It's official, I will not be running anytime in the near future. My Ortho put me on crutches today and wants to monitor the stress fracture closely because (little did I know) a hip stress fracture is really bad news. If not treated, it can quickly splinter further into the hip bone causing the hip to displace and the need for a pin to be placed in the hip to stabilize. So, I definitely don't want a pin to be placed in my hip!! Ugh! Of course, I had to tell him I did the half marathon this past weekend, and that went over really well. He had me confirm that I was probably in some pain after that and of course, I couldn't lie, I was definitely feeling some pain. He showed me the MRI and it's very clear where the fracture is buried in my hip. He wants me to only be 10% weight bearing on my right leg so the hip has some time to heal. He also wants to see me every 2 weeks to make sure the fracture has not spread, causing the myriad of other issues in my hip.
This is so frustrating simply because I just love running and it's fall, so it's the perfect time of year to be out there pounding the pavement. I have a bunch of runs I was surpassed to do in the next month and now I'm out of everything. I can't even sneak a run in b/c Alex would absolutely kick my butt and really, he would have every right to do that because the repercussions of damaging my hip further would be horrible. So, I'm back to doing nothing and just keeping an eye on how I'm feeling and getting this hip to heal so I can get back to being super active again.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Preferred Care Rochester Half Marathon
This was absolutely by far the worst run I have ever had in my life. Seriously. It was even worse than the Barktober Fest 5miler last September in 90 degree temps (with no shade or breeze) where I began to lose control of bodily functions when I crossed the finish! What is going on with these mid summer days in September in Rochester, NY. It is just craziness!
I had a feeling when I stepped outside at 6am yesterday morning that this was going to be a very tough day to run and I was absolutely right! The air was already so heavy and there wasn't a breeze to be found. After picking up my timing chip, I found my friend Diane in the half marathon crowd and we prepared for our sticky and sweaty 13.1 mile journey. The start siren went off at 7:45am and it was
just getting warmer. It was still overcast, so we were just dealing with the 3 H's and not the sun beating on us. However, by mile 2 I knew the day was not going to turn out particularly well for me. I was already feeling fatigued and feeling tightness in my chest. I felt really bad because a poor women in front of me actually wiped out on East Ave by Wegman's b/c there was some water on the road from the rain and there was a divot in the pavement. She was OK though, we were not far from the first water stop, so volunteers were at her side almost immediately.
So, I ran for about 5 miles before having to take a walk break. My legs felt so heavy and fatigued for most of the 13.1 miles, so it really was a tough day for me. However, I was so determined to just finish, I pushed through it! My friend Adam and his girlfriend Sara were out there cheering and both times I saw them, I took a little break! The second time I wasn't feeling so hot and it was just before mile 8 maybe or 9, I can't remember. They were standing with a cop and he started asking if I wanted him to call someone to get me off the course and I said absolutely not!! I've come this far, might as well finish the last few miles! Although, my fingers had swollen to the point of looking like that might actually explode and my wedding band was cutting off the circulation to my ring finger! I couldn't even feel the cups they were handing me water in b/c it just felt like little pin pricks on my finger tips. That was definitely not a good sign at all!! At that point I was way way off my pace and basically was just hoping to finish in under 3 hours. I was actually doing a pretty consistent walk/jog and pacing the guy in front of me who was doing the same thing. However, he eventually fell back pretty far as he was visibly struggling and I was left to my own walk/jog schedule.
I think it was just before my mile 9 (fulls mile 22), the officials began to come out and started posting signs to slow down your pace due to high heat risk. I knew that wasn't a good sign at all! So, at that point, I dropped the walk/jog pacing and went with a 'run only in shaded areas' idea. That seemed to make sense to me at that point! Once I got off the canal path though, it was totally open and no shade could be found anywhere. It was miserable! Ugh!!
As I dragged on and kept checking my time, I realized I probably wasn't even going to finish in under 3hrs b/c I couldn't get my legs to run at all! They felt like cement blocks. Seriously, as if I was dragging stones around with me. I have never had that feeling of heaviness. The worst was when my body started shutting down around 11.5 miles. I was really struggling at that point and starting to have real concern about actually finishing....which was starting to piss me off because I was approaching 12 miles and I was so close to the finish!! I decided I had to suck it up and just walk the rest. It was pointless to try and force myself to run. I speed walked for quite a while, occasionally jogging a teeny little bit b/c I was so close to the end!!
It was just before I reached the corner of Frontier Field that I saw Alex walking toward me looking rather concerned! I had told him I would cross between 10:15 and 10:30 and here it was, 11am! He tried to get me to fake a run for a picture, but I just couldn't even muster up that, so he took an absolutely pathetic picture of me just walking. He walked with me until just before the final turn that took me to the finish. I sucked it up just before the corner and ran it in for a good finish! The best part was when Ellen from Fleet Feet was announcing (actually yelling into the microphone) my name and welcoming me to the finish line! Loved it! They put the medal around my neck, took my timing chip off and then I asked which way to medical so I could get some ice or something to bring the swelling down in my hands. Of course, the finish line volunteers were about to drop everything to take me over to make sure I was OK, but I assured them I was good and just needed to get something to bring my body temp down.
My friend Diane also did the race and we started together, but I told her to go ahead after a mile b/c I was already beginning to feel spent. She had an awesome run yesterday, despite the weather! Congrats Diane! Also, her daughter Heather did the full marathon and had a strong finish as well. Congrats Heather!
All in all, as I look back on yesterday's experience, I am happy that I did it and happy that I was able to finish in one piece. My hip held up, only some minor pain yesterday and today, I only had 2 blisters, and I am not terribly sore today! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who volunteered for the Rochester Marathon yesterday! You all rock!! Without the encouragement and constant checking in to make sure we were all OK as we ran by, many of us might not have finished! I especially loved the XC team just after we (half) joined the canal path. They were shaking jugs full of coins or rocks or something, but it was so loud and exciting that I couldn't even hear my IPod over their encouragements! Thank you Thank you Thank you from a back of the pack runner who probably wouldn't make it through these things without people like you cheering me to the finish and telling me that I'm looking good when I know for a fact I look pretty beat up! Thank you to all of the Rochestarians who came out to cheer for all the runners, every runner out there greatly appreciated your support! And a huge thank you to the finish area volunteers who did an amazing job of making sure every runner who crossed the finish line was OK and got me over to medical to get some ice, the massage chair volunteer who gave me an amazing massage that got my blood flowing in my arms again and allowed my fingers to stop swelling, and everyone else who simply was there to make sure the runners had a place to decompress after their hours on the course.
Thank You Rochester!
I had a feeling when I stepped outside at 6am yesterday morning that this was going to be a very tough day to run and I was absolutely right! The air was already so heavy and there wasn't a breeze to be found. After picking up my timing chip, I found my friend Diane in the half marathon crowd and we prepared for our sticky and sweaty 13.1 mile journey. The start siren went off at 7:45am and it was
just getting warmer. It was still overcast, so we were just dealing with the 3 H's and not the sun beating on us. However, by mile 2 I knew the day was not going to turn out particularly well for me. I was already feeling fatigued and feeling tightness in my chest. I felt really bad because a poor women in front of me actually wiped out on East Ave by Wegman's b/c there was some water on the road from the rain and there was a divot in the pavement. She was OK though, we were not far from the first water stop, so volunteers were at her side almost immediately.So, I ran for about 5 miles before having to take a walk break. My legs felt so heavy and fatigued for most of the 13.1 miles, so it really was a tough day for me. However, I was so determined to just finish, I pushed through it! My friend Adam and his girlfriend Sara were out there cheering and both times I saw them, I took a little break! The second time I wasn't feeling so hot and it was just before mile 8 maybe or 9, I can't remember. They were standing with a cop and he started asking if I wanted him to call someone to get me off the course and I said absolutely not!! I've come this far, might as well finish the last few miles! Although, my fingers had swollen to the point of looking like that might actually explode and my wedding band was cutting off the circulation to my ring finger! I couldn't even feel the cups they were handing me water in b/c it just felt like little pin pricks on my finger tips. That was definitely not a good sign at all!! At that point I was way way off my pace and basically was just hoping to finish in under 3 hours. I was actually doing a pretty consistent walk/jog and pacing the guy in front of me who was doing the same thing. However, he eventually fell back pretty far as he was visibly struggling and I was left to my own walk/jog schedule.
I think it was just before my mile 9 (fulls mile 22), the officials began to come out and started posting signs to slow down your pace due to high heat risk. I knew that wasn't a good sign at all! So, at that point, I dropped the walk/jog pacing and went with a 'run only in shaded areas' idea. That seemed to make sense to me at that point! Once I got off the canal path though, it was totally open and no shade could be found anywhere. It was miserable! Ugh!!
As I dragged on and kept checking my time, I realized I probably wasn't even going to finish in under 3hrs b/c I couldn't get my legs to run at all! They felt like cement blocks. Seriously, as if I was dragging stones around with me. I have never had that feeling of heaviness. The worst was when my body started shutting down around 11.5 miles. I was really struggling at that point and starting to have real concern about actually finishing....which was starting to piss me off because I was approaching 12 miles and I was so close to the finish!! I decided I had to suck it up and just walk the rest. It was pointless to try and force myself to run. I speed walked for quite a while, occasionally jogging a teeny little bit b/c I was so close to the end!!
It was just before I reached the corner of Frontier Field that I saw Alex walking toward me looking rather concerned! I had told him I would cross between 10:15 and 10:30 and here it was, 11am! He tried to get me to fake a run for a picture, but I just couldn't even muster up that, so he took an absolutely pathetic picture of me just walking. He walked with me until just before the final turn that took me to the finish. I sucked it up just before the corner and ran it in for a good finish! The best part was when Ellen from Fleet Feet was announcing (actually yelling into the microphone) my name and welcoming me to the finish line! Loved it! They put the medal around my neck, took my timing chip off and then I asked which way to medical so I could get some ice or something to bring the swelling down in my hands. Of course, the finish line volunteers were about to drop everything to take me over to make sure I was OK, but I assured them I was good and just needed to get something to bring my body temp down.
My friend Diane also did the race and we started together, but I told her to go ahead after a mile b/c I was already beginning to feel spent. She had an awesome run yesterday, despite the weather! Congrats Diane! Also, her daughter Heather did the full marathon and had a strong finish as well. Congrats Heather!
All in all, as I look back on yesterday's experience, I am happy that I did it and happy that I was able to finish in one piece. My hip held up, only some minor pain yesterday and today, I only had 2 blisters, and I am not terribly sore today! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who volunteered for the Rochester Marathon yesterday! You all rock!! Without the encouragement and constant checking in to make sure we were all OK as we ran by, many of us might not have finished! I especially loved the XC team just after we (half) joined the canal path. They were shaking jugs full of coins or rocks or something, but it was so loud and exciting that I couldn't even hear my IPod over their encouragements! Thank you Thank you Thank you from a back of the pack runner who probably wouldn't make it through these things without people like you cheering me to the finish and telling me that I'm looking good when I know for a fact I look pretty beat up! Thank you to all of the Rochestarians who came out to cheer for all the runners, every runner out there greatly appreciated your support! And a huge thank you to the finish area volunteers who did an amazing job of making sure every runner who crossed the finish line was OK and got me over to medical to get some ice, the massage chair volunteer who gave me an amazing massage that got my blood flowing in my arms again and allowed my fingers to stop swelling, and everyone else who simply was there to make sure the runners had a place to decompress after their hours on the course.
Thank You Rochester!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The night before....
Ok, I'm trying to keep my nerves and at bay, but I know my training has been minimal since the stress fracture and I know that is going to impact my run tomorrow. I just need to not let it get into my head too much. It's also going to be muggy and in the 70's, definitely much different than last years half where it was 45 degree's at the start! I've been hydrating a lot and my friends and I just had a nice pasta dinner with all the fixings! I'm having an eloctrolyte drink right now and then off to bed to try and get a good nights rest!
Actually, funny story about the sleeping thing.....I woke my husband up at 7:26 this morning as I started swearing at the top of my lungs because I thought I overslept and was about to miss the start of the half marathon!! I jumped out of bed, grabbed my running clothes and then realized today was Saturday! Duh! Alex was soooo pissed! Seriously! Lucky for me I was able to fall back asleep and stay there until 9am, poor Alex couldn't get back to sleep and finally got out of bed at 8am. Ooops!
Actually, funny story about the sleeping thing.....I woke my husband up at 7:26 this morning as I started swearing at the top of my lungs because I thought I overslept and was about to miss the start of the half marathon!! I jumped out of bed, grabbed my running clothes and then realized today was Saturday! Duh! Alex was soooo pissed! Seriously! Lucky for me I was able to fall back asleep and stay there until 9am, poor Alex couldn't get back to sleep and finally got out of bed at 8am. Ooops!
Monday, September 8, 2008
I think I'm ready
I went for a 6mi run today to make sure my hip could hold up in the half. I figured if I could do 6 with no pain, I should be good for this weekend. I had some pain initially but then it faded and all was good! Yay! I'm still a little nervous, but I think I should be alright. I head to one more appt with the Ortho today and then I should be able to close the book on this injury! I can't wait for this weekend, although, it's saying it may rain! I suppose that's better than 90 degree's and sun when running that long!
Now, while the run itself was fine and I felt good, I do have 2 complaints. One, running on packed gravel sucks. It just simply sucks! They tore up my road a month ago and have yet to repave it! What the hell!!! It's now totally packed gravel and they even lined it, which doesn't give me hope that it's getting paved anytime soon. So, half of my run was on packed gravel and the other half on regular paved roads....thank god they didn't tear up the other streets in my neighborhood! OK, second complaint, a freaking UPS driver nearly took me out at a street corner! He stopped way short of the stop sign, looked at me as I was approaching the street to cross and then out of nowhere, gunned it to pull out into the road!! There weren't even any cars coming, so it wasn't like he would have to sit there for an hour if he didn't take that opportunity to pull out!! He cut the corner really close and was literally inches from me. Sweet! I absolutely gave him a piece of my mind as I was running off! So frustrating!
Alright, off to my friend Maria's house for a super duper fun Mary Kay party! :)
Now, while the run itself was fine and I felt good, I do have 2 complaints. One, running on packed gravel sucks. It just simply sucks! They tore up my road a month ago and have yet to repave it! What the hell!!! It's now totally packed gravel and they even lined it, which doesn't give me hope that it's getting paved anytime soon. So, half of my run was on packed gravel and the other half on regular paved roads....thank god they didn't tear up the other streets in my neighborhood! OK, second complaint, a freaking UPS driver nearly took me out at a street corner! He stopped way short of the stop sign, looked at me as I was approaching the street to cross and then out of nowhere, gunned it to pull out into the road!! There weren't even any cars coming, so it wasn't like he would have to sit there for an hour if he didn't take that opportunity to pull out!! He cut the corner really close and was literally inches from me. Sweet! I absolutely gave him a piece of my mind as I was running off! So frustrating!
Alright, off to my friend Maria's house for a super duper fun Mary Kay party! :)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Morning Run
Derek & I did the Bruegger's Bagel 5K this morning and it went very well! I was feeling a little pain again, but not bad at all and I took it very easy. I think I'm in good shape for the half next week, I will just take is slow and easy and probably jog/walk. After the run, I went to the gym to get some weights in for the day and now I'm watching the Bills game and doing homework. What a great sunday! Go Bills!!
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