I’m happy to say that I road the trainer for ONE HOUR tonight. That is amazing for me. And afterwards I did about 45 minutes of arm and ab workouts. This might be no biggie for a lot of you, but I have exercise ADD and the only thing that can keep my attention for an extended amount of time is running.

Unfortunately, running isn’t an option right now.

My left shin HURTS. It hurts when I run, when I walk, when I stand and when I’m just simply sitting there.

I know tapering can play tricks with your mind, but I don’t think this is mental.

I don’t think I’ll be running until Saturday—at the earliest.

There are a number of emotions running through me right now.

Part of me wants to throw in the towel now. Say that I’m not running the marathon and just give up.

Part of me wants to run no matter what. Even if I have a broken tibia, go blind in my right eye, and I’m stricken with typhoid fever, I will run and finish this darned race no matter what.

But the biggest part of me just wants to cry and whine about the pain while I sit on the couch with frozen vegetables on my leg and a bag of Starburst jelly beans in my hand.

Yea, that sounds like the best plan, actually.

I’ll cry about the Pens, too. And lament over the fact that right I have NOTHING to do—no running, no Pens. Wow, I lead such an exhilarating life.

I can’t believe I not only have a blog, but also readers who find this stuff interesting. Either that or you all stop in as a sort of cyber “rubbing necking” at my pathetic so-called life.

God’s teaching me patience, I guess—something I was taught never to pray for. But I’ve also been taught that God uses all of the situations in our lives for our good and to make us more like Him. Yea, that means that even these lousy shin splints play a bigger, more important role than you might think. So for now, I’ll just thank God for giving me legs… and all of you friends out there.

Love you all!

What’s your initial response to injuries you may have had in the past? Give up? Push through? Cry like a baby?

I cry like a baby. Ain’t no shame.

I have the craziest list of nick names for my dog:

• Dex
• Dexatrim
• Dexatrim MAX!
• Schtexter
• Schnook ‘ums
• Schnook
• Handsome Devil
• Poop Head
• Dextorious
• Little Toot
• The Juggernaut
• Monster

And when I look at that list, there leaves no room for speculation about why he doesn’t listen to me.

What are some of the nicknames you give your pets?