Set backs

I hit a bump in the road or maybe I could say my train has completely left the tracks.  Temporarily. I need to hit the pause button on my training for a bit, but I’m not throwing in the towel.  We all have moments in our lives where something doesn’t go according to plan and we always have the option of giving up and giving in or we can make some adjustments and find another way.  I will find another way to get there, but I will not change my goal.

4 sisters and niece traveled with for the Boston marathon.
Love my family of strong women!

My Boston 2018

I took most of 2017 off to heal a labral tear and tears in both my hamstrings.  My left hamstring has been a problem since 2013 and I’ve rehabbed it and strengthened it, but I’ve never been able to fully not think about it while training.

After taking most of 2017 off I was able to get back to some easy jogging at the end of August and it was never more than 3 times a week of running…and always “easy”.  

I managed to run a marathon in November with no pain.  No record braking times, but I had no pain.  I kept my running to only 3 days a week through most of the winter and ran a half in January.  My pace was picking up.  Even with 3 days a week of running and no speed work.  Still no pain.  So after the half marathon in January I decided to up my mileage and add a day of some faster running. Again, nothing record breaking, but was there more structure to my training run paces.  Everything still a go.  I was happy!  My paces were starting to pick up and I was running more. 

Seriously, I took the Uber to the bag drop and buses to try to stay dry as long as possible.

Then about 2 weeks out from Boston I over did some glute bridges in a yoga class and then went to do my last speed session before tapering for Boston and felt my hamstring start to give way.  I shut it all down and didn’t run leading up to Boston.  I was rehabbing it and praying whatever was going on would be gone come Monday morning of race day.  However, it never happened.  The beginning of the marathon is a downhill run and one over stride and my hamstring gave way.  It was a sharp stabbing pain which jolted me in my tracks.  I grabbed my left butt check and scooted to the side of the road.  My first thought was…There is no way in hell I am quitting.  The feeling of how I felt in Kona when I ended my day in the med tent came back to me and the feeling of a DNF over a foot issue at my spring marathon in 2017 came pouring back to me.  

So there I was jogging along at mile one and thinking only 25 more to go.  Thousands of people running by me. 

The weather was epic.  I LOVE EPIC!!  I thrive in tough conditions.  Today was supposed to be my day.  My slow meticulous comeback from taking a year off healing, rehabbing, strengthening and it was disappearing.  Thousands of runners were running by and I became jealous just watching them bound by me like it was effortless.  I so badly wanted to go faster, to pick up my pace.  My muscles felt strong except that one left hamstring and my heart was barely pounding and my mind was screaming at me...GO!  Go! GO!  But whenever I tried to just give a little more that stabbing pain came right back so I decided - I will get to that finish line even if it is with this awkward shuffle. 

Cheer squad trying to stay dry

The pain was quite high, but I knew if I just keep at this running long enough other parts of my body will start to hurt too and then my hamstring won’t feel so bad.

MRI results revealed what I knew in my heart even before I found out the official reading.  All 3 hamstring tendons are torn.

What’s next…. all races are off the calendar and I see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in high hamstring tears to see what is the best course of action is (surgery vs. non –op.).

And making the most out of their wait time in the rain.

I’m only 41. I plan to keep doing this for decades so whatever I need to do to heal my body and take care of this little bump in the road I will do because these races on my bucket list and these dreams of mine aren’t going anywhere and neither am I. 

Cheers friends! 

We never know what tomorrow will bring so we need to make the most out of each day we are given.

On a positive note I still have a qualifying time for Boston 2019 and even the NYC marathon.  So bring on the miraculous healing of high hamstring tears and/or it’s the summer to focus on getting really good at pull-ups?!

My summer calendar really opened up so it means this mom will get to be the travel partner for hockey trips and I will have lots of time for some amazing dinners! I really thought I would be more disappointed over the situation I am in with the injury, but one thing I've learned is these races and goals I have for myself will always be there, but these 5 boys (now young men) will soon be on their own paths and I guess it was meant to be for me to have a quiet summer at home.

Hockey has brought opportunities to our family for new experiences. 

One of my favorite places in Vernon, BC