That lower-case ‘f’ is on purpose. We’re not talking a season here, we’re talking an experience. A not-awesome experience.
On a quick decision, I signed up for a half marathon next July. Awesome. No problem. I’m out of shape, but this is something I’ve done before, so it feels like a doable goal, something to stretch for. Go, me!
So, I get my training plan out and decide to go for it. Yay! Today’s assignment: 2.5 easy miles. 👍🏻
Late in mile two, I faced a three-inch difference between two sidewalk sections and lost. Lost badly.
Picture it: me, full speed, (okay, I’m no speed demon, but my full speed), then falling, falling forward, tumbling, rolling onto my head. Full stop.
Lessons learned immediately:
- As one who is clumsy, it is not uncommon for me to trip and potentially fall forward. However, in this circumstance I was unable to catch myself and prevent a fall.
- Apparently I have a built-in tuck and roll capability of which I was previously unaware.
- It hurt like a mother.
As I was lying on the sidewalk, I thought to myself, “What are we going to do next?” Options: 1) call it, end the run, head home 2) finish. A quick inspection of my person revealed that the only damage was to my right hand. With my legs intact, I opted for option two – finish.
Any runner will tell you that there are times in which you have to dig deep in order to continue going forward. This was a dig unlike anything I had done before. I found myself crying as I ran home. Not because of the pain, not because of the embarrassment, but because I had realized that I was capable, in running, of truly hurting myself. I’m no stranger to aching muscles or joints after a long run, but this is the first impact injury I’ve ever had. It was scary, but it was also a cementing of a reality.
Takeaways so far:
- Pay better attention to the sidewalks.
- Know yourself. If I had done any injury to my legs, the outcome would have been different. Because I was still capable of finishing, I knew it was important for me to do so. For me.
- Self care. Not just the wrist splint for my hand, but also the time I’m taking today to rest physically and emotionally.
- Grit to stick to it.
- Hope for better runs to come.
Here’s hoping your journey is smooth, but when it’s not, that you’ll have what you need to keep on going.
~Me
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