Believe to Achieve

Ran around the track for one mile on drama foot just before spin class.  AP 8:03.  Seriously foot--- "now you listen here, I am in charge!!".  Spin class kicked my butt probably because I expect it to feel like SW running so I am never without tension.  I told the teacher that if I were without tension my legs would fall off from the motion of the wheel at TOP speed.  She wanted us to start out at a 7.5 intensity which she said was no tension.  Now that is ridiculous.  No tension is seriously nothing.  I was worked.  Or rather I worked myself hard.  Stupid foot.  Even in spin I can feel it since I don't have spin shoes and my shoes are too big (trail shoes) and make me hang  off out of the foot holders to be right at my plantar of my foot.  Oh well.  It wasn't at all like running just felt bruised.  Sooooo.....the GOOOOOOODDDDDDDD  NEEEEEWWWWWSSSSS.    Yesterday my husband and home teacher gave me a blessing.  I felt what I am going thru truly has a purpose.  Then today I went to my chiropracter (who I should have gone to when I noticed my hip out over three weeks ago which led to this injury ricocheting to my foot).  He told me my entire leg was turned inward remarkably.  He did ultrasound on my plantar fascia and some light scraping.  Then he adjusted me after massaging several areas.  He worked on me for 40 minutes straight.  Ahhhh.   I was a little skeptical about healing but amazingly I already had 75 percent reduction in pain walking out of there.  I am nervous to think I could walk all day on my foot so I will take it easy.  I am finally getting excited for Boston.  My Aunt Dottie (lives in Rhode Island) just booked me a room for my family 14 miles from the starting line in Hopkinton.  She lives 10 miles from my hotel in Franklin, Massachusetts.  Yahoo!!!  I haven't seen her since 1999!!  She has never married and has always been that wild and crazy funloving aunt growing up.  We have had a lot of good times together.  She is my dad's sister.  My dad died in a car accident with my sister in 1982.  So this will so wonderful to see her and all my other family members!!!  Go FIGHT WIN!!    : D.

AP for 8 miles = 7:34.  445am before work.  It was 30 degrees and I could see my breath.   Oh foot pain trying to resolve...thought about NOT running again today but I was just too tempted to try my foot out.  It started to cramp but never as bad as it was.  Really felt more bruised than anything-- and this is on the bottom of my foot so not really a great place to have a bruise.  And when you have pain there you kind of "protect" it and so other muscles of the feet get quite the workout.  Obviously my lungs are raring to go by the looks of my pace.  First mile was 7:56.  That doesn't happen everyday.  I gave myself my 2nd home IV therapy yesterday-- IRON.  Apparently it is helping me.  As 7:56 feels like 8:56 did.  I am like an old car you forget to do maintenance on..... no oil changes....then there is the leak somewhere.... and then suddenly you are on empty.  Well that is what I did to myself.  Or at least my body just doesn't like absorbing iron from the stomach out.  I  have to do the full body workover to get the result I need.  Take out the part fully, add a new part.  Like my foot for instance.... I vaguely remember my "twisted ankle" I gave myself about 3.5 weeks ago in that early morning snowfall we got...I loved it so much I decided to do some SW in it.  Well....looking back on my blog it jogged my memory to the twisted foot feeling.....which ulimately twisted my hip and knee then eventually led to my foot taking the brunt end of the deal.   One trip to the chiropracter and I am all aligned and functioning correctly.  Old cars don't take much to go under.  But maintenance will help a lot.    And getting to the root of the problem instead of fixing the symptoms with a steroid shot.  This was a good learning experience for me.  I am on the mend.  NOT in time for a PR at Boston but in time to enjoy myself there if I can restrain myself from more harm  ; D.  I am doing the longest taper ever.  I sure hope the 26.2 miles don't get ugly but that instead my body is like "bring it on"  you have been slacking.  Sorry long post. 

decided to turn off my alarm and not run....but  I awoke at 445am and decided to "just run".  Ran 6 miles on my not as bad as before but still not normal messing with my stride left foot.  AP 7:55.  No time for more.  Shower. Work all day.  So very busy.  Non-stop 12.75 hours.  ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.   i wore my bulky trail shoes.

5:45 am. No TM available.  Just couldn't get myself there by 530am opening.  2 miles on the track no watch but spotted the time clock ever so often which helped me calculate pace-- AP 8:06.

TM hillwork.  I didn't think of this until 1/2 mile into my run.  Everything (run) is impromptu. 

0.75 miles 8:06 pace  1%

0.50 miles 8:06 pace 3 %

0.75 miles 8:00 pace 1 %

0.50 miles 8:00 pace 3.5 %

0.75 miles 7:53 pace 1 %

0.50 miles 7:53 pace 4 %

0.75 miles 7:47 pace 1 %

0.50 miles 7:47 pace 4.5 %

0.75 miles 7:41 pace 1 %

0.50 miles 7:41 pace 4.5 %

0.75 miles 7:35 pace 1 %

0.50 miles 7:35 pace 4 %

0.50 miles 7:00 pace 1 %   pace ranging from 6:30 to 7:30.   (8 miles @ 7:45 AP)  RESET TM

0.25 miles 7:47 pace   1%

0.50 miles 7:47 pace  3.5 %

0.50 miles 7:41 pace  1 %

0.50 miles 7:41 pace  3%

0.25 miles 7:30 pace  1%.  Done.  10 TM miles AP 7:45.  4 miles of hillwork.  Tired, sweaty.  Foot is the curse right now.  Since I try not to put all my weight on my plantar fascia I am shifting it to my metatarsals on the left (left foot) and I have a morton's neuroma between my third and forth toe.  Landing on it causes numbish with electical feelings up my toes.  Just bringing on the fun for me : D.     GOAL for Boston keeps getting slower-- 3:20 to 3:25 would be nice.  : D.  Pain free would be even better. I have another chiropracter appointment tomorrow.  Ahhhhh.......   Work lactation on mom/baby x 7 hours.  Tired.  Soccer game, activity days (I am the 9 year old leader), then hopefully some sleep. 

Been up since 5 am and haven't run (it is now almost 8am!!).  Should have stepped out the door then as when I decided to look at the weather I came to the realization of how cold it was and that from 7 - 9am was a predicted snow storm.  YUP right on time-- 7am and the high winds picked up even more and the snow began flying horizontally.  I WANT TO KNOW did you run in this???????  i thought about it many times just so  I looked tough but you know what I bowed out to protect myself from decreasing my immunity as it is still flu and cold season and running in this will only increase my chances at work of picking something up!!  But now to be enclosed on a TM where more germs harbor ; D.   Running out of time....if it were clearing later minus the wind  I would just run then.  Foot not healed in case you are wondering. But Andrea's advice to look at the link to "trigger points" was very informative.  There is a spot on my calf that is the trigger point to the plantar fascia. I didn't think my calves were tight, rather spongy.  But when I pushed deep on the "trigger point" I came unglued.  It is not on my right calf so  I am sure it is legit.  My right foot feels great.  My left foot is beyond reasoning.  I am getting used to (numb) to the constant pain.   Except now I have a really sore upper/inner calf!!!!  What to do??  : D.    9:15am--- 12 long painful miles on the mill.  It didn't start out so painful but my calf got tighter and tighter which pulled on my plantar fascia which made the run miserable-- 12 miles-- 4 @ 8:27 (it was hard running that slow), 4 @ 8:13, 3 @ 8:00 all at  1 % incline except the last mile of each set (2%).  Last mile I just could not take it mentally any longer and figure I was doing more harm than good so I slowed it way down to 8:27 to 8:57.  No 16 miler for me.  I am not even going to run for 10 days. How's that for taking it easy???? 

TRUE to my word (this time).  NO RUNNING or any excercise besides walking around in the hospital nursery for 12.5 hours in a boot.  Ahh pain free that way.  Calf calmed down by the end of the shift.  Slightly tender now.  But foot needs some bionic parts.  It just doesn't know how to push off!!    Oh  I also fell asleep around 7:15pm, no kidding and awoke at 1030 pm briefly and didn't waken until 5:15am.  I slept 10 hours.  I was sooooooo tired.  I have been unbelievably fatigued lately.  Even after two doses of iron I feel off.  Weak.  Tired all the time.   Plan is to sleep 8 hours plus a night until Boston.  Running with Rachelle in Wave 2.  We are going for 3:20 to 3:25.   We are going to have a blast. : D.

did the cousin switch.  two of my daughters went over my cousins house to one of her daughters and two cousins came over to my aunt's house where I am staying (my aunt and uncle are away in Florida) on the Cape.  Wonderfully beautiful beach house 100 ft from the ocean.  Watched Princess Bride with three 13 year olds.  They all slept in one queen size bed giggly until they conked out.  I woke at 730am.  Walked two miles today around the island.  Hung out in the beach house.  Had the teens all clean the house so I didn't have to do much :D.  They were awesome cleaners, sweeping, dusting and vacumming and mopping.  Drove to Franklin Massachusetts at 230pm (an hour away).  Met my Aunt (dad's sister) and she took us all to dinner.  Ate a wonderful turkey dinner complete with stuffing and squash and cranberry sauce.  Delicious.   Also ate with my three uncles and two of their wives.  It was great to see everyone after so long.  They were impressed with marathoning.  I am so at ease.  I haven't thought much about running.  I feel so calm.  I have had  a great week.  The heat just seals the deal to run easy and just have fun.  I am excited for my training run :D. 

Spin class, 6am.  Woke at 4am and could not fall back to sleep but sleep was good.  Got up and hid Easter Eggs (I worked yesterday) outside. Then hit the gym.  Spun next two girls also heading to Boston.  One big happy Utahn Family :D.  The class worked me good but I held back.  Just taking it easy.  NEUROMA is really bugging right now and my foot is just asking for more and more time off.  No pain with spin.  Just walking-- push off.  The WHOLE left foot needs a MAKEOVER.  Bunionectomy might solve my neuroma problem.  It is small but it causes my foot to push off outward and not forwar.  Which with the neuroma first and then crazy running madness in snow and no sleep and you name it--- the worst foot disease for runners ever PLANTAR FASCITIS.  Or is it PF????  It is the tendon/nerve that is attached from the metatarsals to the base of the heel.  RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FOOT.   hmmmmm I wonder how many POUNDS of pressure I will put on it in one measly 26.2 mile run????  After walking around in a boot for two work days straight running in that is not an option.   On a side note-- trying to avoid other traumas like cold and flus.  So I am at the spin class and the instructor is coughing and hacking and coughing and hacking.  She is right in front of me.  The fans are blowing.  Oh yay.  That's all I need.   Off to Boston tomorrow morning with my hubby and kids.  Actually we are landing in Manchester New Hampshire and heading north for the night.  

could not sleep.  4 hours is all.  Then flight to denver ,flight to manchester, NH.  10 minutes sleep there and a kinked neck.  long flight and layover.   Left our house at 7:30am arrived in NH at 5:25pm (3:25pm Utah time).  We actually flew in a whole 30 minutes earlier then calculated due to wind speed!!!  IMAGINE what that wind speed could do for all of us at Boston as it usually blows that direction if it is blowing.  From Manchester we rented a car and drove north to Campton, NH (an hour away).  Got pulled ver for going 75 in a 65 mph zone (he just gave us a warning, phew!! but it got us nervous alright).  I told Troy cops are well hidden in lots of trees!!  But the funny thing is my cousin and some random Park Ranger told me everyone from Massachusetts always drives 80 on that highway.  I mean it felt abandoned.  We rarely saw another car and you can't see the towns as there are so many trees (sure miss those!!).  My cousin laughed as she has never been pulled over and we were staying on her condo.  She drives up from Massachusetts to where we stayed all the time!!  The condo was nice. We ate at The Mad River Tavern.  Still open at 8pm in a very country setting.  All of New Hampshire is so very pretty.  Even with trees bare the pine trees make up for it.  Spring is usually hitting around May but since low snow fall some flowers are budding early.  Years ago, on April 11th a friend and I jumped in the lake in Wolfeboro just after ice out.  The water has no ice at all and hasn't for several weeks now. The lake is huge- Lake Winnepausakee.  I grew up  on this lake.  Where we are headed tomorrow.

stayed in Wolfeboro, NH at the Windrifter.  Old Inn in good shape in a two bedroom suite, New England-style.  : D.  We all swam.  30 years ago my mom had a family pass for the kids to the pool there.   Amazing how things change but still look the same ???  hard to describe.  Met an old friend at my renovated high school that looked amazing-- finished in 2011.  We ran into each other and it was so fun run towards each other and hugging/catching up.  Met up with another old very goodfriend--  Kelly. We were on track and field hockey together.  She always beat me in the 800.  She has very long legs and is five inches taller.  She now has six kids and is such a wonderful woman.  It was so nice to see here again.  She was a dear friend of mine.     Showed my kids the kangamagus river and where we used to slide down rocks through the rapids and we visited my dad's store he owned for 8 years before he died in a car accident with my older sister in 1982.   It was an old country store. The town is dire need of up keep now. It is somewhat of a ghost town to me. 

great sleep.  and we're off once more to Massachusetts where my cousins live on Cape Cod.  We stopped in Portsmouth, NH then Salem, MA (witch trials, wrongly accused, then hanged for it).  Drove thru Boston in the on and off ran.  Weather cool but refreshing.  Arrived on the cape and weather very nice.  No rain at all there.  We got in about 6 pm.   Ahhhh to be by the ocean and smell the breeze!!  Cousin Jen came over with her daughter.  We had a great visit and she had our next day planned for all of us-- her daughter and her sister's daughter and my girls.  More cousins to follow later that day-- three more girls.  My three cousins each had three kids along with my three kids. The boys stayed out of it (only three of them to the 9 girls!!).  

6 miles around the island (8:00 pace).  so wonderful!!  trying out the foot that didn't think it was quite so wonderful as my mind did.  ran 0.1 mile pickups x 5 at 6:04 to 6:27 pace.   Walked four miles in Woods Hole off a beach on the ocean to an aquarium.  Hearing word that high temps (88 degrees) are expected for the marathon.  Plan is to jog this thing.  Warning sent out by email about unusually high temps from the race directors telling us all to slow down and hydrate and detailing signs of heat exhaustion.   Ate dinner with all the family/cousins.  Very fun day!!

four more miles on the island.  if you saw where i was at you would understand why.  not many runs compare to this!!  AP 8:30.  Wore a different pair of running shoes.  Still don't know which ones to run in.  Drove into Boston with my family/cousins.  Took the train in.  Expo for an hour.  Got my alignment checked.  I overpronate greatly with my uninjured foot and only slightly with my injure foot.  Align is a insert product to help this.  It was very informative but no time to break in the inserts so I didn't buy them.  They actually have you stand on a platform and it is obvious how off my feet are!!  WOW!!!  I never knew I was that bad.  Like an unrotated car tires on an old worn out car!!   That was all my thoughts about running.   Not even thinking much about running the marathon-- my plan is to "jog" it.  And with the latest warning from the Boston Marathon today (even having the option for all runners to defer their entry to next year) telling all runners to slow down and even the fittest of runners can suffer greatly from this heat wave coming.  88 degrees and 79 percent humidity.  Humidity has only been 30 percent the past two days so this could get real bad for marathoners and spectators as none of the trees even have leaves on them-- NO SHADE.  I am not backing out and have even considered running in a bikini with a sharpee written remark "  Where's the Beach?"   Even thought of a carrying a beach ball to throw out along the course.  :DDDDDDD.  Too funny.  I am not worried at all since I am not going to be serious at all.   Finally a race where I can relax and enjoy myself.  I have really just been chillin' with my family preoccupied with catching up with them-- since it has been 13 years since I last saw them!!!   We all walked the Freedom Trail in Boston seeing historical sites and eating cannolis ( a must do) at Mike's Bakery.   Totally something I wouldn't usually do before running a marathon.  To die for.  Seriously yummy and extremely filling. 

drove to Franklin Massachusetts after spending the morning until 2pm with my cousins.  It was sad to leave.   But my family was coming up to the marathon to battle the heat with me.  They had no complaints-- they were thinking how glad they are that they are not runners.  In Franklin I stayed in a Marriot Residence in suite.  My Aunt Dottie took us out to Dinner at Davenports and I ate a full on Turkey dinner-- mashed potatos, butternut squash, turkey, cranberry, stuffing.  YUM.  No dessert.  Too stuffed.  I totally forgot to hydrate.  I didn't bring any gatorade and probably only drank 32 ounces for the day tops.  That what happens when you travel, travel, travel.  But I went to bed calm, not worried at all about being able to finish, just not happy about another heat run and with the addition of the quite painful foot, everystep of the way--- torn tendon??? versus break????    Slept the most hours I have ever and will probably ever sleep before a marathon-- 7 hours.  I was so not into this.  My family came first and it felt like the right thing to do. All about the experience!!!   Oh yah, walked two miles around the island.  It was just too hard to pass up.  And the foot was not letting up.

It wouldn't be me if I didn't haven't some mishap.  Finally met up with Melanie as I walked a mile to the Athlete's village getting in there about 9:35 am!!   My husband dropped me off in Hopkinton then I took a four mile shuttle in then had to walk.  All the time talking to Melanie,then Kim then April on the cell phone.  I was sweating a lot.  The heat was ridiculous.  I only drank one glass of water before this race.  I also accidentally threw my ipod on with my bag and I was the last one from wave 1 to throw mine in my bus :D (but I started running 6 minutes after wave 2 started).    So no turning back as there was a sea of runners and upstream again would be too hard.  I decided it would be better to hear everyone and be able to freely spill water all over me.   Well, Melanie and Rachelle and I were together for about 10-15 minutes when after I used the porta potty we were still together then I leaned over to pick up some shot blocks and looked up and they were gone.  I was frantically yelling their names but to no avail.  I said a silent prayer and figured if it were meant to be I would find them.  I had a feeling I would have slowed them down because of my lack of training the past five weeks and the most ridiculous foot ever.   I pushed through the crowd.  I thought we would be waiting in corrals, but nope I was actually in the race in just a few more feet.  I was thinking "no way really?".  I hadn't even stretched or thought much about anything.  I awoke at 8am and here I was running in blazing heat.  I decided to just roll with it and was surprised to see my first mile at 7:36.  I knew I should slow it down.  The heat was only going to get worse and there were at least four neon signs telling runners to SLOW DOWN blinking over and over.  HOSES galore, and I ran through every single water sprayer (I think there were four) and every hose being sprayed by locals.  I ran from side to side.  My main goal was to see family along the way that were excited to see me.  And amazingly I saw all of them.  My Aunt Dottie (my dad's sister) was at Wellsley and she stood out like a beacon of light.  I had to catch her attention yelling her name and ran over and gave her a kiss and hug.  Then I thought Boston College was at mile 16 but it wasn't there (that was where my husband, kids and cousins were) so  I asked around.  They informed me it was still six miles away. Oh my, I thougtht.  I wanted to slow down.   My foot was ailing and my quads had been cramping since the 10k mark.  I bummed one salt tab at the 10k mark from a guy wearing a fueling belt.   I already had heat cramps.  I surely was dehydrated.   I barely drank yesterday.  Forgot to while seeing family I haven't seen in 13 to 16 years. Even at the porta potty at the beginning I didn't even pee a teaspoon when I thought I had too.  I never once felt the urge for hours later after the race.  I really was so much more into my family.   We drove over 850 miles in the week before the race going here and there and everywhere!!   I am quite saddened to not have had Rachelle to run with (but she was better off without me as on my own I had noone to complain to about my foot pain with every step).  I realized it was the way it was supposed to be for  the both of us.  Rachelle, rocked it and she needed to.   I honestly don't think I could have forced my foot and my cramped quads to pick it up.  I had very cramped quads on Saturday walking around Boston after my two runs on Friday and Saturday so this concerned me.  I must be compensating with my thighs to avoid my stupid foot.   Nothing else is sore.  Hamstrings-- not a single sore place.  Shoulders sore slightly from bracing myself through the pain.  I figure gettting through searing heat and a bad foot will pay off on a day when my body is back together.  But what if that doesn't happen.  It kind of worries me.  But I am hopeful.  Time to now get that long awaited (five weeks now) MRI to get to the bottom of this (no pun intended : D).   I ran while on the Cape twice not because it felt good (my foot) but to train my mind to run with pain since I had given myself 7 days off.  Walking was hurting.  My cousins would ask the days leading up to the race "are you are sure you are okay to walk this?"  and I was okay because Boston was not a race for me.  I didn't want to miss out on anything my cousins had planned but every step was painful.    During the race I just kept telling myself to look respectable on AT and T athlete alerts until I see my family.  When I saw my family at mile 22.5 I was in a concentrating mode (remember no music, just drenched with water, my feet were prunes) and they yelled my name several times apparently to get my attention and I ran back to them--- I just couldn't run by without full on recognizing them for standing out in this heat.  As I veered back to them and got closer they yelled "keep running".  So it was shortlived and I turned around and started the last few miles.  I slowed.  They were taking the train and I would beat them by a lot.  I just didn't care to push on my foot anylonger.  It was hard to run through all the walkers the last few miles when I too wanted to stop.  I didn't even push it in to the finish line.  My mind was done pulling my body through.  I was happy to be done!!   And even happier for Rachelle!!!  and all the others that persevered this year at Boston!!!   btw I swerved an additional 0.5 miles.  It was worth it!!!  I slapped so many hands and took so many waters from little kids it was great!! The gatorade however was so very warm!!!

quads, foot (swollen about 3/4 of a golf ball sized on the bottom of my foot), and shoulders.  Site saw in Concord, Massachusetts.  The site of the start of the Revolutionary war -- the North Bridge.  84 degrees.  I felt like we were in Hawaii!!.   So am going to miss the winding roads and homestyles and trees.  Really feel like I need to move back East.   Seriously sad to leave my cousins.  We were so close growing up and we are NOT getting any younger.  When we were together it was as if we were never apart.  I love that families can be together forever!!   It helps when we depart!!!  Flight back to SLC left at 435pm in Manchester, NH.  Didn't even swell.  Weird!! I usually do.  My heart actually didn't feel like it ever ran a marathon yesterday.   No speeding up HR not heartattack feeling.  Just a painful foot and cramped quads.    Arrived in SLC 920pm.  1120pm Eastern time.  Kids were tired.  I was trying to acclimate back to Utah time and stayed up until 11pm reading the local Massachusetts paper about RECORD HEAT FOR MARATHONERS!! :D.

Plan today-- MRI of foot.  Lounge around and unpack.  Think of a new hobby. 

Boot work out.  MRI later today. Last night went to Hope of America.  My daughter's class was on the floor-- so she did a few dances.  Definitely a must see.  Very inspiring and well done by all the fifth graders.  I was a volunteer (up and down those stairs at the Marriott Center in my boot, back not happy, foot very happy).    Got reserved seating right in front of my daughter down low.  So wonderful.   It helped me feel better.  And I don't know why I even went through PMD (post marathon depression).  I think it is because SGM is still fresh in my memory.  I knew five weeks ago my foot might not come through for me.  I did the longest taper ever and every run since the injury has been painful.   Sooooo some post Boston Marathon reflections:

I am thankful Melanie filled in for me for Rachelle.   Bending down to pick up the Gu shots at that very moment must have been meant to be.   I would not have seen my family along the course if I was focusing on going faster.   I was in constant "look out" mode two miles before Wellsley (hug to my Aunt) and at miles 16 through 18 thinking that was where my family was.  Then again at mile 21-22.5 when I saw them.  Few....once I got there I knew I could breath easier.  I was very worried about missing them.  Family is way more important than a marathon!! :D. 

I was so in vacation mode and it was so nice to feel that way for a whole week.  Eating whatever I wanted.  The only problem with driving 850 miles in a week was lack of noticing my hydration level.  When I run SG I am keenly aware of this.  But I don't think I was dehydrated in the race. I stopped at every water station and grabbed some from locals as well.  The water stations were almost every mile.  The BM added additional stations due to the heat.   Even though I never felt like I needed to pee in the race I didn't feel unusual thirst.

Third Boston is LOUD.  I didn't have my music and still there was constant noise.  It is nice to have this support truly but by mile 25 I wanted peace and quiet.  The sun compounded the noise.  But Seriously the finish line moment was surreal.  I am running down the 0.3 miles stretch to the finish thinking about how all the elites came through this way and here I was coming too!!  It was an amazing feeling.   :D.

The marathon felt like a jog in a sea of other athletes fighting the heat.   My heart was never pounding like it did at SG.  It was nice and slow.  I didn't feel out of breath.  My quads gave in way too early.  Which I guess could have been from too much time off and the heat all at once. 

I am also not going to EVER take a xanax (1/2 tab works well for me, I just barely got the prescription two weeks ago because I couldn't sleep) the night before the race.  Sleeping 7 hours straight  (and I felt like I could have gone back to bed after waking and eating the buffet breakfast at 830am) and arriving pretty much as the race was about to start is way too relaxed for me!!!  I felt like I dreamed the whole thing.  I slept well the most important night (Sat) so there was no need to overdo it.   I do better lying up thinking about a race then sleeping through one :D.  

Lastly-- I know what I am capable of.  Things happen at the worst times all the time.  I am not going to dwell much longer on the whys and what ifs.    When my foot is healed I will be back!!!   I am not going to lie-- the pain was intense.  But my photos for the marathon don't show it--- I am proud of myself.  I smiled for the camera through the pain.  This will only make me stronger when someday, maybe when I am fifty,  I run a sub three hour marathon pain free!!

I forgot to mention on my list of Boston Marathon reflections yesterday:  LET GO OF THE GARMIN.  As I left the door of my hotel room Monday morning at 9am...I had my regular watch in one hand and my garmin in the other.  I decidided I wanted "Boston" on record when I downloaded my garmin but I knew that I would not be happy with all the swerving adding distance to my garmin before markers(half mile by the finish : D) IT messes with my head.  Hitting my stop watch is better than watching a garmin's AP get slower and slower messing with your head and the fact that it would hit mile splits way ahead of time.  But I was not racing so I don't know why it mattered anyway.  SGM still in my brain--- too fresh of a memory/competition. 

No result on MRI yet.....waiting for the Dr.'s office to call today as they said they would.  Let you all know soon.

VERDICT--  VERY INFLAMED PLANTAR FASCIA.   On oral steroids-- taper.  Day one.  Worked all day without boot because I was wishful thinking that the plantar fascia would be aggressively "attacked " by the powerful antiinflammatory from adrenal suppression.  Only notice a slight decrease in pain but it hasn't even been 14 hours yet!!   Crossing fingers.  Actually I did notice I am able to actually massage the fascia with out pain as much pain :D.   My foot feels like it is screwed on incorrectly.  Odd feeling when I walk.  Going to start with cycling and swimming on Monday.  Pool running if the equipment is available at the pool.  I don't have any equipment and I have looked up several of the stores for "aquajogging" equipment.   The stores it suggests have it said they didn't.  Glad I called rather than driving there first!!   

Day 2 + on oral steroids (antiinflammatory).  4 days to go on taper.  Starting to actually notice it working.  Even attempted a half mile run-- no pain in foot but a sudden surge of back and thigh pain that almost put me to the ground.  Hard to describe.  I would not be able to run through that.  It was intense and actually quite scary.  It felt like my knees to my back were buckling underneath me.  My goal was to run 3.25 laps (1/2 miles) before spin.  I almost was unsure I could do the spin class it was that scary.  But I just took it really easy.  Nothing strenuous although the instructor had us do hills the entire class.  This was my first work out since BM but this reaction was not due to that.  I think it has to do with the steroids inhibiting my adrenal glands and I am super sensitive to medications of that sort.  I have had Cushing's Syndrome twice in my life from steroids.  At least this is only for 6 days total.  The last time I had Cushing's syndrome, I was taking large doses of prednisone for inadvertently on my very first 16 miler EVER (in the summer before my first SGM in 1995) wiping myself with a poison ivy leaf after peeing in the woods.  I had the worst reaction everywhere on my lower body and hands and arms.  It lasted over two months!!!  Most embarassing moment ever in my life as I forgot I had even wiped myself with the leaves of three (let them be) and did not know why I had welts all over my hands legs and other areas of major swelling.  Hence my training for SGM was quite interesting back then. I ran only 3-4 times a week but  I still qualified for Boston which was my goal (3:36:34 -- no chip back then, it took me 1:42 to get to the starting line, per my journal).  I then ran the 100th Boston with (go figure) an injured right foot (now it's my left).  I had a bunionectomy two weeks later.  Isn't this all ironic???????   Hey at least I was 13 minutes faster :D.    It snowed two days before the marathon so the weather was windy and cool on race day.   Ahhh.... the memories!!! 

8, per course tool, went garmin less,  mountain biking miles in 36:58.  (4:37).  Road through and around the hospital traffic.  Rolling short hills.     Temp definitely in the 90s somewhere but loved the wind--- very windy and I had a nice headwind at times.      Also tried out my foot for one measly mile 8:43.  Foot is going to take a lot of convincing to be pain free.  Not sure why it just is staunch on keeping PF in the works.   The steroid has helped but I only have two days left and I am tapering.  I am sure I will just not run for a few more weeks.    A half mile here and there to remind myself of how to run :D.   I am returning to the pool soon.  I haven't swam a mile since first joining this blog in 2008 August.  I swam my first mile in a long time back then in 36 minutes and got it to 32 minutes in just two weeks.  It will be interesting to see where I am at since aerobically I am more efficient going off of race times.  I love to swim so the only reason I haven't kept up with it is--- bacteria and viruses.  Chlorine does not kill them.  Oh and water in my ears.  Got ear plugs but  they haven't worked well for me.  I will give them another shot.  I have done a few laps here in there in the summers but nothing like I was back then not even a 1/4 mile. 

1 mile at 7:30am 8:50.   Then, 5.8 miles on the stair master in 50:45 (that seems quick for climbing stairs??) at PG rec at 9:20am.  I started at level 8 x 20 minutes, level 10 x 10 minutes, level 12 x 10 minutes, level 10 - 12 for 11 more minutes.  Still having that reaction (hopefully to the steroid that I am weaning off of and have only two more doses left spread out by 12 hours each). At least with the stairmaster I can hold on to the rails when I feel the dull ache in my back come on.   The reaction is like none other I have had before, like I described Monday.   It starts with pain in the lower back then reflexes to both my tibias (deep aching pain) at the same time and rebounds up my thighs causing me to almost drop to the ground--- but I stop myself before I get there.  It happened on Monday with only two laps around the track (0.3 miles) and Tuesday on my second half mile from my house (I only ran 1 mile).  It returned again just after a half mile that I had to almost stop.  I have no adrenaline.   IT really scares me.  I literally would NOT be able to run EVER again if this continues on like this.  So I am banking on it being a reaction to ADRENAL insufficiency that the steroid I am taking causes (suppresses the adrenal gland).  And I am already very susceptible to adrenal suppressive drugs (history of cushing's) and being only a week post marathon (marathon running suppresses adrenal glands markedly, hence why it is best to take it easy for several weeks post marathon so that adrenal glands can start working again).  Basically taking steroids post marathon was a double whammy to my adrenals.   I expect them to start taking over for themselves in a week after stopping the steroids.   If anyone has been on steroids and hasn't tapered off them they might have had a taste to what adrenal insufficiency feels like.  IT is unbelievable the load the adrenals have to bear for the entire body!!!!   FIGHT OR FLIGHT!!! 

SAD NEWS.   The best Visiting Teacher I have ever had passed away today.  I unexpectedly learned that she did not make through open heart surgery and had a moment of extreme sadness right in front of the entire Young Womens group and leaders.  She was in her 80s and was the pioneer of our ward along with her husband.  She had visited me last Thursday.  For 40 minutes we talked about how important families were (as I told her of my trip to Boston and seeing family).   She and I shared stories and I told her of my bittersweet Boston Marathon (mostly sweet).    She called me three times on Monday to find out how my foot was doing  and once on Tuesday.  I had tried to call her back to no avail.  And now I am so very sad I didn't get to say good bye.  She had diabetes but not a known heart condition until a heart attack on Tuesday in which she was hospitalized and prepared for surgery the next day.   I was working at the hospital that day but was so busy  I couldn't make it over to see her.  Then I was to introduce a Laurel to Relief Society at a Young Women's "What is there for Willing hands for me to do?".   I introduced my Laurel, Chevelle  after hearing there was a card for Lee Ann for us to sign.  I was like "oh good she is doing well,  I will see her at work tomorrow" (today) and then about 10 introductions later,  Laurie Baker of our ward introduced the girl that Lee Ann was to introduce and kept using the past tense to describe Lee Ann and that the day she was in the hospital she asked her husband for the paper she wrote up on her laurel to introduce and was worried that she would not have anyone there.  I looked around the room at other women and asked, "why is she using the past tense??? puzzled and then I whispered to the other table very worried "did she die?"   And they nodded.  And I immediately had a shock reaction sobbing hysterically for several minutes.   I was deeply saddened to lose my friend and neighbor.  She lives two door down from me.  Her husband is so wonderful and now he is all alone.   I managed to work all day which helped my swollen eyes to heal.    There is just never enough time in this life.....I just wish we had more conversations to share on this earth.     Her husband felt very good that his wife would be fine so I didn't have any sense of worry.   But she is fine just not in the way we see things on this earth.   I am thankful for that knowledge.

yesterday's comment was for today.  Worked NICU all day today.   Glad it was a lot less busier than pediatrics on Thursday.   Can actually walk on my foot today a bit normally.  Yesterday my foot was in a bit of pain along with my lower calf/ankle after the chiro massaged it and did ultrasound therapy. 

Trail shoes on Walmart special (kid's) mountain bike.  It is my 13 year old's mountain bike as mine has been out of commission from a flat.  Hubby just bought a new tube but hadn't put it on.   So this bike's gears are all quite audible and they stick between gears constantly but all and all  I had a good bike ride.  Left my house for Thanksgiving point at 6:18.  Arrived about a minute before the gun went off.  It took me 42.5 minutes to get there.  Just course tooled it at just barely under 9 miles.  I was FROZEN on that ride.  I felt like I was moving in slow motion.  IT had to be low 30s.  And the air was crisp off the snow-capped mountains.  Thick.  My fingers and toes were solid.  I couldn't even take off my helmet when I stopped biking so I left it on for a while.   I cheered on those I knew at the race and then met them again around 2.5 miles.  Of course I saw Jake in the lead pack and Andrea in a group of three women with a large gap over the followers by then.   I also met Michelle Simonaitis as she was cheering for her husband Dennis.  It was nice to meet her.   I remember her name as a super speedy chicka even back when  I first started running in 1995.    When  I am back injury free we are going to run together--- she can teach me a few things that is for sure.   I told her of my goal-- subthree, just once is all I ask.   Nothing more.  I biked 6 miles around the course at a pretty good clip at times but mostly easy next to Kim, Jane and Shaundree.   They ran the whole course before it started as a training run.   I knew they were there so  I am glad I found them when I did.   Hence, however I missed the men's finish!!! but caught the women's finish, with Andrea first, Julie Thomas second and I a girl I don't know in third-- Kimberly???   We have only met once in the hot sun post boston so I am not sure if that was her.  Sorry.   I learned that top master overall gets 500 dollars (as Walter informed me.).  He won master's and even added on accidentally going off course (taking a few other runners with him).  The course is tricky.  Honest for Utah-- Too honest Jake thought with all the hairpin turns etc...TIP TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS : D.     I think I could  have won master's even with my bum foot.  Next year too bad so sad becuse Julie Thomas turns 40 on June 9th.   So no more master wins for me.  Fun while it lasted.  Let's get real, Julie (not me) deserves it : D.     Rode my bike home.  So glad I was not near as frozen.  But I did have many tingles when I got into the shower thawing out in the hot water.   24 mile bike ride.  Oh yah!!  It was a great workout.    Afternoon barefoot running on the grass for 4:30.  1/2 mile.

Plan-- run easy 5 miles.  Foot not near as painful--- 20 % left to heal.   But it did go through several rebellions during the run but ended up turning numbish (maybe it was the endorphins? :D) and amazingly the last 1.5 miles were pain free.   The good ol' days.  I was even pain free walking around my house.  AP for 5 = 8:27.   Turned out to be a progressive 5 miler starting with 8:48 and ending at 7:47.  Felt really good to smell the spring time!!  I had some kinks in my form and the sometimes odd feeling in my foot made it interesting.   When I got back I stretched and took my girls to school after they ate breakfast.  I was just so badly wanting to get out there again and was fearing I would over do it. 

I was back for 30 minutes then headed out again for 3 more (AP 7:53).  I felt so good.  The last mile was 7:31 and it felt easy.  I stretched some more.  I had my music in for the last three miles. This is the first time I have run with music in over three weeks.  Okay, well I haven't been running so it is not a long stretch as it sounds.  But I don't bike with music (safety) and I ran Boston sans music.  Even my little jaunts on the Cape were without music.  I wanted to feel everything. The music pumped me up.  I felt like maybe I could really turn back into my goal oriented running self.  Subthree is still out there.   But I will take it one step at a time.  : D.  Oh yah---  15 pushups, 60 second front plank, 30 sec side planks, 10 more push ups.  First of arm and core work since well before Boston (probably four or more weeks).   My adrenal glands are apparently working.  That was pretty scary on that med last week!!   happy day!   

I so miss my visiting teacher, neighbor, and friend Lee Ann Dayton.  She passed away last Thursday after having a heart attack Wednesday and then surgery Thursday morning for a quadruple bypass. Met with her husband on Saturday and we cried together.  They would have been married 62 years this June.  She was turning 83 in June. Church yesterday was a tear fest.  I could feel her presence everywhere there. The choir sang and she is in the choir.   She always sits right behind me at church with her husband.  He said he could see her up in the choir.  He came to hear the choir.  He also was determined to get his home teaching done.  My neighbor told me he called her yesterday.  Troy (my husband) was talking to him before church and he said he hasn't missed a home teaching appointment in 70 years!!!!!!  That is the kind of couple they were!!!  They even were at the temple doing sealings on Tuesday (when she had several attacks of not feeling well and having a hard time breathing).  She called me three times on Monday and last week she left a message on my machine that she had some vegetables in her garden for me.  That message is still on my machine.  I want to remember her voice for as long as possible.  She has taught me how to serve and she was an amazing example to everyone!!!  Thank you Lee Ann!!!