Something To Say

So it's been awhile.  Why have I not blogged?  Not really sure.  I could come up with excuses, but really I just didn't have much to say.

Right now I sit and wait.  4 days.  Ironman Racine. 

I trained so hard for this race.  That is until mid June.  Then something happened.  I got injured yet again.  I was running 12 miles.  By mile three I felt my shin pain kicking in.  I had noticed twinges for about a week before that.  By mile 9 I had horrible pain.  For the next three miles I hobbled back to the vacation house in Hilton Head with the most pain I have ever had.  Shooting pain that went around my ankle up my shin to my hip.  Since that day I ran once.  Last week for a whopping 1.6 miles.  I hobbled, cried and winced in pain.  This is not good.  I would bet money that I have a severe stress fracture.  Do I know for sure? Nope haven't gone to the doctors.  Why?  Because I know what he's going to say and I don't want to hear it.

I have been able to swim and bike with the pain.  I can feel it, it aches but I can deal with that.  It's my foot hitting the pavement whether it be walking or god forbid running that puts me over the edge.  So training this last month got adjusted.  Dropped the running and did about 85% of the swimming and biking.  I'm hoping that will be enough to get me to the finish line.  

Ironman rules say I can't crawl.  No one can help me through the run course unless it's another athlete.  No rules against walking on my hands!  Wouldn't that be funny.  Is it possible that I may do more damage?  Absolutely.  But as any athlete can tell you it's hard to throw in the towel after 100's of hours of training.  Had this been any other race or if I couldn't swim or bike without shooting pain then yes I would wave my white flag.  

But this is my race.  The one I've thought about for years.  An Ironman sanctioned event.  This is the biggie.  Nothing will top this for me except for the minuet possibility that someday I do a full Ironman.  But with my running history and the fact that my legs just aren't what they used to be I don't think I could pull off the full version.  So now is the time.  This is my chance.  Failing is a big possibility.  But I will do everything humanly possible within the rules to get to the finish line within 9.5 hours.  

My plan is adjusted.  I will swim within my limits.  After getting through the first few hundred adrenaline, panic stricken meters I will fall into my groove.  Swim comfortably, not worrying about all the other 40 something women in my wave.  There's no way I will beat any of them with this leg.  After the swim bike my heart out.  This is where most people make mistakes.  They bike to hard and have nothing left for the run.  Well I'll use this to my advantage.  I might as well give it all I have as I know the run will be merely a walk.  I will leave all that I have on the bike course and pray that something inside me will take over and I will finish the run.  

I have an ankle brace, keniso tape, duck tape but it won't help much.  The tape probably won't stick with the sweat and humidity.

Ah yes the weather.  We all know when I race there's bound to be a weather issue.  Right now it's a nice comfortable day in the 70's.  By Sunday 86.  I suppose it could be worse.  No rain in the forecast.  Rain would be nice on the run portion.  

So here I sit icing my leg, waiting for Sunday.  I'll be sitting nonstop the next 4 days.  The more I keep off this leg the better chance I have at finally bring home the Ironman Metal.  

Yes it's still about the medals.   
(and a possible tattoo)