pay it forward

So I got cash back at the self check out at Redner's today around 4:15 and at 7:15 it dawned on me that I never picked it up.  I go there (praying the whole way there) and asked the lady at self check out if anyone turned it in - nope.  She told me to check with customer service.  I knew it was doubtful, but on my way I decided to look in the machine that I had checked out at just in case it was still there.  Low and behold there it was sitting in the machine!  There was a guy there checking out so I asked him if it was his - it wasn't!  Wow - I will definitely pay that one forward!!!

As for running, my foot and ankle doc recommended I take another 2 weeks off which leaves me waiting until next Wednesday.  However, he felt as though custom orthotics were unnecessary at this point.  He thinks there's a good possibility I could have a hernia in my lower leg, but also agrees with my family doc that the pain I'm experiencing could simply be from the stress on my shin.  Therefore, he recommended I get over the counter orthotics.  Thank goodness, because they are only $40 at shoe stores compared to $300 or more for custom.  Instead of going to the New Balance store to by them, I actually ended up getting them on Amazon along with a book that Oxford's cross country coach recommended (The Lore of Running) for a total of $40.  They should be here this weekend.  Then I'll have 4 days to break them in with walking.  I'm going to slowly ease back into running - 10 mins at a time and build up to a comfortable 30.  I hope they make a big difference! 

escaping reality

It has been a month since I've written and I think it's because I don't want to face reality.  Once I post it, it's real for everyone to see including myself.  So here goes nothing...after my first MRI my doctor called with the results.  He said I had no structural damage anywhere, but that my achilles looked irritated.  I could continue to run, but it would be essential for me to ice and stretch before and after each run.  I was on vacation when I got the results.  I ran 5 days that week (more than I ever run) because there were no other workouts available to me.   On my fifth run I set out to run 5 miles.  My cousin and Brent dropped me off in a state park in Va Beach.  I had no idea how long the trail was, but set out to run.  I used my gps on my phone to figure out it was a five mile trail from one end to the next.  After about half way through it my achilles began to feel tired and tight (which is nothing new), but so was the side of my leg -about 3 inches above my ankle.  When I stopped to stretch it felt like it the muscle was tearing away from my bone.  There was also some soft tissue protruding.  So here I am in the middle of the woods on some trail I've never run before.  I have definitely felt the sensation of my muscle being torn from my shin before, but it was years ago and just recently it has come up sporadically so I hadn't thought much about it.  I thought it was some sort of shin splint since it wasn't nagging and would go away on it's own (never lasted for more than 5 mins after a run).  So I kept running.  I finished the run and it didn't feel as bad as it did before.  However, I still felt it for the next 2 days (not as bad).  I called the doctor when we got back on Monday and went in that afternoon.  He was worried that I could have a stress fracture or compartment syndrome of the lower leg.  He had me schedule another MRI - this time for my lower leg (of course they couldn't see the area on my other MRI since it was focused on my ankle/achilles).  I just got the results for this MRI last Friday.  Thankfully there is no fracture, however there is definitely stress on my tibia (shin bone) and I have to get orthotics to prevent a stress fracture.  He thinks this will make a big difference and I will be able to continue running.  I'm going on Wednesday to see a foot and ankle specialist to get the ball rolling.  I feel like an old woman and I'm only 28!  Ha, the lengths I will go to run...let's hope this is it!  If it isn't, am I really going to try something else just so I can continue to run?  It's so hard for me because I feel like I should just suck it up and do other types of workouts for exercise, but I truly love running.  It does so many things for me.  It gives me a quiet time to think, pray and reflect on life.  It gives me energy, discipline and goals.  It has made me new friends and closer with old friends.  It allows me to eat whatever I want (well pretty much).  It's freeing, it's fun, it's challenging, it relieves stress and I miss it!!