My POST OP BLOG / written 8/23/08

[ttdriver]

Just thought I'd share this with those of you who have helped me as I am recovering from foot surgery. I wrote this last Saturday. Hope it helps inspire SOMEONE.

August 23 / 2 weeks and 3 days post op

Posted 08-23-2008 at 10:20 PM by sugarless4life
Its difficult for me to believe its been 2 and a half weeks since my foot surgery and I am *still* having such intense pain. Its aggravating and discouraging. I am doing "everything right" as far as following the doctors' orders to stay off the foot, keep it elevated, take the pain meds, etc., but nothing seems to help all that much. Yeah I know, its early yet, and truthfully, the surgery was much worse than I thought and most certainly more than what the doctor expected to see.

Having said that though .. shouldn't I be feeling much better by now ? Sure, the recovery is slow when bones are chiseled and sawed, but please ... a bit of encouragement *would* be nice right about now.

So I just finished watching the men's Olympic 26.2 mile marathon; watched the gold medalist finish in 2 hours and 6 minutes. Mind boggling. I watched the leaders run with seemingly no great amounts of physical effort. Their strides were elongated, smooth, steady. Their postures were perfect. Their eyes, focused. The rest of the world ceased to exist for them as they pursued the ultimate finish to years and years of long hours of training and preparation.

Unless you have run 26+ miles, you can never understand the guts, courage and mental toughness that it takes to finish, let alone set an Olympic record. I've done two marathons, and its physically GRUELING, CRUEL, HEINOUS, INSIDIOUS. There's a reason why so few people run marathons. Those who do know the pain .. the agony .. and those who finish know the gain ... the glory ... Its about so much more than "just running" .. or "just finishing" ... or "just getting a medal" ... its the purest form of a test of character .. to honestly see if you have what it takes to do what so few would dare attempt ..

So I sit here today, thinking about the pain I'm currently in and wondering if its realistic for me to have signed up for the Tampa Marathon on March 1, 2009. Deep inside my soul, I want nothing more than to cross my third marathon finish line. Gad, there is NOTHING like that.

N O T H I N G.

But my physical condition at this moment has me wondering if I can do it at all. When it hurts to sit in this recliner with my foot in a cast, propped up on 3 pillows ... what in heaven's name makes me think that in a few short months I will run 26 miles, 385 yards?

Will it really be possible? Logically, probably not. But since when does logic enter into the mind of a marathon runner ? Running that distance isn't a logical thing to do. Heck, its not even a reasonably intelligent thing to do.

So why try? Well, because its really about COURAGE. Courage to try. Determination and dedication and discipline to begin training long and hard as soon as I get the go ahead from the doctor. Singleness of purpose ... and that purpose is to DO IT .. to quit saying I wonder if .. and rather say ... THERE IS NO DOUBT.

I have a date I will not break .... 6:00AM Sunday, March 1, 2009 at Platt & Parker, downtown Tampa, Florida.

Get my medal ready.

Betty
(already signed up and paid for my marathon entry fee !)

[Tuliedave]

Betty I have known you and your spirit for a long time! I know you can and will make this goal. We are only stopped in reaching our goals by doubt and fear. You my friend, are doubtless and fearless!