Week 2

This week was very hard on me mentally.  I was told by my doctor on Wednesday that I was to stop running for 6 weeks.  I love running.  During a low time in my training recently, and by low, I mean I'm sick of swimming and cycling, I had seriously thought about quitting tris and taking up ultras and just running.  Because running takes me to a place that is so freeing and peaceful and lovely, that I can't imagine my life without it.  So there I am on Wednesday.  And I'm on my back with Dr. Cho working on my left foot.  And I'm staring at the ceiling with tears welled up in my eyes.  And I'm thinking, did they really just tell me that?

Did they just tell me I can't do the thing that occurs to most people like breathing or eating?  How can I get around this and still run the Atlanta Half Marathon?  How can I still run?  And my friends wouldn't hear of it.  Beat me down.  Made me realize I was being stupid and stubborn.  So I won't run.  And I'll figure this all out.  And I'll come back healthy and start all over again.  Because that's what people do.

Success of the week?  Well, I was finally able to ride aero on my aero bars for 50 miles.  I had them installed about 6 weeks ago and have been incredibly nervous every time I got into aero position so I would never stay more than a minute and was freaking out.  On Sunday, I just told myself I could do it...and did.  That was on the flat Silver Comet Trail.  This Sunday I'm hitting Silk Sheets and hoping I can do the same on hills like I did on the flats.

All this happened while fighting off a pretty bad cold.  Next week will be better.