Duct Tape: Six Days to Stone Cat

This Saturday is the Stone Cat Trail Marathon. Hmmm. After about two months of NO cardiovascular exercise at my doctors’ orders (yes, several doctors), last week I was cleared by one doctor to start exercising again. 

 The trail marathon is six days away.  

What do I do? 

Well, I’ll show up and check in, pin on my number and start out with everyone else.  But I will walk versus run/walk or run, that’s what. Sounds like a plan.
 

My orthopedic doctor said that I could “gradually start exercising again.” So I'm going to try to walk a marathon after two months off? I'm not one to start out too gradually, I guess. He added—more joy to my ears— “You might even run a little, Emily, and see how that feels.” 

Dave's Barn Restoration Project

New bones, added strength, a hopeful and positive metaphor

My big-candy-apple-pie-in-the-sky goal is to finish my marathon pain free and by only WALKING.  Keeping the long-term health picture in mind, I’ll try to complete one lap and assess my “situation.” If that works, I’ll attempt another lap and hope to walk it in before it’s dark. This seems both within and out of reach because my mind is willing but my body is endurance weak (and in pain).

"Who is?"

Taped to a public bathroom paper towel dispenser. 
Another (funny) metaphor for my endurance fitness. 

Obviously, I have no specific time goal; the 13-hour time limit should not pose an issue with the 50-miler folks out there, too.  If I don’t finish at least I tried. No matter what, I can't wait to see, cheer on and high five my T.U.G. peeps in the marathon and the 50! 

I'll bring Windex (and Duct Tape).

Just in case THEY need any fixing.

Curious about what the heck is going on? Me, too.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure and neither are my doctors. After a litany of tests, x-rays and two MRIs, my next stop is Mass. General to a specialist. After reviewing the scans one doctor said, “You are pretty hard on your body.”  Yup.  Time to baby this mortal machine and heal the numbness (left shoulder to toes—knees and toes, head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes), cervical and lumbar spine macrame, and right calf clicking, ticking, tocking. Of course my old pal PF comes calling, too. To add insult to injury, I sprained my toe slack lining in early October. That ensured my rest for another month. Funny thing is that my spirits are up. I've been down (not running) before and know that in time, I'll be back. Hopefully in time for some snow shoe events.

What have I been doing instead?
Light hiking, some core work, daily stretching, helping Dave restore his barn, hauling fire wood, learning how to heat with a wood stove, baking bread, teaching, art, appreciating basic health and health insurance, and being comfortable with uncertainty.  

Calf Pain is no Bull

Since a fast run and an epic ride on the Cape about 10 days ago, I’ve felt an ache in my right calf.  Now, when I go up stairs I feel a  “clicking” sensation directly in the back of my calf. It’s deep. I am troubled. Of course, I keep trying to replicate it to see if it's still there, still hurting. Dumb...

At first I thought it might be a small pull or strain but with the recent clicking feature, I’m beginning to believe it might be tendonitis. ??? Next week I’ll go in for a Q & A with my PCP. Hopefully the recommendation will be one week off, a series of weekly messages, more gentle stretching, and second helpings of mint chocolate chip ice cream. 

Waiting by the edge of a field... 

the field to get home.

 

As I was already about 15 miles from Windblown, I couldn’t resist heading over to cheer on some of the Wapack runners. I was also trying to cross paths with some trail gumbas, like Breakheart Dan. and Kevin Z. I didn’t know if Dan would be there but I took a chance. Success! We shared a short hike and cheered on the lead runners before he left. I missed seeing several other folks finish before I split for my green pasture.

The calf feels okay right now but IF I must take a lot of time off, that will be a real pain in the you know what.

Having a Ball: The Early Girls

Yesterday we canned a batch of Tomatoes!

Why is it called “canning” if glass jars are used?

Supplies:
6+ Ball glass jars with matching lids and caps;
Large Canning Pot with internal jar holder;
Two 4-6 QT pots;
Tongs & rubber gloves;

Clean, dry dish towel.
25-30 ripe tomatoes; and
10-20 large fresh basil leaves.

1. Sterilize Ball Jars, Caps & Lids:
Use pot specific for canning. Place open jars into holder and fill with cool water, Surround the containers with water, cover an inch. Bring water to a boil. Start timer when water is rolling. Boil for 30 minutes. Use a separate pot of water for lids and caps. Boil for 30 minutes, same as bottles.

2. Prepare the Fruit & Herbs:
Meanwhile, use a third pot to boil more water. When boiling, dunk three tomatoes at a time for about 20 seconds or until their skin bursts. Remove with tongs peel away skin and cut away parts you don’t want to eat later, such as tough middle section or stem parts. Place cleaned tomatoes in a bowl until ready to can. Prepare all tomatoes in this fashion. Cut and clean any herbs, such as Basil.

3. Preparing Jars for Fruit:
Depending on size, about three to five tomatoes will fit into a large Ball jar. After jars have boiled for 30 minutes, use rubber gloves and tongs to remove a jar (one-at-a-time) from water (try not to touch jar; it’s hot)! Pour out boiling water from inside of jar. Try to keep rim of jar as clean as possible as you gently drop tomatoes into the container. Alternate tomato with basil as you fill. Do not overfill. Use a knife to cut up the tomatoes a bit so you can pack them in. Do not cover yet. Set jar aside. Repeat until all fruit's been used.

4. Sealing The Jars:
When all jars have been filled, DRY OFF their RIMS with a clean cloth so the cap gets a great seal. Remove the lids and caps from hot (no longer boiling) water with tongs. Place cap onto clean dry jar rim and then add a lid and twist. As Dave puts it, " don’t “REEF” on them" but tighten medium firmly.

5. Back to the Water to Sterilize Again:
Remove about half of the water from the large canning pot. Place the bottles (with lids/caps on) back into their holder and into the hot —BUT NOT BOILING— water (that would break the jars, which have cooled somewhat). When all bottles have been placed, add more warm-hot water to the pot. Cover the Ball jars by about an inch. Bring the entire pot back up to a boil. When the water begins to roll & boil, start the timer FOR 30 MINUTES.

6. Finishing Up—Removing & Cooling:
After 30 minutes of continuous boiling, remove each jar from the water. Tighten the lids down (now you may "REEF"). Dry jars with a cloth & set aside. Repeat. 

As the jars’ contents cool the lid will vacuum seal down and the lids will drop to a concave state. If a lid did not drop concavely, then the canning process was NOT a success and you should use that jar’s contents in the next day or two. 

If the concave seal was successful place them in your canning cupboard— for up to six months—or until ready for use.

For  health benefits of Tomatoes click here.