I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

This is going to be a meager run week for me...but hopefully worth it!

I'm racing DesNews tomorrow, so I didn't want to do a hard run, but wanted to get the body moving. So, I opted for our classic Monday AM ride. My house to Herriman HS, then back up Rose Canyon, down to Main St, around the Kennecott loop and back to the HS on 11800S then home again. A good, challenging ride. Averaged 15.5 mph - not too bad for the hills.

Now, if my legs will rest and work for the race tomorrow...uugggh, I hate racing nerves!! AND short races, but I need a new 10K PR. Your half marathon pace shouldn't be 7 seconds faster than your 10K pace - this MUST change....

I had some high hopes for this race. Despite the last month of lack luster training due to loss of mojo I had finally started feeling better and like I was getting it back. I even woke up with NO heel pain from PF (I had a touch, but nothing horrible or to even mention honestly) so, I knew this was going to be a great day.

I got the kids up (4:10AM!) and drove to my mom's home to drop off kids and pick up my sisters. We were a little late leaving their homes, but I was grateful when we got there with 20+ min to spare. Enough for a pop stop and a little jog to warm up the legs and lungs.

Took a gu a few min after they said "10 min to start" then found Paul and lined up near the front! I was going to do this!! Things were going wonderfully until mile 2.5ish (I have splits, but as you'll see have yet had the motivation to get off my butt and remember when I am off my butt to get the garmin and plug it in. Also, I was in biking mode the first .41ish of the run and had to change it while running - stopped it instead of lapped it at mile 1 - the list goes on and on...so I know I'm not getting much out of it anyway).

As I got to 2.5ish within about 3 steps I encountered SEVERE heel pain. I felt like my fascia was going to rip off the bottom of my heel. I finally stopped after mile 3ish and stretched about 10 seconds to see if that would help. It did a little. I was SO ready to hit the parade route after stopping 2 more times to stretch. I knew it would take my mind off the horrible pain.

No such luck! I was SO depressed that they turned us early this year (first time in my 5 runnings of this race) on 300E. I whined inside my head  the whole time "why did you take away my parade route! That is my favorite part! Where are we going now? I want my parade route back!!" I guess it kind of got my mind off my aching R quad from running one legged to try and take the pressure off my L heel - and the L foot pain. Then, we merged back in on like 700S and I could see the runners going up 900S, so I knew we were finally back on the right course.

I finished off the race and did what I could. Around mile 4 or 5 I'd determined this heel thing wasn't going away and that I needed to change my goals to just finishing in the best time I'd be given in this situation on this day. People had been passing me like crazy the whole race and it kind of broke my spirit, but I did my best given the circumstances.

I finished and was surprised to see the clock only at 44:15ish, I thought for sure I was more like 48+...but due to garmin issues I had no real idea where I was! I had to wait for final official results to see my finish time. I know on a good day I could've pulled a 42:xx here, but it wasn't today. I will have another day, there will always be another race.

After my finish I walked back to run in with my kids doing the 5K. My 8 yr old came in first and I ran the last .5ish in with him, then walked back and saw my 11 yr old daughter coming. Ran her in, turned and walked back for my 5 yr old and he was with grandma and the baby in the stroller. Then, I ran him in and waited for the stroller crew just behind us. I was SO proud of my 8 yr old! It isn't timed, but I think he probably ran under 30 min and he was the first finisher from the family with his 'twin cousin' just 10 feet behind. When I was waiting for him I said "C'mon David!!" (not wanting to walk/run any further than necessary) and the whole crowd around me started cheering "YAY David! You can do it David!" It really energized him! The crowd really supported the cute little guy running his heart out at the end. The same thing happened with each of my kids and it was amazing how it energized them! Yup, we get a lot from the crowd!!

After we got settled near the marathon finish line I finally hobbled over to the med tent and got an ice bag and an ace bandage. I sat there and got to watch the awesome first finishers come in and congratulate them! I love knowing all the cool fast people :) I sat and waited for Becca, as the clock ticked on I got more and more guilt. I'd told her I'd run back a few miles and run her in. She was going past her goal time and I just started crying! I felt SO bad, she was running along having a hard time and waiting and looking for me and never seeing me. I was broken at the finish. I was probably feeling bad for myself too...but it was a mixed bag.

I finally saw Becca come in and I just started bawling again. I was happy to finally see her and to see her finish! We all sat and chatted for a while, but when I had the stroller I felt like I was in the way, so I noticed the massage line was gone...I went and got one. I had them work just on my calf to try and release my heel a bit. Even though it didn't seem to work, it felt good either way :)  Becca shortly came and joined in and bye-wing and her family left.

I had to sit and wait for my mom and bye-wing to bring car seats to me and Becca was nice enough to go on the wild goose chase for the bus and sit and wait and drag car seats and kids on the bus to get back to my car! AFTER she'd finished a marathon!! Between me gimping around and her post-marathon legs and 4 kids I'm sure we were a good side show :)

We ended up at Einsteins and then chatting in the parking lot for a while, it was wonderful! I finally got home and crashed. I was SOOO tired and exhausted. My older boys didn't sleep, but the rest of us did. Then...I woke up.

Even before I put my feet on the ground I wanted to cry. My little foot pain was HORRIBLE. I was zero weight bearing and I spent the next hour crying and bawling as I tried to shower and get ready for my nephew's baptism. I also had my 4 kids to get ready too. It wasn't pretty...at all. I grabbed my grandma's cane to help me be mobile. I can walk on the ball of my foot...but that is all. No heel weight. Craig finally got home and helped me pack up and get off. We were only 20 minutes late. Luckily, my family loves me and waited patiently for me. I tried to just sit and relax the rest of the night, but kept watching the clock waiting for my motrin shot again.

After dinner and fireworks it was again 11PM and I was taking my niece to the airport at 4:20AM. Another night of no sleep. I couldn't wait until 8:30 to call the doctors office.

Got up at 4:10 and then just a minute later my cute neice says "Rachel...It is almost time to go." She was worried I wasn't getting up :) What she didn't know is that I just had to brush my teeth and I was out of there - and hoping my foot wouldn't hurt when I stepped on it (wishful thinking, but it did feel better!) We got on our way and I was SO tired! Talking to her was the only thing keeping me up. Once I saw her through security I went back to the car...crawled in the back seat and slept! I slept for over an hour and paid my airport fee for it, but any fee was better than what I would've paid with if I'd driven home...well, tried to.

After I got home I went to sleep again, then got up in time to get my 8 and 11 year off to their first day of 3rd and 6th grade! This is last year I get to send my daughter to elementary school...CRAZY!!! Before I left I'd called Dr Brinton's office and he was out until Monday...crap! So, I asked for a doc with sports injury specialty and they said they'd get me in at 11:00. Perfect. Got the kindergartner to his testing appointment, picked up the sitter and headed off.

Well, the doctor was a douche bag. He told me to rice it and stay off it for a week - with no help of doing so. Just rest it for a week. He said it was a tear of the Plantar Fascia (hello...I'd figured that out!) and to rest it for a week and come back if there was still pain. Really?!? How exactly do you expect me to keep my foot up for a week with 4 kids - one of them a 2 year old?!? I asked him to help me with something I didn't already know (respectfully). He said he could put me in a nursing home for a week, or admit me to the hospital, or give me a wheel chair (um, I have a 2 story home!) or put me in a full leg cast - IF I wanted it. Also asked what kind of pain meds I wanted. What the heck?!? I wasn't there for a band-aid I wanted some answers and some help as to how to be functional in daily life. How to heal from here, how to get back quickly, how to heal in the best way possible to get back a soon as possible. He couldn't answer any of them. He finally suggested a splint and said I could get crutches instead of a cane without a rubber bottom that was 10+ years old and made me look like an 80 yr old woman - thanks doc. I was SO frustrated and cried the whole last 10 min or more of the appointment trying to communicate what I wanted - not just a band-aid fix, but some answers to what was wrong with me and how to best and quickly heal.

The nurse came in and did a splint on then told me they didn't have any crutches in their office or in the hospital pharmacy (the office is at Riverton hospital), but I could pick some up at Smiths, most likely. She then came back with a wheel chair to take me out to my car. I was SO frustrated I stood up, grabbed my cane and said "I'm fine!' "you don't want help with the wheelchair?" "No! Are you going to follow me to Smiths and help me in there so I can get crutches?" "well, no" "then I will do it on my own...thanks!" and I walked out.

I went to the car and cried and screamed and cried some more. I called my sister (QP) because I knew she was stuck in a car driving and couldn't avoid me. She was nice to commisserate with me and suggest I just call my PT. I'd called him earlier, but he hadn't returned my call yet. So, I tried again. He was there in appointments and I broke down (surprise, surprise) to the receptionist and she said she would have him call me asap. Well, when I called my sister back I decided to just drive over there and see what I could do. My babsitter was SO nice and said she was good to just hang out...love her!

When I got to TOSH, I contimplated stopping at the desk, but decided to be bold and self-centered and just hobble on back to his corner. I saw Joel and started crying and babling all over again. So, basically...I cried my way in. He actually TOUCHED my foot (the doc didn't even touch my foot, I know they're ugly...but c'mon!) and I finally got some answers and hope.

He thinks that the swelling is more painful for me than the injury to the PF. So, if we can get the swelling down then I should be able to walk pain free within 72 hours. This is good news for Spudman on Saturday! He said it is impact caused not calf tightness caused, because I can rise up on my toes pain free. This means that when the swelling is down I can bike! He did a cold compress thing on my foot while elevated to help swelling, then did a steroid patch with a battery and light on it...crazy weird! He also told me to keep the foot at 90%+ with a splint (doc said just neutral foot) to aid the calf and PF in healing properly to be able to return as quickly as possible once pain free. See?!? ANSWERS!

So, 4 hours after my journey began I finally got to Smiths and picked up my crutches and splint (also Papa Murphy's for a work-free dinner!). I got home in time to see the kiddos get home from school, take the sitter home then sit and enjoy first day of school stories and papers as I sat on the couch.

I'm still sitting here and hubby is helping me all night. Kids are in bed and hopefully, asleep. Now, I'm going to get to bed and heal. So, don't expect many other posts from me for a while.

As far as Spudman goes, PT gave me clearance to swim and bike, but I can ONLY walk the 10K if I am pain free Saturday morning. No running allowed. And I have to get some soft arch supports before that as well.

As always, I'll get through this. With some hope from the PT I am no longer in the bawling mode and am ready to tackle this and get it gone. Now, if only my house will survive me sitting for another 2 days... :)

walking on the heel today. not 100% pain free, but I can walk on it which feels amazing to not have to hobble around. I hope this bodes well for continued quick improvement. As of right now I am planning on doing the swim and bike of Spudman tomorrow competitively and then walking the 10K as per Dr's orders. I have a friend coming up to watch and cheer me on, so she said she would walk with me. This will keep my brain from convincing my legs they should run. It will be a fun race regardless of the fact that I've been dreaming of having a spud to add to my collection for months now. poo. oh well. Bigger fish to fry down the road and I don't want to mess things up even more. I will be a good patient.

What a crazy week! I woke up Friday and refused to use my crutches. It wasn't too horrible to walk on, just felt like a bad case of PF, not like I was going to die when I walked.

I got ready and headed off to Burley around  noon on Friday, met friends in Tremonton and then headed up. Got everything set up and ready at the transitions, all the walking on grass and just walking around really kind of bugged my foot - especially the tendon on the outside of my foot, because I was compensating from my injury. So, when we went to wal-mart to grab a few things my friends decided I needed to sit in the wheel-chair. It was SO stinkin' squeaky!! I just laughed and laughed the whole time. Especially when I remembered I needed yogurt for breakfast and it was clear on the other side of the store! Oh memories I will never forget!!  I love these girls and Burley!! Steph, Jen and I have been friends since...well, forever. Steph did the tri and Jen was there just to have fun with us. We'd all go up to Burley as teenagers and be delinquents up there for a week during the summer - Steph was born there and her grandparents live there.

We grabbed some good drive-in food and shakes (of course) then crashed at grandma's for the night and caught the end of opening ceremonies.

The next morning came too soon...as always. Jen was our chauffer and took us to our transition stations to get the final touches arranged and tires on the bikes pumped up, then she took us to the start and we squeezed into our wetsuits - ready for the start!! I'd KT taped my foot to make sure I'd get some extra support, and put some arch supports recommended by the PT in my shoes. I was ready. The tendon on the outside of my leg was bugging me more than the heel! But, I knew I'd have the swim and bike to warm it all up. Pain point was the name of the game for the day.

We got in the river with about 7 min to our wave start. I could tell the KT tape wasn't going to last the swim, but I had hope. Then, before I knew it we were off! I've never been so molested by strangers! :) kicked and grabbed all over,  but nothing horrible...just worked my way through the crowd of swimmers and didn't drown! There wasn't anything good to sight - no bouys or anything, so I just stayed with the crowd. Well, at one point I was clear in the middle of the river almost past the boat - oops. Swam more to my left. Well, then before I knew it I hit a rock with my hand! I was on the shore - oops. So, a little lost time on the swim due to not swimming a straight line. Next time I will improve that one! Hit the right shore to exit on and swam as much as I could then stood up in 10in deep gravel - yuck. got through it and limped to the bike. KT tape did come off about 1/2 way through the swim!

Swim time: 21:11 (.93 miles), 19th/94 --T1 time: 3:32 (58 seconds slower than the fastest) 31/94 -- yeah transition time could've been faster, but I enjoyed chatting with Steph! :)

Pulled the wetsuit off put bike stuff on and took off. Steph came when I was about 2/3rds of the way done getting out of there. I did slow down my pace and take a second to chat and say hello before I took off on the bike. I carried my bike the whole time on the grass on recommendation from a friend who said a TON of people get thorns from that transition area. Set my bike down on the gravel and I was off!

I didn't get it. SO many people seemed to just go slow at the first. Was I making a mistake pushing now? Well, if I was whatever! I didn't need to save anything for the 'run' so the bike was it for me. I had to put it all out on the line here. Passed people like crazy on the bike and I loved it! I felt like I was hauling. There were a few groups of people (like serious pros!) that passed me on the bike, but they didn't just pass me - they BLEW past me! Crazy how fast they go! I was over 20mph and they passed me like I was standing still! I leap-frogged with a couple ladies at the first, they both passed me at one point, but I caught one of them about 10 miles out from the finish- I never did see the other one, but only one passing? yeah, I'll take it! I'm still just a wee baby on the bike. Jen and Steph's family had gone to where the bike crossed their street and cheered for us, it was a VERY welcome sight! Oh, and blocks in Burley aren't like here. We went to 600S then to 600E (from 50E) I swear that was like 15 of the 24.5 miles!!! Mental game for sure. Oh, and I really do need a new seat - butt hurt!

Bike Time: 1:13:46 (20.21mph average) 8th/94 (only 3:30 back from top finisher) ---T2 time: 2:11 (24th and 48 seconds behind 1st; WAAAY too much whining and crying while I put my shoes on!!)

Made my way into the 2nd transition, racked my bike and then started whining. I didn't want to walk the 10K. I wanted to run. This is MY sport of the tri. This is where I excell, this is MY time. But, I couldn't. I couldn't do it. My stupid broken body made me have to take a rain-check on the race part. I should've been happy I could just be out there, but I wasn't. I wanted to race. The bike had put it in me and made me realize I was really doing a great job. Now I had to just be done and give up competing and it killed me to the core. KILLED me!

With the inserts in my shoes I actually didn't feel a ton of pain in a slow jog, but the tendon on the outside of my leg hurt more than my heel when I'd walk. So, I took a 9:30-10mm pace. I quickly caught up to Kevin - my gimpy friend :) He had a knee brace on and when I passed him he was readjusting it and I said "Man, I guess the gimps should stay together!" He laughed and said he was supposed to walk the run too. So, we 'walked' together! He was going in for his 3rd ACL replacement on Tuesday. After exchanging injury stories and getting into the flat stretches of the run we just got into a groove. Passed mile 3 at 30:30 - with our couple walk breaks we were doing just fine on our little 'walk'. Steph passed me here and she was running strong! I was so proud of her - this was her first tri and she was going to kick butt!! I think I probably could've finished faster, but it was SO nice to have company that would commiserate with the annoyingly SLOW pace on a race and being injured it was worth the couple walk breaks Kevin needed to take to hang with him. He did make a stop just a quarter mile out from the finish and I told him to finish strong and I'd see him at the finish. I thnk he ended up only 20ish seconds behind me. My finish time for the run was 1:02:51 - so depressing!!! But, I've got bigger fish to fry and have to save the foot. Jen yelled at me as I was coming in and said "you aren't supposed to be running!" I said back "this isn't running!" :)

So, my final finish time came in at 2:43:33 - blech. I was 24th in my AG, Steph finished 12th!! I really think that I could've easily finished the run 15 min faster on a normal day. Looking at that I would've taken 5th in my AG and 1st in Athena. Poo. I know it all depends on who comes out on what day, but that dumb slow run at the end really frustrated me. REALLY. I'm still kind of hung over and frustrated about it, but whatever. I need to recover and then I'll be able to kick it hard at the half IM and take my rightful place in a race, right?

I was really good about pain on the run, and it was worse walking around Friday than at any point during the run. So, I let the pain determine the pace. At the end when I'd left Kevin, I did try to pick up the pace, but the foot rejected that idea so I slowed down and all was good again. So, even though I didn't walk, I really did let my pain scale rule what I did. The foot actually didn't feel any worse after the race either.

We went back to grandma's and showered and then stopped by Jack in the Box on our way out of town for lunch and headed home. I was back by 5PM! My friend across the street was having a reception for her daughter at her home Saturday night and so I went over there and started helping get stuff recovered after the wind/rain storm that had just passed through. I spent the whole night over there helping with it all until 1AM. My foot was sore after being on it all night and forgetting to put my splint on when I went to bed. But, again the tendon on the outside hurt more Sunday AM than anything. After the race I put my insoles in my new Altras I got at DesNews and I've been wearing them around for support since, and it all seems to be helping. I hope just one more down week will be enough to get rid of all this!! Fingers crossed.