speedvegan

buff_nerd: you know
buff_nerd: u really are nuts
buff_nerd: i knew this would be my last run for a while
so i wanted to make it a good one
despite the tears in my eyes from the piercing pain
buff_nerd: if (!isRacing) {pain == stop
buff_nerd: err pain =stop;}
buff_nerd: there
buff_nerd: you can quote me in your blog

i ran last night… on my injured, fractured feet. my pace was excellent after being off my feet for 2+ weeks. the first 3 miles were virtually pain-free. then i turned around and felt something snap in my right foot.

i ran the last 3 miles as fast as i could. i knew this would be my last run for a while so i wanted to make it a good one despite the tears in my eyes from the piercing pain.

my foot is in a soft cast now and will stay there for the next 2 weeks. during that time i am not allowed to run (duh) bike or do any lower body exercises at the gym. i might as well hibernate…

the good news ? i think my left foot is healed because it does not hurt at all.

from my chat session with a friend this morning:

friend: i have a wheel chair you can borrow
me: aww
me: thanks, but i can still walk
friend: not if we strap you into the wheel chair
me: hahahahahaha

running is the worst vice ever…

i guess i should mention that this weekend is the MS Bike Tour (a 2-day 150-mile bike ride to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society). i have almost met my fund raising goal – yay !! i’m looking forward to a relaxing weekend. i know pedaling 150 miles is not everyone’s formula for relaxation, but the way i see it, i should be sipping cocktails at the beach by this time tomorrow. now doesn’t that sound relaxing ? you have to focus on the prize at the end of your journey in order to get to it and spending a beautiful saturday in the keys is a nice carrot.

i’ll write all about it when i return on monday !!

here’s what a few friends have done in the past few days to cheer me up:

my boss brought me a picture of Lance riding a bike @ 9 years old (cute) and sent me this (sexy). i wonder if i can get a life-size version of that… hmm…

…and ! my friend just sent me this:

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though your foot is breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, just like Lance, you’ll get by
If you smile thou your feet are sore
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness ( think Lance)
Hide every trace of sadness ( think Lance)
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

LALALALALALA

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

thank you, thank you, thank you ! you’re all wonderful ! i love you !!

i read a few books before starting my marathon training. one of them had me make a list of the top 3 factors that could get in the way of completing my marathon training program. the examples given were time, motivation, support and the like. i had a hard time with this exercise. but i finally came up with 3 things that could possibly prevent me from meeting my goal in order of “most likely to happen.” are you ready ? here’s “the” list:

1. injuries (chronic or fatal)
2. health problems (chronic or fatal)
3. death

ok, so it’s a bit extreme, but then again, this is me we’re talking about. since i started my training (13 weeks ago) i have experienced:

- pain @ sole of right foot which led to:
- 2 podiatrist visits ($40)
- wearing inserts for 2 weeks

- pain @ left and right ankles which led to:
- 2 sports medicine doctor visits ($40)
- chronic ankle instability diagnosis which led to:
- 12 physical therapy visits ($240)
- buying new shoes ($100) which led to:
- pain @ top of left foot which led to:
- running in my old shoes
- getting new shoe laces (gift) which led to:
- running in my new shoes

- chills and dizzy spells which led to:
- 1 visit to primary care physician ($25)
- 1 EKG (results: normal)
- 1 physical including blood test (results: low blood sugar) which led to:
- change in diet to consume more protein
- change in diet to consume less sugar

- 14 mile long run which led to:
- 2 stress fractures

and just like that, i get to cross off the first two items on my list and probably take a rain check on the marathon. depressing ? oh yea. actually, i have no words to describe what i’m feeling right now. give me a few days…

rather than ending on a depressing note (cos that’s so unlike me)… i ran into my neighbor the other night. he asked about my training and i mentioned that my therapist had suggested that i exercise a little bit. he smiled and said: “yea, my doctor said to get a little bit of exercise too… as in more than i usually do.” HA. riiiiight…

my grandmother fell and broke her forehead last weekend. i was planning to ride that morning, but needed to see her. so i packed my cycling gear, grabbed my bike and drove down to miami. i tried to time my ‘escape’ immediately following the FAQ section of our visit and the point where gram begins to throw [verbal] stones at me didn’t Ani DiFranco phrase it best in her song Glass House ? “… if you think you know what i’m doing wrong you’re gonna have to get in line” apparently gram was first in line that day.

she told me i was waisting my life with all my running and cycling and that it had become an obsession or worse, an addiction ! i am aware that it is my grandmother’s hobby and favorite passtime to tell others – not only what to do – but HOW to do it, but condeming my active lifestyle is simply absurd i know a healthy obsession with heroin is out of the question, but would gram rather i was a hefty couch potato ? and are these words really coming from the woman who lost her husband to a heart attack at age 50 – probably due to an unhealthy diet, alcoholism and lack of exercise ?

rather than fight a battle i lost long before i was born, i headed for the door as i heard gram say “your muscles are going to waste away” and realized ignorance is not always bliss.