Completion!

Yesterday, I came face-to-face with the reality of why I run. I run so that a) I can eat cookies, and b) I can take incredible naps. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better! Maybe you aren’t a runner, but you ski or hike or lift weights. Maybe you are reading this and you are one of my crazy CrossFit friends! (You know who you are!) In any case, you know there is something to be said for the sheer and utter exhaustion that comes from intense physical exertion. It just feels GOOD! Equally euphoric is the sense of accomplishment you feel when your body is telling you to quit and your mind is dominating, telling you to go farther, faster.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to experience all the highs that come with running. After a few days of driving and spending time out of state, I was anxious to spend some of my weekend time in the Colorado outdoors. I was also resolved to redeem myself from an earlier excursion gone wrong. Here’s what happened: a couple of weeks ago I found a running group online and decided to try it out. I had read that a group is a good way to increase your skill, so I thought, “Why not?” (P.S. This is turning out to be an extremely dangerous phrase. Use it with caution!) I was excited by the possibility of meeting new friends and growing in my ability (as it turns out, NO ONE talked to me--ha). Anyway, my first time out I was a little too fast for the “back of the pack” and a little too slow for the leaders. As a result, I got a little, well, lost. Lacking a sense of completion, I set out to run the same route again this weekend. Technically, I got lost again and ended up on a completely different trail, but I also went father than I ever would have planned to go! Additionally, I ended up making some friends and had some incredible conversations with some very inspiring people. Fun! All in all, it was one of those experiences I probably won’t forget. I’m facing some life-changing decisions in my personal world, and taking on the biggest running challenge of my life was the perfect prescription for courage.

There is a reason why we never leave our comfort zones. It hurts! It’s scary. Personally, I’d rather eat cookies and nap… but, as I’m discovering every day, a life of depth is waiting for me. I simply have to go for it! This week, ask yourself, “What gives me courage?” And remember, you’ll never experience the exhilaration of the downhill without the pain of the uphill.

Hard to see in the first photo, but this is a close-up of my "gravity tattoo!" 

Le Chatelier's and Love

You’ve heard the saying, “Some knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge.” Well, unfortunately, I generally fall into this category. I just love the idea of learning something applicable, so when I learn something, I do my best to apply it! Occasionally, this leads me down rabbit trails, and I find myself daydreaming about things like centrifugal force and the ozone layer or Le Chatelier’s Principle and the Yin and Yang, but for the most part it is a skill that aids me in the retention of information. Bonus! (Did you know that flies can climb walls because of something called the normal force?! Look it up. It’s awesome. I promise.)  Again, the biggest danger lies in knowing enough to develop an idea, but not quite knowing enough to refute errors in my thought process. And, as I’m sure any medical professional will tell you, the proliferation of information available via the Internet only makes matters worse! (C’mon, you know you’ve self-diagnosed yourself with something terminal, at least once!)

Anyway, where am I going with all of this? Well, after ten months of running consistently, I finally had my first real injury. Seemingly out of nowhere, I experienced pain, with swelling and some eventual bruising, in the top of my foot. A quick Google search confirmed everything. I was dying. Definitely dying. Because of a parasite given to me by undercooked pork. No, I’m just kidding, but I WAS convinced that I had a stress fracture, most likely requiring orthopedic surgery and MONTHS off running. The worst part was that I was certain my favorite shoes (something I’ll discuss in a later blog.) were to blame. At this point, I realized how much I really love running. The thought of losing my “escape” was actually painful.  After mentally calculating how a minimum of six weeks would affect my marathon training, and resentfully locating some old swim gear, I finally worked up the courage to consult a few experts, including some awesome PTs and my doctor, who specializes in Sports Medicine. Thankfully, my MD’s official diagnosis was a “stress response,” which, as near as I can tell, is a catchall term for, “Yep, ya hurt yer foot.”

I’ve adapted my training by slowing my pace, slightly reducing my mileage (I only hit 25 last week), and running fewer days. All of this, combined with some icing and occasional anti-inflammatory drugs, and I’m already feeling better. If I'm honest, I’ve already read too much, and there is a part of me that secretly fears a bone snap mid-marathon, but I don’t think that’s rational. Here’s this week’s take-home message: be willing to learn, be willing to adapt, and be willing to accept that the worst-case scenario is not always yours! Have a great week, my friends.