Wobbling Back

3 weeks after Boston, Dr. Groves gave me the go ahead to start back to running at my own will.  No stress fracture meant the pain was all soft tissue and running was ok.  he assured me the pain will shut me off before anything worse can happen to it, and that was music to my ears.  I love Dr. Jay Groves!!! He knows my mind and knows my drive...most other doc's would have said to stop running and take up something else...poo.  I run from fat, unhealthy docs who prescribe laziness and pills!!  I was ready to turn my run back 'on".

So, he said the pain will be the limiting factor, and IT WAS.  I started off on the ellipticals for a few days, then I was able to jog a little, slow and easy, with a noticibly altered stride.  I was scared to hurt something else while I was running so unevenly, but I just wanted to go.  it was running and I was just happy to be out there and breaking a sweat.  I started slowly for me - 3 miles, 4 miles, 5 miles...some days I made it 3 minutes and turned around and went home, it was just too painful for even me to withstand.  I wanted to be super careful not to let it alter my stride too badly that I would cause another injury.  It wasn't long before I eased into an every other day running plan that worked best, and was able to gently raise the mileage enough to start to rebuild some endurance.

Before Boston, I decided I would pick one BIG race and try to make my way back to IRONMAN HAWAII this year.  The race I picked was the BUFFALO SPRINGS LAKE 70.3  in Lubbock, Tx because I loved that race (i've dont it 4-5 times) and I could drive to it.  However, it was kinda hilly.  ok, really hilly.  actually Canyon hilly.  70% flat, then straight up and straight down pretty much.  I began to regret signing up for this race now that I have the foot to rebuild - as well as running endurance, but it was on the radar wether I liked it or not.

I suppose all i need is a rabbit.  that rabbit was Lubbock on June 24th.  6 weeks. 

Gulf Coast Tri in 1 week (May 12) was out.  bummer. 

For the upcoming 6 weeks, I would be teetering the line between getting the miles under my belt and getting injured. And I was ok with the risk. I was determined to get back on track, so I kept on the rebuilding, payed close attention to my foot, calf, knee - everything up the left side of my body.   I battled a few extra pounds, as well as chin splints and plantar fascitis along the way, but stayed one step ahead of them and still managed to get some modest miles in while spending time in the weight room and focusing alot on my bike and swim.  Things were moving along nicely...

Out, But Not Down

It's been 16 days since Boston. 

It's hard for me to believe that I could run a race like that then be immobilized by a foot injury 20 minutes after the race.  What's even harder to understand is that it didn't just go away after a few days which I admit I was expecting it to do.

The past 2 weeks have been a challenge to stay positive, keep focused on what I CAN do, and keep moving as if I would just wake up one day and be able to run.  I have enjoyed the free time to get other stuff done, but frankly, everything I do in a boot (and even moreso on crutches) has been exceedingly SLOW and encumbered.  So, I really don't feel like I was able to accomplish much.

But, GUESS WHAT?  This past Monday I got the best news possible.  After 2 weeks in a walking boot and most of the time on crutches for pain & "just in case" it was a stress fracture, I got the news that there was NO FRACTURE and my foot appears to be in good shape, with fluid and inflammation in that darn 2nd metetarsal/toe trouble spot I have.  What a relief.

For a while there, I thought all was lost on the year, but maybe I can get back on the run before long and still salvage the year and get to Kona and Vegas via the Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 in June in spite of this little speed bump.

So, sadly for me, Crawfishman is out this weekend for sure. The Gulf Coast Half Ironman next week...well, the optimist in me can't say I'm out just yet, although the reality is I probably wont do the run if I can get around without the boot at all by then.  Either way, this year I'm closing a chapter to a seven year streak as Overall Female in Crawfishman, and a three year streak as Overall Female at The Gulf Coast Triathlon in Panama City Beach, Fl. 

Bittersweet.

oh, right - planning my comeback for the TCHOPITOULAS BARATHON on May 18th. 

6 miles

6 bars

6 beers

I PAY TO PLAY

It's been a a little over a week since Boston and it seems as if I may be down for a while.
As I write this, I am at home in the middle of the day in bed with my foot propped up either wrapped in ice or in a boot. And as if that wasn't enough to stop me, I went ahead and caught some wacky bug that has given me a fever of 100-102 since Friday night. Total awesomeness. Not only can I not run right now, but anything requiring a heartbeat over 80 is pretty much out. so....now what do "i get to do?'... (other than whine a little...)
Upon arriving home, it was no time before the my podiatrist Jay Groves got me in to check me out. I love how well he takes care of me and sees that I get the absolute best care to get me back moving and running again.  There are a handful of doctors I deal with and recommend because they are not only smart and thoughtful practitioners, but also athletes or former athletes themselves, and Dr. Groves is at the top of that list.  He is without question at the top of his field and having him here in Louisiana has been a Godsend.

Xrays showed no fracture, so we are treating the injury as a possible stress fracture or big time soft tissue damage. He is leaning towards the soft tissue -tendonitis, inflammation, 26.2 miles of hilly torture basically, but we will check the xrays again in another week to see if a stress fracture does pop up.  I cant put any weight on the forefoot at all. If I do, the pain is about a 9 on a scale of 1-10, so that's pretty excruciating and I just try to avoid doing it.  I am in a compression boot and am on crutches which are a pain in the arse, but I think staying off of it as much as possible is the best and fastest way to the end.  I have never been one to take the easy route, so if this is the best way, however inconvenient or difficult, I'm game especially if it gets me there the fastest.

So that's the latest.  I'll keep the updates coming.  I hope in a week I'll be singing a new tune.

my Bum aches from sitting on it.  seriously.
So, It's chill time.  Racing and training is on the back burner for a while I heal and get better.  I will catch up on stuff I can do from my bum.  maybe finish some paintings I started after Ironman Florida last year...