I believe I can......WALK

I believe I can walk, think about it every night and day, spread my toes and walk away!!! Yup that's right folks, I am back on two feet! Count them 2! BAM! 

Check out candy cane socks. Merry Christmas!

Finally is all I can say, those 8 weeks or 56 days seemed like eternity. But thankful I followed the doctors orders and am on the road to recovery. I am not totally out of the woods yet, but this is a huge step for man kind. It's insane how much I took my body for granted. You never realize until something is taken away how badly you miss it or how much you never appreciated it. Give yourself a hug, this gift called your body is incredible and you only get one so treat it right:)
My legs and hips are incredibly sore almost worse than running marathons, but I take it as a win and one step closer to getting back to running. Gotta remember it's a marathon not a sprint.

Very random, but I like it! your welcome

So onto some business, we booked our plane tickets to the Boston Marathon this past week. Ekkkk so crazy to think it's already time to get the airfare nailed down. We wanted to make sure we got a flight so we booked it immediately. I mean I know everyone is coming to root me on, maybe I will save ya a seat.  Just gotta be patient with this body so I can run that race and in pride. 

Today at the gym felt incredible as well. My dr cleared me to cycle and as always I am allowed to lift weights. I am too nervous to do legs so sticking to the upper body. I snapped a pic at the gym to show my arms, it's crazy how over the last 8 weeks how much my body has changed. I swear I am not conceited, I just wanted to show ya my progress. I felt funny snapping pics of myself so I tried to do it quickly when no one was around, wasn't sure how I would explain what I was doing.  Hopefully this will make the transition back to running much easier.

I always was able to get my haircut! I have been waiting for the day to walk into a hair salon and get some of my locks chopped. I got 3 inches and still have a ton of hair. Yea know what they say, out with the old and in with new. While at the salon, I read a really cool article on an athlete who had knee surgery and wasn't sure she would ever get back to where she was before it. It's like someone placed that article there for me too read. I took a few snapshots of the articles. It really hit home and it's true, being positive makes your brain more creative and resilient. It's all about being optimistic, I guess same goes for things in life. Having a positive outlook in life can make or break you. So keep that head up and keep moving forward.

Check out a few lines, so true.

Have a great rest of the week. I can't wait for turkey day, so much to be thankful for this year. 

More cowbell????

So thankful to only have 10 more days of crutches, well kinda. My Ortho doctor wants me to slowly wean off of them, gotta start slow. I finally have been cleared to start biking and swimming. Such exciting news but so scary at the same time. It's crazy to think I have not used my left leg to walk for over 6 weeks now, and now he wants me to put 25% weight on that leg. Aghhhhhh, so scary, I get nervous every time I step down that the horrible pain will return and I will be back to square one. Once I am cleared it's go time, I will have a little over 4 months to train for Boston. I have to be smart this time around and listen to my body and others. I will get back to where I was, I will.

On another note, let's talk about rehabbing. It's an interesting topic to say the least. It's crazy to think that I could run marathons and now I am on a bike trying to regain my muscle on my left leg. It doesn't seem to feel that weak, but I won't really know anything until I try to run again. Biking is ok, I just don't feel the burn I feel with running. I can't clear my head, I can not just go out and get lost like a run let's you. I am thankful for finding a sport I absolutely love. I am thankful for all the good things it has brought me. I hope everyone is able to find a sport or activity that they love. It's an incredible feeling and once you get it, don't let it go! Keep up the hard work and you will reap from all the benefits, just keep moving forward with it. I have noticed that my booty tends to fall asleep on the bike as well. Gotta figure out how to keep it awake... Hmmmmmm

Today, I took my sister to get fitted for some running shoes. Yea yea doesn't sound like that much fun, but it is. It's so fun to see and get someone into a sport you love. My husband is training her to run her first half marathon in the spring and we could not be anymore proud or excited for her. I can't wait to cheer along the sidelines and embarrass her as she passes by. I think we may need a little more cowbell to use along the course, what do you think?

Ok folks, have a great week and happy running! 

Deep thoughts

As I approach my 6 weeks of being on crutches, to say I am nervous in returning to a normal lifestyle is an understatement. These last few weeks have been the hardest both mentally and physically in my life.  I have so many fears that come to my head that returning feels impossible. What if I can't run Boston? What if I can't get back to where I was? What if I let everyone down? What if I am not good at running? What if I am still injured? All these what ifs come to my head. I fear and fear itself is the scariest thing. The unknown what my future holds is frightening as well. I just wish I had a magic crystal ball to see into my future. 

I recently received my official acceptance into the Boston 2015 Marathon and what a bittersweet moment that was. The race I strived and worked so hard to get into and now I am sidelined with an injury. I know, I am not looking for a pity party, just stating the reality I am facing at this moment. I do believe everything happens for a reason and hoping someone upstairs is rooting for me to make a comeback. A great comeback in life. Running is my passion, my release, a vital part of my life. It has brought so many good things into my life that I feel lost without it. Heck, it's what brought me together with my husband, the one who has continued to support me and help me through this difficult period. A rock one may say, and for that I am eternally grateful. A few others I would not have survived without are my family, they have shown me that it's ok to ask for help and be the weak one at times. It's hard for me to swallow my pride and let others take over, I have learned this is not a bad thing. Your family is always there and that's an important thing to remember, I am thankful mine is pretty awesome. Next, my friends and work family, what would I do without your constant support. I mean come on who else would send me messages and set up lunch dates to hang with a girl on crutches. Not many people I know of. Thank you all for all your love and support, not sure how and what I would do without you all, just hope I can find a way to repay you all someday. 

Ok sorry for the deep thoughts, sometimes just have to get them all out there. I have two more weeks to go and have a follow up appointment tomorrow for another X-ray. I hope it shows healing, I hope the doctor is happy with my progress, I hope he lets me walk again soon. On a positive note, getting back into the gym has helped me keep my sanity. It's crazy how many people have come up to me stating how great it is to see someone so dedicated. I try to tell them it is no big deal and they are just as dedicated as me being there. I will say it does make me feel good inside. I won't give up this easily, life is hard, and giving up is not an option. I plan on fighting and coming back a better person, a better wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and runner. So please don't give up on your dreams, stay strong, keep your head up and keep fighting. I cannot tell you how many times I just wanted to roll over and quit, but where would that get me. Nowhere! So stay strong and dream big! I know I will continue rooting for you.