Sunday, January 2, 2011

My New Year's Present to Myself-One Day Late!

So, June 16th, 2010, 6 months 17 days ago after 3 weeks of agony, I sat in a Doctor's office while he read me the results of my MRI and calmly laid out my fate before me. I was prepared for bad news but not exactly what he was about to tell me. Stress Fracture of the femoral neck, a lot of periosteal edema or something like that???....WHAA-WTH is the femoral neck? In a period of 10 minutes I went from wondering if I could run by the end of the month, to wondering if I could still pull off my fall marathon to wondering if I would ever run again... I turned into an absolute mess, shaking and blubbering and trying to get concrete answers, like EXACT dates and times. I NEED EXACT dates and times PLEASE!!! Yeah-it doesn't really work that way. I finally begged for a realistic expectation of when I would be able to run another marathon. His answer, although very reluctantly given was "Realistically, based on the severity of your injury and what I see here, possibly a year..." ONE YEAR-are you freakin' kidding me!!!!!! "things could go better or worse than planned but realistically, I would tentatively plan for your next marathon race to be in one year!" OMG-just shoot me now....no first let me drain the liquor store of all the Cab on the shelf and then shoot me....Visions of pins in my hip forced me to listen to my Doctor's orders and I began my recovery on crutches completely banned from ALL physical activity until my next visit...

Now, I know there are starving children in this world, homeless, people who don't even HAVE any legs, so many that have it so much worse than me but at this point this was just DEVASTATING to me.

Fast forward. Today, January 2, 2011, 6 months and 17 days later I BQ'ed in a marathon training run! 26.2 miles/3:37:16. I have NO hip pain. It did not bother me ONE second of this run. My left hamstring, tight, and miles 13-16 were really rough for some reason but I finished pretty strong and absolutely giddy!!

I have been planning this for about a month. It was actually supposed to take place yesterday but things weren't working out just right and I was a bit hungover from the 47 glasses of sparkling water I drank on NYE. I knew without a doubt that I would stop if I had any concerns. I'm not in marathon training-it was in no way essential for me to complete this run, other than for my own self confidence. My pace was irrelevant-just running......

This will totally throw a wrench in my training plan for the week but quite frankly, I don't care! I'm taking 2 days off and overhauling my house for crosstraining! I also rewarded myself with my first ever ice bath. Reward is a very strong word. For exactly 90 seconds, everyone in my house thought I was getting raped or murdered in the bathroom.....C'mon, can I just get on the recovery sock bandwagon and avoid the ice bath....

ANYWAY, I was just completely overwhelmed today. Thinking of the many many miles I logged training over the last couple of years. Thinking of my family and how Joe would drive my kids out to my route while I ran and drop one kid off on rollerblades with a backpack of water etc. and then pick her up and drop off another. Thinking of how he would surprise me on long runs sometimes in full winter gear and knock out a loop with me! Thinking of how he joined me for a stretch (bandit) at mile 16 of my first marathon and told me I looked "hot"! Thinking of how my family and extended family made the HUGEST deal about Boston and threw a big party and invited all sorts of people to send us off! Thinking of the sacrifices they've made to let me run and explore this passion. Thinking of all the support and encouragement I've received from this blog. Thinking of all the inspiration I've been provided as a result of having this blog. Thinking about how VERY VERY blessed I am....

22 comments:

ajh said...

A HUGE congratulations! I loved the paragraph about the support from your family. Priceless!

dawn @ running the dawn said...

wow. i just got all emotional! you are such an inspiration. truly.

and your family, to support you so much! that's what makes it all possible, seriously.

what a perfect way to start the new year! i am thrilled that you ran pain free! congratulations and welcome back!

ShutUpandRun said...

No words are possible except six: I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

Caroline said...

Wow! I admire you so much! I am so happy for you also!

Unknown said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this...you are dripping with gratefulness to just be out there and I can totally relate!
What a way to overcome and more forward. BIG grins and hugs to you, bring it on 2011, Jenn is ready and waiting. :)

XLMIC said...

This is just so inspiring and so sweet! As someone who couldn't run for 8 yrs, I totally get the devastation and then the excitment, giddiness and sense of accomplishment! You go! It's going to be a great year!

Nathan said...

Ok...I am just scratching my head a bit...26 miles for training...just for the heck of it?! I love it!! Haha!

Actually- I think if I had been through all that too I might have tried to do the same thing, except...no...maybe I wouldn't. Girl, that's just an awesome training run time!

I am so glad your hip is doing well and that you chose to ice bath. Hope you wore a down jacket and had a hot cup of coffee!

She's Ba-ack!!

Very sweet how Joe supports you with your training. That is a REAL blessing.

Melissa said...

CONGRATS!!!!!!
Way to go!!

Melissa said...

CONGRATS!!!!!!
Way to go!!

ThE MidLiFe CrUiSeR said...

Awwww!! I love it!! I'm SO happy for you! I think I'm going to have to duct tape my mouth shut after reading you ran 26.2 miles for TRAINING...WOW!! I'm super impressed!

Nellie
http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com

Amanda@runninghood said...

ahhh, so glad I came back to read this most recent one! What 26.2 just for a training run? You are amazing!! So happy for you! Yay!!! And you had me partly crying and partly laughing...I laughed at the part when you were taking an ice bath. I have never had one but I should have had one after Boston 04. Instead I took a hot shower and called it good. Could barely walk the next day. ouch! Congrats again!!!! YOur family sounds amazingly supportive! Go Joe!

Kate said...

Absolutely amazing!! It must have felt so good to KNOW your back on track. Congrats!!

middleagedrunner said...

AAAHHH! AWESOME!
The last paragraph honestly made me a bit teary.. I know how special family support is and how much it must mean to you!
You're going to kickass this year and I can't wait to see how it goes!

Heather -Momma Running Amok said...

I LOVE your blog! Your's is one of only 3 I read daily. Congratulations on your run. Your speed is a HUGE inspiration to me. I tell people about your blog a lot and how fast you are and I especially loved the deer hanging from your swing set a few weeks back. Hope you have a fantastic week

Velma said...

Awesome!!! You were patient and it paid off!!!

Susan said...

That's awesome! Way to go!

Anonymous said...

Holy smokes - you rock!

Anonymous said...

Wow, since I just started reading your blog I didn't realize you were just coming back from an injury! That is awesome that everything healed quicker than expected! Congrats on your run, that is truly amazing to me. And I love the part about your kids being on roller blades giving you water :)

So you workout at home? What kind of cross training are you going to do?

Running and living said...

This is so YOU! Love it! And of, course, having had the dreaded stress fracture twice I absolutely get this!
I wish you could move to Boston so we could train together:)

Val said...

I was so touched by your last paragraph. Many people are posting about how grateful they are for family/friend support but yours was especially touching esp your hubby droppin of the kids and water and the comment about you being "hot" mid-marathon. So wonderful!

ThE MidLiFe CrUiSeR said...

Peanut Butter on a knife on the shelf in your fridge??? ROTFLMBO!!!! That was one I had to read out loud to my hubby :) Thanks for the laugh tonight. PLEASE take a picture of it...for me!!! I'd love it!

The Hungry Runner Girl said...

WOW!!! I can't believe you have come this far. JOE is the bomb....that is adorable that he would surprise you on your runs! 26 mile training run...you are my kind of girl...um, why can't I just live next door to you and we could run every day together. Do you use the same Brooks as me? Make sure to let me know what your speedy friend did with her shoes?!?! I would love to know. 3 kids that eat like crazy...I can't imagine how much food you go through. It really is so expensive to eat healthy, grr. Jenn, thank you so much for your sweet comments. You always make my day!