"You have dainty feet!!!"

My podiatrist actually said that to me yesterday with total delight and maybe even a lot of surprise in his voice when I went to get checked out for all the problems I'm experiencing.

To recap:
right leg- shin pain
left leg- constant pain and limping when I step down and bear all my weight like a normal person when walking

I decided it was time to see the podiatrist to get a real evaluation as opposed to the fake one I got from my friend Hal over the phone from New Hampshire. I was hesitant only because I decided to get my orthotics from another doctor and didn't want to get any shi*t from my podiatrist. And my fears were totally confirmed when Dr. Noah told me that he hoped I hadn't paid a lot for them. (Side note, not surprisingly I did). Whatever. I'm moving on from this as there's nothing I can do now and I feel like they're perfectly fine orthotics.

So Dr. Noah took some x-rays, which is when he discovered the whole dainty feet issues and exclaimed that I could be a ballerina. "But ballerinas have really messed up feet." He also discovered that I do not have a stress fracture which is good, but said that I was definitely on the path to getting one.

What it does mean is that I have to take another 2-week break from running and walking and go back on August 8th to find out what my game plan is. In the meantime, I can go biking or swimming. And since I'm not totally psyched to go to a public swimming pool, it looks like I have a lot of biking in my future to keep up the cardio.

I've thought a lot about this setback and I'm not letting it get in my way of fulfilling this dream. I have always known that this path would not be easy. But I am also a very very firm believer that things worth getting (and going after) aren't meant to be easy. If it was easy, it wouldn't be as worth it.

I also believe that completing this marathon is so much about mental strength and I've got a lot of that. My life experiences, all the shitty ones too, have made me the strong person that I am and I proudly carry those struggles and trying times with me...and they'll be what carries me through all 26.2 miles. I don't know how much of this marathon I'll be running, or walking, but I do know that I will be crossing that finish like in just three short months!

I may not know today how I'm going to get there while I'm sidelined from the activity I need to do on race day- I just know that I will be there. And I can't wait to write that blog post and share just how great it felt to raise my arms in the air and step over the finish line!