Tape doesn't really fix everything...

Training is going fairly, not getting up to where I was as quickly as I'd like, but overall I've been doing well. Ran five miles a few minutes ago, wanted to do more, but decided not to push it too much, since I have reduced, but not eliminated, my knee pain. Taped my feet until they almost didn't fit into my shoes, it's helping, but I can't get the tape to stay on for more than a few miles. I can feel it loosening, and that's about the same time my knee starts hurting. I'm going to look into some inserts this week, as well as some new shoes, if my wallet can handle it.

I tell you what though, I am really enjoying being able to run again. There's this feeling that comes over me, I feel so empowered, like I can accomplish anything. All the doubts about the race, about fundraising, even non-marathon related issues I've had this week, they all seem so much smaller, so insignificant when I'm running. I love that feeling, and it lasts for awhile even after the run is over, until life settles in again. I am so thankful to have my health back, what a precious, precious thing it is, and I will never, ever take it for granted.

Come to think of it, that's why I'm doing this whole thing anyway...Because there are so many people out there with IBD, people that haven't been as lucky as me. They struggle every day with their health, and I know personally that it's mentally and physically exhausting. If by running and raising money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, I can help fund research for medicine and a cure that can help all these people, many of whom I know personally, then I can't give up now. Even though I'm having some struggles of my own, trying to keep up with training and fundraising, it's nothing compared to what some people have to go through on a daily basis. So basically right now I'm feeling inspired, energized and excited.

On another note, I decided that I'm going to dedicate every mile of the 13.1 mile race to someone that I know. It may be someone that has helped me financially, morally, just inspired me, or all of the above. I have a few people in mind already, and I'll post the final list, with someone corresponding to each mile I run, sometime closer to race day...which is in 4 weeks!!!

Tape fixes everything!

I've done two runs since the last time I posted an entry to the blog. I started my training up this week, with two strength workouts, and my first run on Tuesday morning. I decided to try for an easy four miles, since it was my first run in a month...unfortunately my body did not think four miles was easy. I did fine with endurance, which was my only concern until now. Somewhere in the second mile my right knee started hurting, and by the middle of the third mile I couldn't run anymore because of the pain. I had to walk the last one and a half miles home. I wasn't about to let that get me down though. I enlisted the help of a very kind, knowledgeable and helpful co-worker and physical therapist. Lucas spent his lunch hour watching me run on the treadmill, correcting my form and taping my feet. I was encouraged by the information I received, and decided to test it all out today with a short run.
I decided not to pre-determine the distance and to just let my body tell me when I should stop. I taped my feet, and hit the road. Unfortunately, my knee pain returned after the first mile...and I was a mile away from home. I remembered some of the things Lucas had told me to work on to improve my form, and managed to make it back home without walking and without making the knee pain worse. When I took my shoes off, I saw that my tape job was sub-par and had come loose, which I hope is the reason I had knee pain so early on in the run. I am a little discouraged at this point; it does seem like everything that could go wrong right now is happening. But I knew this race would not be easy, and there is no way I'm giving up. I will be at that starting line on December 6th, nothing will stop me. It would just be nice to catch a break for once, have something go well.
I have five weeks left to prepare, and I'll be hitting the road again Tuesday morning, hopefully with a better tape job this time. Wish me luck!