Emily Does Science

38 year old scientist living in GA. Mother. Runner. Triathlete. Ironman.

[emilydoesscience]

All right. 3 weeks into this ankle injury. I tried to skip with my daughter 2 days ago and that was not okay so we won't be running anytime soon. I go back to the doctor in another 10 days to determine if it's getting better or if I need to go get an MRI. I asked him what the difference in treatment would be and he basically said a boot rather than the brace and probably a longer timeline to allow things to heal. He's very understanding that I'm a runner and I need to be able to run for the rest of my life. I'm also not swimming because flicking the foot hurts during the kick. I might try it next week just to see how it feels. But again, I want this to heal completely so I don't want to do anything to jeopardize.

I also switched my 70.3 from Chattanooga to Augusta so basically from May to September so I have plenty of time to rebuild my strength and base and get up to distance. So it's going to be an interesting fall since I have the Chicago marathon in October 2 weeks after this race.

[thoughtkick]

“Don’t forget that you’re human. It’s ok to have a meltdown. Just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed.”

— Unknown

[emilydoesscience]

Positive vibes

I went to the podiatrist yesterday and they x-rayed my foot and it doesn't look like anything was broken. He also doesn't think I tore any ligaments. Both of these are good news. I have a recheck in 10 days to see if it is improving more. If it is not improving then I'll go for an MRI to confirm that nothing is torn. For now though, I'm in a lace up brace to keep it stable. No exercise until I go back at least.

I'm kind of leaning towards switching my race from Chattanooga in May to Augusta in September. I'd like to focus on weight loss, strength, and a full clean recovery from this so I don't re-injure it. And as my friend said, training in the summer is more fun. The one potential downside is that I have Chicago marathon in October and that only would give me 2 weeks between the two events and would mean long runs mixed into my half iron training. It's not undoable. It's probably pretty easy actually.

And now we wait.

[emilydoesscience]

1 week out. Swelling is going down, purples are turning yellow. I've been stretching every day in the morning and night. I can walk with a little limp. Going downstairs is still painful unless I modify. Dr on Monday so an adult can tell me how bad I did whatever I did and how to get back to running.

[emilydoesscience]

Tripped at the indoor playground and sprained my ankle on Sat. It's Mon now and it's def bruising slowly and swollen. I have a boot and am icing and taking ibuprofen. I also have a Dr appointment next Monday in a week. Hopefully it's just a sprain and by feb we'll be back to normal 🤞🤞

[emilydoesscience]

Well this is unfortunate. Took the kids to an inside playground and managed to invert my foot on a landing. Stupid ankles. It's swollen, but I can limp around and move it 75% of the ways it usually moves. 😮‍💨

[emilydoesscience]

All right. So technically when we got back from our week-long vacation I was 185 and today I was 183.6 so going in the right direction. I ran twice this week which is twice more than I've run for the last 3 months. Today's mission is to get the smart trainer back together and enable myself to ride in the mornings again since it's like freaking cold and I don't want to be outside. I want to ride today and I want to ride tomorrow and that'll be all four workouts that I had planned for this week!

Training plan is pretty basic like this for the next month or so, it's basically getting back into the swing of working out 30 minutes to an hour like 4 days a week. The pool opens back up so I'll go swim Monday and Friday. Things might be a little more limited time-wise for me since my husband is out of town next week.

I did not calorie count but I tried to eat mindfully and not indulge on drinking my calories, or eating late at night. I focused on protein and veggies. I can't decide if I want to start tracking again yet, or do another week of mindful eating. I know if I want to see big numbers on the scale moving that I really need to lock it down with calorie counting but it is so time intensive unless you're really eating the same thing over and over again. I think I'm going to give myself another week of mindful eating to kind of clear out the holiday food and then go back to calorie counting for a month. We're in it for the long haul, friends.

[emilydoesscience]

2025.

Thinking I might revive the blog.

Since the Ironman in 2016 (sheesh that's been a minute huh?) we've had two kids, moved to GA, gained 35(!) lbs. I've been still running, doing triathlon, working full time, plus kid activities, bonding time with husband, finding adult friends... All that good stuff.

2025 has Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga, several sprint triathlons this summer, Chicago Marathon in the fall. Plus a cruise in April. Need that wetsuit to fit by May and swimsuits in April, plus long runs in the late summer are easier lighter.

So here's to new years. 184, hoping to get back to 150, maybe even 140. I know it's going to take a good 6months. But maybe this is the accountability journal whatever that I need to help.

Cheers ✌️

[emilydoesscience]

154-149. Crushing it so far. Met my first goal of get under 150 today. Next goal: 145! (Then 140, 135...130?) I've been very consistent with workouts and very good with calorie counting. I've been staying around 1400.

First sprint trip June 4, 27 days away. Then family visit June 25, and finally July 22 family beach trip.

[emilydoesscience]

We did the thing! Virtual 15k done, a little slower than I wanted but a comfortable pace. Back to more Pelotoning and lifting!

[emilydoesscience]

Okay, the wedding is over! Super fun time, didn't wake up enough to make a recap post, but I did do Peloton at the hotel. The next goal for me is a 15K the first weekend of March and surprise surprise I haven't been running... So today we kick it off with a 5K that felt really good, really needed to get outside and get some sun and move my body. I'm also kind of feeling that readiness to start a healthier diet.

So my plan is 5 to 6 miles this weekend 7 to 8 mi next weekend and then the 15K the weekend after, with at least three other days of running during the week. If the weather stays nice, I'll try to do it outside because of this feels really nice. I also want to add the goals back of getting the steps in everyday pelotoning four times a week, either on the treadmill or just as quick strength or warm up/ cool down stuff. I'm going to keep it for the foreseeable future unless I really stop doing it in which case I'll find it. I need to make more time for me everyday.

Also hey to all my new followers! Thanks for joining me on this journey back to consistency and a healthy weight.

[emilydoesscience]

Day 1: 4 hours of sleep, did not work out even though I was awake. Does that count? My Sunday went off the rails and killed my night.

☹️😒

[emilydoesscience]

Bro's wedding is this week so of course I've got pimples and my nails are breaking, two things that never happen to me anymore 😅

This week my goal is to wake up at 5 and get a workout every day. That's it. Any length, just do it in the morning.

[emilydoesscience]

It's as hard as you make it 💪

[emilydoesscience]

Another good ride yesterday morning. 5am is getting easier!

[emilydoesscience]

Week 3 recap, a bit late... Jan 17-23

10 min every day - 7/7

Hit Garmin challenge - working on monthly challenges this week (end next week)

10k steps - only 3 days this week

4 peloton - 4/4

No night eating - 6/7

No alcohol - 6/7

I think it was a pretty solid week

[emilydoesscience]

Oh man. Mallory spiked my phone onto the kitchen floor and killed it so I was phoneless for a few days. Back at it with a brand new phone!

Yesterday I did a 5am 5k! The day before I did strength at the gym at work for about 30 min, arms/chest. I've gotten my steps up and still holding steady at my weekly goals.