Some disappointing news

This past weekend, I ran 20 miles. I am very proud of myself for having run that distance, as it's the furthest I have ever run in my entire life!

Unfortunately, I hurt my left shin/ankle very badly running these 20 miles. I started feeling the pain in my left leg at about mile 8. As I continued running, there were times it was hurting and other times where it was fine. So I continued. Hindsight is 20/20 and my friends at work were telling me that it was bound to happen soon anyway, but I can't shake the feeling that I should have stopped then. Anyway, as you know by now, I didn't stop and I continued. Going uphill was fine, and my leg was not really hurting. Especially where we hit Commonwealth Avenue and the hills in our run (at about mile 16-17), I felt like I could finish. But it was the downhills that were really hurting. I slowed down my pace considerably and I think people could tell that I was hurting. I chalked it up to minor aches and pains from the grueling route and of course, trying to complete 20 miles.

As I hit the top of Heartbreak Hill and proceeded down the final downhill, my legs really started to throb with pain. With the end in sight, I decided to start walking. Probably too little too late. I limped my way back to the start with the help of a very generous woman, Marcy. I was in pain. I spent the rest of the day drugged up on ibuprofen and icing down my injury. I spent Sunday the same way.

This afternoon, I finally went to the doctor to have an x-ray and to make sure I didn't fracture anything. I didn't fracture anything that she could see (she didn't do a bone scan) but her news was very bleak. She said she would advise me not to run. Words can't explain the amount of disappointment I felt in that one moment. Of course, I started to cry after thinking about how hard I have worked to finish this race, how I've been saying all along that I just want to complete the marathon, how I've been fundraising and trying to meet my goal, and how much I had been looking forward to celebrating this huge accomplishment after it was all said and done. The doctor was extremely sympathetic but of course, this did not change her opinion.

I am seeing an orthopedic doctor on Thursday and am hopeful he will have better news for me. I am praying that ibuprofen, lots of rest and a postive attitude will help me complete this goal of mine.

I sincerely apologize to my supporters that I do not have better news to share. I am hoping that Thursday will be a better day and that I will have hope of completing the Boston Marathon. In the mean time, I am going to post this picture of me, in an awesome t-shirt that one of my best friends, Denise, gave me. This gift arrived on Saturday and I took it as a sign ;)

PS- I know I look exhausted in this picture but that's what 20 miles does to your body!