my hot new accessory!

so i have a hot new accessory: a boot. and a purple cast. oh yes, you read that right! i'd been having pain in my heel after long runs that started after the half and hurt so much it made me limp and walk super slow. then it got better. then that next sat i did 8 miles. it was fine! one of the coaches thought i just needed new shoes. i didn't get a chance to get new shoes until this week so i had one more sat run on those shoes which i know was a brilliant idea, but whatever... so last sat was supposed to be 14 miles in two loops: 8 & 6 miles. i got about 3-4 miles in and the heel started to hurt. i ignored. then i got to about mile 6 and really couldn't ignore anymore. i hobbled and tried to run the rest of the 2 miles. by the time i got back i could barely walk it hurt so bloody bad. the coaches had me ice it (didn't help) and then coach holly said to email her and she'd give me the name of her podiatrist who is really good. so on monday, i emailed her and also made a free appt at athletico to have them check it out. i thought it must be a soft tissue thing that would go away again. no biggie. once i got the info from coach holly, i made an appt. for today. after x-rays and an ultrasound, the doc could say he was 95% positive i had a stress fracture on my heel. the only way to be 100% is to do a bone screen or something - which would be at a hospital and would take years (ok, hours) to do. i asked if he recommended that and he said no. he said from everything he'd seen, i had a stress fracture in my foot. i cannot run for 4-6 weeks. i can only do non-impact things: swim, elliptical, and bike. awesomeness. i may not be able to do the chicago marathon. i should be ok for the nyc one. if i keep up my cardio. which i will. but i am so so disappointed. i even just got my garmin watch and was so excited to use it! and now... well, now i get a purple cast and a boot. he says we'll see where i am in a week. i get to take the cast off on mon b/c i'll be in mexico. he says he will allow me to have fun down there, but i have to wear my boot. then i get back and on mon will go see him. he may or may not put it back on then. but i'll get to keep this awesome boot that i'm supposed to wear even at the gym for at least 4-6 weeks. saaaaaaaaaa-weeeeeeeeeet!! who's jealous?! i can send you the boot when i'm done with it... :)

btw, read below for another new blog. and i'll post pics once i take some of this lovely boot of mine.