My dear friends! It is so good to be back!
I know I have been absent, and once again, I do apologize. I had such high hopes for 2012, but things have not gone quite as I had planned. In fact, I have found myself in some unfamiliar territory.
A little over two months ago, I broke my foot. It's the first broken bone I have ever experienced in my 40 years, and needless to say, it has not been pleasant. I have dealt with IT issues, sprains, blisters and bruises-NO PROBLEM! But a broken bone? Not only that, but a broken foot? WTH? Why not a finger, or something that doesn't have a huge impact on my running............ (all thoughts running through my head at the time).
How did this happen, you ask? Well, I wish I had some fantastic story about how I landed wrong after an aerial while snowboarding (haha), or that I did it while training for my latest race. But, no such adventure happened.
Plain and simple: I tripped, landed on the top of my foot and snapped the bone that attaches my pinkie toe to the rest of my foot. It was a good one too-almost 3" long. What was supposed to be 4-6 weeks in a walking boot, turned into 11 weeks, with the threat of surgery (Yikes). Long-story-short, with a lot of prayers and me finally doing as the doctor directed, the walking boot was officially removed yesterday! YAY!!!!
However, looking back over the past 11 weeks, I have to admit that this has been a difficult time for me, and it has also been a time of growth. During the first 4 weeks, I tried to stay positive. I still did some strength training, but quickly found that I was getting bored and going stir crazy. Just when I started going crazy, I ended up in Houston during the Olympic Trials Marathon and the Houston Marathon......AMAZING! That is another story in which I will surely share soon. It was such an inspiring and overwhelming experience! I also made some new friends that week, as well as on the plane ride home (Hi Louie), all of whom I learned something from. While I started to feel sorry for myself, hearing some of their stories about recovering from their injuries and setbacks made me realize that I had it pretty good and that I had no reason to complain or feel sorry for myself. Through their stories, I learned of a deeper, inner strength that we all have and are able to draw from when we feel we have hit rock bottom. This inner strength is what would pull me through to today, as the day after I returned from Houston, I received the news that my foot was not healing and that I was to be in the boot, and out of commission, for at least another 4-6 weeks- with the possibility of surgery. As I began to feel my race season slipping away, I broke down and cried. And cried. Then, I did something even worse: I went to the store and bought everything bad for me, and I sat and cried and ate until I felt numb. Then, I felt sick and began to regret my decision to wallow in my sorrows. It was at that point that I realized I had two choices: I could sit and wallow in my sorrows for the next 4-6 weeks and totally fall off the wagon (and end up in a padded room), or I could suck it up and do the best I could until I could resume with my "normal" life.
I chose the latter.
The next morning, I woke up with new determination and motivation. I was not going to let this dumb injury consume me. Every morning since then, I have gotten up and done some form of exercise; whether it's strength training, or some very low impact cardio-just as long as I found myself moving. The mild winter weather wasn't helping my longing to hit the pavement, but I didn't give up. I have stayed as busy as possible, focusing on my family and on work. Amazingly, I actually learned to relax a little (maybe too much) and enjoy some things that I haven't taken the time for in a few years. I have reflected on my goals, ditched some and added new ones, and I have learned to appreciate life in a whole new way. Yes, it took me breaking my foot to do these things :)
Yesterday was one of the best days I've ever had. Now, my foot is not completely healed-I was told that it may take up to 1 year before the bone is completely solid again, but I have been cleared to resume with my activities (just taking it slow). To celebrate, I spent the day with some of the people I love dearly, just enjoying my time with them.
Today...........FANTASTIC! I spent two hours at the gym, and it felt wonderful! Then, I spent the day working and playing, and just enjoying life.
So, that's it: ENJOY LIFE!
Enjoy EVERY MOMENT, and live life to the fullest. I've always known that, and for the most part, I've tried to live by that. But, at some point, I actually forgot to do it. Until now.
This road to recovery wasn't just a physical one, but an emotional and mental one as well.
I hope that if any of you find yourself on the physically, emotionally or mentally "injured list", you will take the time to reflect, regroup and recover! You're worth it!
