The winner of the 110% Play Harder Calf Sleeves is Haley from Climb, Run, Lift, Mom.
Congrats! Drop me an email at shutuprun@gmail.com and I’ll tell you how to claim your prize!
I’m trying to not let Boston consume my every thought, but it’s hard. I’ve been up since 4:30 a.m. hashing through stuff. The journey to get here has been dramatic, long and bumpy. Like I have to tell you that. I will say that although this upcoming trip revolves around “The Boston,” it represents much more than a race for me.
Remember back in January when my daughter made this for me?
She must have had a crystal ball.
The day I found this gift on my desk I was incredibly touched. I was not, however, convinced I would make it to “The Boston.” At that time, I still had a lot of pain, had been told by my PT I should not run Boston, and could scarcely put in any miles. Our close friends planned on making the trip to see me run Boston and I told them not to buy tickets because I just wasn’t sure I would be able to do it. That sucked.
See the thing is, I’m okay with not PR’ing. I'm okay with walking some. But, I am not okay with doing the race in pain and perhaps setting myself back even more. It was a huge question mark back in January and February.
What a difference three months can make. I am pain free. I feeling twinges now and then, but mostly my left hip feels as strong as my right.
When you’re injured, it’s kind of like when you’re pregnant (minus the growing fetus and the huge boobs and the puking). Everyone has an opinion about you and your situation. I do appreciate most advice and input, but sometimes it’s confusing and overwhelming.
- You’re lucky, you healed so fast.
- What’s wrong with you? It took you so long to heal.
- You must be malnourished.
- You should run barefoot.
- Did you try acupuncture?
- You’re in the wrong shoes.
- Only run on trails.
- Run on the surface your race is on.
- You must have a vitamin deficiency.
- Did you get bone scan?
- Eat more anti-inflammatory foods, more dairy, less dairy, more protein, etc.
- Stretch.
- Don’t stretch.
The list goes on.
These are all good ideas and things to think about. But, my point is – we heal in our own time and we all make sense of our injuries in different ways. We make a choice whether we grow and learn from what has happened.
I don’t know if I over-trained and that led to my injury. My training plan was reasonable, moderate. My goals were consistent with my fitness level and history. Bottom line is that I am in the highest risk group for stress fractures: female, over forty, thin, white.
I wish I were a stocky black man.
Who knows? I just may be someone who need to run less and cross train more. I am determined to keep running, but am willing to change how I do things in order to stay healthy. Being a newer runner I got SO excited about my goals and races that perhaps it got away from me and I lost perspective and balance. I am finding my way back to somewhere in the middle.
So, yes, Boston is WAY more than a race for me. It represents healing, strength, overcoming adversity, determination. I did not go it alone. I had you. I had my family, my friends, my faith.
So, thank you. For being there. For raising me up. For believing in me. For supporting me. For being honest when I needed to hear it. For loving me and my poop woes.
SUAR
Great post! I'm so excited to hear about your Boston experience! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteYou wish you were a stocky black man so that you could have a giant, huge, enormous ... appetite? HAHA.
ReplyDeleteDon't get all sappy on us now. I don't wanna read mushy stuff.
Congrats on getting to this point now. Enjoy the weekend!
I really appreciated this post...all those things are exactly why I feel so frustrated being injured. I completely beat myself up about it on a regular basis...like if I had made 100,000 different choices I would be fine. blah. It was good to know that others feel like that as well but I am definitely determined to keep running because I love it so much...just need to figure out what works best for me :)
ReplyDeleteSo excited for you to run "The Boston" :) Can't wait to read all about your experience!!
oh! and p.s. Just started reading/following your blog and I LOVE it. excited to keep following :)
It's not often that I wish I were a stocky black man. But, I find myself with the other risk factors too ... so maybe?
ReplyDeleteBe glad people didn't reach out and touch your injury, like they do to a pregnant belly.
Enjoy the Boston.
Thank YOU for being such an awesome inspiration through all of this.
ReplyDeleteAwww loved this!!
ReplyDeleteAnd that collage still makes my heart all warm inside. Your daughter is so sweet!
and I LOL'd at the comment above about folks touching your injury like a pregnant belly!
Very nice post, well said! Hope you and your family all have fun in Beantown!
ReplyDeleteBe proud of where you have been and how you pulled yourself through. Have a great time in Boston!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet post. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck in Boston. You'll be great!
Every year my gyno gives me the "female, over forty, thin, white" speech and warns me about my bone density. Last year I asked him if he was suggesting I become a lard-ass couch potato? Since pretty much that's the only one of the four attributes that I can actually change. He said no.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read about the next stage in your Boston adventure. Have fun and be safe!
Excellent post! I LOVE that your daughter made that for you. Special!!
ReplyDeleteMy fave thing you said in this post:
"These are all good ideas and things to think about. But, my point is – we heal in our own time and we all make sense of our injuries in different ways. We make a choice whether we grow and learn from what has happened."
Exactly!! Good luck!!! Have a wonderful time. Can't wait to read all about it!
Boston Baby! You got your Golden Ticket!!!!!!! All the stuff inbetween just makes it that much sweeter!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on Monday!
ReplyDeleteI bet Ken is glad you are not a stocky black man. :D
ReplyDeleteHave a great race on Monday!
Woo hoo :)
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck on Monday!! I'm sure you'll do fantastic :)
okay so you don't want to hear injury advice, how about our "grossest" (something tells me you might like this) BostonMarathon experiences:
ReplyDelete1. like how it was so crowed running on the narrow street that sweat from the guy in front of me kept dripping in my mouth
2. the time when somehow at mile 20 my tampon fell out and I was so afraid that a volunteer would have to pick it up that I went back and got it and ran the last 6 miles with a used tampon in my hand...
WHAT WE DON"T ENDURE FOR A LOVE OF RUNNING!! GOOD LUCK AT BOSTON HAVE FUN and tell your stories ha!
Hey---this has been a great journey for all of us to have with you! So glad to hear you say that you want to run forever and will be smart about being able to do that. You are a ROCK and I can't wait to hear about "THE BOSTON!"
ReplyDeleteps--it's a lot easier to think of a thin, 40-year old white woman pooping in the woods, than a short stocky black man....
I'd tell you to break a leg, but .....
ReplyDeleteHave fun running The Boston. You'll always be a stocky black man in our hearts.
I read about you in Runner's World today, I had seen your post about it, but I officially read it myself this morning. We've all got faith in you! When you cross that Boston finish line, I bet you'll be amazed at how well you do! I'll be rooting for you down here in the Garden State!
ReplyDeleteI hope your experience at "The Boston" is as pain-free as possible. Enjoy it all - you've earned it!
ReplyDeleteHave a blast girl...don't forget to buy one of them jackets!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
I'm still expecting you to take a dump on the side of the road in Boston... I'm not sure a race report would be complete without that key element!!!
ReplyDeletehave a great trip!! you deserve every glory moment on Monday! Good luck!
ReplyDeletehave a great trip/race! looking forward to reading how it went when you get back!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand conflicting information. Can not stand. Although, I will admit that I will continue to ask questions until I get the answer I want to hear.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!! What is your bib number? I want to track you / stalk you. ;)
Goosebumps!! Enjoy every minute!
ReplyDeleteTOO funny! I got an email with updates on the "Run Bare" 2011 tour schedule and saw that a bunch of dates were in the Denver/Boulder area, and I immediately thought of emailing you the link! Before I did that I read this post and now I'm not going to because it doesn't really matter what advice people like little old me give you. YOU have to figure things out for yourself. Everyone is different in how the heal, how they adjust, how they succeed. In any case, I cannot BELIEVE how quickly Boston got here. But I know that just being there will be a dream come true for you!! Best of luck, have a blast, we're all rooting for you and your hip ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome & I have loved going on the journey with you. For some reason I feel like it's my own - without actually having to train like that.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have a blast logging those miles.
Hugs, prayers, and safe travels.
WooHoo! have a blast at "The Boston" Looking forward to a full recap when you return. I'm there in spirit this year.: ) The Newton Hills won't hurt as much that way.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Beth. Seriously welled up a bit here. Proud of you and know you'll bring home some amazing memories!! I'll be sitting here next Monday morning virtually cheering for you :)
ReplyDeleteI love it!! I'm so excited that you are going and that you are going to do it without pain! Can't wait to read all about it. Oh and if you want to go ahead and win, that would be pretty cool too. :)
ReplyDeleteYou did so well to get through this ordeal and still make it to your goal. You've been inspirational - and real! Thanks for not being 'up' all the time. Thanks for having your pity parties and your moments of doubt. And then for continuing on regardless.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. You are right on in that being injured is like being pregnant! So true. I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteYou never cease to both inspire me and crack me up ("I wish I were a stocky black man") I am truly so excited for you! I hope you enjoy every moment of The Boston!!
ReplyDeleteIt has been our pleasure to watch a fighter go through the ordeal and come out the other side. My phone has been upgraded for unlimited texting so I hope they send me a text with every heel strike you make.
ReplyDeleteyour faith, your heart, your family, and your mind all played a factor in this. They remained POSITIVE! GO enjoy that day.
ReplyDelete;)
I'm really happy you get to run The Boston. :) Its been really cool to read/watch your journey and I can't wait to read about your Boston experience. I know it is gonna rock.
ReplyDeleteAre you really THIS grounded? You are pretty amazing, SUAR!
ReplyDeleteThat list of things people say reminds me of how people talk to a pregnant woman... so big! so small! eat more! eat less! LOL
I am so excited to hear about your Boston adventure! I really can't wait... I am almost peeing in anticipation :)
GO, BETH!!!
That gift from your daughter is priceless!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you!! You're going to do great at "The Boston"..:)
If I had a dollar for every time I wished you were a stocky black man...
ReplyDeleteBeth, my wish for you is to enjoy this event. Be proud that YUO MADE IT. You never gave up. this is HUGE. I am rooting for you. Cheers!
ReplyDeletehttp://journeytoahalfmaraton.blogspot.com/2011/04/that-little-race-on-monday.html
So happy for your recovery. Can't wait for the story!
ReplyDeleteGood luck in Boston!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!! You've made it this far, you can do the rest!! So excited for you.
ReplyDeleteS
I forgot your daughter's crazy cuteness. That's so precious.
ReplyDeleteyou are going to rock the boston. it's a given.
ReplyDeletei cannot wait to meet you. even if you're not a stocky black man.
thought about you when I almost crapped myself in the middle of Food Lion...yes I digress often.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for this post! I have a stress fracture in the shaft of my left femur - I discovered it after my 18 mile training run weeks before my first marathon. UGH! Next week I am starting a very conservative recovery training plan - you list of opinions is a breath of fresh air! thank you! I also think I am someone who needs to cross train more, BUT i love running. Working on finding the balance!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Boston!
Amen Amen Amen on the opinions.
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK AT BOSTON! I will be waiting with bated breath for the race report. As a fellow femoral neck stress fracture survivor, I take such hope from your rehab! (PS I got off crutches a week ago and am walking and biking! Yay!)
No advise here, just go get em girl! Enjoy every moment. Take a picture in your head of everything you see. This will be something you will never forget - I've never done Boston, I'm a wanna be runner but I have had my own "I DID IT" moments in other ways. Your kids and your fans will be proud of you no matter what. YOU ROCK!
ReplyDelete