Marathon #29 - Mercedes Marathon

 Marathon #29 is in the books! 

Mercedes Marathon 2-12-2023

Notice the wording... "THE FINAL"...   This year was the last year for the Mercedes race after 20+ years.  I'm not sure of all the reasons why, but I'm sad to see it go.   The race is always well organized.  It's a 2 loop course for the full marathon in the heart of downtown.  I last ran the race back in 2020 right before COVID shut down all the races.   It was my last full marathon for several months due to COVID!  

 When we discovered it was the last time for the race, we encouraged Felicia to run it.  Then of course, I'm suckered in to also going with them. 😆😅   Due to my recent amount of pain I've had from my multi-level disc degeneration most pronounced from L2-3 and L4-5.   in my lower back, I was pretty set on only attempting the half marathon while they ran the full marathon.  I've been pretty aggravated with my back issues.  But it is what it is..... as the doctor says... you can blame your genetics! I have problems from L2-5... my disc have moderate bulges and what they call Trace retrolisthesis...  "Lumbar retrolisthesis is when parts of your spine, known as vertebra, slip backward on one another. This puts a lot of pressure on the vertebra and various parts of the spine, causing leg and back pain."

So I've been dealing with a lot of pain after doing 6 marathons last year.  Yep, I have to admit to myself that I over did it.... it's hard... but the truth is the truth.   So we are now trying to get it under control.  So far I've had 3 injections with little relief so we are leaning towards the next step of burning my nerve roots in that area.   Some people get 1-2 years of relief from this procedure.  Surgery is not recommended at this time because as he says... they'd have to try to go in an fix all disc.. not just 1 or 2.. so it would be major surgery and then I'd pretty much be limited or fused together as they say ....  So I'm no where near ready to go that route.  I will keep doing PT exercises and this year I'm NOT going to do 6 marathons. 😐

So let me get to the details:

There are 4 pillars of strength:

Physical 

Emotional 

Mental

Spiritual 

Sunday it took all 4 of those for me.   My plan was to just turn at the half and wait for Penny Pruitt Smith, Felicia Allen-Bass and Joe B. Raymond III to finish the full marathon.   However when we got to that split, something inside me took over …. And probably a little peer pressure from friends 😂❤️.  I made the decision to keep going.   Was it pretty? NO Was it hard? YES!  I questioned myself multiple times for going on.   I tried to get them to leave me.  I was doing a lot of walking.   When you have multi levels of disc issues in your back, things get a little complicated …. I’ve had a lot of pain lately in my lower back and hips.   I’ve been working with PT and my pain doctor to manage it.   Some days are better than others.   And maybe I’m just crazy for pushing on 😳🙈😁😎.    But I know one thing… I could not do it without my one big pillar of strength… God.  

Today as we wore our don't quit tanks with Philippians 4:13 on the back of them, we all 3 pushed on by Gods grace and strength.   🙏🙏❤️ 

It was bitter sweet as this year after 21 years is the last year of the Mercedes race 😔.   Penny and I have ran it before, but this was Feleica's first.   I’m so thankful we finished together today.   I love you girls!  Thanks for hanging with the old, grumpy, wore out lady 😂❤️. 

The pancakes the group handed out at mile 24 were fabulous!! I didn’t think I could make those last miles until we got the pancakes ❤️😂. 

Proud of Joe today for pacing the 4:45 group! He’s 90th marathon! He’s on track to get to 100 soon! ❤️❤️. 

Here are a few pictures from our day... I never got to see Joe... It was COLD that am so we waited till the last possible minute to walk from hotel to start line.  We got there like 3 minutes prior to start. 😂 and of course he finished way before us girls:

Pancakes at mile 24 saved me!

So that's a wrap.   I finished marathon #29 not by running.... but by jogging when I could and doing A LOT of WALKING>.....  they say.... it's not how fast... it's the FINISH. 😍

Today is Tuesday and I have the normal soreness and stiffness.  My pain coming from my disc has been off and on shooting pains down my butucks and leg. 😢   My plan is to take it very easy the next few days and let my body recover.  

I hope to jog / walk Little Rock in March and then I'll be done with marathons till December!  Little Rock has been a bucket list and we all signed up prior to me having all my pain.  So I'm praying I can finish it also and then rest for a couple of months before it's time to get ready for St. Jude in December. 💓