The Marathon That Wasn't

I’ve never broken anything in all my 47 years…until now.  What started as just a sprain (or so I thought) during Ragnar Trail,  ended in an epic DNS.  Although I thought I was starting back super slow and smart after my sprain (see original post) ,  I had a freak incident while bowling at my son’s birthday party (yes, bowling) a few weeks later. I pivoted on my recovering ankle and instantly knew that something was wrong. .Shooting pain.  I sat and sulked for the remainder of his party, I was so scared that it was something bad.

I waited until Monday and went in to see my regular doctor. She thought that at first glance, it looked like just a sprain but since I was complaining about pain all the way down my leg, she sent me for xrays just to be sure. 
I had to wait for 2 days to get my results.  By this time, I already knew there was no way I could event walk the full or the half at the Tucson Marathon. I finally got my results and sure enough, there was a fracture.  In had an “invulsive fibular fracture”.   My doc sent me to get a boot until I could get in to see an orthopedic surgeon. Surgeon I thought? There was a chance I needed surgery? What a nightmare.

I immediately hated this boot.  I don’t know how people wear this. It is so heavy, clunky and awkward.  In just the 24 hours that I had it, I noticed my other hip overcompensating, and an overall fatigue. I couldn’t drive with it on. I finally got in to see the surgeon and immediately got good news.  He said I did not not need to get surgery. Hallelujiah!  And, he said I had a choice of the boot or an air splint.  I dropped that boot like a bad habit.  The air splint is really light and I can still wear a shoe on it.   He said I should heal up in 4 weeks or so! 

Meanwhile, the Tucson marathon was today.  It’s the first full marathon that I registered for but never got to start.  So sad. It would have been #11, and the weather turned out pretty good for it.

I have a replacement marathon all picked out, and have spent lots of time planning ahead for 2016 races (new post coming soon) for when I will hopefully get a clean bill of health.

Running is true gift, and I will never take it for granted!