Injury (ies) (ies)

It's been quite sometime since I have posted, and I actually have some down time, so what better way to use it than to post about injuries. Hmmppph. I recently found my happy place with marathons this past fall, however, they do not like me...yet.

Let's go back to the fall of 2009. The marathon was the ONE race I told myself I would NEVER EVER do. Having been a smoker for 10 years (and having quit 2 years and 26 days ago :) ), and I absolutely hated running, why would I want to run 26.2 miles? In 2009, I knew that I had to face the race in order to personally feel prepped for my IM in 2011 (next year...EEEEPPP!). While I won't drag you through the upper teen runs I did every week, I will tell you I absolutely fell in love with running. Getting up at 5:00am (and sometimes 4:30am) to run along the Chicago lakefront in the summer was an amazing experience, and always a great way to start my day. I was doing great...I was biking and swimming as well since I was training for the afore mentioned Chicago Tri. I think the cross training really helped keep me injury free. I was no longer cross training after the Chicago Tri, and like clock work, on September 18th, 4 weeks from the marathon, I ended up injured. Very injured.
I ended up with plantar fasciatis in my right foot, and also had patella tendonitis, achilles tendonitis, and EXTREME calf tendonitis in my left leg (It took Pierre my massage therapist--yes that is his real name--40 minutes just to soften the fascia in my calf). I received Astym 4 times (google it if you don't know what it is--I LOVE it, and it hurts SO good...), sonic therapy and massages several times, and attended PT like I was the one getting paid to attend. I was NOT missing this marathon, and I was NOT missing my 4:30 goal time. Luckily I was never told not to run, but to take it easy.

Race day came, and believe it or not, ran completely pain free...except for a nagging blister on my pinkie toe at mile 23. Ouch. And let me tell you...that built up my mental 6-pack. I ran through the pain, crossed the finish line alone, and cried tears of joy alone. The Chicago marathon was handsdown the best, most amazing race I have ever done. The crowd was heart touching and wonderful. I saw my mom at mile 25, and I couldn't have been happier to see her pom poms and her camera, and feel her hugging me at my charity tent, crying tears of joy that her "baby actually did it." I am usually a music person--I love music--when I at home, reading, etc., music touches my soul. I listened to my iPod for a total of 20 minutes during the race; otherwise I just took all of the magic in. And that's what it was. Magic. My grandma was attached to me the entire time in a photo of her and I...she is how I got through the race. I still have that pin in my house on my shelf, to remind me everyday how very much I miss her, and how I was able to put my heart and soul into something and accomplish it. I am sure this is a reminder that will be needed for my first HIM (this year) and IM.

I finished the marathon in 4:39...9 minutes slower than what I wanted. Amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better race. So I signed up for St. Louis. It takes place EXACTLY 6 months after the Chicago marathon, on April 11th 2010. To many I am crazy and an idiot. To me, I am again injured, and of course thinking I am crazy and somewhat of an idiot.

I went to the doctor last week and she told me I need to lay off of running for 1-1.5 months due to ankle tendonitis in my right foot. To anyone who is a seasoned runner, this is HORRIBLE news. I LOVE to run. It's my release after a bad day, it's my emotional escape, it's my escape from reality, it's what I do 3-4 days a week. It's what I do for 30-40 miles/week. I am currently debating on whether or not I want to carry through with the STL marathon. 3 months after STL, I have my first HIM--my longest and most awesome(est) race thus far. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.2 mile run. Wala.

I planned on running the STL marathon in 4:15...a PR of 25 minutes. My eventual goal is to qualify for Boston. I was on track for my time, doing 2 speed workouts a week (Max threshold half-mile repeats and Yasso 800s, and long runs at race pace - 5 seconds. As soon as I took myself to the pavement for my 14 mile run on a balmy and foggy 35 degree Sunday, my ankle decided it had a enough, and I was at my PT's office again last Thursday.

I cannot help to wonder, will the injuries ever cease? Before the Chicago marathon injury, I suffered IT band syndrome before my first tri in 2007, in my left leg. I know, and I have been told, my left hip bone is higher than my right, which will cause multiple problems (and obviously is). I have spent thousands of dollars to help "fix" me, and to help condition myself for what I consider to be my hobby, my life--racing. I get upset to think I will constantly have to battle some type of injury any time I wish to run a marathon or train for long distances, but I guess I should remind myself what I do is NOT normal.

I have never ever had to back out of a race due to an injury, so the next few weeks will be crucial, emotional, and definitely difficult. However, to quote Dean Karnazes, there is a magic in the misery. Just knowing I can do it may have to be enough. Just this once.