Hot Date

A few months ago, I shared with you that our family would be training for a sprint triathlon. Many of you have asked how the training is going. I am happy to report that Jeff is doing great! He is at the "Y" every morning at 6:00 a.m., following a training schedule he printed off of the internet after much research. He has dropped about 12 pounds and is getting some muscle definition (hubba, hubba) and is getting farther and farther around that track every day! I am so proud of him! I can tell he has more energy and he is feeling pretty great about himself, as well.

I am not as happy to report that I am not doing as well. It is not for lack of trying, though. Believe me. Thanks to an unfortunate dip in the gene pool, I have the worst feet known to man (thanks, Deddy.). They are very wide and very flat. The added weight over the years has certainly not helped, either. The first few times I went to the "Y" and started walking around the track, my feet hurt so bad after one or two laps I wanted to cry. It was very discouraging. Jeff and I thought that, maybe, my shoes were just worn out, so he told me to go get some new ones. While many women would be thrilled at getting to go buy new shoes, shoe shopping has never been fun for me. There is no such thing as going to a regular store and buying shoes like everyone else...they never fit my feet. I usually end up ordering from a website that sells wide or double-wide shoes. However, I obeyed, went to a store where I spent an hour with a salesman trying to get just the right shoe, and with much hope, headed for the "Y" once again.

After two times around the track, it felt like someone was sticking daggers in my feet again. UGH!

I was so very discouraged. I tried riding the stationary bike, but frankly, that is like Chinese water-torture for me. Could there be anything more boring than riding a bike for an hour, but going nowhere?

So I just stayed home when everyone else went to the gym.

In the meantime, Jeff started developing some serious pain in one of his feet and went to the podiatrist. He has plantar fasciitis, like half of America and, thankfully, just needed some ice and stretching. However, it did motivate me to finally go to the podiatrist, as well.

After doing x-rays, he said my feet were very stressed. I said, "They just don't want to feel left out from the rest of my body!" (Sometimes you just have to laugh.) He agreed I definitely needed some extra support, but not in my arches (Lord knows, I have tried that and it causes even more pain.) He taped my feet and told me to try that for a few days. If it helped, he would know how to proceed. If it didn't, he would still know how to proceed.

It didn't help.

He also said my new shoes were not right for my feet because they offer too much support. Nice.

This is where our hot date comes in.

This past Wednesday, Jeff and I went to the podiatrist TOGETHER! He had developed another problem with his right foot. Frankly, I was afraid it was broken. When he came home from his run, the top of his right foot was swollen and the veins were all bulging out. I had developed some pain in the back of my left foot (around my ankle), in addition to still having the pain when I worked out. (Thankfully his foot was not broken...he just has aggravated tendons and nerves on top of his feet.)

So there we sat, both of us getting our feet taped at the same time, his right, my left. I couldn't help but bust out laughing. I said, "Honey, you know we're getting old when our hot date consists of going to the podiatrist together and getting our feet taped!" We even stopped and got gas and snacks at the store....just the two of us! (It's the simple things in life, really.)

Despite his injuries,  and against his doctor's wishes, Jeff is running a 5K this Saturday. Our whole family is doing a two-mile Family Run-Walk tonight...minus their mother who has strict orders to rest her left foot with the aggravated Achilles tendon. Not to mention, when I woke up yesterday morning, my left knee hurt so bad I couldn't walk.

Alyssa said, "Mom, why are you falling apart?"

I said, "Because I have not taken great care of my body these last ten years. That's why I am so determined to do the right thing now and get back in shape."

She said, "Um, I think you're a little too old for that."

Never count on your teenage daughter for encouragement.

I will plug on, however, determined to get my body strong and healthy again (as soon as I heal from my injury and get my feet figured out). Jeff continues to plug along, training for the sprint triathlon on Labor Day and running the 5K tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it goes!

Before I sign off, I would like to ask you to keep our extended family in your prayers. There is a lot going on right now that is pretty serious stuff and your prayers for healing would be greatly appreciated.

Much Love,
Jeannie