Three possible, really valid titles to this blog:

They are: (1) OMG; (2) How badly do you really want it? and (3) The meaning of friendship. My toe is markedly better, thanks to my running buddy Jill. I researched on the internet yesterday, and many valid sites (Jeff Galloway included) gave specific instructions on how to relieve the pressure with my toenail. I knew I wouldn't have the whatever to do it myself, so I took my paperclip to Jill's house yesterday afternoon. I didn't even have a drink first. The really hot paperclip thing worked. It worked great. One tip is that you really have to get it in the right spot. And we finally did. It didn't hurt at all, until she found the right spot. And then, only until the pressure drained out, it hurt really bad. After that, no pain. I've had very little pain at all since then, am already walking normally (was immediately, really), and am excited about life again. Now that's a good friend that will poke a hole in your toenail for you. She's my hero.

I'm going to find some of those toe cap things Suz mentioned, so hopefully I'll be ready to roll on Saturday. I cannot tell you what relief I felt when this worked -- not just because the pain left almost immediately, but my whole outlook on life, which seems to ebb and flow with running, just jumped up to the roof. I may not even lose my toenail since it's only on one side, but I don't even care. I'm just so excited to be pain free. I never thought I'd say I was excited to be back to feeling what little pain is left from my ankle injury. I lay in bed last night and said out loud: I am absolutely pain free, everywhere. That was nice.