Slow & Steady Wins the Race :-)

Good news or really really really really devastatingly bad news first?

Good news.  I did it!  Shattered my goal (perhaps shattered is the key word? or broke?) of beating 2 hours.  Its amazing that a year ago almost exactly I ran the Whidbey Island Half Marathon in 2:06:42 (9:50) and this year I beat that time by 18 minutes in 1:48:23 (8:16).  And I am confident that time would have been at least a minute or two faster had the below not occurred.

I have a broken fibula.  I am devastated.  I'm guessing that the "shin splints" that bothered my left leg last week since last weekend's run was really the start of a stress fracture, which culminated at mile 7 of the race.  I was feeling GREAT until mile 7, overdressed because it was the most beautiful day ever, out enjoying a really nice race.  At mile 7 my ankle hurting a lot, and I contemplated quitting, but I don't quit, which I now know was a TERRIBLE decision.  It hurt a lot and its all I thought about, but it was bearable.  At mile 12 I almost cried because I knew I would finish, but that was premature since at mile 12.5 was probably when the actual break occurred, as the pain was no longer bearable and I hobbled to the finish line as best as I could.  Terrible timing as that was one of the one hills up to a bridge of the race where there was a terrible headwind as well. 

Praying that it was a tendon strain or something minor I hoped it would be better this morning (but deep down I knew it was probably a stress fracture, never thought it was an actual BROKEN bone). Couldn't sleep last night because it hurt so bad, couldn't really walk, so decided this morning to head to the ER.  They did x-rays and sure enough, broken fibula.  Poor doctor had to see my enormous bawling breakdown when he told me I couldn't run for 6 weeks. 

On a splint/soft cast/crutches now - see the orthopedist on Friday and I'm praying I'll get a walking cast. 

I have so much more to say about everything, and I just hope I can be positive and not get too depressed through this. I cant even imagine not running, I'm going to need to do some upper body exercise or SOMETHING or I will go crazy, I know. 

Why did this happen?  I dont feel like I upped my mileage quickly at all.  I do feel like it was a mistake to run hard last weekend and this weekend, and that I should have switched to the new shoes sooner.  But other than that, I honestly don't know why this happened or how to prevent this from happening in the future.  Perhaps I'm susceptible to bone issues (I read something about this being related to abnormal periods, which I've always had, sorry if this is TMI!!).  I'm just really depressed, Rock n Roll is for sure out, I just hope I can run again someday and that this never ever ever happens again.  Has this happened to anyone else?  If so, any tips, ideas as to causes, etc. would be so greatly appreciated.  I'm going to have to fill those hours of running doing something!

Splits: 8:04, 8:11, 8:21, 8:39 (the hill!), 8:17, 7:56, 8:02 (when it started hurting), 7:58, 8:04?, 8:23, 8:27, 8:15, 8:41

Garmin was hard to decipher since I did a bad job and pressed splits and had it automatically make splits.  Big mistake.

Day 2 of this nightmare.  And I am going CRAZY.  Yesterday after the doctor I had to go to class, I knew I couldn't miss, and let's just say the UW campus is rather big.  Even with new access to the disability parking lot, walking from my car to my class seemed like a marathon, when it couldn't have been more than a quarter mile.  Then today I decided to go into work, ended up staying about 5 hours until sitting was bothering my ankle.  I just cannot handle these crutches.  I HATE CRUTCHES.  They are such hard work, so at least I guess I still feel like I'm working out!  My arms are going to be much buffer at the end of this.

Things I hate about having a broken ankle:

1) Its a beautiful day and I want to go RUN.  Or at least go outside, do some yardwork, enjoy the sun.  I can't.

2) I can't do ANYTHING.  I dont know what I would do without my husband, he's been so wonderful and has been doing everything.  How you would do this alone I have no idea.  I need to invent a way to carry things while doing the crutches, this is the worst part. 

3) Moving anywhere is HARD.  I found that I didn't want to drink anything because going to the bathroom is such a chore!  Did I mention we have a "tri-level" style house, so there is no bathroom on the main floor?  Luckily its only about 5 stairs down to the bottom level where there is one, but STILL.  See #4.

4) Stairs are IMPOSSIBLE!  I am just not good at this crutches thing.  I have almost fallen a billion times, that will be wonderful, having TWO broken ankles!

5) My body hurts.  Oh yeah, my ankle hurts most of the time, its difficult to find a position where it doesn't, especially if I'm "elevating" it like I'm supposed to.  But I'm talking about my armpits, my biceps, my triceps, the area under my arm thats all chafed from the crutches, my abs (??), the blisters on my hands from using the crutches, and the new bruises I have from running into walls trying to use the crutches! 

6) I'm BORED!!!!!!!!!!!  Its really really really boring to sit on the couch all day.  Beyond boring.  Yesterday I watched 3 different Oprahs while I did my homework.  OPRAH.  The last time I watched even one episode was..... never??  Blah.

7) I miss eating!  Ha.  I'm still eating, probably better than ever actually, so everyone is right, that probably is going to be the great thing that comes out of this.  But I've definitely had to restrict my calorie intake, as I know how easy it would be to gain a bunch of weight during this time, since I used to make up for running 30+ miles a week! 

Okay okay okay, I'm sure everyone knows this already, I'm clearly not the first person to ever break a bone!  Just please please please please PLEASE give me a walking cast on Friday!!!

Day 3 of the Terribleness

My ankle actually feels better today!  That gives me hope.  Maybe I will get a walking cast on Friday??  But I know not to expect too much, that seems like too much to hope for.

I have to go to two classes today, from 1:30-7 today, so this should be a long, exhausting day.  We'll see how it goes. 

Plus its so annoying when people are constantly asking me "what did you do?" and I have to say "I dont know!".  I need to make up some amazing story that involves saving someone from a car or something exciting!

Last, this is Day 3 of no caffeine.  Have a tinge of a headache which is probably related.  Miss that warm coffee drink in the morning but its not like I could make it or carry it to the couch myself anyway!  All the sites call it a "bone robber", and despite all those studies showing caffeine helps you go faster/longer in runs, its probably best I cut most of it out. 

Well its day 5 of the awfulness, and no relief in sight.  Just got back from the orthopedist, and despite my begging no aircast and no walking cast for at least another week.  Plus I have to have an MRI because he, like me, is wondering why my leg broke for no reason.  So now I'm worried about all the reasons that could cause that until that's done with. Fun times!

Day 5 of no caffeine as well, so at least I've got that going for me.  I am drinking some green tea right now though but I'm not going to count tea. 

I am sick of the couch and sick of the crutches!

Day 6 of the boringness!!!!!

Yesterday I had a pretty nasty spill at the end of the day - I had just taken Cooper to the park so he could play and I could walk a bunch on the crutches (I want to maintain/grow my ability to walk in those), so maybe I was fatigued?  Anyway, I fell down the stairs going to the basement, so only about 4 steps, and no real damage, but it certainly scared Justin! 

I've never watched so much tv in my life.  Most of the time I just have something on in the background that I'm not really watching, but STILL.  On the plus side I'm already way ahead on my homework for next week and think I'll do some work work this weekend too.

I did start to walk a little bit on my cast (despite doctor's orders, hopefully he's not a fastrunningblog member, ha!).  I've learned that walking on the cast on the stairs is WAY safer than just being on those crutches.  I think they're a little too tall for me too, which also probably makes me more wobbly, but its the closest size the hospital had. 

Almost one week down out of 6 weeks (hopefully that's all!).