A "Thank You" Note from Bebe

Yesterday, I dropped by at Chong Hua Hospital to visit a sick relative. When I passed by the lobby, I saw this note from Bebe, the beneficiary of the June 26 run organized by Chong Hua Hospital's Code Blue Running Club. It was an intimate race, yet they were able to raise P100,000.00 for her treatment against nasopharyngeal cancer.

To all those who cannot read her message of gratitude in the photo above, I will re-write it down for you.

To all those who have contributed to the tremendous success of the run-for-a-cause, Run for Bebe, you so actively participated in for my benefit, my deepest and heartfelt thanks!

First and foremost, to the Race Organizer, our dear energetic and caring Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Naomi Tagimacruz-Fajardo, for having the event conceptualized and eventually successfully realized.

To the CHH Management, most especially Mr. Lim Liu and Dr. Helen Po, for their constant and unwavering support.

To Dr. Alex Junia, the President of Code Blue Running Team, and Mr. Kenneth Casquejo of Runcheck, the Race Director, and their members for their generous and overflowing free will to aide in making this endeavor a huge success.

To my Nursing Sevice Office family: the Nurse Supervisors, Educators and Unit Coordinators and all nursing Staffs, as well, as the staffs of other departments for giving your unlimited time and dedication in the preparation and execution of their roles and responsibilities during the event.

To my family, relatives and friends, for all the love and support.

To the CHH College of Nursing Affiliates.

To all the volunteers and participants.

Lastly and most importantly, to God Almighty, for allowing the said event to go on as planned and without the slightest hindrance.

May the Good Lord bless your kind hearts for which I am forever grateful!!

Dolores "Bebe" A. Arceo

Caught in the Act

 They say that "Doctors are the worst patient". I think I am the personification of that adage. Despite the fact that the physiatrist adviced me to rest, I still ran the 5th Cebu Doctors University Run. Well, I made a compromise to him that the surface is flat, no hills! But he told me if the pain creeps in, I better stretch it out! I ran slow, did not gun for a faster time, just assessing myself if I can still run in the coming weeks. At the end of the day, this coming Sunday's run will be my last, and I might slide down to 5K, and will run with my friends back in high school.

SHOUTOUT: THANK YOU, ESTAN CABIGAS of fitandrun.info for the photo! 


PS: This marks my first anniversary in running 10K. Here is the link.

It's Confirmed, It's ITBS

It's confeermed! (I must say!) I have iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)!

What is an iliotibial band?

The iliotibial band is a long strip of connective tissues that runs from the pelvis to the knees. It is located in the lateral or the outside part of the thigh. This tissue is a stabilizer for both the hips and knees.

photo taken from this site.

What is ITBS or iliotibial band syndrome?

This is occurs when there is an inflammation on the site over the knees due to continuous rubbing of the band over the lateral epicondyle, combined with repeated flexion and extension of the knee during an exercise, such running. 

Sports prone to ITBS

-running

-biking

-hiking

-tennis

-basketball

-football or soccer

-martial arts

-weight lifting

Causes of ITBS
-exercising on hard surfaces, e.g. concrete (I am GUILTY of doing this!)
-exercising on uneven ground (again, yGUILTY!)
-increasing exercise intensity or duration too quickly (sort of guilty.)
-exercising in worn out or ill-fitting shoes (not guilty!)
-excessive uphill or downhill running (I live near Banawa, yeah, I am GUILTY!)

Biochemical Errors that Causes ITBS
-leg length differences
-tight and stiff muscles in the leg.
-muscle imbalances
-foot structure problems (flat footed, high arch)
-gait or running style problems such as pronation.

I actually had a gut feel, that I have ITBS, but I have to go to a physiatrist to really diagnosed this. I went to the Perpetual Succour Hospital's Advance Rehabilitation and Sports Science Center. Dr. Mary Jeane Oporto-Flordeliz, a regular contributor of Front Runner magazine was not there, so I looked for Dr. Jorgen Lim instead. Dr. Lim handled my boss' tendon and my Tita's slip disk, so they were my referrals.

I mentioned that I have a problem with my right knee after running 15Ks for a couple of weeks already. And it usually hurts when I go downhill, even if I rested it a day or two, it just hurts. And my right hip hurts too. As I mentioned my complaint, right from the get go, Dr. Lim wrote on my chart the letters I, T, B, S. Then he assessed my legs and compare my right with my left.My left leg can be lifted higher than my right,and  it's more flexible than the right. He can even feel the tension on my right.

I told him that I did not take any NSAIDs or non-steroidal drugs such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen and mefenamic acid, and all I did was icing it. He said, it's ok.

Dr. Lim suggested to do some stretching on that area and for the mean time, he said that I will not run. What!? I just registered in two running events for two consecutive Sundays! He just said when it hurts, just give it a stretch. In other words, "DO NOT GUN FOR A PR, LING!". If I need some help with the stretching, I should tap a physical therapist...if I could not manage it. 

I checked on the internet for some ITB stretches and did a few last night. So far, the pain's no longer that pronounced, and I look forward to do a few intermittently throughout the day. You can check youtube.com and the Runners World website for these exercises.

If the same thing might happen to you, dear reader, doing the RICE is not enough.

RICE stands for:

R-est

I-ce

C-ompression

E-levation

Better do the RICER.

R-est

I-ce

C-ompression

E-levation

R-efferal.

The stretchinghandbook.com suggested to go to a physician or a physiatrist to check on the problem 48-72 hours after the injury has occur.

So as for me, I have to cancel some of those September gigs, or else, this might get worst. I am imposing a two-four week rest period, and every two weeks, I have to visit the physiatrist for evaluation if there is an improvement or not.

For those interested to visit the Advance Rehab Care and Sports Medical Centre, they are located at the Perpetual Succour Hospital, Gorordo Ave., Cebu City. You can call them at (032) 233-9314. There are two physiatrist there; Dr. Mary Jeane Oporto-Flordeliz and Dr. Jorgen Y. Lim. Dr.Floredeliz is available Mondays-Fridays 9 am-12 noon, but by appointment only. Dr. Lim accepts walk-ins, he is there from 10 am-12 noon. But you better get there earlier since it's first come, first serve basis.

When Hips and Knees Don't Lie

Later this week, (I have to wait for my colleague aka Bat Girl to return from her bat hunting expeditions in Rizal.)I have to see the doctor to check on my right knee and hip that's been bugging me this past few weeks. I am currently setting my sights in conquering my second half-marathon in Dumaguete this September, while it's still early (or is it late?) have them check by a physiatrist.(FYI: A physiatrist is a rehabilitation physician that are trained to diagnose and treating pain and injuries in the muscles, bones, nerves, tendons and ligaments.)

After running more than 10K every Sunday, my right knee and hip will hurt. I have to ice and give 3-4 days rest until the pain is gone. I haven't taken any anti-inflammatories (non-steroidal) yet, since I don't feel pain when I am just walking. 

 photo taken from this site:.http://www.arthroscopy.com/sp05001.htm

 

Photo taken from this site.http://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php5?title=Hip_Osteoarthritis

I already signed up for the annual Cebu Doctors University Run. I was taking into consideration that the terrain in flat and I don't need to play "patintero" to vehicles. Rest assured, readers, you'll get a full report on my injury.

Teleport Me! I Wanna Join This!

       Photo from the Solemates.

I just wish i have fairy godparents who lives in a fish bowl, and would grant my wishes by a whisk of a wand. "I wish I am injury-free!", or "Allow to replicate myself to do all my tasks at hand", or "Teleport me to Manila to join Coach Erik Spoelstra in the NBA Run!

You made us proud, Coach Spo. You better whip up LeBron's butt if he waants a championship.

Photo credits.

PS: The author is cheering for the Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs  and the Boston Celtics in the NBA.

Race for Life

RACE: Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry Race for for Life

Location: Parkmall, Ouano Ave., North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City, Cebu

Date: Aug. 1, 2010 4:00 AM-9:00 AM

Race Category: 15K

Bib Number: 15K-067

Race Time: 1:45:24 (UT)

Before I start sharing my experience on my first 15K run, let me start with my litany of praises and rants and raves. 

 I give this race 4 doggy paws.

PRAISES

- on time race start

- ample supply of water and 100 Plus

- polite marshalls and cadets (The cadets were very initiave, so read on!)

- spongebaths (Spongebob Squarepants and Dora were there! Damn, I did not had any photo taken together with them!)

- free food and drinks after the race.

- free liniment spray along the way.

- free massage after the race (I did not have this, since we I have Gina, our househelp. She is very good in massages!)

RANTS

- portalets!!!!!!! (This could have been my second ketchup run. I decided to run on a full bladder.)

- not-so-ice cold spongebaths

- separate timers for all race categories

The Experience

"Where are the portalets?" That's the first thing I asked on the people at the baggage counter as I deposted my bag. The lady did not seemed to get it at first, so I repeated the question, "Where are the portalets?" And again, she did not have a clue what the heck I was talking about. Exasperating, I asked her again, "Where are the portable toilets?" (Portalets is a term coined to shortened "portable toilets" here.) Now, the lady already got it. She instructed to go straight, turn left and there's the toilet. 

I dunno why organizers don't seemed to put up portable toilets in races being held within the vicinity of a mall?! Seriously, the mall may play host to your "runs", but their establishment is not fully open to cater to runners' "call-of-nature". Please, set up portalets during races! 

Since the announcer was already calling for the 15K runners to check-in to the starting line, so I decided to run on a full bladder, and pee along the way. Need not to worry, I am a cowboy.

So I decided to stick with my Tita Nene throughout the race. We consider this as our long Sunday run in preparation for the big one this September. (But I am still undecided to run the half-marathon or not.) Lately, I have been pre-occuppied with work since we already opened a new branch. Mostly, I have to work overtime through the past two weeks. Good thing, our boss pays us OT fee, so this means, I can have my Adizero Boston in slurpy, cherry red in no time. My last run was two Sundays ago, a 24Ker, wherein I was walking most of the second half of the route.

So anyway, our pace was consistent. We can still talk without even huffing and puffing, and it was a beautiful day so we tend to enjoy it, even if i was kinda pissed at the lady a little at the counter.

On our way back, Tita was kinda concern about our time. Will we make it in less than 2 hours. When I checked my watch, I told her, we were still good. 

Okay, about the cadets, I almost forgot. They were very smart. The first water station near the 3K turning point is on the side of the road. Unfortunately, runners were running in the middle of the road close to the center island. Since it's in Ouano Ave., trucks and buses and other vehicles are occupying the outer lanes. Runner's have to cross  and play "patintero" with these jumbos for a sip. Good thing the cadets, did the "patintero" and hand off water cups to the runners! Great job and good thinking!

What started as a bad trip for me, ended up to be positive. I finished the race in less than two hours. I felt elated. 

Glad to meet my buddies of running circa '09! I am happy that they are back and racing again! Woohoo!

from Running Slimpig's Facebook photos

Can you spot me in this photo among a band(it) of Ungo runners?

(clue: I wore pink shirt and black shorts and black with pink stripes shoes)