This has, by far, been my most frustrating marathon build-up since I have started running the distance. I finished Chicago in 2:47 last October, albeit being injured, and have not gotten back into form since. It is as though there is someone or something preventing me from running Boston this year. After Chicago I took some down time and ran easy for a couple of weeks and my hamstring situation did not improve. I was then "shut-down" for some of November and December. I healed a bit but for some reason could not get completely healthy during this time. And I was not making any improvements in training as my mileage was nonexistent. I started to slowly build the mileage in January and started to get back into training. My mileage was still very low for my standards and I was lacking in the workout and long run departments. Right when I started to feel like I might be back, I developed an IT Band injury, in addition to the lingering hamstring problems. I had to, yet again, take some time off. I started to feel a little better towards the end of February and put in a couple a good workouts. I ran a 10k tempo in 35:58 and it felt very controlled, something that could be sustained for the half marathon distance. Then, I had an episode where I was doing some 200m repeats on an indoor track to work on my turnover and I passed out. I felt myself getting dizzy and I started to wobble coming down the homestretch of the track. I then collapsed and had to wait until my world stopped spinning. I had blood tests done in the following days and found out my iron levels are extremely low. I have now been taking iron pills two or three times a day. I still feel lightheaded running at this present moment. Someone does not want me to get to this year's start line. It is difficult to not be training. It is tough to weather everything that will be thrown at me in training. But I do want to make one thing clear: I will do everything in my control to be on the start line on April 21.
I will not be in the shape I would like to be in but I am going to do everything in my power to be there. I am tired. Tired of what feels like constant disappointment in running over the past months. And if whatever is trying to stop me from getting there is listening, I stop at nothing. I am relentless. I do not give up. I do not get discouraged. I am all in for Boston in 2014 and I intend on proving people wrong, believing in myself and following my dreams. It might not be the most practical way to address any of the above problems but it is the only way I know how to deal with them. Move past them.
Last fall, I signed on with Skechers Performance Division, New England. I would like to thank the popular, old school, running website Level Renner for helping me connect with them. I will be training and racing in Skechers. This blog will begin to include product reviews for the different shoes I have been wearing. It is an honor and privilege to be competing in the same gear and shoes as America's number one marathoner in Meb Keflezighi. Meb has represented the U.S. at multiple Olympic Games, has won several national titles, and has won the NYC Marathon. He is an inspiration in every sense and he also sees himself as an underdog. I view myself as an underdog in running too. I know our times are not comparable but I am working to get better every day and make big improvements. Skechers took a chance on me. I am a 2:47 marathoner but this is going to change. I have confidence in this and now a product sponsor who welcomed me into their community. I am excited to hit the roads and show my potential this spring and summer. It is time to, "Go like never before." This is the mantra for the Skechers Performance Division and can be found in every pair of shoes. Now, it is time to GO RUN.
