And It's Over

So that's the end. I'm throwing in the towel, just a week and a half short of the marathon. While I am extremely disappointed to not be able to run the marathon, I think I would be even more depressed if I went and couldn't finish. Or worse I might be in pain for 26.2 miles. Or even worse, I might do permanent damage, although my physical therapist did not think that likely.

I am upset with myself that I haven't kept up with my core workouts and strength training that my PT recommended last summer. Keeping my core in better shape might have led to a better outcome this season. Heck, I haven't even kept up with the 4 key stretches and the 5 key strength training exercise in the FIRST running program.

I can make a lot of excuses, with the primary one being that I changed jobs and moved in the middle of the season. Shouldn't have mattered, but I let it. I lost some training time with all the things I had to be doing related to the two big changes. And when I left my last job, I was no longer near my stand-by gym where I did my cross-training and yoga. The gym by my new job is crappy. So I hardly ever went to the gym. I hardly ever did yoga. I don't know why I stopped with the strength training and the stretching. I used my foam roller and the stick. But in the end I just caused myself problems by being lazy.

So at any rate, I am of course again going to swear to myself that I will do core workouts. I am going to take some rest time. Maybe I was just tired of being on a training schedule. I've been following one for nearly 6 months straight now. Even if I did only keep up with 3 days of it a week.

I'm going to move on to my summer goals - signing up for TNT cycling, training for a 39.3 mile breast cancer walk, and maybe a tri or two. And of course strength training! And yoga! I don't know where I'm going to find the time for all that.

I only take solace in the fact that at least I'm missing a crappy out-and-back marathon instead of the real Big Sur course. My PT suggested that maybe I'm not biomechanically cut-out for a marathon and that I consider sticking to halves. So we'll see.

I am concerned as she pointed out that apparently I have the start of bunions, my pain seems to be caused by either calcification or neuroma by the MTP, which is also present in my left foot, and it appears my second toes are developing hammertoe. Yeah - freaked myself out doing internet research last night. So I will be doing core workouts (someone make me) and I'm thinking maybe I will go see a podiatrist. I want to nip these potential foot problems in the bud before they become more of a problem. Then again, I kind of think my feet have always looked like this. Maybe basketball did it. Who knows?

But first my goal is to not second-guess myself. I'm sure I am doing the right thing for my body. Sure I could try resting from running until the race, and I thought about it, but I would be risking sheer misery on race day. And one thing I know for sure - there's no shortage of marathons in this country.