Category Archives: Injuries

May 30, 2014 · 11:06 am

I’m like really, really good at recovering.

CaptureIn my last post, I talked about how I needed some down time from racing and running. Well, it seems I took that to a whole new level. Being honest, I haven’t run much at all lately. And when I did run, it was slow and short and with barely any effort. And I’m ok with that. Its what I needed.  I’ve been spending weekends in Vegas and West Viriginia and with friends.  I was feeling really guilty about not running or even caring about running.  Then I got injured twice in two days. I have plantar fasciitis in my right foot and a pulled hamstring in my left leg. I think this was a sign that I wasn’t ready to come back full force yet. My body still needed more time to recover (recover from what – I’m not really sure?).  I know that when I am healed and start back that it will be a long and challenging road to get back to where I was. But I’m ok with that and I like a challenge.

In the meantime, I’ve been spending a lot of time with friends and family and catching up on those relationships. I vowed to never let running ruin time with family and friends. And I need to stick by that.  I read this post from @milespost (one of my favorite runner bloggers) and it puts everything into perspective and made me feel like I was making the right decisions.

So I plan to slowly work my way back up but without sacrificing having fun and spending time with friends and family. I will be the best recover ever!

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April 17, 2014 · 10:02 pm

Training for Boston

“[We promised] that fear would not control us, and that the spirit of Boston would win over hate and terrorism. Why am I running Boston? How could I not?”   -Julia R

boston finish line 2014It’s been quite a training season getting ready for Boston.  I’m ecstatic to be running on Monday. So many emotions come into play. This isn’t just another marathon. This one is special. I’ve earned my way into it and I couldn’t be happier to be there this year to help Boston heal and to celebrate all that they’re overcome. I want to honor victims, the first responders, the strangers that are now bonded for life. I want to celebrate them.

As with all training seasons I have, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. There’s been a lot of personal changes in my life and I’ve had to work running around all of that.  I resigned from my job in NJ, rented out my house, took a job in MD, and moved to MD. All within two months. And that was the start of my training season.  I was coming back from a busted fall training season where I had a DNS for Marine Corps Marathon because of a few broken ribs.  I was slow to get back into it. I took my time and told myself to be patient.  Eventually, the speed started to come back. The endurance started to show up. It took quite a bit.  And I had trouble fathoming running a few 20 plus mile runs this time around. It seemed impossible. But it wasn’t.  I had to relearn how to work running into my new life.  With all the kinks in my new schedule, I did the best I could do. And that is what I’ll be working with on Monday and the most I can ask of myself. But the Boston Marathon isn’t about me – it’s about the people and the city.  I am honored to be a part of helping Boston heal.

its go time boston finish line

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October 30, 2013 · 9:09 am

Getting through injuries

DoWhatYouCanAs with every training season, I got injured again this time. It was 4 weeks prior to marathon day and man, I was on it. I was hitting 7:45 pace for my 22 mile runs. I was peaking; at the top of my game. I was looking at another BQ for 2015 and a PR in the marathon. Then I fell and hurt my ribs. This is the type of injury you can’t just bounce back from. You can’t put ice on it and hope for the best. It took me fully out of commission for awhile. And I hated it. As each day went by, I realized that the likelihood of me seeing the starting line on 10/27 was not good. It took me a bit before I finally gave in and cancelled my hotel room. I’ll admit, I help out hope that I would wake up one day and feel 100% and be able to go out and do one last long run. But that day didn’t come.  I felt as if I let everyone down, but most of all myself. The next few days I had to come to grips with not being able to compete this fall. My friends heard about it and they are saints to put up with me.

As marathon day came and went, I found myself reflecting on the past few weeks and how I wish I would’ve handled things differently.  Here’s what I learned from this experience:

1. There will always be another race. It may not be the race you envisioned or the one all of your friends are doing; but there will be others, I promise.

2. Your life will not end because you can’t race. Get some fro-yo and slap on a smile.

3. Look at the down time as a time to refocus and pick up a new hobby; perhaps coin collecting (only a few injuries a year from that hobby).

4. Focus on making others a priority instead of running. I focused on others racing and how I can help them. I focused on making my friendships stronger, being a better girlfriend, sister, and daughter.

I feel for all runners who are on the injured list.  I know what it’s like; it’s not pretty. It’s gonna be hard but you’re strong and you’ll get through this.

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