Well, I did it! I completed my first marathon on May 25, 2008 - the Vermont City Marathon. It humbled me and taught me a lot about myself, determination and the value of training (of which I had almost none). But, it's been awhile since I blogged so let me catch up.
At the end of February, I was still struggling with injuries to my left leg. These injuries would continue to plague me until 2 weeks before the marathon. While my shin splints were healing up, I began to have swelling and pain in my left ankle. And when I say swelling, I mean cankle in a major way. It was not any more painful to run than it had been, but after runs of any length, I had pain for several days. Needless to say, my motivation to run was diminishing. I was also coaching Girls on the Run twice a week. My choice of evenings to run was cut in half. In late March, I went out for a 12-mile long run. Well, at least that was my intention. I was attempting to do walk/run; it was cold; I was tired; and, I just could not seem to find my ju-ju. After 8 miles, I stood in the middle of street and cried. I wanted this so bad, but I could not seem to wrap my brain around the physical aspect of it all. I seriously began to wonder if I could do a marathon. Two weeks later, I went out and got in 8.5 miles and I knew I was still short a lot of mileage, I felt somewhat relieved.
On April 26, I did the Greer Earth Day Half Marathon. This was yet another reality check. I went out way too fast (first 4 miles were all under or right at 11:00 minute miles) and I had to stop and walk beginning at mile 6. For the next 7 miles, I struggled with my legs to move, my head to push the negative voices from my mind, and my will to just keep going. You see, it had become easy to quit in the last 2 months. Long runs got hard, so I just stopped. I moved from running with no walk breaks, to running 10 minutes, walking 1; to running 7 minutes, walking 1; to running 5 minutes, walking 1... and well, you get the point. Once strong-willed and determined, I wondered if I would ever find that certain something from within and overcome the running demons that seemed to have possessed me.
I was still having swelling and pain in my ankle and lower leg. Around this time, I had the opportunity to speak with another orthopaedic, who told me to take out the heel pad and switch to a neutral shoe. I explained to him that the heel pad had helped my shin splints. He encouraged me strongly to live with the shin splints and explained that the heel pad, along with my stability shoes, were causing too much stress on my tibialis tendon and that was causing the pain and swelling. He also went on to inform me that if I caused a tear in that tendon, it would require reconstructive surgery. The heel pad was removed right then and there and new shoes were purchased. I began to get some relief almost immediately.
From April 26 to May 25, I ran all of 3 times - the longest run being 5 miles. And guess what happened on that run - yep! I stopped running and walked. My training had officially gone to hell in a handbasket and now it was too late to get it on track in time for the Vermont City Marathon.
I had a tough decision to make and and anyone with any sense at all encouraged me to not move forward with this. I seriously considered on several occassions not doing the marathon and just going along and cheering Jeff on. But I just could not give up on a goal I had set for myself. I had spent the last 12 weeks with the Girls on the Run teaching 10 young ladies about setting and reaching goals, never stopping, doing their best and not quitting. Many of those girls were overweight, had never exercised and some of them were probably picked on and bullied on a daily basis. But in the end, they all went out and ran a 5K. No matter how hard it was for some, they did it and they crossed the finish line. So, I dug in and determined that I would participate in Vermont. I knew that I would have to walk some (or a lot!), but I promised myself that I would cross the finish line running, no matter how bad it hurt or how tired I was. There was a 6 hour time limit to the marathon and I thought it was doable.
The week before the marathon, I had yet another speed bump. I awoke on Saturday morning with extreme vomiting and nausea. The vomiting lasted several hours and I couldn't get out of bed at all. It took me 4 days to feel somewhat human. It was now Wednesday and the marathon was on Sunday. I was dehydrated and still weak, but never waivered in my will to participate in Vermont. Looking back on it, I was in complete denial about my lack of ability. I had promised myself that I would just go and have fun. I had no goal time in mind, I just wanted to finish, preferably standing. So, Thursday night I packed my bags and got ready to embark on a trip that would change my life forever...
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