blessing in disguise?

So what does one do when they can't run? Beside complain about not running, think about running, and avoid the new Runner's World? Well, they (I) sign up for races. Is this wrong? One race right after another. Besides signing up for the Cleveland marathon I am now officially signed up for the Shamrock Shuffle 8K. Yes, I know I swore I would never run this horrendous, overcrowded race again BUT my friend and her fabulous sister are running and I can never, EVER pass up a race with friends who don't normally run. Next on the sign up sheet... either the Cincinnati Pig 1/2 marathon or relay. This all depends on my friend who may switch teams and I would either take her relay spot and run the same relay leg as her on different teams (I would run with her husband, sister and her sister's boyfriend) or just run a very hilly but fun half marathon 2 weeks before the Cleveland full! Hey the swag is fantastic and I haven't visited my friends since they moved to Cincy so it is about time I made the 4 hour drive. Then come Feb 1st the Chicago marathon registration opens. Do I sign up? I'm thinking it might be YES!

Honestly as stressed out as I am about this foot/ankle ridiculous, random injury I have it has been the best thing for me. I was burned out before the injury. I was not enjoying running; it felt like a chore. I didn't want to do anything my schedule called for and couldn't find joy or motivation in anything. Now I appreciate running. I look forward to the day I can run to McCormick Place (my 10 mile turnaround point of my 20 mile run). I can't say I won't take the ability to run for granted again but I will embrace it with everything I have once I return. I miss weekend long runs. These last few weekends I've spent wandering around the house trying to figure out what to do. I can not wait for this Thursday in which I meet with the podiatrist again. Happy, positive thoughts I will be out of the horrendous black boot and on my way to lacing up 2 shoes. Though before that I have another work trip on the schedule. So I hope 1) the blizzard they are calling for does not actually hit and 2) my flight makes it back in town so I can make my appointment and 3) Dr. Jacobson clears me for running once again. After fitting me for orthotics of course :)

stress and no running

What day is it? Which way is up? Work has been absolutely non-stop since returning from Disney and it feels like my head is about to explode. Some days I'm so overwhelmed I have no idea where to even start. It ends up taking a good portion of my morning/night writing out my "to do" list. (Yes, I still write my lists out by hand. There is something satisfying about physically checking off my hand drawn box next to the item.) I've been on the road for work and when I'm done on site I have several more hours of work in the hotel room. I'm tired even though I have made sure to get at least 7-8 hours each night. I haven't had much time to myself the little time I do have is spent getting life stuff done around the house or sitting in a catatonic state. :)

Normally when life gets like this I have running/working out/sweat session to fall back on. Even getting away for 20 minutes helps me feel more centered and ready to attach the list when I return. Unfortunately I'm still in the boot. The only workout I can do is lift some weights as I have no access to a pool. Weights don't really cut the stress factor. I've found myself turning to not the healthiest stress releaser - why yes, I'll take another glass of wine - for example. I'm not a complete lush though. I do try to other things like a hot bath or a good book.

Now here I go stating the obvious. Being hurt sucks. Not being able to run when it's 50 degrees outside where I was traveling to and seeing runners everywhere really sucks.

So what do you do when the stress peaks and you can't run?

injured and out

During the marathon portion of the Goofy Challenge 2 weeks ago I felt a slight pain in my left foot. I didn't think much of it because I could still run and figured it was my shoes or the fact the longest I had run in a weekend. Post race I was struggling to walk but still didn't think too much of it. By the time I showered and got ready to go back to Epcot to eat I couldn't walk. I hate to take any kind of medication but I popped some ibuprofen later in the day to take the edge off. I still had 3 more days of walking around Disney! Each day it felt progressively better after icing at night and compression socks/ibuprofen during the day. I returned home Thursday and made an appointment for the podiatrist just to make sure it was nothing more serious than an overuse injury.

Yeah, I've been in this for the last week and was told today I have 2 more weeks...
Sexy I know. So is the all the hobbling I have to do because I don't have any shoes that are just the right height. My podiatrist doesn't think it's a stress fracture but he can't be 100% sure from my x-rays. To be on the safe side and since I do still have some residual pain I'm in the hot black boot for a bit longer.

I am going stir crazy! I need to sweat and not because I ate too many delicious chocolate/butterscotch/peanut rice krispy treats. I may have to take this sucker off next week and see how the bike/elliptical feel...

This really puts a damper on my next marathon plans. Cleveland. May 15th. Mr. H and I are running again together and the goal was to break 4 hours. I signed up while waiting for my flight to Orlando 2 weeks ago. My new goal may just be just get to the start line :(