Cupid shuffle anyone?

Whaooooooo three weeks of nonweight bearing down and using crutches.  Let's just say these past weeks have been quite interesting.
First off, I miss using my left leg more than anything and cannot wait to be able to be step down and walk. Oh how glorious that day will be when the dr releases me and let's me walk again. Hallelujah!!! I have decided my first dance to celebrate will be the Cupid shuffle. Yea a little easy, yet sassy to welcome the old leg back. Your all invited to do the Cupid shuffle with me on the day of rebirth for my left leg:) I will keep you posted. I am posting the video so you can practice for our big day, t-minus 35 days. Get excited!

Second, I realized I am like a bull in a china shop while using crutches. I am clumsy to begin with but this tops everything. The first week I fell and slammed my leg and arm into a desk, creating massive bruises. Ouch is all I have to say. I have slipped multiple times. Stubbed my right foot and well you name it I have experienced it. P.s. Going downstairs=terrible idea! Therefore, Crutches and Natalie do not get along.

Thirdly, people are much nicer to me now. They open doors, go out of their way to help, etc etc. It's pretty awesome, but I would exchange this to have my leg back. People also sympathize with me and tell me their recovery stories. I actually enjoy hearing these, it gives me hope and more motivation especially when I see them doing so well.

Ok so another thing I realized, working out is way more difficult now. I am trying to remain as normal as I can and started going to the gym to do upper body lifting. Yes, it's hard to get around, but I am not going to let this setback takeaway all of my fitness. Plus, people in the gym look at me like I am rehabbing so I don't feel as dumb being there.

Next, Bc I cannot do anything with my leg yet, i got a hand pedaler. Yup that's right, I bike with my hands now. My husband teasing me that I will end up with Popeyes arms, but this is the only way to keep my sanity. I actually can't believe how much harder it is than it looks. I try to do atleast an hour a day to get some physical activity in and burn up some energy. I would recommend trying these bad boys out of you ever get the chance.

So in true fashion, I still continue to research my next marathons for 2015. Yup, this setback will not takeaway my love for marathons. I think all and all everything happens for a reason and as much as I would love to know what this one is, I am starting to accept it. I think someone upstairs was trying to tell me to slow down, rest, and spend more quality time with others around me. Well, that's just what I am doing. So my friends, gotta remain positive, keep moving without killing myself on these crutches, and continue to have as normal of a life as I can. Just gotta keep thinking, The Boston Marathon will be worth all of this!! Gotta stay positive! Happy running folks!

P.s. You have to try Kabocha squash! It's fabulous and taste like pumpkin. Just get one, cut it up, lightly coat with olive oil and a bit of garlic salt, and put in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. Make sure you turn it frequently. Towards the end, put on broil low for about 10 min to get it crunchy.
Once it is done top it with a little butter, cinnamon, and cool whip!!! So delicious and way healthier than pumpkin pie!

The most dreaded word

I wish I wasn't writing this post today, but sometimes you have no choice but to face reality. Yes, the dreaded word, Injury is now part of my vocabulary. I guess I never thought it would happen to me and I could continue running marathons forever without any major problems, but life sure does throw some curve balls at us.

A few weeks ago after my last marathon I was having groin pain, as always I figured it was just soreness or muscle pain, so I continued to run. Two weeks after that, we ran a relay race. I felt ok and ran two of my legs, but on The second leg I knew something was wrong. I could barely move my left leg without being in excruciating pain. I finished my second leg and sat out the rest. Upset and angry at myself but still in denial that it could be anything serious. The next morning, I couldn't move my left leg at all, I still kept thinking maybe it's my IT band or muscle pain. I continued to foam roll, ice, elevate, etc. you name it, I tried it. I waited like two more weeks before heading to the dr for some medical advice. We did an X-ray and it was fine or so we thought. We decided to try physical therapy and see if it would help. Well another week went bye and still in pain. I continued to bike to keep my endurance up and that sport didn't hurt so figured why not. PT was challenging but felt better after I had it. Eventually decided I needed to get the dreaded MRI. The day of the MRI I prayed and prayed nothing would show up, but deep down I knew something wasn't right. As I sat in the room waiting for the loud noises to stop, I just kept hoping nothing came back.

Man who was I kidding, well my MRI finished at 4:15pn and at 4:45pm my dr was calling me with results. Yup, that's right, no Bueno for me. I have a incomplete stress fracture of my femur. Lucky me huh? All I can say that hearing this news was like a piece of me had died. I feel I have gone through all of the emotions in the last week. 1. Denial. 2. Anger. 3. Bargaining. 4. Depression. 5. Acceptance. My world has been turned upside down for the next few weeks as my orthopedic has me nonweight bearing on crutches. Yes, crutches, my best friend and enemy for the next few weeks. You never realize how much you miss and discover you love something until it is taken away from you. That for me is running. I love everything about it and cannot wait to return to the sport I love. Always remember to listen to your body, 9/10 you will be right.

 

In the meantime, I have the most wonderful husband, family, friends, and coworkers a gal could ask for. The amount of support and love these people have given me is incredible and not sure how I would get through this without them. Guess a tiny road bump won't stop me. I am more at peace with my fate and promised myself I will come back stronger, better, and faster! Just going to take sometime and for me to learn patience. Oh patience, something I don't have and being an active person it's hard to adjust too and slow down. I know this time shall pass and need to thankful for all the other things I have. Yup that's where I will keep my mind and thus shall pass like many other things! Just gotta stay positive and keep moving forward:) I guess running the portland marathon this coming weekend was not in my cards, bet they were worried I would win it:) just kidding. Keeping fingers crossed and praying for speedy recovery. Don't you worry, I have a motivational talk to my leg everyday, we got this:)

                              I will get back to this:) At least Boston isn't until April right?