Chicago Marathon - recap

Every runner has a bad race, unfortunately mine was today. Everything was lined up so well - high altitude training, 3 week taper, good nutrition, good sleep, and lots of support from family, friends, and school. Then, this past week I've been dealing with pain in my right leg. I was determined to line up at the start and just stay positive and hopeful. When I warmed up before the race, my right hamstring and hip flexors felt strained. When the gun went off, I forced my body to go at a fast pace and it was painful. As the race went on, the muscle strain became worse and the smart thing to do was slow down to prevent muscle tear. Even running slower was painful, so I had to make a decision that a runner hopes she never has to make - whether to go to the medical tent and drop out of the race or continue and risk more serious injury. I feel horrible about dropping out, but I believe going to the medical tent was the right choice. I've heard of runners who have pushed through injuries, which only made things worse and resulted in months of recovering when it could have just been days or weeks. Thank you to everyone who wished me good luck and encouragement, especially my dad, uncle and auntie who watched me run and held up signs and wore shirts that said "Go Joanna." There is time, I have until 2019 to run another marathon to qualify for the Trials. The important thing now is to stay positive and have a smooth recovery.