My health check-in isn’t really physical, though I am improving my dexterity and my mental health. Can’t remember if I mentioned in a New Year’s thread, but early in January I made a New Year’s resolution to start playing piano again. With H working some nights and weekends, I have more time alone at home. I started off in secret, and my goal was to learn one piece really well - Chopin Ballade No. 1. I played it last in college over 30 years ago!
I spend half the time working on technique. I’ve discovered that I love Hanon with the metronome, lol. It has really helped, and it’s calming to me. You don’t realize how weak and uncoordinated your left hand is, especially the 4th-5th fingers. And I’ve noticed a big improvement in my ability to focus. An hour just flies by!
It’s starting to really come together. I’m not consistent, but I can play everything cleanly. I am to the point where I want to have it memorized. Obviously a fair chunk of it has to be in order to play, but I still need help. Memorizing is a bit daunting to me. As I said, I haven’t done it in over 30 years. I wish I could be my sister who can hear something and then just play it.
I’ve also branched out to fiddling with other pieces. Pieces that I want to play, and not to fulfill some balanced repertoire list. It’s been so much fun to see the progress, and it keeps me off the computer/news which also helps my sanity. I also got brave and played for H and sent an audio file to my sister, so the cat is out of the bag.
That’s great! In retirement, I play piano a bit here and there. Always when my husband is out. I’m a fan of his newish ebike hobby, partly because it has him out more often giving me time to play.
Lol I completely understand! I only fessed up to H I was playing because he seemed hurt every time he got more hours to work and I was all excited. He knows I love my alone time, but still.
He doesn’t understand it’s not really fun listening to someone practice. And our piano is in our foyer. You can’t escape it.
Yep, mostly! During commercials I run that floor of the house. And I mix in some arm stretching overhead or side to side. It’s legit enough in a pinch!
It’s the end of week 2 of my half marathon training. I kept it up but it wasn’t easy. Yesterday I stubbed my toe and think I’ll need to take a few days off for recovery.
I want to run this race with my daughter but I’m starting to wonder if this is a realistic goal.
There is no shame in taking walking breaks during your race!
Also, make sure you have something to refuel you like a Gu gel or sugar/electrolyte drink at about mile 8-9 or any distance in that range when you feel that your internal energy sources become depleted. Maybe unnecessary for just a half but I found it quite helpful.
When you say do the race with your daughter do you mean “side by side” or just both doing the race (notice, I don’t say COMPETE!!) It may be a lot of pressure to run it side by side. But starting with each other and then to each their own, keeps it less stressful for you both and I would think would get rid of some of the pre-race anxiety.
This is a complicating factor. My daughter says she’d rather stay with me than run her fastest time, and I believe her. But of course I don’t want to hold her back.
After I suffered a stroke in 2008 she was instrumental in helping me learn to run again. I went through intensive therapy to teach me to run again, but that wasn’t enough. It took months and months of slow and steady practice and support.
I’ll always remember her going out on the mountain trails with me, and patiently encouraging me to walk for a minute, run for a minute, etc., slowly working up to where I could do trail running again.
So when she invited me to join her in this half marathon and told me she’d walk as much as necessary, it was hard to say no.
That’s a wonderful story. A testament to your relationship and that it isn’t based on perfection but support for each other.
Maybe be frank with her about your feelings and progress. I think you should give it a shot even if you don’t finish. It’s not about that. It’s about your supportive relationship and that ANY miles after a stroke is to be celebrated.
You could run the first mile together. Or the last. She could be waiting at the finish line - in front of you with pride if not beside you.
Also if it’s just a no for you, try and take something away from this effort you’ve made. I think it’s still a wonderful gesture.
Believe her when she says that she wants to stay with you rather than worry about a PR this time. This particular race clearly is about something bigger. She has many other races she can run. She wants to do this WITH YOU. What a great daughter you’ve raised. Be proud of that rather than being prideful about your performance. Who cares about that?
Well, I have not so great news. I have a hernia. Nothing major nor any pain or anything serious. I will just need to get it fixed. Waiting on surgeon’s office to call and schedule.
I know this will put be down for at least some time, which is a bit scary. I don’t miss days. But alas nothing I can do to fight the issue. I will have to get myself psyched up to meet this challenge and not let it derail me. As focused and I can be, I also can be derailed somewhat easily. I fight a all or nothing mindset oftentimes.
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. I don’t know a lot about hernias. How long will you be sidelined?
I’ve also been guilty in the past of all-or-nothing thinking. It’s OK to take a step back. You can go full steam ahead again once you are cleared. But I know how stressful that feels. (((hugs)))
Thanks. I will probably be able to do some walking after 1.5-2 weeks. And then ease back into things. The good thing about my workouts is that other than lifting weights most of it is low impact.
I’m feeling a little guilty. I really try to get my watch move ring closed (500 exercise calories) every day. I missed it on Saturday, and I may miss again today. But I also think I doubled 2 or 3 times this week, and we are doing a 50+ mile bike ride Saturday, so it will be OK.
Better to take care of it now instead of waiting and making it worse and setting yourself back further. Are there any things you CAN do? Like some stretching? Or hand weights? Something that keeps you in that routine - even time wise? Like if you always exercised at 8am add in something else you can do at that time? (I don’t know much about hernias and the limitations)
That was me a week ago. Week 3 was a lot better. My stubbed toe was a non-issue; I only skipped one day. I stuck with the training program, including 7 mile and 8 mile runs, which are my longest runs since before my stroke in 2008.
