There’s no easy way to say this: I have a broken leg. I’m still very much in shock and I’m processing very slowly. This not the news any runner wants, and needless to see, my journey to 1,019 miles in 2019 is over.
Snap.
Just like that.
Clearly, this is not the way I saw the end of our year. I had huge plans, races, fabulous goals. I’m incredibly frustrated and angry, on top of scared and anxious for what the orthopedic surgeon will say this week.
Sunday – 7 miles, running
Sunday morning was beautiful and S and I had a glorious run. Like the kind that can go forever. I loved every second of it. I would have gone longer if we didn’t have much to
We devoted the rest of the day to decorating the trees in our neighborhood amenity center and then straight on to holiday movies. It was the perfect way to cozy up on a chilly evening.
Monday – 9Round #119
S was having some soreness from our Sunday run, so we agreed to switch to Monday instead. I hopped right in at 9Round, and smashed it out. I’ve been able to start cutting back on modifications and increasing weights, and I’ve been really proud to that.
Tuesday – 5.6 miles, running + 9Round #120
Our run was fabulous, again. It’s been chilly in the mornings, but it makes such a difference for running.
9Round was awesome, too! There have been some great workouts over the last few weeks. Some have been brutal, but all have been challenging.
We also had another great SOUPer Bowl Meeting. Ticket sales are underway and everything is progressing smoothly.
I made a huge pot of pasta e fagioli for dinner. It’s finally soup season!
Wednesday – 5.6 miles, running + 9Round #121
This was basically a repeat of Tuesday. We ran.
I went to 9Round.
Mr PugRunner had a neighborhood meeting in the evening, so little man and I did his karate routine on our own and went about our business. With the holiday break coming up, he’s had light homework.
Thursday – rest
Thursday was just one of those do-little days. I wasn’t feeling up to 9Round, so I got started on cleaning up the house for Saturday’s festivities. I did get a lovely girls’ lunch with my friend at one of my favorite local BBQ joints.
Little man came home with no scheduled homework, so I decided to get the cookie baking started. He and his daddy both love butter spritz cookies, and so I finally ordered a new cookie press so we could make that happen. Little man loves being in the kitchen and he was such a big helper.
Friday – 1.7 miles, Turkey Trot + 9Round #122
9Round was a little more quiet in the morning, but I was glad – some of the moves were really tough and I was able to focus on them without distraction.
Then it was back to the house for some cleaning and tidying. I did some prep for our planned Thanksgiving on Saturday and then called it a night. It was another long week.
Little man’s school hosted a Turkey Trot during PE periods. Parents were welcome to join, so S and I went on over to join in the fun. We ran one lap of the course in little man’s period and the second lap during her son’s period. Afternoon running is hard.
Mr PugRunner brined the turkey to get it ready for the Big Green Egg, and we got all set up for the morning.
Saturday – The Incident
The plan? I was going to meet S at 6:00AM and we were going to get in about six miles.
What actually happened? As I was heading down the stairs, I slipped, landed very terribly wrong and broke my tibia and fibula near the ankle. I now know the volume I need to use to get the boys moving first thing in the morning. The pain was excrutiating and I think I went into shock almost immediately (especially since I could see the bones bulging).
I was able to scoot down to the bottom of the first flight of stairs, but when I tried to stand to get down the next few steps, my blood pressure crashed and I started hyperventilating. We ended up having to call 911 and I had to take the ambulance to the hospital.
From there, everything was a sort of a blur. They did x-rays, got me an IV and started managing the pain. The ER doctor brought in a team and they sedated me so they could manipulate the bones into places and put me in a splint. They are thinking surgery but I was too swollen for them to just go ahead with it, and so I will have to meet with the ortho Wednesday. I really tried to keep smiling.
S came to the hospital to help with little man. My parents met us there and took over. When I got discharged, they all came back to the house so we could continue with our dinner plans.
Goal-getting
So … goals are shifting it would seem. Right now, my biggest goal is figuring out how to get comfortable and how to effectively manage getting around with a broken leg. I kind of thought the doctors would set and splint the bones and I would be off to the races, but that is not the case. I am so uncomfortable and I’m terrified of getting up and down the stairs. Nothing is easy right now.
I’m trying to stay positive, and we are so lucky. Our friends have mobilized forces and put together a meal train through the end of the year. They have offered help with everything from decorating our Christmas tree to transporting little man to activities to helping wash my hair. Through their networks, they have found a wheelchair I can use, as well as a lap desk so I can work a little more comfortably from the bed and the couch.
Obviously, I’m upset. I can’t drive. I can’t run or work out. I don’t know how I’m going to manage all the events we have over the next few weeks. Little man is very sensitive and very upset about what’s happened, which breaks my heart. I’m terrible about asking for and accepting help. These upcoming weeks are not going to be easy. I’m trying to keep my eye on the prize and focus on healing. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m trying to find some good.
I am linking up with the new Weekly Rundown, with Confessions of A Mother Runner and Running on the Fly! Check them out!
Will you be joining me at any of the Best Damn Race Ambassador Crew! Don’t forget to register with my BDR discount code RUNSWITHPUGS to save on any distance at any BDR location!
How was your week in training?
Have you ever broken a bone? Any tips or tricks to get me through the long weeks ahead?
