My First DNF

I did not finish the Chicago Marathon.  I made it to mile 14 and then I had to stop.  I really knew from mile 3 that I wasn't going to make it.  I think I am glad that I tried though.

Overall, the weekend was a lot of fun.  Ryan and I dropped off the kids at my sister's house.  (I owe a huge thank-you to Katie and Bart for watching my kiddos.  She has three children of her own and had 6 kids under the age of 7 at her house Saturday and Sunday.  Wow-not that is hard work!)

When we arrived in Chicago, we picked up our packet.  Then we ate at Lou Malnatis.  Yummy!  I love deep dish pizza.


I slept ok on Saturday night.  We had the best hotel room possible.  Thanks to my mom who got the room for us!  It was a lot of fun watching them get organized in the morning from our window.

I look ready but I am not

View from our room

I met up with Jacque, Aimee, and Meghan at 6:30 and headed to the start.  The corral was packed.  Their goal was a 4:15 marathon and I was just going to follow them along.  We were so packed in that it was hard to get off to a good start.  Also running with 4 people in such a huge marathon is difficult.  I felt like I was constantly looking around for them.

I never got into a groove during my short run.  My foot was painful from the first step.  My form was off from the first step.  I knew after a few miles that I had the wrong decision to run this race.

The crowds were amazing!  The best cheering I have ever heard!

At mile 10, the pain in my foot really intensified.  Then at mile 12, my right hip started hurting.  I knew this was because my form was so off.  When I saw the medic tent at mile 14, the decision to stop was easy.  I was talking to one guy that had also stopped because he was also running on a stress fracture in his foot.  We described the exact pain.

Moral of the story:  DO NOT RUN ON A STRESS FRACTURE!

Ryan met up with me and we walked back to our hotel room and that was it.

Now it is time for me to take care of this foot.  I will not be running for awhile.  Lots of swimming and biking.

I need some time to heal my foot and my pride.  I have plans to run many more marathons in the future.  I just need to get my body healthy first.

I also think that I will stop blogging for awhile.  Maybe when I start running again, I will start back.

In the meantime, if you run...keep going.   If you are thinking about running...do it!  It may feel hard at first but if you stick with it, I promise it will be worth it.

Happy Running Everyone!

Chicago Marathon Goals

I have ONE goal for this race:  TO FINISH! (with no further injury)

I honestly don't know if I will be able to finish.  I have never said this before a race.  But I will be running on a significant injury.  What if the pain becomes too much?

I will have no time goals for this race.  On one hand this is good because it takes all the pressure off.  But it does make me sad.  I really, really want to run a sub 4 hour marathon.  I know I am capable of it (when healthy).  Someday I will!!!  But this weekend will not be the time.

I usually tell myself-no walking in races.  This weekend, unfortunately, I know there will be lots of walking.  I just don't want to have to start walking early on.  That won't be good for my foot either.

So I guess I am going to start this race.  I hope to finish but don't be surprised if I don't.  Man that is painful to say.

Even though this race will not be what I had planned, overall the journey this summer has been great.

I was able to run with some great running friends and meet some more great running friends.

Me, Lisa and Jacque.  Lisa and Jacque will definitely be kicking butt this  weekend!

Jennifer and Me.  Jennifer will be running her marathon next month.

I can't believe I don't have any pictures with my super speedy friend Alyssa.  Next training cycle...


I ran with a lot of family.  My husband, my daughter, my sister, and even my brother.

Ryan and me after a hot and hilly run at Eagle Creek.  I can't wait to be able to push myself like that again.

The best pacer around-Miss  Kaitlyn

Me and Katie.  She is a natural runner.

Mike and me.  He kicked butt in his first half marathon this summer.  I hope he gets the running bug now.

I even did some hard cross training with a great friend.

Christy making the bike look easy.  Unfortunately Christy also has an injury that will prevent her from running the Chicago Marathon this year.  She will be running her marathon next year.

Not a bad running summer at all.  It's the journey that matters and not the destination, right?

The race is on Sunday.  I am nervous but in a much different way than I normally am before a race.  Until then I will be resting and icing...Maybe that will help?

Weekly Recap: One more week?????

This has been the biggest roller coaster ride...  My training started off slow, then went well, then came the injury, then some recovery, then bam my foot gives out.

I ran my last significant run on Saturday and it finally happened.  My foot crashed!  I knew it was coming. My foot has been hurting more.  When I run I always have a cramping feeling in my foot with occasional shooting pains that last about a minute.  On Saturday, the shooting pain did not go away.  I literally could not walk on it at all over the weekend.  I was even using crutches.

I wanted to get in to see the ortho doctor but he couldn't get me in today.  What?  I guess this is how the real world works.  But as a Pediatrician, this would never happen in our office.  If a patient wants to be seen, we will fit them in.  Anyway, he did order me an xray.  (Which is really just what I wanted anyway.) Xray results:  completely normal.  Still can't see my stress fracture (which is normal).  But at least no further damage was done?

He said... I can run and to use pain as my guide.

So will I run the Chicago Marathon in 6 days?

I don't know yet.  I am not going to run at all this week.  I will just wait and see how much better my foot feels by Sunday.  If my pain does not significantly improve, I will not be able to run.

Weekly Recap:

Monday: 6 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday:  Rest
Saturday: 8 miles (My legs felt so good on this run, too bad my foot didn't)
Sunday: Rest

Not much running went on last week so I am not sure why my foot decided to act up.

Dear Foot,

I understand that you are hurt.  I know you are broken and need rest.  However, it is time for you to start feeling better.  It has been six weeks now.  That is long enough to cause pain.  I have given you several weeks of rest.   I have done lots and lots of cross-training to give you more rest.

It is time for you to heal up and make the pain go away.  It is time to run 26.2 miles!  Do you understand?  You can not be selfish anymore.  The rest of your body wants to run.  Your legs are ready, your mind is ready, but are you ready?

I feel you resisting.  You seem to be causing more pain these last few days.  I have given you even more rest.  I let you relax all day in the boot that the rest of your body does not like.

I will even make a deal with you little foot.  If you suck it up and let us run the entire 26.2 miles with little pain, I will give you several weeks more rest when we are done with this thing called the Chicago Marathon.

Thank you,
Your Body

Weekly Recap: The Taper

Last double digit run before the Chicago Marathon done!  On Saturday I started my taper and only ran 12 miles.

The positives:  My legs felt fresh and light.  Just how they should feel at this point.  I also felt pretty good cardiovascular wise.  The weather was perfect for a run and the trail was packed with happy runners.

The negatives:  My foot, my foot, my foot.  I thought since I haven't been running as many miles my foot would start to feel better.  Not at all.  It is exactly the same.  My running form is so awkward the first mile because I am trying to figure how to run and not make it hurt.  As time goes on, my foot pain dulls or maybe I am able to adjust my running form and not land on that part of my foot as much.

My overall pace for 12 miles was 8:36 min/mile.  My first mile was 9 min/mile.  I basically ran each mile a little faster and my last mile was 8:14 min/mile.  I wasn't trying to do a progression run but that is what happened.  At first I was feeling really good about this run.  Then I did something I shouldn't have done. I looked back through my garmin at my old runs.  Back in February, I ran 12 miles at an average pace of 8:12 min/mile.  Also most of my short runs 5-7 miles were averaging in the 7:50 range.  I have done all this running and am slower.  And now my garmin won't work.  I guess I did something going through all the old data?  It is just a blank screen.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  3 miles

Tuesday:  5 miles

Wednesday:  Rest

Thursday:  6 miles

Friday:  Swim 1000 meters

Saturday:  12 miles

When I look at my weekly recap it doesn't seem like enough.  But I need to trust my taper plan.  Only 2 more weeks!                                                      

The Taper

It is less than 3 weeks until the Chicago Marathon, so that means it is time to taper.  Most marathon training plans call for a three week taper.  They say it is important to have your legs feeling fresh for the start of the marathon.

I sort of have to laugh about my taper.  Basically I have been tapering for the past 6 weeks.  So my mileage during the week is not really going down.  The only thing that will be a taper will be my long run.  This weekend I only have to run 12 miles.  

I don't really love taper time.  Because I love to run.  The more miles I run, the better I feel (well usually when I am not hurt).

Today I ran 6 miles with Alyssa.  The first 2 miles I felt great, including my foot.  It definitely showed in my pace because the second mile came in at 8:14min/mile.  But then this very annoying foot pain came back.  Ugh...  Overall our average pace was 8:30min/mile.  I just need to accept that this is what I am capable of now.  I want to be able to run 10 miles at a 8min pace and have it feel easy, but I am not there now.  Someday I will get there again.  

Weekly Recap: Confidence Booster

On Saturday, I started my run thinking I was going to be a good patient and only run 12 miles and then do 8 miles on the elliptical.  But then when it was time for me to break off from the group, I couldn't do it.  I had a choice to finish off the run by my myself and then do 8 boring miles on the elliptical.  Or I could actually do a 20 mile run with a fun group of runners on the beautiful Monon Trail in the most perfect weather.  So of course I choose running.  My foot was not hurting worse than the first step I took so I thought I was ok...

I have to say the first 15 miles flew by.  It was really nice running with a big group.  So many conversations going on.  At mile 17-18, I was done though.  My endurance isn't quite where it should be.  One of the girls in the group needed to get back quicker so she picked up the pace at the end.  I was not feeling great but just wanted to be done so bad.  So I stuck with her.  I ran mile 19 in 8:35 and mile 20 in 8:20.  I have been having a hard time hitting 8:20 in a 5 mile run since my injury and today I ran one after running 19 miles.  Where have these legs been?

What a confidence booster to complete a 20 mile run!  And I definitely ran negative splits.  The saying goes... If you can run 20 miles then you can run 26.2 miles.  Unfortunately I know this isn't true though.  Well for a lot of people it is, but not for me.  I did two 20 mile runs last year before my first marathon.  Although I did make it the 26.2 miles, there was more walking then running the last few miles.  Even so, I am stilling feeling great that I made it.  Maybe I can do this thing?!

Today I am feeling a little more sore than I would like.  Still not too bad though.  My foot feels the same.  So I take that as good news.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  Swim 1000 meters
Tuesday:  5 mile run
Wednesday:  Rest
Thursday:  5 mile run, 4.5 Elliptical
Friday:  2 mile run, 3 mile elliptical
Saturday:  20 miles
Sunday:  Rest

Let the taper begin...and the healing too.

Finally A Diagnosis: But not a good one

The MRI results came in...

Stress fracture in my foot...BOOOOOOOOOO!

Ok now to get technical:
Official Results:
Moderate osseous edema within the right second metatarsal head and neck particularly in the planar aspect with a small focus of subarticular low signal.  The findings are most consistent with subarticular stress fracture (aka head of metatarsal bone) or osteochondrosis.


So there are some very interesting things about my MRI.  First most people who have a stress fracture in the metatarsal bone have it in the neck of the bone.  Mine is at the head.  My ortho doctor has never seen this type before.  And he is the best doctor in the area for this type of injury.  In fact this diagnosis did not even exist until 15 years ago.  This is a very RARE injury.

The most surprising news:  He still said there may be a chance I could run the Chicago Marathon.  What? What? What?
Any doctor or any athlete who has ever had a stress fracture knows the treatment.  NO running for 4-8 weeks.

This is a highly respected orthopedic doctor and I know he knows his stuff.  So hey I'll take this plan.
He did say that there is a very low risk of a complete fracture in this type of stress fracture, so I assume that is why he is letting me run some.

There are of course some pretty strict guidelines I need to follow:
1.  Not much running until the marathon.  For example I was supposed to run 20 miles this weekend.  Instead I can only run 10 miles and then do 10 miles on the elliptical.
2.  I need to stop if the pain increases.  Um... I told him if I start a run, I never stop sooner than planned.  Remember I ran 19 miles on this stress fracture.  But I will listen, I must.
3.  I have to wear a walking boot during the day.
4.  I need to get fitted for custom orthotics.  This will help cushion my foot and hopefully help take off the pressure on the area.
5.  After the marathon, I need to take a month off from running.  SAD:(  For the past 2 years, I have never taken more than a few days off in a row.

So here we go again.  I still don't know for sure if I will be able to complete the marathon.  What if the pain becomes too much?
I will also be so under trained for the marathon.  I wanted to do three 20 mile runs in preparation for this marathon.  Instead I will have done 0.  Not very promising at all.  Will I have the endurance to make it?

Have you ever had a stress fracture?  I would love to hear how your recovery went.  Also do any of my medical friends have any thoughts on this diagnosis or treatment plan?

What a bummer!

Weekly Recap: One more month?

The Chicago Marathon is now less than a month away.  I still don't know if I will be able to run it or not.  I get my MRI tomorrow so I hope after that I will have a better idea of what is going on with my foot.  Hopefully I will also have a plan on how to get rid of this pain.

If I do run it, I will not be as prepared as I would like.  That is one thing that I hate- Not being prepared.  I may not be the most athletic person but I am good at making a plan and following through on it.  I guess you could say I am determined.  But this injury has made it impossible for me to follow my plan.  I had to take almost 2 weeks off from running (during 2 intense training weeks).  And once I came back my training has been it or miss for the last 2 weeks.

The one word I would use to describe my long run today was FRUSTRATING.

I was frustrated that my foot was hurting so bad.
I was frustrated that I can't go as fast as I used to.
I was frustrated that my taper long run felt so hard.
I was frustrated that I didn't get a MRI 3 weeks ago when this pain started.
I was frustrated that my garmin wasn't working.
I was also frustrated that my Notre Dame is 0-2, really?

I know my complaints are silly.  And I do realize one thing:
I ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD I COULD EVER WANT.

I will try very hard to remember this tomorrow...no matter what the MRI results are.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  Elliptical 4 miles, Swim 1000 meters
Tuesday:  Rest
Wednesday:  Rest
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: 7 miles
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 14 miles

Pictures from this weekend:

Kaitlyn walking with her gymnastic's team in the Zionsville Parade.

Kaitlyn doing a cartwheel.

Kaitlyn and her best friend Alexis

Jackson waving at the parade.  He scored 4 goals in his soccer game that was right before the parade.

Nathan in awe over the parade.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!