Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Running
In October 2006 I ran a marathon. I finished in exactly 4 hours and 30 minutes. I was both proud and frustrated with this time. It is not bad finish time for a first time marathon (and runner), but I also walked about 2 of the miles because of an injury.
I went to rehab for my IT Band and in April 2007 was given the green light to run again. I built myself back up to 5 miles and ran 5 times a week at this distance for a month or so. I got into the NYC Half Marathon, then Satch got sick and passed away. I stopped running for a few weeks. I dusted my sadness off my shoes and started back up, I was not ready for the 1/2 marathon, but I started training for the Philadelphia Marathon that was scheduled for mid November. I was doing well with my training, as part of it I ran the Queens Half Marathon and felt great. But I did too much too fast. My pride gets in the way sometimes. I felt like running another marathon would prove something to other people. Running is an individual sport though, there really is nothing to prove but to myself that I can use running as a tool to be healthy. I was not using it in a healthy way. I pushed too much to fast and In Mid October during a scheduled long run my injury from the previous year returned. October 12th was the last time I went for a run. It was 15 plus miles, it was cold and it sucked because my leg started hurting and I was about 2 or 3 miles form the hotel I was staying at while on a Tour Co trip. What made it seem worse was we were right on the border of Washington and Iowa. My hotel was in Iowa, I started limping in Washington. I cried during those last two miles off and on.
Running should never cause negative feelings, but when you feel defeated with anything, even the things you love can feel destructive.
Yesterday I went to Prospect Park for a fun Memorial BBQ with friends. I wound up playing ultimate Frisbee and woke up a bit sore. This soreness reminded me that I have really let my body go a bit and it is time to get back in the game.
2 hours ago I put on my running shoes, socks, bra, shorts and shirt and went for a run. I was not going to push myself. I was going to be smart. I had a goal of 1.5 miles, no stopping no matter what. I went a bit over 2. I felt like I could have done more. Which means I know I can do more, and with time I will. Muscles have memories, and my muscles remember what a good feeling it is to finish a run. I have a touch of the runners high right now. I am excited to wake up tomorrow and run again. You know what else has a memory? My running shirt. It smelled like BO within minutes of putting it on.
I went to rehab for my IT Band and in April 2007 was given the green light to run again. I built myself back up to 5 miles and ran 5 times a week at this distance for a month or so. I got into the NYC Half Marathon, then Satch got sick and passed away. I stopped running for a few weeks. I dusted my sadness off my shoes and started back up, I was not ready for the 1/2 marathon, but I started training for the Philadelphia Marathon that was scheduled for mid November. I was doing well with my training, as part of it I ran the Queens Half Marathon and felt great. But I did too much too fast. My pride gets in the way sometimes. I felt like running another marathon would prove something to other people. Running is an individual sport though, there really is nothing to prove but to myself that I can use running as a tool to be healthy. I was not using it in a healthy way. I pushed too much to fast and In Mid October during a scheduled long run my injury from the previous year returned. October 12th was the last time I went for a run. It was 15 plus miles, it was cold and it sucked because my leg started hurting and I was about 2 or 3 miles form the hotel I was staying at while on a Tour Co trip. What made it seem worse was we were right on the border of Washington and Iowa. My hotel was in Iowa, I started limping in Washington. I cried during those last two miles off and on.
Running should never cause negative feelings, but when you feel defeated with anything, even the things you love can feel destructive.
Yesterday I went to Prospect Park for a fun Memorial BBQ with friends. I wound up playing ultimate Frisbee and woke up a bit sore. This soreness reminded me that I have really let my body go a bit and it is time to get back in the game.
2 hours ago I put on my running shoes, socks, bra, shorts and shirt and went for a run. I was not going to push myself. I was going to be smart. I had a goal of 1.5 miles, no stopping no matter what. I went a bit over 2. I felt like I could have done more. Which means I know I can do more, and with time I will. Muscles have memories, and my muscles remember what a good feeling it is to finish a run. I have a touch of the runners high right now. I am excited to wake up tomorrow and run again. You know what else has a memory? My running shirt. It smelled like BO within minutes of putting it on.
