I believe this was December 6. Was kind of cold that morning and there were oh so many kids. They were everywhere. I have never run a race with this many kids...oh well, I only did the race for the shirt...twisted humor that makes me laugh every time I think of the race.
I ended up with first in my age group and a PR with a 24:53 with an 8:02 pace. I f*cking walked again though. Not sure why I can't make myself just keep going. I will take a speed class in January and see if I can't get this figured out. Embarrassing.
Dallas Marathon
December 14
Very overcast sky but not that cold. A little humid. It was so overcast that I could not see the tops of buildings. It seemed like a perfect day for a marathon to me, as long as it didn't downpour. I was in the 2nd corral, near the front. We started off pretty well. I quickly feel in behind a couple running together that had a nice pace and very nice running form. I stayed with them the first 6 miles or so, but I lost them at a water stop. Never did see them again. I felt really good in this race, felt like I could probably bring in around a 4:10, unless all hell broke loose or I broke.
Well, I broke. Right before mile 13. All of a sudden I could not put any pressure on my right heel. I could not take a step without feeling like multiple ice picks were stabbing the bottom part of my heel. Never. Ever. Happened. To. Me. Before. I am not one that shows pain easily. I am not saying I don't feel pain, because I do, but somewhere along my 50 years in this body, I learned that to show pain meant weakness, so it is very difficult for me to show it. But I really had no choice...I couldn't even walk "right".
So, I showed pain and it was ok. In fact, others runners were very very nice to me. A random guy told me he would go find the medical tent, and he did. He found it, ran back to my hobbling ass and told me it was just ahead with a blue flag....asked me if I could make it. I told random guy of course and I hobbled on. Made it to the tent and the doc put me on a table, we talked about what I was feeling and that no, I do not remember stepping "funny" or anything...he puts some tape on my foot and says maybe it will help. I hobble another 3 miles, try to run at times but it is just a no go. I gave it up.
I really did not want to be a DNF.
I really wanted to say I finished.
I really wanted the medal.
But I really didn't want to injure myself in such a way that I couldn't recover.
So, they told me where to go to wait on the sag wagon. There was another runner there waiting too - he was a contorted mess. I offered him some of my salt stick caps but he had his own and they weren't helping.
I won't even go into the next 3.5 hours in sag wagon hell...it is enough to say this part of the Dallas Marathon is a complete and utter mess. It was awful. Did not improve my opinion of Dallas at all.
I got crutches from a neighbor -they helped a lot. Got in to see a doc and get x-rays on Monday morning, nothing is broken (Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! He said a stress fracture can take up to 2 weeks to show up on an x-ray but that he *thinks* it is a severe case of plantar fasciitis. I only know what that is because of an online group I am in. He gave me exercises to do with my foot and a regiment of ice and drugs...and said to stay on the crutches for 2 weeks.
Fast forward a week. I now have a strassburg sock and a Feetures Planter Fasciitis sleeve. I feel like both of these are magic socks - so I feel certain it is, indeed, PF. I am off the crutches. I can walk normal today but it does still hurt. I can't run yet but I am on my way. The crutches hurt my hands even with padding so I am done with them.
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