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Water Marathons, Trifles, and Track Marks

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It's been a month for the record books. Since the moment I got off the plane from the Galapagos on March 28th it's been pretty much the most jam-packed, craziest month ever. Emotionally, physically, mentally. All of it. It's been crazy in the best of ways, most unexpected ways, toughest of ways, and the ways in which you wish you could prevent but just can't sometimes. For all the craziness (and a few moments of sadness peppered in there to keep it real), there has been a lot of amazing stuff that has happened and I don't want to forgot that. Life shouldn't be about focusing on the easy stuff. It should be about taking it as it comes...all of it.  

So, let me show you my month moment by moment. Grouse, Trifle, Running, Beer, New and Old Friends, Sweatpants, Hip Belts, track marks that make people stare and Marathons.

Early April- I came up with the crazy idea of "running" a 5 Hour Water Marathon. In less than a week, I managed to recruit 7 amazing friends to help me (including one who came in from NYC) and I just straight up did it. Without a flotation belt. Without stopping. I just water ran for 5 hours straight. Why? Because after 800+ days of being forced to Water Run I wanted to pay respect to the experience. Because I wanted to prove that I could. Because it scared me. Because I needed to get my mind off stuff. 
There are very few people in the world that would poise with that belt on.
But, Emily is the best.
7am. MIT.
Water Marathon 2014

Next up, there was a Grouse invasion in my kitchen. Yes, a Grouse. As in the game. As in kind of like a chicken but not really. It's a really long story, but some good friends who I met while in the Galapagos came up for a reunion of sorts in NH. One of them took a red eye in. So, I picked him up from the airport at 6am. I went running (!!!!!!!!!!) and I came home to find a feathered Grouse in my kitchen. After some plucking and a cast iron skillet, we had Grouse for breakfast. My apartment still smells like Grouse. I think it has invaded my walls for good. 

Grouse Invasion 2014.
I was so confused and so was everyone else I told the story to

Easter soon came. And that meant only 1 thing. Trifle. And we ate it all. 

Trifle Eating should be a sport. If so, we'd be Olympic Champs. 
Boston Marathon was the day after Easter. I went to the Expo with my friend Kristen who was running and got this shirt. I hadn't allowed myself to buy anything running-related since my injury. I don't know why. It just didn't seem right. But, this time I knew my time was coming again. And I felt such a relief. Marathon Monday was emotional, relieving, and just so different than last year. Thank goodness for everyone. 

My 1st Running purchase! 

After watching the Marathon and supporting my friend Kristen, I went for a run. A real run. Smiling, hyper-venting from happiness, and just being grateful. 

Just a block from the Marathon madness, Columbus Ave seemed like my own private running paradise.
And yes, I'm running in a bike lane which is only semi-safe.

And then my Birthday happened. All I wanted for the past 2 birthdays was to be able to move...as I wanted to. However and wherever I wanted. So, I took off of work and did a triple workout (yes, I probably shouldn't have but I wanted to. It's what I wanted. So after listening to everyone's opinions on what I should or should not do, I did what I wanted to do). Flywheel, Core Fusion, Running, Massage, Acupuncture, Shopping, and Myers and Chang. Surrounded by things I love and people I love. 

A personalized Birthday Menu

And then just as if I couldn't imagine the month getting better (Running, Birthdays, Marathons, Friends), my favorite bar on the planet reopened. Delux reopened and I was there 2x in 2 days on opening weekend. It's everything I love in a bar-- dark, laid back, seats, good food, and funky ambiance. But, now, they had an extended beer menu (Delux used to be known for having like 4 bars on the menu and you just sucked it up because you loved Delux so much). Now, there was Milk Stout, Allagash, Ciders, etc. It was Delux, but better and I couldn't have been happier. 

Dark, Chairs, Drinks, Tacos, and general understated awesomeness. Delux.

The NEW Delux Beer Menu! 
I had been waiting to run with this girl for months, and finally our time came. We worked out, lifted,  ran and smiled. She is my exercise equal. I never thought I'd find her on the planet, but I did. She is amazingly kind, patient, loves cupcakes and rice krispie treats as much as me, loves pink way more than me, and runs like a bad-ass. She is amazing and I'm so lucky I got to run with her before she moves back to DC in a few weeks. Kristen- thanks for being my bad-ass equal. 

What a bad-ass.
 If you could have a running doppelganger, she would be it. 

And then, just like that...the pause button was hit.  I woke up the next day barely able to move, knowing I had pushed too hard. There was nobody to blame but myself, but I was sick of blaming myself. It's shitty when what you love hurts you. It's just shitty. I felt bad for myself for about 3 hours and then just stopped. Vera, this is a journey and you are almost over with this, I told myself. A little setback isn't anything. You can do this. I repeated that all day on Monday as I winced in pain. As I couldn't sit in my chair at work. As I had to sit down in the shower because it hurt so bad.  Luckily, the next day was my "final" round of PRP. Despite the reemergence of pain, I went in positive. My Drs and I hugged and smiled. They told me the progress I have made was amazing. They told me this round of PRP will help seal the deal. They told me they were proud of me. The same Dr who told me she didn't know if I'd be able to run again just hugged me for what seemed like forever. She took pictures. I took pictures. It was bittersweet. Progress, but setback. Progress, but pain. Progress. 

Bedrest includes lots of sweatpants, apparently orange shirts (tucked in?), and a new pedicure.

Loaded up on drugs, strapped together with a hip belt to keep my pelvis in place, and my sofa. I spent the next 2 days straight like this. For the 15th time. Good news? I'm sporting my new vintage Bears T that a friend got me for my bday. Looking sharp.

After a few days of being set up on the sofa, I finally sat up and started to move again. But, I had forgotten that there were a few scars visible to others. Track marks from the PRP. It's not glamorous, but they are my war wounds. And hopefully my last round of them. 
Track Marks 

What a month. Highs, Lows, Pauses. It has had it all. But, time is moving forward and progress is all around. I can feel it. 



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