It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. Between work, a busy evening schedule, the holiday and allergies, I don’t even know what day it is anymore. Taking a week off was not ideal, and may have potentially ruined my training, but it was needed. I knew I couldn’t go on running and still line up to run the marathon in just a few weeks. Luckily, every run has felt better, the pain is gone while running, and I have no doubt that I’ll be running Akron Marathon.

Within the past two weeks I’ve run 14 miles total, not a lot, but a good amount to test the waters and see just how my foot feels. I did a few 2 milers, a 3 miler, and ended my weekend with a 6 miler that couldn’t have gone better. I’ve made sure to stretch, ice and keep off of it when I can. I found a few different shoe inserts that I used in the past, and I’m taking turns with each to find which is the best for me right now.

Over the past two weeks, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had no idea if my foot would ever feel better or if I could even get any endurance back. I know I’m not where I was post 20 miler, but during my run Saturday  I realized that as long as I set my mind to it and keep an easy pace, I can pull it off. It may not be in the time I had originally hoped for, but I’ll cross that finish line.

Saturday morning trails, pure bliss.

Not only did I realize that I could run a marathon, but I felt like I could keep running for miles. I discovered a new path outside the woods and didn’t want to turn around. But playing it safe I only went out a mile, before I headed back to the car and finished up my 6 miles. I looked up the path once I got home and found that it went to Chippewa Lake. Looks like I’ll be taking that path more often.

Home.

So now that I know I can run again without pain, what’s the plan? I’m hoping to run as many miles as I can, as often as I can until about 10 days before the race. I’m hoping I can get an actual long run in before then, but only time will tell. The only thing I know for sure is that I’m not giving up. No training plan is perfect, the journey is half the battle and I’m not about to wave the white flag.