If I go back and read my first blog entry, it says:
"My hope is that with consistent training and mental stamina the tortoise within me can finish, which for me will be a big, fat WIN."
I've had to remind myself of those last words recently. Despite the lack of a stress fracture in my foot, it has been very slow to heal. I can walk on it okay, but my first effort at running on it night before last was not a success. I didn't make it to the end of my street before I had to stop and walk due to the pain. (Snippet, however, was very grateful for the slower pace.) My sports doc warned me that I should be prepared to run/walk this race and to erase any time goals I'd set. Yesterday's experience has me convinced that there's a very good chance I will walk the entire 26.2 miles, and it's possible that I may have to drop out at some point due to the pain. That is not how I foresaw this race. I've logged a lot of long miles with the plan of crossing the finish line running. At this point I just hope that my foot holds up for walking that far, and I'm not at all convinced that it will.
The time goal that I had set for myself was to finish in under 13 hours. My swim and bike are largely unaffected by the foot problem, so I should still be able to finish those with no problem. Knowing that I won't be running, I'm going to hammer the bike as hard as I can. A reasonable estimate is a 1:30 swim, exiting the water around 8:30 a.m., and a 6:30 bike, which would put me on the run by 3:00 p.m. If I'm having a really good day, I'll do the swim in 1:15 and the bike in closer to 6. Either way, that leaves me with 9 hours to finish the "run."
I'm trying to keep my chin up, but this has been an emotional roller coaster. I'm pretty much a basketcase. I embarrassingly started tearing up at the pool this morning when my friend Stella asked me how my foot was. I couldn't even talk to my coach for fear that I'd start bawling. But this injury puts the whole thing into perspective. Why do I do these triathlons? Sure, the racing is a blast, and of course I like to have as fast a time as possible. But I started doing them because I wanted a goal to keep me healthy and in shape. I'm in the best shape of my life. And walking the 26.2 rather than running - or walking only part of the 26.2 - is not going to take that way from me. The truth is, I was going to walk some anyway. How much, I'm not sure, but if the 70.3 last month was any indication, it would be more than just the water stops. So now I'll be walking the whole thing. My time will be slower, but the good news is that for those of you coming to cheer me on, you'll get to see me for that much longer when I pass you by!
"My hope is that with consistent training and mental stamina the tortoise within me can finish, which for me will be a big, fat WIN."
I've had to remind myself of those last words recently. Despite the lack of a stress fracture in my foot, it has been very slow to heal. I can walk on it okay, but my first effort at running on it night before last was not a success. I didn't make it to the end of my street before I had to stop and walk due to the pain. (Snippet, however, was very grateful for the slower pace.) My sports doc warned me that I should be prepared to run/walk this race and to erase any time goals I'd set. Yesterday's experience has me convinced that there's a very good chance I will walk the entire 26.2 miles, and it's possible that I may have to drop out at some point due to the pain. That is not how I foresaw this race. I've logged a lot of long miles with the plan of crossing the finish line running. At this point I just hope that my foot holds up for walking that far, and I'm not at all convinced that it will.
The time goal that I had set for myself was to finish in under 13 hours. My swim and bike are largely unaffected by the foot problem, so I should still be able to finish those with no problem. Knowing that I won't be running, I'm going to hammer the bike as hard as I can. A reasonable estimate is a 1:30 swim, exiting the water around 8:30 a.m., and a 6:30 bike, which would put me on the run by 3:00 p.m. If I'm having a really good day, I'll do the swim in 1:15 and the bike in closer to 6. Either way, that leaves me with 9 hours to finish the "run."
I'm trying to keep my chin up, but this has been an emotional roller coaster. I'm pretty much a basketcase. I embarrassingly started tearing up at the pool this morning when my friend Stella asked me how my foot was. I couldn't even talk to my coach for fear that I'd start bawling. But this injury puts the whole thing into perspective. Why do I do these triathlons? Sure, the racing is a blast, and of course I like to have as fast a time as possible. But I started doing them because I wanted a goal to keep me healthy and in shape. I'm in the best shape of my life. And walking the 26.2 rather than running - or walking only part of the 26.2 - is not going to take that way from me. The truth is, I was going to walk some anyway. How much, I'm not sure, but if the 70.3 last month was any indication, it would be more than just the water stops. So now I'll be walking the whole thing. My time will be slower, but the good news is that for those of you coming to cheer me on, you'll get to see me for that much longer when I pass you by!
Good for you for trying to maintain a positive attitude and a good perspective about your injury. I feel for you, Jen, and am still hoping for a miraculous recovery this week, however remote the chance is. Big virtual hug to you.
ReplyDeleteWell I've been sitting here for like 30 minutes trying to come up with some words of wisdom, but you already said them all yourself. Like Jen said -- big virtual hug to you. I'm looking forward to giving you a real hug next weekend.
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