Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Winner and Thoughts

The winner of the 110% Play Harder Calf Sleeves is Haley from Climb, Run, Lift, Mom.

haley

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?

emmatomom

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

50 comments:

  1. Great post! I'm so excited to hear about your Boston experience! Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You wish you were a stocky black man so that you could have a giant, huge, enormous ... appetite? HAHA.

    Don't get all sappy on us now. I don't wanna read mushy stuff.

    Congrats on getting to this point now. Enjoy the weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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 :)

    So 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 :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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?

    Be glad people didn't reach out and touch your injury, like they do to a pregnant belly.

    Enjoy the Boston.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank YOU for being such an awesome inspiration through all of this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awww loved this!!

    And 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!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very nice post, well said! Hope you and your family all have fun in Beantown!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Be proud of where you have been and how you pulled yourself through. Have a great time in Boston!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very sweet post. :-)
    Good luck in Boston. You'll be great!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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.

    Can't wait to read about the next stage in your Boston adventure. Have fun and be safe!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent post! I LOVE that your daughter made that for you. Special!!
    My 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!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Boston Baby! You got your Golden Ticket!!!!!!! All the stuff inbetween just makes it that much sweeter!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I bet Ken is glad you are not a stocky black man. :D

    Have a great race on Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Woo hoo :)

    And good luck on Monday!! I'm sure you'll do fantastic :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. okay so you don't want to hear injury advice, how about our "grossest" (something tells me you might like this) BostonMarathon experiences:
    1. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  16. 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!"
    ps--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....

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'd tell you to break a leg, but .....

    Have fun running The Boston. You'll always be a stocky black man in our hearts.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hope your experience at "The Boston" is as pain-free as possible. Enjoy it all - you've earned it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Have a blast girl...don't forget to buy one of them jackets!!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  21. 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!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. have a great trip!! you deserve every glory moment on Monday! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  23. have a great trip/race! looking forward to reading how it went when you get back!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I 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.

    Have fun!! What is your bib number? I want to track you / stalk you. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. TOO 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 ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. You 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.
    You're going to have a blast logging those miles.
    Hugs, prayers, and safe travels.

    ReplyDelete
  27. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Good 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 :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. I 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. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. You 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.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love this post. You are right on in that being injured is like being pregnant! So true. I'm so excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
  32. You 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!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. It 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.

    ReplyDelete
  34. your faith, your heart, your family, and your mind all played a factor in this. They remained POSITIVE! GO enjoy that day.
    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  35. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Are you really THIS grounded? You are pretty amazing, SUAR!

    That 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!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. That gift from your daughter is priceless!!
    I'm so excited for you!! You're going to do great at "The Boston"..:)

    ReplyDelete
  38. If I had a dollar for every time I wished you were a stocky black man...

    ReplyDelete
  39. Beth, 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!

    http://journeytoahalfmaraton.blogspot.com/2011/04/that-little-race-on-monday.html

    ReplyDelete
  40. So happy for your recovery. Can't wait for the story!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Good luck!!! You've made it this far, you can do the rest!! So excited for you.

    S

    ReplyDelete
  42. I forgot your daughter's crazy cuteness. That's so precious.

    ReplyDelete
  43. you are going to rock the boston. it's a given.

    i cannot wait to meet you. even if you're not a stocky black man.

    ReplyDelete
  44. thought about you when I almost crapped myself in the middle of Food Lion...yes I digress often.

    ReplyDelete
  45. THANK 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!

    Enjoy Boston!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Amen Amen Amen on the opinions.

    GOOD 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!)

    ReplyDelete
  47. 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