Thursday, June 17, 2010

Less Running... More Blogging?

Well, today was a BAD day for Mrs. Preppy Hoosier! Today I was given some horrible news... NO RUNNING OR ANYTHING HIGH IMPACT FOR THREE WEEKS! Yes, you read that right. Now for most people, that wouldn't be a big deal, but to me I think I might go crazy... literally.

I am only in week four of my marathon training and this has already happened, and furious is an understatement. It isn't just about the marathon because I know that if I am smart and treat this injury correctly, then I will be up and running (literally) in time to continue my training without much loss. However, this is more about my mental state as running to me is the most important activity of my day. I just can't explain the feeling I get from running. I am sure all you runners out there completely "get me". Running is my sanctuary; it is my time to clear my mind and enjoy the outdoors. It is truly the only time of the day that I can completely shut my mind off; sometimes I can't even do that while sleeping.

So, here is my story...
I have a stress fracture in my left tibia. I have been having shin splints for quite some time and have tried to ice and stretch. I figured this just comes along with upping your mileage and also caused from the high impact and all the jumping in the group exercise class I teach. I thought they would eventually get better. However, my husband suggested that I just get them checked out and see if there is anything else I could do before I get too far into my marathon training. So, I finally agreed, which is huge because I am stubborn and had a feeling they would tell me I needed to cut back my mileage which I wouldn't like. So, today I ventured to the doctor to find out I have a stress fracture in one leg and bad shin splints in the other. I am not able to run or teach my classes for 3 weeks; at that time, I will return and hopefully be healed! So here goes my attempt at cycling (maybe that bike I bought last year will get use) and the elliptical. In turn, I am sure I will blog more while I am icing for 25 minutes two times per day. By the way, I am icing now... brr....

Well, friends I hope you will bear with me as I go through this time. No running usually equals grouchy preppy Hoosier, but I am determined to not let this get to me. Well, determined after today is over as I have had several mental breakdowns. Words of encouragement are welcome!

Until next time,
H

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Congratulations, Sis

Congratulations to my, now graduated, younger sister! Court, I love you and am proud of you! I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you. You are intelligent, beautiful, and one extremely caring and passionate person. You WILL make a difference!

Last night, my sister Courtney, graduated from High School! She is the youngest of the three of us, and the last one for my parents to go through New Haven High School. It is crazy to think that none of us will be at the NHHS anymore. However, we do still have several cousins still attending.

It's crazy to think that my mom, dad, brother, sister, and myself all have a high school diploma from the same place; I highly doubt that happens very often these days. We can also all bust out our NHHS letter jackets and do a fashion show; which, we have done in the past (kinda embarrassing). Even better than that, all my aunts, uncles, and cousins (with the exception of my two cousins in Georgia, and one cousin that graduated from Heritage) have a high school diploma from the same high school; this IS on both sides of my family, so we are talking approximately 25 plus people. As my sister graduated last night, this to me, ended an era. I do think it is pretty neat that we all have graduated from the infamous NHHS, but I am glad I have moved out of New Haven and expanded my horizons. I know that although neat, the tradition of all of the Saalfrank/Rhoades families graduating from NHHS will not continue, and that is OK.
As for my sis, I really can't believe it! I am very proud of her accomplishments, but to me, graduating from high school is an expectation. Therefore, my excitement for her and congratulatory message centers more around opportunities for her future. As I spent the past week looking through old photos and putting together my version of a scrapbook (thank you shutterfly), it brought back many memories of our childhood and much anticipation for her future.

As I flipped through and placed pictures of our younger days on a scanner, and scrolled through my online albums of our older days, I laughed a lot, cried a little, and felt proud. I could have probably made a whole entire album of pictures of my sister and brother BOTH with their shirt off. Yes, you read that correctly, my sister, as a little girl was always shirtless. This, I believe is a product of being just 18 months younger than my brother, always being his sidekick and listening and believing every word he said. As a result of this, Court was definitely a "tomboy" when she was younger, but as a product of her environment. I am now convinced that this is why she is probably the complete opposite today; girly girl and we love that about her!
It was clear that as the youngest child with two very strong minded older siblings, it was probably difficult for her to find her true identity when she was younger. However, as I scrolled through the pictures, you really started to see her identity come out in her early high school years. Courtney took a much different path than Zach and I, and for that I am so proud of her. As Zach and I thrived on the field, you could see the real Courtney on stage. She is an incredible singer and dancer, and was an awesome showchoir performer! Showchoir gave her the confidence she needed all along to grow as an individual and find her identity; the identity that wasn't her sister's softball & volleyball shadow, or her brother's baseball legacy or choice to be shirtless. Showchoir has made her the person she is today: strong, confident, free spirited, artistic, and passionate. We love her!

I believe that the differences the three of us share is what makes us so close today. Again, as I looked through the pictures, I felt a true warmth in my heart. I am extremely grateful for the relationship that the three of us have. We have grown to be the closest siblings you will ever know. The love we have for each other is unconditional. The graduation of my sister is truly the end of the time the three of us would call "our childhood", and a bittersweet moment it is. As our lives as children end and we truly become adult siblings, I look forward to what the future holds: more diplomas, lots of laughs, hopefully eventually some weddings and nieces & nephews (I know that's a ways away), many more memories, and even more love than the last 20 years.

So Court, here's to you my not so baby sister:
I love you dearly! You have shown me what the true meaning of a "sisterly bond" is. I am so glad to have a best friend in my sister. Although the youngest, you are the heart and passion of our family. I thank God everyday that I was given a sister 19 years ago.