Sunday, November 29, 2009

... will overcome their injuries together!

Since our 18 mile run I've only been out for three 5 mile runs - but they were all great runs! Thanksgiving threw our schedule off a bit but the biggest challenge has been ..... no, it can't be! .... INJURY! Aaaaaah! After 9 months of training and the marathon only 6 weeks away this is a bit devastating! 

After our 16 mile run, Josh noticed a bit of pain in his right shin. He was thinking/hoping it was shin splints. He continued to train but two weeks later after the 18 mile run he was really uncomfortable with every step and even walking was not normal. He went to his GP who also was thinking shin splints but the radiographs revealed there was evidence of a stress fracture. Ugh! Grrrrr! Hmph! He was told there was no way he could run the marathon. However, he is getting a second opinion tomorrow by an orthopod just in case. Keep fingers crossed! At the very least we are hoping he will be able to recover enough in 6 weeks that walking isn't painful and he can attempt to walk the marathon in under 7 hours. So our 20 mile run this weekend was postponed ... just in case the he is told tomorrow that it is shin splints and to keep running ... but I will pick up there next weekend and continue on. Josh did dig up his mountain bike out of storage and got it tuned up so I won't be ALONE for my remaining two long runs. Isn't he great? :) This will also give him a way to cross train while running is not an option. Although devestated he will likely not be crossing the finish line running, he is remaining positive my looking to swimming, biking, spinning and personal training as a great way to cross train. He has always said he wanted to do a triathlon!

My own difficulty is not in the same ball park. As opposed to acute and affecting my ability to run, my problem is chronic. I have had trouble with my right lower back and hip that is triggered by laying down. This obviously affects my ability to sleep! I've tried different beds, not running, pillows in an amazing variety of configurations. Nothing makes a difference. I have had radiographs, MRI, consults with physiatry, trigger point injections, SI belt, and 10 weeks of physical therapy. No better! Ugh! Grrr! Hmph! And the most frustrating part is that no one knows what is wrong with me or why laying down is the problem because laying down usually makes back problems feel better. Their response? "That's weird" Not REAL helpful. So I sleep sitting up - again thanks to an engineering feat involving 6-7 pillows. Many theories have come and gone - as I mentioned before - my bed, my running, iliosacral inflammation, and the latest - diastasis recti. What is this latest hypothesis? Diastasis recti occurs most often after having children. The connective tissue between the abdominal muscles stretches out and doesn't return to normal. So down the middle of my stomach I have a space between my "six pack" muscles (although they NEVER looked like that even in my best shape!) that is three inches wide and 5-6 inches long, where there is nothing but a thin piece of connective tissue. The theory is that this makes it impossible for me to have a stable core, no matter how many sit ups I could do, this space will continue to make my abdomen unstable and weak and so my back has to compensate for it. 8 more weeks of physical therapy with a focus on this diagnosis and we will see where I'm at. If not improvement they will refer me to a surgeon. If it is improving I continue with PT. But the bottom line? It is just a theory - no one really knows. 

Luckily for me I am still able to run. I am incorporating more cross training and doing less running and Josh has obviously switched to only cross training until further notice. Josh says you don't know how much you like something until you are told you can't! Now every time he drives along the charles he watches the runners go by with envy. 

Chin up! Keep plugging along doing what you can and that is your best and is great! We were never out to break any records, just to finish, to raise money for breast cancer, and to make a healthy change in our lives. And even if Josh can't RUN the marathon, we can still accomplish all of our goals. Hip hip hooray!

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