Game over.

After 4 weeks of massages, foam rollers, ice, ibuprofen, internet research, expert consultation and STILL running with pain, I've made the "pained" decision to forgo my goal of completing the Chicago Marathon this year. I just can't go into a marathon with a long run of no longer than 14 miles (which is where my knee says "oh hells no") and "suffering through" and possibly ruining my leg just doesn't seem necessary. I may one day have a son whose peewee football team I need to run the sidelines as a coach...and of course I'll always want to be able to run for my life if necessary.

I've tried my hardest and here are some things I can be proud of: I've logged 249.8 training miles in less than three months (which took me 52 hours...not sure what I'm going to do with that time now) and completed a few races including the half marathon that I believe "did me in" so to speak when it comes to my IT band.

Brian is still hanging in there and I'm going to become his SUPERFAN for the marathon. I've already begun to strategize how to make it to as many viewing points as possible and am packaging up all of my good karma (not that there is much left) and showing it to him. It'll be a bummer to be at the race and not running it but I know I can still be proud of myself even if I don't actually race the big race.

Who am I kidding...this was all a big "ruse" to get people to split expenses with be to see Chicago! Just kidding...I appreciate all of the support of my friends and family especially in the past month as I have been on cranky girl.

In the end, at least I know my disappointments are better than Britney Spears'. Seriously...did ya'll see her VMA "performance?" Sister couldn't even lip synch to the song. It was painful and uncomfortable.

Ok, I'm off to figure out what I can now focus all of those training hours on...good thing fall TV starts soon.

PS - The Horns finally got their spirit back on Saturday at half time. They must have put VY on speaker or something during the halftime kick in the arse.