I suppose it had to happen. All of my good luck had to come to an end.
Okay, so I don't believe in good luck.
All of my hard work was paying off.
And then it happened.
I injured myself.
It happened three weeks ago. I was so upset I didn't blog. I know, that defeats the purpose of a blog, in many ways. I don't care. It's my blog and I'll blog or not blog if I want to. And I will bitch or not bitch if I want to. And you will read or not read if you want to. (But I would like you to continue reading.)
I thought it would be a nice change of scenery. I had several meetings on the St. Bonaventure University campus. I thought it would be nice to run on the Allegheny River Trail. This trail is so incredibly scenic - snaking its way alongside the Allegheny River. I love water and love to run near it.
I got to mile 1.5 and felt something off in my heel. At first I thought it was a muscle pull that I could run through. Um, no. I then thought I could walk it off. I walked up to the two mile marker and then turned around. Tried to run and failed. I limped the two miles back to my car.
I got in touch with our coaches and our trainer. I tried to run on it the next day and failed. Then I was to rest it. I missed the 10 mile long run.
Then I missed the 12 mile run and another 10 mile long run.
And many runs in between.
I would try to run while and would get to one mile. Sometimes, on really good days, I would get to three miles. I couldn't break the three mile barrier. I was getting frustrated.
It made me more frustrated when two different podiatrists told me they didn't think anything was wrong and that I could run on it. One thought it was a pinched nerve. Another thought I could work through it. I return to my regular podiatrist in a few weeks for a follow up. Perhaps I need new orthotics.
Perhaps I need a lobotomy.
What possessed me to think I could do this?
Of course, this isn't the kind of thinking I normally do. I am generally optimistic. But it has been three weeks since I have been able to do any sort of substantial running. Thank God I can ride my bike and do yoga so I have some sort of cross-training to count on. Because this running thing isn't working out so well.
Over the weekend I downloaded the map of the race course. I was thrilled! I will get to run by all the major monuments in DC as well as along the Potomac River. I did notice that if you haven't reached mile 19 by a certain time, you will be asked to get on the straggler bus for transport to the end of the race. I guess they have to open the road. The race pace is a 14 minute mile. I am slow, but I can do better than a 14 minute mile.
When I can run.
Now I am more determined. All of my naysaying and pessimism have been tossed away. I am going to finish this race. And I am not going to ride the straggler bus. And I am going to run through our nation's capital proud that I can run at all. And I am going to see all of the leukemia and lymphoma patients and their families cheering us on and I am going to be prompted to go a little faster so that I finish.
And I will finish.
And then yesterday I ran four miles. A small victory, to be sure, but I broke my three mile barrier.
And today I am going to my yoga class because I miss my fellow yogis. And tomorrow I am going to try to run five miles. Five pain free miles.
And then I am going to the Erie County Fair (booth number 149 in the Agricenter) to sell my lotions and lip balms and other products.
And I am going to sweat my breasts right off my chest.
