DeAnne Peterson

Just to warn you, I may or may not be feeling a little whiny today. I have mentioned before that last fall after I did my 2nd half marathon, I developed heel pain (I got Plantar Fasciitis) and had to cut way back on running. I did physical therapy for 2 months for my left foot and it has gotten so much better. But I was worried that I was just going to have to find a different physical activity to be involved in, so I tried to keep a good attitude and decided that I could try biking.

So I did the Rage in the Sage duathlon in April. I wished so much that I had been able to run for that one and since my foot was feeling better I decided to sign up for the next Duathlon, which was the Fiasco In Pasco race last Saturday. Run 5K, bike 30K, run 5K. Since the running part was all on trail/bark/pebbles/sand, I figured it would be less impact on my foot and I went for it.

I had already started biking more at the gym since I had to cut back on the running. Then we joined a new gym with classes and I tried out some spinning (cycling class). I tried a road bike, and instantly fell in love. You can really feel the wind in your hair on one of those. I even purchased clipless pedals and shoes for my bike (don't ask me why they call them "clipless" when you are clipping them in).

Justin works with a female officer who generously offered her bike for the race and I tried it out for a ride last week. She is shorter than I am and even though we raised the seat, by about 5 or 6 miles in my back was killing me. Luckily I had a rental bike reserved and I chose to use that one since it was my size.

I enjoyed the race for the most part. I was at the back of the pack on the first run. Honestly, I wasn't sure how much I should push myself because I knew I had a long ways to go, but I managed to run the whole first leg without stopping (I know, it's only 3.1 miles...yeah, yeah, yeah). And go figure, now my right heel has decided it wants to be an issue. I made a good transition to the bike, managed to not get run over or fall over and I thought I was cruising along pretty good. Turns out I was still at the back of the pack, although not last. That is, until I took a wrong turn at the end of the bike course. THEN I was last in. Lame. I was pretty irritated by that (not that I was last, but that I added an extra mile to my course). Again, my lower back was killing me and I just wanted off of that bike so bad!

The 2nd time on the run was a lot slower, which I knew it would be. But I knew I was going to finish that race.  I kept looking behind me thinking that surely I could not be the last person finishing. Well. I was. There was one other gal who I passed the last 1/4 mile (because she had become injured) and her friend dropped out of the race somewhere along the line. But it really doesn't matter. I finished and although I was tired, I really felt pretty good. My muscles weren't that sore in the days following, but my lower back has been in pain. And this week I have been an absolute slug! I laid on my back on Monday and Tuesday as much as possible, yesterday saw the Chiropractor and today decided I HAD to get to the gym. I ran a mile and then did pump class. I felt so, so weak in class. And I got so frustrated with myself that I started tearing up. I shook it off, because seriously, who cries in pump class???? I feel kind of stuck physically. I try to eat healthy, I work out between 4-6 hrs a week, and all I can do is seem to maintain the weight I am at. I just feel like I can't get rid of the squish around my belly and I hate it! Is it aging? Is it stretched out skin, am I in denial?

OK. So boo hoo. I got my whining done.

The good news is that last time I was in Spokane I was able to have my wedding ring sized back down to nearly it's original size. Now I can wear it and not worry about losing it! 

XOXOXO