CAITLYN GERMAIN
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Apologies in advance, there has been a glitch with pictures loading on the wrong posts; pictures may not correspond with each post.
I am working on fixing it but hope it doesn't distract from any information you can gather on my experience with PAES and the McGinley Method.

Week 7: The Last Comeback

6/24/2019

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.Here we go! My first week that had some summer vacation in it! Sitting here writing this I can't believe I worked last week at all! It's been a crazy week! I like to feel inspired to write because at the end of the day it's all for me anyway... but I know there are some running nerds out there who really love to read about training, so I'll try my best to stick with it even though it is pretty redundant right now.
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Monday 6/17: 
3 mile walk/run and 1 hour spin. 
I was on the treadmill for the run again, but today I didn't have the girls in Kids Korner. I could have run outside but since I'm still adjusting to running in the orthotics it's easier to be on the treadmill so I can just take them out if I need to. I started with a 5 minute walk and then did 3:00 runs and 2:00 walks for 35 minutes and covered exactly 3 miles in that time then got straight in for spin. 
Spin class was really hard per usual, but really celebratory of the hard year of work I did in school this year. I've mentioned before that the spin instructor is my coworker and so a lot of the songs and themes were related to school being out which made me so psyched! I really still can't believe I made it through this year. It was so hard (that was the other blog I started writing... but... ugh, teachers can't complain about work the way normal people can, especially when it involves a specialized population like my work does so I didn't publish it even if I was done tastefully.) I did the glute warm up stuff before the run today so that was about all I did for strength work today. 
Tuesday: OFF
I did not do anything after school today. I was just very, VERY happy to be done with school. I spent the whole day at work getting prepped for next year. I went through every students IEP on my list for next year and prepared assessments and binders, and so much work ... The kids had a pretty low key day of mostly movies and cleaning. Sometimes that can be really difficult for kids with Autism because the schedule change is tough, but they handled it well and that really was helpful. I hope that the work I've put in to prepare for next year eliminates a lot of the stress I feel in the beginning of the year. I don't have time for that stress I've got a marathon to run!​
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Wednesday: 4.2 Miles with double stroller.
My husband had a big meeting in Boston so he left really early. He's been very busy since he returned from Switzerland. There's a light at the end of the tunnel! His deadline is approaching and I'll be really happy when it's here! Even though he's home a lot, he's really busy. I wasn't going to be able to get the kids into Kids Korner today because I had Raea's dress rehearsal for dance so I didn't want to kill an hour in commuting. So instead I took the girls to the rail trail and got in a walk run there. Run 5 walk 1... first time in the orthotics for the full run. It was really humid and as a result really buggy so maybe the rail trail wasn't the best choice. It was fine as long as I was running, but the walk breaks were no fun. It could have been worse, but certainly got chased by bugs more than I wanted. Raea was even saying "mom! You can't walk! They're going to get us!".... I put bug spray on all of us before so the mosquitoes mostly just flew around us.... but still annoying. I felt okay, but felt a little sore in my hip today. I have to assume it's because I'm pushing 100lbs and that is putting stress in areas differently. I don't know. Whatever. I rushed home to get a late lunch for the girls and start getting ready for the rehearsal. I was so proud of Raea for getting up on stage and doing so well! She was nervous but when the lights were on, she was nothing but smiles! Kids are so resilient! She loved watching the other dancers. I noticed my coaches daughter dancing. She was born when I was in high school, and she had a solo. I might have cried a bit watching her and thinking about him not being there. Ugh! Being a parent has made me cry for pretty much everything in life! Anyone else? 
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Thursday: OFF
I went to the podiatrist in the morning and got the okay to increase runs and or keep the runs the same and do one back to back. When he pressed around on my heel, I still had pain so that was annoying, but the good news is I don't feel it when I wake up or walk around. It's still healing but it's able to heal since I'm not putting much stress on it anymore. I was really hesitant with the orthotics. I hate this idea that I am dependent on something or that I need something unnatural to function optimally....  but alas, he said that my quick adjustment to them just shows how much I needed them. 
Friday: 3.5 Miles
Still walk/running, but now I'm doing 5 minute intervals. It was really pretty out even though it was insanely humid. I thought a lot of my old coach, Kevin Kirk, who passed away 5 years to the day. He’s been on my mind a lot for many reasons, 1. As mentioned earlier in the week, I saw his daughter dance a solo with lyrics and grace that made me cry, 2. The mount Washington road race always remind me that the anniversary of his death is approaching. I was up in the mountains as close to heaven as you can get around here and even with the limited service i got a text sending word he passed. It was one beautiful day in the clouds.... perfect for the man I thought of as a second father. I focused on enjoying my health this run... and that’s all he ever asked of me.... that and to “breathe”....

I got my hair done in the morning and actually added color to it. YIKES! I'm getting used to it, but I also chopped off a lot so I felt really light and free. It feels so nice to not have hair smacking me in the back or pulling on my head an causing a headache. I felt decent on this run and since my kids were in daycare I had a chance to do some really focused pelvic floor work. My sister started a program and told me about it. I've tried a few of the breathing exercises to see if I like it the program. They are really hard!
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Saturday: Off
I was miserably sore in my abs today. It had to be from the pelvic floor stuff. I spent the whole day lifting and doing stairs helping my mom and dad clean the barn where all of my siblings and I have stored our crap for the past decade. We made a lot of progress! It was kind of fun to look at all my old things! 
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Sunday: 4 miles
Walking warm up, 7 minute run and 1 minute walk x 4. I felt pretty good today even though it was so hot. It was the first really hot day and I wasn't prepared. Usually, when it's going to be hot, you plan to run at night or in the morning and be sure to hydrate. I wasn't sure when I'd get to run today because we had Raea's recital. I certainly didn't do a very good job hydrating (I was afraid to need the bathroom 100 times during the show!). We ordered some pizza for immediately after the show to have at my moms house (where Maebel was waiting with my sisters) and pretty much right when I finished eating I snuck out for a run while Raea was playing with her Aunties. It's so nice when they are home for the summer. Starting next week one of my sisters will be working at the gym in the Kids Korner! We joke that she'll finally be paid to watch my kids. I'm so lucky to have them watch the girls without even batting an eye... and my daughters love it! 
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Jealousy ?
So I'm starting to really run albeit only a few days a week, but I'm excited for this training cycle. I'm honestly excited to just focus on running a BQ and to dial back the goals to something that doesn't scare me or put the pressure on. It makes it a lot easier to just enjoy the process and I think I really need that right now. who knows maybe as things start picking up I can change my goal, but for now... just staying focused on staying healthy. 
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    Hello!

    Welcome to my blog! I've been blogging for a long time on various platforms. My intention has never been to reach the masses, but rather to give myself a chance to reflect and journal. I feel it at least challenges me to be somewhat coherent, however you can expect ramblings and grammatical incorrectness here! 

    I've recently been diagnosed with CECS and fPAES and had it treated with BOTOX of all things... So I suspect to see more and more people looking for answers with that in the future and hope to continue blogging so there will be easy to access follow-ups as that was helpful for me.

    NOTE: Apologies that some of the pictures incorrectly load sometimes. I try to keep up with the glitches, but can't always! Hope it doesn't impact the blog experience for all the PAES visitors.  
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  • Home
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