Sometimes the Body IS in control

What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday, I ran 10 flippin' miles! And, it was great! I had negative splits, my heart rate was awesome, and I felt that I could have done 3.1 more miles to make to HM distance. But, as soon as I started out, I had some pain in both of my shins. It was painful, but not debilitating and obviously, I was able to run through it without a struggle. I thought this must just be shin splints and a few days of rest would clear it right up. By Monday, my right shin felt fine, but the left one still had nagging pain. Unfortunately, the pain got worse and was in a localized area. I knew in my heart that the possibility of another stress fracture existed. I tried to will the pain away. I tried elevation and staying off of it as much as possible. By Thursday morning, I knew I had to go have it checked it. The ortho confirmed my fears that it may be another sf or compartment syndrome. I am facing a bone scan tomorrow and am fearful that it will be the worst. But, I just don't think that it is a sf. The pain dissipates throughout the day, even if I am on my feet a lot. Yesterday, I did a job fair and was on my feet all day. It felt fine at the end of the day. Plus, the pain seemed to have moved down lower today than it has been. Maybe I am just looking for any light at the end of the tunnel. But, it just can't be another fracture. You see, if it is, there is a lot more than just recovery I have to face. My dr. says if it is, I will need to stop running and find another form of exercise, period. If it is, Jeff isn't going to let me run, period. So you see, there is a hell of a lot riding on this bone scan and the results. I still think that it is not running, but the fall I had last year that started all of this. After all, they keep showing up in my left leg, not my right - the leg I fell on. When I run, don't I put the same impact on each leg? It just doesn't make sense to me. So, I am going tomorrow and through this week with the following thoughts:

• I will do the Greenville News 5K next Saturday
• I will participate in the Tybee Island HM on February 2
• I will participate in the Vermont City Marathon on May 25
• I do not have a stress fracture
• I need to change my training schedule to run on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to give my body a rest in between
• While running does not define who I am, it is something that I love and giving up something you love just shouldn't have to happen
• This is a tiny speed bump in my life and I know overall, there is a meaning to it

So, one of the longest weeks of my life begins tomorrow. I am going to try to get the radiologist to tell me if they see something. But if not, I just have to wait until Thursday when I go back to see the ortho. Saying lots of prayers...