Back on the Road

Things are crazy busy at work right now as we are sprinting toward a deadline.  But I want to post a quick update.  As I mentioned, my foot sort of hurt after my 25 miler the Saturday before last - right where my son had dropped something on it.  That “sorta” hurt turned into ragin’ full-on, can’t walk pain on Sunday. That’s when the fear hit.  “OMG! I’m not going to be able to run the marathon!” I literally could not put weight on my right foot without searing pain.  By Monday I could walk, but barely.  I headed into the sports medicine clinic attached to our health club for a free injury evaluation. The PT at the clinic said that it was probably some bruised tendons.  She recommended some self massage, ice and ibuprofen.

I also added rest.  I did not run a single inch all of last week and and finally got on a treadmill last Saturday, mainly because I didn’t want to get several miles from home and have my foot act up (hooray for running in place!)  My foot did fine, though somewhere along the way I’ve come to dislike running on a treadmill.  I used to be the opposite - I hated running outside.  Now I think to myself, how did I spend so much time not going anywhere?

I didn’t run that long (about 45min) and did fine.  I headed out this morning in what has to be the worst weather I’d run in to date in terms of mid-week runs.  The humidity was through the roof - wasn’t the first day of fall this past weekend?  Pace seemed fine and I finished my four miles in under 40min, so even with the crappy weather and taking a week off, I’m holding my ground.  I’ll do my other midweek run on Thursday and will run my favorite 8mi route on Saturday.

Someone casually asked me yesterday, “Hey, when is that race you are running?”  Reality check time.  I mentally checked my calendar and said, “It’s a week from this Sunday.”  After a beat, my internal dialog switched to, “Holy s**t!  It’s a week from Sunday!!!”  I know I’m ready, but it is coming up fast.  I’ve got to go buy some clothes to wear that I can throw away on the course (thanks Tom and Eliezer for both giving my the clothing tips.) I’m enjoying the anxiety a bit - I was down in Chicago last Wednesday for a photo conference and looked around thinking, I’ll be running by this stuff in no time.  Can’t wait!