Its been awhile since I've written anything on this blog. I've been a little busy tracking down some health issues. I've been pretty exhausted for the last couple months and at first I thought it was starting a new job and increasing mileage, but a blood test indicated that I have thyroid issues. A subsequent visit to the doctor has lead to more tests and a working diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Yeah something new. Since treatment depends on what is causing the hyperthyroidism, I'm trudging through appointments and tests one at a time.
With 135 days until my first marathon, one of my biggest fears is correcting the thyroid will interrupt my training, or worse, cancel it all together. I'm too far in now to bail. I completed my first ten miler of the training plan and will run my third half marathon of the year on November 9. I religiously meet my running group bright and early Saturday mornings and run the proscribed distance. Ironically, its the training for the marathon that has put this most recent health crisis in perspective. Its early and dark when we meet. The only thing I know is the distance for the day. I trust our pace leader to lead us, while I put one foot in front of the other. The sun come up half way through the run. We finish the run with smiles and promises that we'll stick with the program.
How has marathon training prepared me for this recent health crisis? I've met the doctors in the dark about my condition. The doctors, like my pace group leader, has the plan and since this is not my area of expertise, I have to trust the doctor will make sure I finish in good shape. With each new ordered test and appointment I approach them with the same mindset as the long run...just keep putting one foot in front of the other. This mindset has served me well through marathon training and I hope it will find me smiling and happy with the treatment plan.
I'll keep y'all posted on the running and the treatment. Three more tests left and a follow up to come, but if you want to see what gives me the mental toughness to deal with these medical issues, come watch me run in Columbus on November 9.
