (and a bit of wind) for me because that’s who she is. She shows up for people! She cheers us on (& is known to glam us up with a sparkle skirts & @rungoodr sunglasses to match our attire) and if we get injured she will use her magical recovery trainer superpowers so you barely miss a beat!

Two of our other friends joined us for a good part of the run too, @dori.olmsted & @portlandcarol. @schuler_tiffany is often with us running these long miles. Better together. Doing hard things, running in nature witnessing bald eagles, the river, the forests, the majestic mountain view’s and more with great conversations and a lot of badassery. I feel immense appreciation. Thank you, ladies! You are my favorite part of training!
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Snow shoe day with these lovely strong badass women! We are so lucky to have access to the grandeur and adventure of Mount Hood just 90 minutes away from Portland. We missed our friends who couldn’t join us though! ...

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Small, simple, thoughtful gesture = HUGE impact. Thank you, Mira (@theingredientguru)!

Mira has such a magnificent soul and I am certain all those who know her would agree. I love the idea that her church implemented - they created a blessing board for people to post for others and to take. Mira shared one of the blessings with me and sent it in with a beautiful note that touched my heart is such a profound way.

Many of us are so unsure about why we are here and what are purpose is…I believe what Mira did for me with this sweet gesture is it…lifting others up, spreading kindness, sharing love.

Also, the beautiful card was made from a photo she took in South Dakota. I think it’s the Badlands? You’ll have to let me know, Mira! I love it and will always treasure both…and especially you! ❤️🙏😘🤗
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The best homemade carnitas and handmade tortillas. Homemade pickled red onions. All made my husband, Tony! Total comfort food for me!

We are very diligent about choosing our pork. We always choose humanely treated, even better pastured raised, best being a local farm.

Pork is an excellent source of a complete and amino acid rich protein, vitamins and minerals including thiamin (more than other red meats), B6 & B12 (essential for brain function & blood cell formation), phosphorus, and iron (in both heme and non-heme forms - heme iron has a higher rate of absorption than non heme iron and is only found in animal foods - iron is important for energy, muscle function, brain development, and your body also needs iron to make some hormones), zinc (helps your immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses, is essential to make DNA, helps repair the cells that line your intestinal tract, is needed for wound repair and much more) and selenium (essential for proper thyroid function, reproduction, protecting the body from damage caused by free radicals and infection infection and more).
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Nourishing Beanless Beef Chili

This dish features: grass fed ground beef sautéed in a cast iron skillet; lots of sautéed veggies - onions, carrots, garlic, red pepper, chipotle peppers, & celery; boiled then roasted delicata squash, & sweet potatoes; bone broth; chili powder; sea salt & pepper; & balsamic vinegar. Let me know if you would like the recipe!

Beef provides an excellent source of a complete protein as well as vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, phosphorus, & choline. Beef is also an abundant source of the amino acid, leucine. Leucine stimulates muscle protein synthesis (process to build new muscle, which you WANT, especially as we age & begin to lose muscle) & that trigger becomes more sensitive as we age, which means we need more leucine, around 2.5 - 3g in a meal (2 - 3x a day). You can get that in a little over 4 ounces of beef. Leucine is richest in animal foods. Paying attention to this has been a game changer to my strength, muscle (re) development, & performance. Muscle is your body armor & so much more. It adds a level of protection for those inevitable falls, muscle cross talks with your bones, keeping them stronger, & muscle also plays a KEY role in maintaining an effective immune system.

Bone broth is rich in minerals, & provides a number of benefits for joint, gut, & skin health.

A common challenge shared by many runners of all ages & genders, my ferritin (a protein that stores iron), tends to go down when my miles go up & red meat on cast iron is a tried & true way to bring it back up. Runners lose iron through what is called foot strike hemolysis, through sweat, through the GI tract, inflammation, (& through blood during menstruation). Symptoms include (not limited to) low grade/lingering headaches, low energy/fatigue, rapid heartbeat, hair loss, sleep disruptions, & for athletes, low iron can negatively affect performance. It’s not common for doctors to order a full iron panel that includes ferritin so it’s important for athletes to self advocate & if challenged, present the multitude of recent studies easily found on Pubmed (I had to do that for my middle son when he ran HS XC!).
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Speed work with these two strong smart beautiful women! I appreciate them so much! They help and inspire me to be a better person, a better athlete. They work hard and play hard. They are kind, honest and badass! 🙌💪❤️ ...

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