So the last three weeks were primarily spent on the couch 🛋, in the pool 🏊🏼♀️ , or in various doctor’s offices / labs / imaging centers. I had a full battery of bloodwork done and even went in for my first ever bone density scan. With my family history of osteopenia and osteoporosis...I definitely feared the worst - and assumed there was something far more nefarious to blame for my femoral fracture than just “a lot of running”. I worried that I’d have to face some metabolic or hormonal challenges in addition to dealing with the stress fracture. So, I was absolutely thrilled to learn at my last doctor’s🥼appointment last week that I “ONLY have a stress fracture”- and Dr. Wenger even added “you have rockstar 🤘🏼👨🏼🎤🎸 vitamin D levels, Jules”! ☺️ Who knew that one day those were the kinds of compliments I’d absolutely live for! 🤣 He had me lie down on the exam table and stretched and manipulated my leg and hip and even had me try to walk (limp) but prescribed continued rest and use of my crutches. When I attempted to walk he also commented “you’re such a ballet 🩰 dancer! Try to walk NOT turned out”... I responded “so are you saying running in first position isn’t advisable?!” 😬🙄😆
Last year because of my plantar fasciitis I worked really hard to stop heel striking, now when I can get back out there, I’m going to have to work on running with my feet 🦶🏼🦶🏼 pointed straight /mechanics / gait.
Injury has been humbling and so very challenging, mentally. I’ve always prided myself on my mental toughness - but I sure haven’t felt mentally tough the last two months. If you’d told me five years ago that I’d break my own leg by “running too much“, I would have laughed in your face 🤷🏼♀️ haha! But today, I’m bouncing off the walls and driving both myself and Darin absolutely crazy.
Why is resting the hardest thing? I’ve received numerous lovely messages the last few weeks from people who have also sustained stress fractures; not surprisingly (ultrarunners are a notoriously headstrong bunch) each note carried the same sentiment: They all told me that they rushed back into running too quickly and that that only delayed their healing time / suffering. So I’m trying to be patient and am ready to LET THE HEALING BEGIN!
Luckily, my most recent X-ray showed “callus formation” and Dr. Wenger said that this indicates healing and that we’re on the right track! 🙌
In the meantime, we’ve started looking at races in the fall and have begun planning my “comeback tour”! 😉😎🤩🥳 Also, if you have any movie or show recommendations, I’d be so grateful as I’m pretty I finished Netflix last night! 🤣 xx, J 💓
Marathon des Sables 2022
Sahara Strong: Conquering the Sand to End Childhood Cancers Together
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