On why my blog title might now be incorrect

Trying to get back into the swing of my long runs, and wouldn't you know it today it snowed.

I wrote that three weeks ago right after my 8 mile run in the snow, and haven't been able to finish a blog post since. Lots has happened...

Last weekend, I ran and walked 13 miles, which was the mileage for the "down" week of the marathon training plan. I was sore after that one, and learned my lesson about ice baths. Unfortunately, this week the mileage was supposed to be 17 (I'd missed the 14 and 15 mile runs of a few weeks ago). I was pretty sure there was no way in hell that was going to happen, and I was right.

On Tuesday I met with a physical therapist, who had some not-so-happy things to tell me. Well, really, she didn't tell me much I didn't already know - I just had to hear myself say some of them out loud for them to dawn on me.

I started running in July for about a mile at a time, maybe a little more. I worked up to my first 5k at the end of August, and kept running pretty steadily at 3-4 miles until late November, when I pushed it up to 5-6 miles. I ran my first 10k on New Year's Day. Seems like a natural progression so far, right? Well when I told her that then, just one month later I ran a half marathon, it started to dawn on me that I was overly ambitious in my goals. Where it took me from August to January to double my miles the first time, I doubled them again between January 1 and February 6. Add to that my history of orthopedic issues and no wonder I was having pain in my right knee and ankle.

So, she didn't tell me that I can't run a marathon. She did tell me she really doesn't think I should be running this marathon, and I'm starting to see how she is right. So, as of now, I'm going to shift my goals in line with my new, more realistic expectations, and say that I'll be training with the half-marathoners to run the Eugene Half Marathon, unless something drastically changes. But, the marathon is at the end of next month and we're running out of time for a miraculous recovery.

My PT also made me realize something else. Maybe my ceiling for race distance is 13.1, and if it is, that's better than fine. Lots of people don't make it that far, and I have to remember that when my mind and body disagree, my body is going to win. I'd rather lower my mileage and keep running than seriously injure myself and have to stop altogether.

So, I'd like to thank everyone for their support for me and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so far. And this doesn't feel like defeat so much as living to fight (or run) another day.

Special thanks to Diane Soule and Anna Webster for donating in the past few weeks! I'm now at $1,149.40 - only $350 to go!