First off, thank you all so much for your amazing and positive comments and emails! I am blown away by the support I have received and wish I could give every single one of you a hug! I know that this is going to be a journey and I am ready to come back as a stronger and better runner in the end.
I added a page at the top of my blog under the “injuries” tab that will track all of my posts on my stress fracture journey, recovery strategies, and outside links I use for information.
Tomorrow I will post about my actually plan towards recovery. I am still finishing it up, but it is really helping me put things into perspective and focus on where to go from here.
Again, thank you all so so much for the wonderful support! If you stick with me, I promise my positive running self WILL be back and I WILL be kicking some serious butt in my journey towards the Boston Marathon!
If you didn’t already know, today is Friday! That means it is time to focus on some positive things.
I will start off by saying I tried a new drink at Starbucks today: Unsweetened Shaken Iced Passion Tea Lemonade. I didn’t feel like coffee (I know, crazy right!?), so I decided to try something different. It was really good and refreshing!
Today I want to focus on Five Things I’m Looking Forward to in October (obviously running will not be one of them). It is hard to believe that October is just around the corner!
1. Residency Interviews Begin
My husband just received his first two residency interview invitations last week. We will be traveling back home to North Carolina next weekend for his first interview on October 7th.
Thing I am looking forward to:
-A brief visit with our family
-A dinner with other interviewees and their spouses
-A fun car trip to talk my husband’s ears off
-Getting out of Erie for a few days
I am thankful that I am able to attend these first couple of interviews with him. They always encourage you to bring your spouses, but if I was working currently there was no way I would be able to make the trip. I am taking advantage of what time I have right now and hoping to be able to go to several more with him.
He has worked so hard to make it this far. I sure am a proud wife regardless of where we end up!
2. Marathon Month
October has always been the month of marathons in our household. Of course, I am not running any this year but I will be cheering my husband on during the Chicago Marathon (October 13th) and the Marine Corps Marathon (October 27th).
He is going for a new PR and I am so excited to watch him succeed (because OF COURSE there is no doubt in my mind that he will do it.)
This is the best shape he has ever been in and I know that he has what it takes.
This was a sign I made for Wes back years ago when he was first going for his Boston Qualifier. He beat the 3:10 time by over 10 minutes, and I have a feeling a PR is in the works for him again!
And yes, you have read that right we are going to be out of town for 3 out of 4 weekends in October! It is going to be busy but honestly I think that is just what I need right now and couldn’t come at a better time!
3. Beauty of the Leaves Changing
On my way to take my husband some water during his run today, I stopped just to look at the trees.
Fall starts very early up here and I had been so overwhelmed and stressed about my injury I hadn’t even stopped to look around and enjoy the beauty that this time of year brings. In some ways it is hard because this is my favorite time to run, but that doesn’t mean that I should miss the joy and beauty!
I really look forward to driving back to North Carolina even more now, the views should be spectacular!
4. Cross Training Begins
I will get more into this when I post about my stress fracture recovery plan tomorrow, but in a few weeks I should be cleared to begin cross training.
Aside from running itself, the other thing I miss the most is how good you feel after a really good sweat session. You may be exhausted but there is nothing better than the feeling of working hard and accomplishment.
I have another week or so before this begins, but October starting means that I am one week closer to being able to cross train!
5. Pumpkin
I know many blogs this time of year are taken over by pumpkin recipes. I LOVE fall and everything to do with it – fires, candles, baking, leaves changing, cool weather, AND pumpkin.
The more I thought about it the more I realized I have never made a single pumpkin recipe, besides of course pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
My goal for this October is to make at least 3 recipes involving pumpkin. Of course, I will share them!
I think cooking is becoming a fun way for me to take up time and find enjoyment in new things. I love finding delicious and healthy recipes!
That about sums it up for my Five Things Friday. I am really looking forward to October.
Just to add some smiles I will leave you with a picture of my I Heart Cheeseburgers shirt I wore yesterday. I needed a pick me up! Isn’t it awesome? 🙂
What are some things you look forward to in October?
What are you favorite things about fall?
Fun shirt! Saw that on Instagram … 🙂
Love these ‘5 things Friday’ posts because they allow you to focus all of your efforts and energy. And where you’re at now, I think it helps to see the month you have laid out in front of you.
As I mentioned, my wife is allergic to apples but loves making pies and apple picking. Her birthday is Monday, so we will spend Sunday apple picking and hiking in one of the Gorges in the area. The season is gorgeous right now – and it is supposed to be 70-ish this weekend!
Good luck with the residency trips!
Haha yes it is 🙂 It is actually one of my husband’s favorite shirts I have – I have NO idea why! LOL
I too enjoy these posts because it makes me focus on the positive things I have in my life. There are so many and I really should never forget that!
That sounds so fun! Enjoy the time together and Happy Birthday to your wife!!
Thanks! We are getting ready for a busy couple months, but that’s okay! I think I need it!
It is crazy … tonight is older son’s birthday party. Tomorrow is high school home coming – both boys play marching band and they have the big school semi-formal dance, Sunday I mentioned, Monday her birthday, Wednesday is older son’s birthday, then Sunday is my marathon … and the following weekend a whirlwind NYC & Boston college visit tour!
Woo hoo!!! I live in DC and will be spectating Marine Corps as well!!!! So fun!!!
That is one of our FAVORITE marathon’s to go to! It was my husband’s first many years ago and always holds a special place in our heart! BTW – I ordered the Runner’s Body book last night! I am hoping to have it next week so I can get started reading it! So excited!
So excited that you got the book and can’t wait to hear how you like it!!! And I can’t WAIT for MCM! I ran the 10k last year, and hope to make it my first full marathon next year!!! Such a fun race to watch!
Yay!! You sound much happier and have so much to look forward to! I’m jealous of the marathon spectating… I love watching my husband run but he’s been staying away from racing for a year or so now, hopefully he gets the bug again 🙂
Yes being the cheerleader is always so much fun 🙂 Chicago may be a little hard though because it’s my first year not running it – but still looking forward to it! I am trying to focus on the positive – for what it’s worth! Some days are better but I need to find some joy in this journey!
I love it! Way to be positive and look on all of the wonderful things October has to offer. I adore your fun T-shirt! I cannot believe you could start your day without a coffee!
I know right!? It was hard!! I believe coffee will be back for me tomorrow 🙂
I love the shirt!! I want one:). That is a happiness shirt!
In October I have the Chicago Marathon and my wedding anniversary to look forward to so it should be a good month. I am originally from somewhere with no seasons so I do love the cool mornings and hot days in fall, as well as the leaves. I also love Halloween!
Enjoy your weekend!
Your hair is ADORABLE!!! I love it dark!!! So sorry about your injury! I know how that feels when you have one of your major outlets taken away! Be praying for you!!!!
I LOVE the Fall! I love pumpkin, too! Have you ever tried the super duper easy weight watcher’s chocolate pumpkin cupcakes? So easy, so good!
http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=344065940
Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE Holiday! I LOVE to cook!
Thank you 🙂 you are sweet!! No I have not tried them but they do look so good and easy I just may have to try them!! Thank you for sharing!!
I’m so impressed with your positivity during this tough time. I can’t wait to see your cross training plan! I love October because it means that fall really is here with changing leaves and getting to wear sweaters and scarves and boots. When I’m not in the mood for coffee I love getting the berry hibiscus refresher at Starbucks. It’s so refreshing and does have some caffeine in it too!
Berry Hibiscus refresher??? Never tried it! I will have to add it to my list of things to try from Starbucks!
I am definitely trying to keep a positive attitude though it is not always easy! I love scarves and boots! They are my absolute FAVORITE thing about Fall! There is nothing better! My boots have been sitting in the closet staring back at me for too long – so excited to start wearing them again!
In October I will look forward to my birthday! (Because I am still a child at heart really!)
I do feel for you – cheering your husband on at his marathons and taking him water but unable to run yourself. 🙁 You are super positive though and this will help you overcome your injury. 🙂
Sometimes it is hard watching him run, but I know the joy he gets out of it and before I really ran very often I always went to cheer him on at marathons – so it will be a nice break being a cheerleader for a couple weeks 🙂
Happy Early Birthday!!!