Fast-forward three months from my last post--three months from when Theresa and I signed up for the Chicago marathon. In that three months, we've both struggled with injuries and juggling around life...not exactly a killer way to kick off the marathon experience, but I guess it's reality.
Theresa's left knee had been bothering her for quite some time so, after seeing a sports medicine doctor, she is now using orthotics...though her knee (and actually her lower leg) is still bugging her with nerve-type issues. To top that off, she's had one hell of a plantar's wart on her right foot--right where she steps down on her heel. She's treating it, but it's still there--and I have to admit it's really pretty gross (at least coming from a foot-phobic person's perspective).
As for me--well, I slipped on some ice after Christmas and messed up my shoulder...not exactly a career-ender for a runner, but a mental blow for a triathlete. So, after physical therapy and a lot of Advil, I'm back in the pool but still fighting some achiness. Add to that my right knee and ankle, both of which seem to act up simultaneously but sporadically, and I'm a bit of a mess as well.
We make quite a pair, really--both of us limping along, icing when we can, and keeping the ibuprofen industry alive...but at least we're still plugging away. It's been a big mental challenge for both of us, though, to keep training and stay positive--but at least we can lean on each other.
Tomorrow, we leave for Indianapolis--we're both doing the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon (a half marathon in downtown Indy) on Saturday. Two years ago, we both raced in our first Mini--which was actually Theresa's first race of any kind. She and her four siblings had decided to do the race together--her twin sister lives in the area, but everyone else came into town for the weekend. Four of the five did the whole race together--even crossed the line holding hands...as an outsider looking in, it was pretty incredible to witness! Even more impressive was the fact that, while they were planning on walking the majority of the race initially, they ended up running the vast majority of the race and finished about a half hour before they predicted (the only downside of which is the random friend--that'd be me--completely missed the big finish as I was taking my time in a Port-o-Let post-race). I'm still amazed that it's only been two years and change since Theresa's been running regularly--she's come so far in a short amount of time.
Since then, she's done three other half marathons--the 2007 Mini as well as the 2006 and 2007 Grand Rapids half marathons. We ran Grand Rapids together both years, but Saturday will mark the first Mini we've run together. I relish the opportunity to race with her--it's fun encouraging her and distracting her when things get rough...now if only I could convince her not to kick it in and beat me at the end! More than the Grand Rapids races, though, I'm glad I get to run with her Saturday--I know she's worried about her left leg (the nerve thing makes it feel like it's going to give out and cause her to fall), and I fully intend to encourage her the whole way to get her to the finish line. My friend Michele ran my first marathon with me and kept me going--seems only right that I can pass that along to Theresa as well.
Anyway, as the night before the night before is apparently the most critical from a sleep standpoint, I need to get to bed...but figured three months was long enough between posts. More to come after the weekend...but the journey continues...
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