for Stephen

I was so touched yesterday when Karen called saying Stephen has been worrying about me! It really has been extremely difficult to stop running, to contemplate not being able to reach my goal, and it is making my other health issues worse. I crash without running, I really do. Increased meds, feeling lousy, no sleep, etc. Meds don't feel good. Running is better. I've had multitudinous issues, just trying to take a week off, which is why....

I cheated. I cheated VERY safely, on the treadmill, armed with mega ice packs in just the right shape, which I started applying immmediately. I had no pain and enough compression to strangle anyone's gut into submission! By the end of the run I was sporting a very thick lump in my compression shorts. No, I did not take a picture, sorry.

I have my appointment in an hour, so if I caused any damage, (which I didn't), the surgery can still be scheduled. I want it on both sides, since I'm convinced the right side has the same problem, even though the right hernia wasn't detected on ultrasound.

Enough rationale yet? I know I took a risk. But not running has its own set of problems...

I still have the encylopedias under the back side of my treadmill. Yes, I am still longing to run 3:33:33 at UVM on June 12. So I set the treadmill for 13.1 (remember, I can stop if it gets painful or scary in any way because I am on the treadmill, not in the middle of nowhere). And then I took off. 7.5 mph for .1, then 7.6 for .4, then 7.7 for .8, then 7.8 for ten minutes, and increasing .1 mph every ten minutes. I ended at 8.7 mph, (yeah I increased it every 5 minutes the last 30 because I had a lot left). And I ran 13.1 miles on the treadmill in 1:36:35. This puts me on the board for UVM, even considering the elevation change, I hope. Unless my treadmill REALLY lies...which is possible.

I needed to do this, knowing I may not get to run UVM.

Those are all the excuses I have. I must go get ready for my appointment/judgment day.

Update: Yeeeeeeehaw! The general surgeon convinced me it is fine to run. I have a small hernia, which is why it hurts so much (it's pushing harder on the nerve because there isn't much of a hole to give it room). He does hundreds of hernia surgeries a year and only sees the strangulated scary cases maybe once a year and then only with very big hernias. He says run away, just handle the pain. Utah Valley June 12, Grand Canyon June 19-26th, and surgery July 9. Lots of ice in my future.