Determination

It all started 18 weeks ago when I signed up for my first marathon and started training. During one of the coldest weeks of the year, the miles started to build in the early mornings or later in the day. The training was going great and I was well on my way each week. My goals were looking bright!

Then, it all happened exactly 2 weeks before the marathon. I sprained my right ankle badly on a log. My ankle swelled immediately and all I could think about was my marathon and how I could not do it anymore. I went home and iced my ankle.

The next day, I went to see an amazing orthopedic doctor. I told him what I wanted to do in 13 days and he immediately sent me to physical therapy (PT) that would get me ready for this race. I had to wear a walking boot for the next 4 days. Each day, I went to PT and this facility works with lots of athletes. They thought I was crazy on what I wanted to do but said they would do everything possible to get me healthy enough to meet my goal. My PT called it the NBA plan. You guessed it, it’s what NBA players get when they do the same thing. PT was going great and I went on an Anti-Gravity treadmill 2 days after starting PT for a 1 mile at 60% of my body weight. I would have bought one myself but apparently it costs $35K – $75K. By Friday, I ran 3.8 miles. On Friday, I started to wear my brace and was told to wear my running shoes for the next week. I was given homework to run 1 mile outside and found a gravel trail. It was hard to run with the brace because it dug into my back ankle but pushed through. With a lot of rest and ice I was on my way to recovery and praying each day that I could do this marathon. 

Monday came around and I went to PT to await my fate if I got the approval to do the race. They had me run a 1/2 mile on a regular treadmill. Afterwards, I went to the doctor, he called my PT and was given the approval for the race, as long as I wore a compression sock. Also, needed to run slower so the search was on for a pace group. I was so happy! I called my wife immediately. That Wednesday, ran 5 miles on the treadmill and halfway through needed to put an extra sock on with my compression sock because my foot was sliding in my shoe and it quickly fixed the problem.

I kept icing my foot each day and was excited for my Marathon and looked at the weather every day. It was supposed to rain all day Sunday and then the weather turned around. Saturday came along and my wife ran her fastest 5k in years. I watched the weather a lot in the next 12 hours and it looked like I was going to get rain.

That morning it rained off and on as I found a pace group at the start. The 5:30 group was perfect for me which was a run/walk “Run two minutes and 30 seconds; then walk 40 seconds.” The 2 leaders were amazing and stayed with us the whole time. The rained stopped after the first mile and then misted for the next 8 miles. I stuck with my nutrition plan and saw my family 6 different times.

I was told by PT if I made it to mile 14 I was golden and if I felt great at mile 20 to go for it. I finally let loose at mile 24, thanked my group, and went to the finish line. The coolest thing about the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon was getting to run down the ramp where the Packers players run out and around the field. Once I saw the finish line, all I was thinking was I’m done. I crossed the finish line and rang that PR bell! 

Thought this would be a one and done race but now I need to do another marathon on healthy legs!

I have learned through all of this I have great determination but most of all I could not have done any of it without the support of my family and friends!