Back in November I had changed my insurance to Blue Cross of Texas, and it went into effect January 15th, the same day as the race in Louisiana. Shortly after that I decided to go see a Foot Dr about the problems I had been having with my foot. I did, and found out that I didn't have Plantar fasciitis, but had a stress fracture instead. The Dr told me I had two options. The first was to be put in a walking cast with a boot for 8 weeks, which would allow it to heal. Or the second was to receive cortisone injections which would mask the pain I was having and allow me to continue training. I was signed up to do the New Orleans 70.3 in April, and being in the cast would end that. He told me that stress fractures were difficult to predict how long they would take to heal. I get the first injection that day and went back the next week. Everyone I had talked to about it said that the best thing was to do the cast and get it healed. The injections would only prolong the problem and cause more problems over time. When I went back to the Dr the next week, I told him I wanted to get it fixed and discussed the cast/boot options with him. At the time it wasn't painful, and I felt like I could go out and run right then. This was about a month before the Cowtown race in Ft Worth.
I have been doing the Cowtown 5 year challenge, and this was to be the 4th year. I really wanted to continue the challenge. If you do all 5 consecutive years, the Finisher Medals form a big star. If you miss a year, you can't make it up. (There is a option to buy one, but the medal says "Contributor" instead of "Finisher" to me that seems like it would cheapen the accomplishment) Being an athlete with less than elite ability, I don't get many opportunities at noteworthy accomplishments. This was one within my grasp, and I want to finish it. So...we agreed that I would wear the cast/boot for 2 weeks and then remove it, giving me 10 days before the Cowtown event. Afterwards. he said it may be improved and not need to be re-cast, or if it did need to we would put one back on for 4 weeks.
I managed to get that week off from work so I could stay and visit my Mom who lives about an 2 hours Northwest of Ft Worth. Since I had the whole week off and wouldn't be staying the whole time with my Mom, I looked for another race the following weekend. It would have to be one with a generous time limit, a fairly easy course, and within driving distance. I found one in Albany Georgia that meet my demands. It had a 7 hour time limit, and was on Saturday, so I would have all day Sunday to drive back to Houston. I decided to enter the race and make Georgia my next state.
I went to work with the cast on and was told that I wasn't allowed there with it on. I was going to have to stay home until the cast was removed. When it was removed, my foot felt good, and the Dr told me to take it easy on it. Not to go out and run a long distance right away, but gradually break it back in. I returned to work, and of the next 10 days, I was only off for 1 of them. I went to Ft Worth with my foot still tender and I decided I would walk the entire thing. There was a 4.5 hour limit for the half, and I knew I could do it in that that amount of time.
Normally, on race day, I will wear the shirt from my previous race. Not this time, however. While picking up my packet at the expo on Saturday, I found a running shirt that pretty much spelled out my thoughts for that week. On the front it had the word "FAITH" and on the back "Fight the Good Fight...Finish the Race...Keep the Faith....2 Timothy 4:7". I bought it and wore it in both events.
Race day in Ft Worth was nice. It started a little cold but warmed up by the end. Totally in contrast to the weather of the 3 previous years. (All had been Frigid and Windy). from the start of the race I tried to run and see how my foot would feel, but only made it less than half a mile before it begin to be uncomfortable. I walked the rest of the way, with the exception of the last .1 of a mile. I jogged in from the 13 mile marker. I wasn't sure how long it would take me, but I was a little disappointed when it was nearly 4 hours. (around 3:50) Despite the fact I took it easy my foot was still painful at the finish and remained so for several days.
Several times I questioned my decision to go do Georgia, but I assured myself with the fact it was a 7 hour time limit. I could take a leisurely stroll and would even have time to stop for lunch and beers if I wanted. It wouldn't be a true run, but it would still be a state. I keep thinking that if/when all 50 are done, there will be at least a few completed under less than Normal circumstances. on Tuesday I left my Moms and drove to Shreveport La for the night, then to my sister's in Ocean Springs Ms for 2 nights, and finally to Albany Georgia on Friday. Listening to the news toward the end of the week, Indiana and Alabama had been brutalized by tornadoes. When I got to Albany, the weather forecast was not good. The storm that had battered Indiana and Alabama, was due to move through the area during the time of the race. the worst part was expected toward the end, around noon. The post race party, an all day Mardi Gras festival had been postponed till the following weekend, and the race officials were going to meet at 6am the next morning to make decide if they were even going to have the race at all. Also, while the Full marathon would have a 7 hour time limit they were going to impose a 3.5 for the half.
What to do? If I walked I probably wound not make the 3.5 limit, and if I ran some would I risk further injury of my foot. Then again, would they even run it in the Storm Conditions. I decided it made no sense to drive all the way to Georgia, and walk the race and not get an Official Finish. I would run what I could and if it got real bad I would stop. I didn't want to blow it up, but as long as I was here I would endeavor to get a finish.
The race went off, but not as scheduled, as there was about a 20 minute delay. We started under torrential rain and gusting wind. the rain came in sheets, it would lighten up for a while, then we would get pounded again. Had this been a meaningless local race around Houston, I would not have thought twice about packing it in, and waiting for another day. I started out thinking I would run 2 minutes and walk 3. My foot was doing good and I increased to 3/3, still no problem. I increased again to 5/5 and held that till around mile 7 when I started feeling the familiar sensation in my foot. I knew I was far enough ahead of pace that I could walk the rest of the way and make the 3.5 hours. It was about this time that the local tornado sirens went off. There were loudspeakers and a Booming voice stated "A Tornado Threat is in Effect for the Albany Area...Everyone take Shelter Immediately" That scared the Hell out of me. I looked around, thinking I was going to see a funnel coming right at me, and was expecting to be sucked up and deposited somewhere in Kansas (Damn those Flying Monkeys). Unsure of what to do, I figured I would just follow everyone else, but they just kept running, so I did too. I firmly believe it added some speed to my pace. Then I was wondering, if I get picked up and deposited closer to the finish line, would there be a DQ for not running the whole way? Something to think about. After Ft Worth. I had forgot to recharge my Garmin. I didn't realize this fact until I was ready to leave for the race. I put it on the charger and manged to get it up to 20% before I had to leave. It died at around mile 12, shortly before the Tornado Alarms went off again, but at that point it had ceased to matter. I knew I was going to Cross the Line, and despite everything, I did. Bad Foot...Terrible Weather....Tornado Dodging...soaked to the bone the entire time...and my Garmin going out
And yet YES !!!! I HAD a GOOD TIME. Now that it is over, I enjoyed myself. I can say I did something only a few others would do.
Over all the race was good. Barring the weather, which they had no control over, there was nothing bad about it. The course was entirely through residential areas and there was nothing scenic about it. The after party sounds like it would have been Great, but it was cancelled. The one shining point was the amount of support they had. Since it was through residential ares there were a lot of people out in their yards and on their porches. Surprisingly a lot, considering the weather. Im sure there would have been a lot more had it been nice out. The spectators were very vocal and supportive. They weren't just clapping when you went by, they were yelling and screaming and making a lot of noise. A lot of the businesses had welcome runners on their storefront marquees. It was fairly small, and while I would recommend it if you need to do Georgia, it is not in my list of Ones I want to repeat
