Thank you for all of the comments on my blog, emails, and phone calls. It means a lot to me.
The other night I was explaining my hip issue to my daughter Courtney. Courtney will turn 12 next week and I wondered how she would handle it. I've tried to instill a desire in my children to always try their best. Others may be better than them at whatever but as long as they try their best, I'd be proud. I'd be proud of them anyway but that's a different slant on this.
So I explained what the doctor said. I explained what the impact will be on my training and my events on the calendar. I tried not to paint a bleak picture but to state the facts as I knew it.
She thought about what I said, waited a moment and then said "Dad, suck it up. That's what you've been doing for the last few years so what has changed? Just do your best." Then she laughed.
I went into this conversation hoping to explain the impact of my injury to her but I think she explained it better to me.
2 comments:
Dear Joe,
So much has happened in your life in the short time I've been gone!
First off, congratulations on your amazing performance at the Disney Marathon. What an experience!
And to go from that to the doctor say your running days are coming to a close is truly depressing.
A few questions for you - Is surgery an option? Hip replacement? I don't quite understand why this isn't being discussed. Is the problem inflammation or structural damage? Can you get a second opinion?
As someone currently in limbo as to what I can or can't do in the future, I truly feel your pain or frustration.
I hope rest will help. It has truly helped me. Since I stopped running altogether my back is really improving. What that means for the future I don't know but I am ever hopeful.
On the other hand, even if I can't run a marathon I can damn well walk it. Some of those race walkers are pretty fast. I'm still not giving up on my dreams and hope that you won't either Joe.
I STILL believe that we can both hobble across that finish line! NYC 2011?
Courtney sounds like one smart cookie. I'm just now catching up on past posts, and I was so happy to hear about you finishing Disney, and then so sad to hear what your doctor had to say. But I'm with your kid: "Do your best."
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