Mixed news

So, I went to see my sports medicine doctor today. I was hoping to get clearance to start running again, but I need to be patient. My foot still hurts sometimes, and she says I have to wait until I am completely pain-free, and then I can start running a little bit at a time. I'm beginning to lose hope that I'll be able to run MCM this year.  Honestly, I am caring less and less about the marathon; I just want to run again. I miss it SO much. Spin classes and the rowing machine are not the same -- not even close. Anyway, my doctor gave me some exercises to do (i.e., picking up marbles with my feet), and forbade me from wearing any heels or flip-flops for a very long time. Totally sucks to have to wear clunky shoes in the summer.

I've been crazy busy for the past few days because I have a big national board exam tomorrow. It's crazy how many exams doctors have to take. I've taken 3 board exams in the past 2 years, and each of them cost $2,000.  The thought of failing the test is worse for financial reasons than anything else!! I cannot imagine having to pay $2,000 a second time. Ugh.

I've also been nervous because I'm starting a new job in 3 weeks. I keep having random nightmares about snakes and spiders. My little sister, a psychologist, has her own nutty Freudian interpretations of these dreams... but I think I'm just nervous about my job and the boards. :) Wish me luck tomorrow!!

Welcome!

Hello everyone! I'm new to the blog world, though I kept an online journal on mydeardiary.com for about a year and a half back in 2001. I spend a lot of my down time reading blogs, so I figured maybe I would start one, too, even though my life is a lot more mundane than most of the blog writers I "know."

Anyway, a quick introduction: my name is Rebecca, and I'm a 34-year-old woman living in Washington DC. I live with my husband, Ross, and our 2-year-old puggle, Wrigley (named with love after Wrigley Field. Yes, my husband is an avid Cubs fan. Yes, I try to leave the house when the games are on). We've been happily married for almost two years, and our lives can be somewhat hectic and stressful because we're both physicians. We still find the time, though, to have a blast together.

So, ever since last Christmas, I've thought about running a marathon. I had been running consistently for years and years, but I was only running distances of 3-6 miles, 2-3 times a week. (I was also lifting weights, going to spinning class, and doing other forms of cross-training 2-3 days a week as well). My sisters have both run marathons (and they are FAST). I always thought I could never do one, but then one night Ross and I watched a documentary about people training for the Chicago marathon. I watched the movie and thought, if they can do it, why can't I? So, my New Year's Resolution was born. I decided to run a marathon in 2009. Ross said he would never do a marathon, but agreed to train with me for a half-marathon. We decided to run the Ocean City Half-Marathon in April, and we started training 4-5 days a week. I loved it. I started out running a 9:30 pace on long runs, and after a few months of training, I ran a 5K with a 7:36 pace and got fourth place in my age group!! Two weeks before the half marathon, I went out for a 13-mile long run. (Crazy, I know, but I wanted to know that I could do it before the actual race.) I had a great run and felt great, but the next day my right foot started hurting. To make a long story short, I ended up with a metatarsal stress fracture, and I stood on the sidelines cheering Ross on during the Ocean City half. It was devastating. And I'm still in a walking cast... a month later. Not being able to run is like torture. I miss the endorphins and sense of well-being I get when I'm running. Riding a bike or swimming is not the same!

Anyway, I'm going to use this blog to chronicle my comeback from injury and first marathon training. Thanks for reading!