The highlight of this year's running was getting to compete in the Boston Marathon! Even though I had a rough race, it was such an amazing experience. After the race, I discovered that between KT tape, physical therapy exercises, and running most my runs on trails for a softer surface, I can run with minimal bone spur pain! The downside is that my bone spurs tend to do better with lower weekly mileage, once I hit 40+ miles per week I start having more pain. When I stick to 30-35 miles, I almost forget I have bone spurs! I haven't had a decent marathon since I started having bone spur pain, so I'm worried that training for and finishing a marathon may not be in the cards for me until after I eventually go through with the surgery. I did get into Chicago for 2025 with a guaranteed entry, thanks to my time from Houston, so I'm going to try it with fewer weekly miles and less long run workouts and see how it goes. I'm hoping with some tweaks to my training, marathons will still be possible. I also didn't start using KT tape until after Boston, so I'm hoping that helps as well. If I have to stick to shorter race distances, I'd rather do that than have surgery. My fall in October which resulted in 8 stitches and 2.5 weeks off running taught me I do not do well with an extended period away from running. I know it's likely I will eventually have to have surgery, but I want to push it off for as long as possible. Between my bone spurs and my fall, I had my lowest yearly mileage since 2017, but I am more thankful for running than ever before. My mindset has changed so much and I am so thankful every day I get to be out there. I know with my bone spurs I am not going to be able to run the race times I am used to, but I am so glad to be able to run at all. I'd rather be running and slower than have an extended period off running and then be faster again. There's no guarantee surgery would lead to getting back to my faster self anyway. My younger self would be appalled that I'm okay with being slower. Fast times were always the main pursuit of running when I was younger!
I very much understand "I'd rather be running and slower than have an extended period off running and then be faster again."!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm not alone!
Delete