By Marcia Horn Noyes
When starting this eight-month marathon journey on June 27, 2010, I mistakenly thought everything would go smoothly. During those training months, I planned to lose 10 pounds a month, have no injuries or illnesses and slowly work my way up to a 9:18 per mile pace. Yeah, basically I’m a “head buried in the sand” kind of optimist.
I did lose 10 pounds a month for the first three months, then things slowed to five pounds a month, then three and now only ounces a month. Okay, that didn’t work out too well. Then the illnesses and injuries struck…oh my word!
From Physicians to ERs – iTriage Has it All
Before starting the journey, I needed to be seen by a primary care physician, so that iTriage category was the first perused within the app. Then, months later, I became ill and used iTriage to find an urgent care provider that was open till midnight. Seems I’d come down with strep throat symptoms at a most inopportune time. Then the little sinus infections and head colds arose. Wasn’t counting on those, either! But those various illnesses sent me in different directions to find a pharmacy. Then with each unexpected fall, I frequented the chiropractor and then had to find a retail clinic to purchase the recommended Epsom salts, hydrogen peroxide, Neosporin®, blister bandages and a host of other “must haves” for the running klutz.
The only medical provider category that I’ve not needed along this journey is the hospital emergency room. However, knowing that I’ll be pushing every marathon mile harder than I’ve ever pushed, I’m thankful that St. David’s Healthcare is located in Austin. With a St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, they’ve got the marathon route well covered in case my heart can’t take what I’m about to ask it to do.
I’m so glad that I work for the company that developed iTriage, because I’ve pretty well searched every medical provider category within the app. So, I’m going to just call it now– if you are a long distance runner, I’ve proven that you need iTriage, wherever you are in your training. Download it today!