Another setback

So the skin that was rubbed raw during my long run last Saturday has become a bit of a problem. Wearing any shoes, especially sneakers because they fit like a glove on my feet, is painful because it rubs the raw skin. And I stupidly thought that I'd be able to do my speed work Tuesday on the track if I really bandaged it tightly. Oy - the workout only lasted 30 minutes but felt like forever and a day with the shooting pain in my foot - I was running with a limp by the end. I got home, took off my shoe to find a bloody sock - bad news.

The wound got worse the past two days - it hurts to walk or stand - even just sitting it throbs. I was scared it was getting infected. Since i'm a new patient at my doctor's office, they won't take me for a sick visit until I have a physical - which I have scheduled two weeks from now. So, back to the ER I went - I didn't want to risk it getting any worse - especially with the NYC Half-Marathon in just over two weeks. I've been looking forward to running that race all summer.

I've only been to the ER once in my life before my 30th birthday. Now, in the month since my 30th birthday, i've been twice. How did I suddenly become old?? Last time it was a 5 hour ordeal - with a ct scan, IV and the whole bit. This time, I got there and they saw me right away. When they took my blood pressure, I lost feeling in my forearm and fingers it was so tight. THe Nurse had a problem getting my blood pressure so she squeezed the hell out of my other arm to get it. Of course it was a little high - I was stressed because I lost feeling in my arms!!!

Then, they took me to a cot that wasn't in a private room like before. I guess they weren't busy because as I was getting registered by one nurse, the physician's assistant came but had to wait for me to be done getting registered. He was a cutey so it was a little distracting. Fortunately I didn't have an infection and the biggest thing I was discussing with him was when I could get back to training and could I run the half. I'd be so disappointed if I couldn't run the half - and i'd be losing precious training weeks these next few weeks. As he was looking at it, the doctor came over, as well as another male nurse.

They're all looking at my foot, the doctor and the PA trying to decide what to cleanse the wound with. Talking about when I could start running again. Last time, I was about to pass out with my headache and high blood pressure and they'd leave me alone for hours - this time, they're all on top of me. Go figure.

So it came time to discharge me and the male nurse that was there before came back to do so. The physician's assistant was cute, but this nurse, Robert, was even cuter. I'm sure he's probably married or gay just because they always are. But I didn't see a wedding band nor were there any obvious signs that he liked other boys.

"You know that you're going to sweat that off in no time" he said refering to the clear shield they put on my foot. "And you're not going to be able to run in that marathon". He meant the half in NY and all I could say when I looked into his pretty blue eyes was "really? why not?". He said there's a difference between being able to tolerate the pain running again and being smart about when to run again. I do see his point. The marathon in November is the goal and I do have the PDR in September. But this Half in NY is the first one of its kind - a very exciting event. "You're a big girl - you'll figure it out" he said.

So I signed my paperwork and he showed me the exit - he must be at least 6'3" because even with my heels on he was tall. So i'm at the checkout, taking care of my copay when Robert (my nurse) comes running out and taps me on the shoulder. "They want you to take a tetnas shot - wait here, i'll bring it out". So he took me back to a little station behind the door and told me to relax. I can take needles but i'm not a fan of them. When it was over he said "there's the door, don't let it hit you on the ass on the way out" and laughed. "It's just an expression" he said smiling. We had a bit more interaction than that, which i'm not going to be able to share verbatim. I'm having a hard time expressing it in my writing, but to me our conversation appeared to be both sarcastic but flirtatious. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part because I found him so darn cute.

(Sigh) there wasn't really an opportunity to ask for his number - nor do I want to be that forward. Even though i'm not much of a shy girl, I do enjoy being the "girl" in these sorts of situations. So i'm a bit upset that I can't run right now - but I was treated by a cutie - so that was fun. I suppose if he really wanted to and had enough balls, he could get my contact information out of the computer system - but again, wishful thinking.

On a side note - as I was hobbling to the train at suburban station after work today, there was a man wearing an Eagles T.O. jersey. Two cops were there cuffing him......I love the irony in that.