Alaska Anyone?

Okay, so I'm not running Chicago. I'm disappointed, but it's not the end of the world.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has generously offered me another choice of races within this fiscal year. There are four I can choose from that will allow me the maximum time to heal:

*Country Music Marathon, Nashville, Tennessee - April 26, 2008
*Indy Mini Half Marathon, Indianapolis, Indiana - May 3, 2008
*Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon, San Diego, California - June 1, 2008
*Mayor's Marathon, Anchorage, Alaska - June 21, 2008

My brother, nephew, and I discussed running the Country Music Half-Marathon last April so that's a race that's been on my radar for a while. It's near my brother so his family could come and watch, and my nephew and I wouldn't have to travel terribly far. Should I choose this race, I would run the full marathon and maybe get those two to do the half. It could be a fun family event. However, last year that weekend proved to be really difficult with my teaching schedule. Might it not be tricky again this year?

I'm disinclined to run Indy. I hear it's a fun time, but I'm not a NASCAR fan and I don't get jazzed up to run around the Indy 500 track. I just don't. Besides, it's in Indianapolis and I can go there any weekend I want. But why would I want to? I don't mean to trash what I am sure is a lovely city, but it's just not top on my list.

San Diego is awesome and listening to Rock-n-Roll along the route might be just what I need to run a solid, consistent race. I love southern California anytime . . . and it would be another destination marathon that I could turn into a little vacation. School will be out for the summer, and early June is a more flexible time. With the exception of a three mile climb early in the race, the course looks pretty flat and beautiful. Plus, I would get a free beer at the finish line! Again, they have a half-marathon so I might be able to drag some family along with my friends. It's a promising choice.

As I am sure you have guessed though, my first choice is ALASKA! I've never been, it's summer solstice, and I would turn it into an amazing vacation like I did when I ran Honolulu! Sadly, one of the Hula Ladies won't be available to join the fun if I choose to go as she'll be off to Kazakhstan for her two-year stint in the Peace Corps. But that still leaves two of the Hula Ladies and an invitation to all others who would like to partake! Plus, they also offer a half-marathon so I might be able to convince my brother to make the trip.

The difficulty in choosing this far out is I just don't know what next summer will bring. I have no job security and that makes me nervous. Plus, I want to audition for summer stock and should I be cast, a late June race date would surely be a conflict.

Still . . . I have time to decide and could even change races up to sometime in February if I had to. So, yeah, I'm leaning toward Alaska.

And I'm getting excited.

Any Eskimos out there ready to join me? :)

And the Winner Is . . .

STRESS FRACTURE!

Yup. I am in a "boot" as I type, bemoaning my fate and new fashion statement.

I will NOT be running the Chicago Marathon.

There is no finish line, however, so stayed tuned. More to come - I promise!

X-Rays and Bone Scans

SIGH. It's come to this.

Last week I had some x-rays taken of my left leg at my primary doctor's recommendation. She got back to me with good news - according to HER, the x-ray was all clear. However, she suggested I confer with the orthopedist anyway to make certain. On her all clear I ran 16 painful miles Saturday and then met with my orthopedist on Monday.

The orthopedist had a different opinion about the x-rays. He pointed out a bright line that follows the area of intense pain I'm experiencing and said it could be one of two things: 1. (Best Case Scenario) a vein, or 2. (Worst Case Scenario) a stress fracture.

Ugh. So he prescribed a bone scan to rule out #2.

The bone scan is today. I've already gone in for my "radioactive" medicine and preliminary pictures. I'll admit, aside from the technician having trouble with my rolling veins (multiple needle pricks), I was fascinated! I got to watch the medicine move through my veins on a little screen as it took the pictures. Very cool stuff.

In a few hours, I go back for the full scan and then hope for the best. I'm not certain how quickly I'll get the results, but the orthopedist said I needed to treat it as a stress fracture until we know better. Which of course means no running. I would be tempted to run if it weren't for the very grim description he gave of what would happen should the fracture actually break. Imagine bones going through muscle and skin. You've heard of "scared straight"? Well, I'm "scared sitting".

Needless to say, my frustration is mounting. The marathon is a mere two months away and as hard as those last two miles of 16 were over the weekend, my mind boggles at how I'll add another TEN to that and survive! Obviously a stress fracture might put me out of the race entirely . . . we'll have to see. But should the best news come, I'm still nursing an injured leg and worried about the last few long runs and the race. I miss the healthy body that finished the previous six marathons. Where did that body go?

Well . . . no point in crying for what isn't. No matter what the outcome of today's bone scan, I'll just have to pick myself up and move forward with what's been handed me.

Naturally, I'll keep you posted.

Hellos, Good-byes, and 16 Miles

Well, it's been over a week since I last posted. But it was a fun-filled week with friends and activities!

A week ago Saturday, friends from DC flew in to visit. We had a GREAT time in spite of the fact that this town has little to offer in the way of fun. I picked them up at Midway and drove them back to the "twin cities." We stopped at a pub I enjoy occasionally, Maggie Miley's, and drank some beer or cider and enjoyed some munchies. We had a LOT to catch up on.


The next morning we were off to walk Zoe and then have brunch at Kelley's downtown. Then it was off to campus to show them where I work (they got to see Buck hanging over my desk) and walk around. We ran into one of my colleagues, which was crazy 'cause we had been chatting about him earlier, and he gave us a full tour of the facilities. Then we walked the VERY small downtown area . . . enjoyed a rest the Coffee Hound (where one friend enjoyed a beverage) . . . and then headed home to escape the heat.


Once there, we hung out and chatted . . . and I baked a raspberry pie. Then we planned our menu for a pre-show picnic at the Shakespeare Festival. We ordered from a yummy Italian place that does carry-out and packed a bottle of wine. It was a really nice evening and the picnic was perfect! Then it was off to see the show, which wasn't near as good as the picnic. However, we ran into yet another colleague so my friends were able to start putting faces with names. Then it was back home for pie - YUM!


The next morning we walked again - and ran into yet ANOTHER colleague on the trail. It was getting kind of funny. Then my plan to take them to the Garlic Press, a yummy deli, crashed and burned as it was closed. So we were off to find another place to eat . . . and with each of 5 subsequent tries, we found a CLOSED sign. Seriously, between the twin cities, ONE restaurant (that wasn't a CHAIN mind you) was open. The towns just shut down on Mondays, roll the sidewalks in. UGH.

So we found ourselves in a throw-back of the 80s that made mediocre food and was lit with blue light. Blech. We were one of THREE tables with customers. In hind-sight, we should have gone to a chain!

After, we wandered the streets of the town, hit a boutique run by a nice, but very aggressive saleswoman, and stopped in a second store of the same coffee shop to enjoy a beverage. As there was NOTHING ELSE TO DO, we returned to my place to hang out.

In the evening, I invited the Fight Guy to join us for Margaritas (it was a Monday after all) and Queso. We had a good time drinking and eating and gossipping, and then called it a night. Next morning I had to say good-bye to my friends and drive them back to Midway.

It was a great visit, but impossibly short. I miss them already.

The following night I returned to the Festival with the Fight Guy . . . and was uninspired again, though we also had a great pre-show picnic.

And then Thursday, I made my way north for a day at Great America with my friend G. What a blast! It was bloody hot and it took me nearly 4 hours to GET there (NOT FUN), but it was worth it. G and I have similar tastes in adventure and fun so we're a good team for a day at an amusement park. We already have plans to go back in the fall. I can't wait.

I spent Friday recovering (and visiting doctors for annual exams, blood tests, etc.) and yesterday morning - as I was told my leg x-rays showed no major injuries - I ran 16 miles.

Yup, I got out there and did it. The first 10 weren't so bad. I could feel the shin splint in my left leg, but was managing the pain. From 10 - 13 it started to get worse . . . and from 13 - 14 I could feel my right knee's response to "carrying" the left leg. Miles 14 - 16 weren't pretty. I hobbled along and when the pain got too intense I would walk a bit . . . then hobble along. SIGH.

When I got home I put myself into a cold bath. Not pleasant, but it sure helped my recovery. My left leg still hurts today and I am certainly favoring it; I don't like going up and down stairs and prefer to stay off my feet entirely. Tomorrow I see the orthopedist and hope he has some solid advice that will speed my recovery!

Until then, I will rest (except for the required dog walks) and hope for the best.

And think back on a fun week.