unlikelyrunner

This is heartbreaking and beautifully told. Thank you for sharing. May knowing that others care help you to find peace.

I had a few good years. Lots of age-group awards. I qualified for and ran both NYCM and BOS. Running has pretty much sucked ever since. The last five years have looked like this: Illnesses: pneumonia, bronchitis, arthritis in the big toe Injuries: ITBS, stress fracture near the arthritic big toe joint Surgeries: toe nail removed (because there was a bit of mold growing under the nail!), nasal septum surgery (which did NOT help with my snoring) But the really weird thing is that every time I recover, I keep on running. You'd think I'd give up, even though I can't seem to get ahead of the injury/illness/random surgery game. Last week was my first run after the stress fracture, and my husband Bruce said "I'm really proud of you" -- for running one whole mile. Seriously? That was the easy part. The hard part was NOT running for six weeks. I turned 65 this year. Maybe I should expect these things. But I don't feel 65, especially when I'm running. Maybe I'll write more later. Right now, I'm heading out for a little run. - Emma the Unlikely Runner

See the Race Report category for The Race that Wasn't

You totally could have run the marathon, but the deferral was the smarter move. And not taking up smoking -- another smart choice!

"running again" sounds like a prize worth the agony

I mentioned that my DH challenged me to a one-mile race at the high school track this past Saturday. I was not excited. The track and athletic fields are locked up, and although it is a simple matter to go around the 20 foot chain link fence, it feels a lot like trespassing. And that is to go run on a track, which takes all the joy out of running (at least for me), not much better than a treadmill. Then there is the whole flashback to high school gym classes, where I was anything but athletic. And for what? To run a mile? One mile? Let's be clear, the first mile of almost any run sucks. And what is the point of getting all sweaty if you are only running a single mile? I have never, ever been a sprinter. Mile repeats are the worst. And then there is the whole racing thing, from which I have taken a break. I have not done any speedwork in at least a year, in hopes of avoiding injury (there has been a constant parade of injuries the past two years) and finding more joy in running. And racing the DH? Even if I win, I lose. So Saturday morning came and I tried to be a good sport, but if sulking were an Olympic event, I would have won a medal, for sure. I understood what the DH wanted. He felt the track would be kinder to his crushed meniscus. The most he could hope to run was a single mile. And somehow, he thought it would be fun (FUN????) to race me. So Saturday morning, I put on my best racing gear, and we drove to the high school. We walked around the chain link fence, across the athletic fields, and as we approached the track, we saw that it was set up for a track meet, with hurdles and registration, and adorable high school runners warming up. We drove home, not sweaty. DH was disappointed. It was probably wrong how great I felt. I won!

Fierce? Why, yes, you most certainly are fierce.

Compulsive! Good luck with your comeback!

No meds. Something may have been damaged by the breathing tube. I was sure it was allergies, but all those tests came back negative. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I miss the hummingbirds.

Devious! I like it!

Go for it!

I wish I had an answer for you. Injuries suck. Long-term injuries suck the worst. The weight gain just adds insult to injury. Good luck finding your way back.

Well that explains things. Thanks!

How did I miss that?