And the problem was...

a tight calf and achilles tendon, and a completely effed up left hip. So this explains why my right foot went numb in the middle of the Chicago tri, and why I ended up crying more tears of pain than happiness from cramping...

So here I am, 3 weeks and some change away from the biggest race of my life yet and one of my steps towards being an iron(wo)man: the Chicago marathon, and I am now in physical therapy 2-3 days a week for Plantar Fasciitis, overtight muscles in my right lower leg, and a jacked up left hip. I woke up on Monday after an amazing 14 mile run on Sunday with extreme pain in my right heel. I knew right away what it was. I did some yoga Tuesday and Wednesday, and after some convincing, made it to Accelerated to visit with a Physical Therapist on Wednesday. I found out that day how very much this race means to me.

Lindsey did her normal "thing" to check for injuries: measurements of my legs, hips, feet, my uneven legs (yes, one is longer than the other), and reminded me that my hip strength isn't all that. She checked my right foot closely, and hit it with some vibrating metal contraption, upon which I made a face and yelled "ouchiiieeee" (okay, I just said ow). She looked up at me and gave me the "ooohhhh sh*t" face...like "This is NOT just a muscle issue." She pulled over the machine to the table and said "we are doing an ultrasound RIGHT now!" My heart fell. The idea of not running this race NEVER ran through my head. My runs have been vastly improving, my endurance is what it has never been before, and I have finally learned to push through my walls. I am assuming the rush was because I put my foot down about running the race (pun intended); I was NOT not going to run the marathon, no.matter.what. She told me I may have a stress fracture, and if I did, the ultrasound would HURT. I cringed as she ran the handle over my foot, but luckily, it never hurt. No fracture :).

I had my first day of PT today--I am to do 4 exercises a day at home--3 for my calves/achilles/ankles, and 1 for my hips (gotta love the monster walk--I better get a firm butt out of this). I am to meet with her 2-3 days/week until the marathon. She spent most of her time rubbing, pulling, stretching, giving me heat therapy via ultrasound, and evaluating. I could get used to this. She put me on a Power Plate Vibration machine for about 10 minutes as well. It vibrates (duh), which forces the muscles in your legs to "work" without you moving. In a non-scientific explanation, the vibrating forces the muscles to not only loosen up, but also strengthens them as they try to stabilize themselves during the vibrating motion. The vibrating also removes toxins from the body via better blood circulation, so hopefully it's "cleaning out" my legs. I am sold. Next: Sports massage from Pierre at the Old Town location before and after the race.

I know the injuries could be worse, and I am not in a TON of pain. I can still run and I do still have two legs, so all in all, I am a happy camper. I had a rude awakening yesterday when I heard a phone call taken by a good friend who is a PA. One of her breast cancer patients (who has stage 3 or 4 cancer) was found on her floor after lying there for three days, too weak to move, and had to be admitted to the hospital. I heard the call, and though I don't EVER take my health for granted, I realized how very special our "kind" is. We can get up in the morning and run 10 miles like it's nothing, we can swim a few miles and laugh about it, and we can bike for 6 hours and recover in 2 days.

So be it, I am injured, but it's curable. I will run the marathon with all my heart and soul, and it will be for and in honor of not only my hero--my grandmother--but also for and in honor of those who have no choice--who cannot run, or even walk, because of circumstances out of their control.

Injuries happen, they suck, they will make you angry, cry, scream, hurt, moody, sleepy, and grouchy. But guess what? You still can.