Last "Race Week" for a While!

Let's make it a good one!

My hip scope surgery is one month from today...Yikes. It's still a bit unreal that I'll be going from Ironman to not being able to walk BY CHOICE! This has been a long time coming, though, as my family, friends and coaches will tell me...I've been battling the mysterious leg numbing, hip pain, back pain, piriformis stress, foot pain, hip joint stabbing, groin burning, physical therapy, foam rolling, and mind-altering mood swings for a year now.

I look forward to the day when I can do track workouts and hill repeats again (I know...psycho). I look forward to training for a marathon and qualifying for Boston again! The Boston Marathon was today and I was slightly inspired to run fast again!

In an odd way, I'm also looking forward to starting over from the beginning and training smarter...whatever that means...more strength building, flexibility, core work...building a better foundation. I get to play the newbie card again!!  I want Phase Two of this journey to be about The Journey.  Will I focus on time goals? Of course!  Will I focus intensely on getting faster? Naturally...I want to do it, though, as a student of the sport and not a trained robot who will decompress if I don't hit all of my training hours. (Ok--no promises, here). I guess I just want to feel like I've learned something from all of this. I've already learned that my long-term health is way more important than any short term goal. I've learned that there will always be another chance and another race. I've learned that there is just some pain that you can't push through. I've learned that setting goals is great, but setting SMART goals is even better. I've learned that rest and recovery is good...Damn good.

So, I'm heading into my race this weekend feeling so very grateful, nervous, excited and ready to lay it all out there on the course. Why?? Because in a month, I'll be laying it all out there on the couch!