2 weeks MIA

So it's been a while since I wrote...not much has changed.  I should have run my first marathon last Sunday, May 15.  I had thought that day was going to be a rough one, but it actually felt just like any other day.  Somehow I was okay with the fact that I would not be completing it - the first race I ever missed that I signed up for.  Rather than dwelling on failure, I've been focusing on being thankful that I have been able to run 3 days a week again.  I've been maintaining 3-5 mile runs.  That's about as much as the achilles can take these days.  It's not painful at all, but I start to get a tired feeling - that's the best way I can describe it.  I learned my lesson in not pushing it and instead I'm listening to my body.  When it starts to feel "off" I stop.  I tried changing up my stride a bit last weekend and it really seemed to help.  I focused more on landing on my toes first.  It was challenging at first, but I made it 5 miles with no problems at all.  My calves were sooooo sore the next day though!  I dunno that this will be a permanent thing or not.  When I ran this week on the treadmill I couldn't run with that same stride - it felt too awkward.  I made it four miles with some mild tired/tight feeling in the achilles

Physical therapy ended about 2 weeks ago.  I went for 6 weeks, which was all my insurance covered.  Andrew (pt) suggested I see go to a foot/ankle specialist because as physical therapy progressed, my ankle started to bother me.  I'm just falling apart, aren't I?  That brings us up to date.  Today I went to get an x-ray of my ankle and Saturday I'm going to the foot/ankle doctor.  I'm praying he says "looks like everything's okay to me, get running!"  We shall see!  I'm anxious to begin training for my next marathon attempt.  I'm thinking of running the Rock n Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon in September and the Philadelphia Marathon in November.  Then there's the Marine Corps Marathon.  It's at the end of October and I heard that's a great race to run!  Also, a friend of mine has been encouraging me to run the Maine Marathon.  I would love to do that, but I'm worried October 2nd is too soon.  I would have to start training next week!  Decisions, decisions...I guess I can't really make any until I know I'm totally safe to begin training again.