Disappointment

My blogs have been few and far between this month. Up until about 1 week ago I was really busy running what seemed like non-stop. And now I guess I'm paying for it. I started my training for the Las Vegas Marathon on August 17 and just a little more than 3 months of hard work was complete when I hurt myself so bad that I have been barely able to walk or do much of anything for the past week. I'm not even sure what happened (and NO I haven't gone to the doctor yet!). 2 weeks ago Wednesday I ran my 15 mile run. It wasn't any more painful than normal, and I didn't do anything different before, during, or after the run. 2 days later, on my cross training day, my right knee, my left ankle and both of my shins were killing me, so I decided that in preparation for my big 20 mile run one week later, I would take the week off. I did just that and on my 20 mile run day, I felt just about the same as I always do before a big run...I was experiencing very little of the pain I was concerned about the week before. The run wasn't awesome, but then again, for me, none of them seem to be so I wasn't too worried. Around mile 8 my right leg from my knee to my ankle went completely numb. Numb is not good, so I decided to walk it off. I walked a mile and although it still hurt, it felt much better, so I decided to run again. After about a mile of running, it started to hurt again, so I decided that if I had to, for the entire 20 miles, I would run a mile, walk a mile, run a mile, walk a mile. So I did this...and at about 11.5 miles, I couldn't walk anymore. My knee hurt so bad I could barely hold myself up. I was devastated but the my veteran marathon running friends encouraged me telling me that their 20 mile training runs sucked too and they made it through and I thought I still had a shot. But I truly couldn't walk the next day or for the next week. All I did was work and then lay on the couch, alternating ice and heat, taking lots of ibuprofen. Nothing seemed to help. I decided that I would attempt my 20 mile run again yesterday IF my knee felt better, but I was in just the same amount of pain yesterday as I was the day I hurt myself, so I decided not to. And today, just about 2 weeks before the marathon, I have decided not to run it. And I am beyond disappointed and beyond frustrated. I have spent SO MUCH of my time these past few months just running. I've had to give up time with Spencer on our days off, or switch my work schedule around just to make sure I could set aside enough time to get my runs in (anywhere from 2-6 hours a day!). I have had to completely change my eating habits and sleeping habits just to make sure I could be healthy enough and have plenty of energy to run. And while all those things are ok, and some of them are even great for me and my body, I still can't help but feel like it was all for NOTHING. Running a marathon is something I have always wanted to do. To finish, not just attempt. This was my second attempt, although during my first attempt I didn't put in nearly as much work as I did this time around. I never thought there would be a need for a third attempt and I'm not sure I have the energy to do all of that training again and risk hurting myself again and/or having a need for a fourth attempt! AHHHH!!!!

My knee still hurts today. I've given up on icing and heating and that actually seems to have helped a little bit. It still hurts, but in a different way than it did before, and now I can walk normal. (Not sure what that means about the injury.) I'm pretty sure my body has become immune to ibuprofen, aleve, and all the other pain pills I've been taking, and if there is no improvement by Monday, I will make an appointment with a doctor.

This blog was totally just me venting, but it was also to kind of explain where I've been lately and to tell everyone who was cheering me on, that I will not be running the Las Vegas Marathon after all...this year. :(

What's Cookin'?!

As usual, Spencer and I both work on Thanksgiving, so we celebrated early, today, with some of Spencer's co-workers Pesci and Clarissa. Spence and I cooked all day,and then loaded up the car with our contributions to dinner and Tank (he wasn't a part of dinner though, just a guest, just to clarify...) and headed on over! Upon our arrival Tank made immediate friends with Milton and Piper and Clarissa and I set up the spread:Our dinner was delicious!And of course, everyone had to stretch out afterwards because we ate too much:Even Piper:Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Bun

I'm having a rough day today. My knee hurts (since my attempt at a 20 mile training run last Wednesday), I found out the other day that my sister probably isn't coming to our wedding in August, and its almost Thanksgiving and every year right around this time, I get a little bit homesick for my family, Mom's cooking (shockingly enough), even cold weather and snow. So just a few minutes ago, my sister-in-law Sara called me and gave me some more bad news. Her and my brother Jason can't come to our wedding either..........................................but then came the good news (even though I'm still really sad that they can't come to my wedding), the REASON they can't come is because Sara is 5 1/2 weeks pregnant!!!! They were both totally surprised but also excited of course! Jason was even more excited when I just called him back and told him that the Chinese Gender Chart, which is allegedly 90% accurate at predicting the sex of the baby, predicts that they will have a boy! :) CONGRATULATIONS JASON AND SARA! I can't wait to see you as parents and meet my new nephew (or neice!)

Chelas!

Happy Happy Birthday to my other soon-to-be-sister! :) Have a great day Chelas!

Yes We Can!

I have high hopes for our new President! I hope he can keep all his promises and make some real and positive changes in this country!and what a cute little "First Family" :)

Exercised!

I exercised a lot today:
1.) Together, Spencer and I exercised our right to vote! (And waited in NO lines!)

2.) I over-exercised my body ran 18 miles today in preparation for my marathon (but it didn't go as well as I had hoped it would...particularly on my knees.) :(

3.) I exercised my fiance's seemingly endless access to freebies by seeing Phantom Of The Opera at The Venetian (for free!)

4.) I exercised my arm by getting a free drink at Lavo (however I did not see my regular 2x a day Starbucks customer who complains endlessly and never tips me so I couldn't return the favor to her.)

5.) I exercised my mind by watching lots of C.S.I. episodes and trying to solve the murders before they did without access to all the evidence.

(Obviously I'm in a pretty silly mood right now...I chalk it up to my 18 miler making me delusional!)

gObama!