Bye-Bye, Boston!

I have been in hiding.  I haven't even written about my injury because that would just make it real, and I've been living in denial.  I have avoided all of your fabulous blogs like the plague because it is too depressing to read about everyone's 20 and 22 mile Boston training runs.  It is killing me not to be out there running like you. 

Several weeks ago, when I attempted to run 20 miles (after running 16 and 18 all within 2 weeks) I was stopped in my tracks by a severe pain in my foot.  I am all too familiar with stress fractures and there is no mistaking what this pain was.  I stopped and hobbled home.  Even walking on it hurt.

Here's the funny thing: a week later, I attempted to run on my treadmill and it barely hurt at all.  I believed I was healed.  I mean, how can a person run painlessly with a crack in their bone?  It must not have been a stress fracture!  Hallelujah!  But as soon as I stepped off the treadmill, there was the pain.  Sharp, and emanating from a very specific spot of my foot. 

A week later, still in denial, I hopped on the treadmill for yet another pain-free run.  Afterward, I tried to jog on the pavement to see how it felt out there in the concrete jungle.  My body instantly yelled "STOP".  I know I need to rest and stay off of it completely.  I need to stop "testing my foot" because stress fractures don't heal over night.  I should know that better than anybody!

So here I am, trying immensely hard to resist the urge to run.  I've taken up wine and karaoke. 

I'm actually not head-banging. 

I am just a very passionate performer.

I promise I have not lost (all of) my marbles, I'm just saddened by the turn of events.  My training was going "perfectly" and I felt as though I'd come back from my last injury really well.  Unfortunately, I clearly have not learned my lesson.  I strayed from my plan and ran way more than I was supposed to.  Such a rookie mistake, yet I made it again.  Being an overachiever can definitely be detrimental as a runner.

I am sadly still in denial.  A part of me believes I will be okay by April 16th and ready to run Boston.  What will it take?  I guess a doctor visit would confirm my suspicions but that is what I am so firmly avoiding. 

I guess it's time to make that phone call, and let a doctor tell me that I need to stay off my foot for 6 weeks.  Maybe I'll find the strength to pick up the phone today.  And maybe not.

I'll be enjoying a 3 day weekend in Palm Springs with 7 friends, so at least I have that to look forward to.    Weather in the 80 degree range, surrounded by mountains, dancing the weekend away at pool parties -- I guess I can't complain.  Except, all of my friends are on juice fasts and I just ate a doughnut!  I think I am the only one consuming solid foods and we'll all be in bikinis.  Yikes.  Maybe I need to up my game.

I hope everyone's training is going well.  I think I may finally be ready to read your blogs again.  I'll just need a box of Kleenex while I do so.  ;-)