There’s not a lot that I’m scared of. Hell, I just jumped out of a plane a few weeks ago. But, one thing that makes me really nervous occurred on my way home from Denver today. I was behind this:
Call me irrational, call me an alarmist, but this whole thing makes me very uncomfortable. All the “what ifs” come to mind. What if that skimpy belt holding the porta potty on the truck broke thereby splashing watery brown contents onto me?
Fortunately, minutes after this was taken, the vehicle turned off the road. The driver probably had to use the bathroom. His bathroom. Come to think of it, this would be a great thing to bring along on a road trip. No searching out McDonald’s or rest stops. Just have your kid climb over the seat, out the back window, and into the john. Easy as that.
The good news is I can take pictures while I drive. The other good news is, the mountains look gorgeous today.
Doc update:
Thanks for continuing to ask about the injury and when I can burn the crutches.
I went to see Mr. Sport’s Medicine yesterday. He said two more weeks on the crutches. Damn him. He also said these magical words:
“My Christmas gift to you is that you will be running by January 1st.”
We reviewed the MRI and the area of the stress fracture. Hard to believe this little one inch spot is causing all this commotion. We talked a lot about Boston goals and he agreed that the mission is to get me to the start line healthy and ready/able to run. Better to be a bit undertrained than over trained or injured. I told him a PR was not going to be likely and he assured me few people PR on the Boston course just because it is such a tough course after the first six miles. Injury or not.
Not surprisingly, all of this gave me total piece of mind. I will heal, I will start running and training. I will not put pressure on myself in regards to pace, speed, or number of miles. My goals for Boston are simple: run pain free and complete the race. Then we’ll go from there.
Next week I have a bone scan and blood work to see if we can find out more about why I get these fractures.
Counting the days ‘til the new year (63 to be exact),
SUAR
This sounds like FANTASTIC news! So glad your doc is confident that you will be ready to go for the new year! I completely agree with getting yourself there injury free, even if that means less trained than you would trypically like. You did your hard work to get to Boston, you get to run that one for FUN!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the ceremonial burning of the crutches!
Poop truck spewing its contents in your general direction - deja vu or am I out of line here...
ReplyDeleteYayyy! My doctor gave me the same answer for "when is the next marathon I can run?" He also said don't expect to PR there, and I got to smirk back as I told him I PRd on the course last year. SO exciting you have a light at the end of the horrible stress fracture tunnel!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome news! The next two weeks will fly by and you'll be able to burn those crutches before you know it!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the bone scan! I hope everything comes back o-kay!
Great news!
ReplyDeleteI also hate driving behind and beside logging trucks! Freaks me out!
Great news! So hapy for you!!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding news! A light at the end of the tunnel. 2011 is going to be big for SUAR. Boston doesn't stand a chance.
ReplyDeleteGreat news!! And the mountains are gorgeous, I wanna come visit!
ReplyDeleteNothing, and I mean NOTHING creeps me out more than porta potties. I cannot even stand the thought of them.
ReplyDeleteNot that I think about them a lot.
Anymore.
what an excellent christmas present! i'd be really interested to know the answers to why you get the fractures. i'm really paranoid that i'll get one or that i have one hahah
ReplyDeleteYay!!!! I hope that makes you happy. Makes me happy. I just got benched by my doctor, too. No fun. But now you can load us up with some advice, Sammy's birthday posts and product reviews and you can run vicariously through us lesser beings!
ReplyDeleteGreat news !!!
ReplyDeleteAss far as the poop truck goes< remember : " OUR CRAP,IS HIS BREAD AND BUTTER " wait on it, wait on it! o.k. that's gross.
That's brilliant news! How good that you have a doctor who really understands your lust for running.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! That is great news.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your doc rocks...
ReplyDeleteand for what it's worth, I have an irrational fear of being behind vehicle carrying anything at all on the back... I've seen way too many news stories.
I'm a little scared that you took that photo while driving. ;)
ReplyDeleteHooray -- good news about running January 1st! :)
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to bring a toilet on the road with me. I have often considered getting one of those pop-up camping toilets. I never thought of just strapping a John to the back of my car...
The two biggest drops in the Boston course are in the first 4 miles and the last 5 miles. People are typically too tired to really take advantage of the drop in the last 5 miles. The streets are really narrow in the first 4 miles, unless your are a front runner, you are going to have the company of almost 23,000 other runners on skinny roads. It takes a while to get up to your pace so it is hard to take advantage of that initial decline.
ReplyDeleteDana
That's great news! At least you know what you're looking at for a timeline now.
ReplyDeleteI would be nervous behind that truck as well...
I missed the good news everyone's commenting about, is it that you're getting your own portapottie? I really would have thought you already had one. Oh....portapotties in Boston!
ReplyDeleteHey, I hope it was okay to talk to my pt about your fractures! It seemed like a good thing at the time, during my pain I talked about your pain. Anyway, he said that often they are related to stride, balance and the torque of your body. Whatever that means, I just thought I would send along that useless piece of knowledge and wisdom. Maybe it means something to you? Ok, I'll mind my own business now! Hope you're healing well, careful with the driving and photography!!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you were going to hyjack that guy so you'd have your own porta-potty - you know, for races and all, so no wait-lines!!
ReplyDeleteI think Boston is a sucky course!! And not just cuz I sucked bad this year (afterall, I did it well the year before) but because it's so downhill at the start and that gets you going too fast, it's way too crowded, it smells horrible as you run past countless Wendy's (Katie A said, "OMG, I am going to barf" at least 10 timest to me) and because those hills come at the end. Boston is about the "experience" - it is not a PR course. Have fun with it and enjoy the journey!!! :)
That's great news! January is not that far away. I hope you are able to get to the root cause of the fractures and be done with them forever!
ReplyDeletePatience - Christmas will be here before you (and I) know it. So glad you got great news.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the truck was empty and needed someone to test it out.
ReplyDeleteThat's good news from the doctor. Glad to hear there are only 63 more days; it will be here before you know it.
fingers crossed and sending healing vibes your way!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, my friend Meg suggested I follow you. Seems we are both prone to stress fractures. I set a world record over the summer for most Blog Posts about Aqua Jogging. I'm back on land and am working super hard on transitioning to a mid-foot strike. Anyway, I invite you to my Blog. Since you have 914 Followers, you're probably not looking for new ones :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that you're still on the crutches, but overall it's great news! I hope that you can get some answers from the bone scan and blood tests.
ReplyDeletei will not be racing boston. my goal is to put in a good effort but to have fun and soak it all in. there are other races, much less exciting, to PR at.
ReplyDeletemake sure you listen to the doc and come back slow and easy.
So glad to hear the healing is happening. You know...the toughest part of the injury is going to be when it feels a lot better but you STILL won't be able to run. You'll feel like it but that Doc. is going to say HOLD ON! Still.. Jan. 1 will be here (WAYYYY too soon for us NYers fighting snow, ice and cold) and I can't wait to hear how that first trip back on the road with the running shoes goes.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the healing.
Good thoughts on Boston. I was told the same thing: don't try to PR, it's a tough race. Guess I'll be content with enjoying the experience and hoping for at least under 4.
Now two weeks away from my "you should be feeling pretty good by then" check-up, I am SLIGHTLY jogging/ambling/keeping both feet off the ground at one time. 4 months from the fracture and my weekly mileage is....1 mile! AND! I can put my pants on like a normal person!
ReplyDeleteHealing happens. Slowly. Best of luck getting to Boston. I missed my chance to register (I deferred last year), so I'll be rooting for you.
I am sure you've seen this, but just in case you missed it
ReplyDeletehttp://www.failfunnies.com/28/pages/having-an-accident-fail.html
I am really computer inept so if that doesn't work just google marathon runner poops. BEWARE!!!
Fast, healthy recovery to you.