Tag: Instagram

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Visiting Home: Omaha

Instagram understandably gets a pretty bad rap for poor file quality, but to me there is an intriguing side.  It’s simple system of organizing chronologically makes it a perfect time capsule for ongoing visual reportage.  And if that weren’t enough, it’s inherent idealized aesthetic makes collecting “perfect little specimens” of an experience effortless. This is especially interesting to me when I return to Omaha, because I always want to capture “home” perfectly, but in the end I know that is an impossible goal. Over time Instagrams start to become memories that precede the actual events they represent. I enjoy playing in this space creatively and visually. I think Instagrams are best viewed on the tiny screen of a smart phone device, which can be held ever so tenderly in the palm of your hand like a butterfly. Here are a few snaps from my recent visit home.

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I’m Back!

These shots are from my run Friday evening at Stiglmeier Park.  The fact that I stopped all along the way to take pictures means it was a leisurely run for me.  I haven’t wanted to overdo it, so I’ve been working my way back slowly.  I also ran with my running group on Tuesday, my running buddy on Thursday and with group again on Saturday morning.  All with NO KNEE PAIN!  On Saturday, we did 6 intervals of 7 minutes running 30 seconds walking and, much to my surprise, I stayed right on pace in spite of feeling behind on my cardio due to the time out for my Knee.  I’m so glad to be back to working on my goal.  The September 4th 5k is once again in my sights. I can’t speak highly enough of the benefits of Physical Therapy.

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Runner’s Knee

I’ve been participating in a beginners running group for about four weeks now.  Much to my dismay, in the last few days, I’ve  come up against my first major setback.  Runner’s knee. It’s probably because I over did it.  I went from not running at all to running 5 days a week between the group schedule and a schedule outlined by an ap I’ve been using called C25k.  Both are designed to train a new runner for a 5k within a couple of months.  I was almost in tears when the coach told me I may have to pull back and just walk until my knee heals.  I’m imagining this taking months.

But I’m determined to work through it, even if I have to walk the entire 5k in September.  In the meantime, I’m taking every measure within my own powers to improve the situation.  In the last 3 days, I’ve stopped running all together to allow my knee to heal.  I’m still following my running schedule, but walking instead.  I’m dutifully following the knee strengthening exercises the coach outlined for me.  I purchased a new pair of running shoes, that were fitted specially for me and my running style.  And I have an appointment with a physical therapist this week.

Once I set my mind on a goal, it’s difficult for me to just give up.  It took me a long time to take the first step and I’m not going to let my first setback stop me.  There may be more setbacks along the way.  If so, I will face them, and hopefully they will make me stronger.

“I never could stand being forced to do something I didn’t want to do at a time I didn’t want to do it. Whenever I was able to do something I liked to do, though, when I wanted to do it, and the way I wanted to do it, I’d give it everything I had.”
― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running