Tom, you've been in the game longer than me and I appreciate that. I too suffered immensely when the injury happened the first time...it was as if my identity was gone and I didn't know what to do with myself. After going through that I'm reluctant to call myself and athlete, which is a shame. It's like I don't want to go through a broken heart again in case I go through injury again.

But in the end, you are right. I'm going to work on letting myself get excited. It's good to be hopeful, excited and happy--life doesn't have much joy without those feelings. in fact, joy is an ingedient in my life I could use a little more of.

I have tried to find other activities that make me as happy as running--but none have fit the bill, although hiking comes close (being outdoors in wilderness is fantastic!).

what i will do is keep up the therapy, and just like when i trained for my first marathon--have the attitude of taking it one day at a time, and keep dreaming. :)

thanks,

kc