We’re heading home now, but I’ll have a race report later this week.
5:10:56, unofficial
I’m a little sad. I trained so, so hard. I did everything right. I don’t have any excuses, I’m just not built to run marathons. It just got so hot and I didn’t have it in me.
But now I got to change my attitude – because six years ago today – Michael and I were married, and since we’re in Chicago we’re gonna celebrate our anniversary in style!
Track me Tomorrow
If anyone wants to follow, you can track me here. Last name Knoll, first Susan.
Four days and four bottles of wine later . . .
I don’t have a whole lot of time to update right now. We’re on the road, driving to Chicago since we have to take the bike. Michael doesn’t go anywhere without his bike and it’s just easier to drive it instead of fly it. The Devil is house-sitting. Boy, do I feel safe.
Let’s get to the point. On Thursday while Michael was doing some yard work he broke his toe. And he’s been a big whiny baby about it. Yadda, yadda yadda, it can’t be that bad if he is still riding his bike everyday. I gave him one rule – if you can ride the bike, then NO COMPLAINING about spectating the marathon course. Of course, I can complain all I want since I will be running 26.2 miles.
It gets better. Last Sunday, I bent over to pick up a glove. A glove. And I got stuck. Just like this:
Stuck. And in intense pain. I couldn’t stand up. My back was spasming because I tried to pick up glove! WTF. I kinda panicked a little. A Lot. I’ve trained like an animal for this marathon, and there was no way I was going to let a whimpy back spasm get in my way.
On Monday morning I went to visit Dr. Joey. He gave me a shot of cortisone and almost immediately I felt better. Better, but not 100%. Monday only my left side was spasming, but I could stand up, mostly. By Tuesday, I felt really great. And by the time the hydrocodone kicked in I felt REALLY great. Drugs and wine make for a great presidential debate night. Did my man Obama rock that debate, or what? Gotta love that man.
Wednesday morning I went for an easy three mile run and felt fine. Better than fine. Fabulous. I’m so ready, Internet Friends.
The only problem I have is sitting. And driving involves a lot of sitting. Driving from Dallas to Chicago involves A LOT of sitting. And since Michael is doing most of the driving, I’m just complaining and playing on my iPhone emailing everyone about how GREAT I feel because I’m reassuring myself that by running, I’m not sitting, therefore I’ll be just fine during the marathon. I am a genius.
Michael and I are making some interesting traveling companions with our ailments.
I am feeling great, though. I really, really do. This is going to be the best marathon ever. I can hardly wait for it to start. Oh, and in case there is any doubt of my healing, here’s proof that I’m feeling better – running in my hotel room – I couldn’t do this if I was still in pain:
practicerunning – PROOF I’m better from Runner Susan on Vimeo.
FYI – I don’t have time to proof this since I need to shower and hit the road again, so don’t judge my lack of grammar skills. But, my next post I’ll have my race number and a place for tracking for anyone interested. Thank you so much for the well wishes. Oh, and I’m too chicken to wear the shirt in public. Maybe I’ll sleep in it the night before the race.
Packed and Ready
Michael kept asking me why it was taking me so long to pack. Well, because everyone takes pictures of their shoes before putting them in a suitcase. He thinks I’m a nutcase. And, honestly, I have so many better things to be doing right now. It’s been a weird few days and I’ll explain more on that later. But here I am, packed and ready to run.
The Final Ten
Yay, it’s over! No more long runs until the marathon. Well, I guess after six weeks of running 18 plus every Sunday, ten really isn’t a long run. But who cares, no more, no more until next Sunday. Any last minute marathon advice would be appropriate at this time. You would think this was my first marathon.
I do have one very important question about my shoes. To wash or not to wash? I’ve never had gel shoes before and I’m not sure if I should wash them or not. I really, really want to wash them because they are a very dingy gray and I’d prefer them to be a lovely white. Will it hurt the shoes to wash them now?
