“By trying we can
easily endure adversity…” –Mark Twain
By trying we can
also endure pain…. At the beginning of this year I went on a rant about this
year being the year I was going to go hard.
I was going to push myself beyond anything I had ever experienced. This was going to be my year!
Three weeks later,
I would step in a hole during a trail run and tear two tendons in my
ankle. Looking back at that moment its
funny to think that everyone there knew I was done, but me. It wasn’t like it didn’t hurt, because it
hurt like hell. I just thought I tweaked something. You would think since
I’m in a position to guide runners I would lead by example. Not me!
I just keep on keeping on.
The reason I have
anyone reading this reliving my bullheadedness and annoying ankle injury, is
because today was the day I had in mind for putting all my hard work to the
test. I ran or should I say participated
in the Philadelphia Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon a race that I have run many
times and is up there as one of my favorites.
My goal on January 1st was to run today’s race in a time of
one hour and twenty minutes, a personal best (PB) by three minutes. I finished today in a 1:37, but getting there
was the toughest thing I have ever had to do.
As the ankle was
on the mend (finally!) something else went wrong. I was over the hump and almost through the
woods with this ankle injury when I came down with a bad case of Plantar
Fasciitis in my other foot. This couldn’t have happened
at a worse time. The problem with
Plantar is that most recommendations say to run through it. You would think I would be a pro at this, but
with the Plantar hurting on the left foot, I naturally started leaning on the
right side, which is causing a lot of discomfort in the ankle.
When I got into my
corral this morning (I was the first one!) I didn’t know what to expect, I was
questioning me even being there. I kept
thinking, man this isn’t going to be easy.
How am I going to run 13.1 miles in pain? I did man up (foolishly) and began to run
(limp) my way to another finish. I had
this unfamiliar voice in my head almost the entire race telling me that it
wasn’t going to happen, that I needed to pull out. The sad thing is, my eyes started looking
around for a pull of location.
When I reached
mile eleven, I was greeted by the most randomness thing. This bubble came floating by me; I looked to
the sidelines for a bubble maker or some kid with bubbles and a wand in hand,
but none could be found. I couldn’t
explain where this bubble came from and even thought maybe I was
hallucinating. But, I shook it off and
at that very moment I settled in to a race pace. Now, I must have shook off that negative
voice in my head too, because I was able to negative split the last two miles
and finished strong.
Maybe Mark Twain
was right, but I also think I was foolish to run today. My ankle is healed up, but it’s still months
away from being where it needs to be as far as strengthening. I had no business being out there when my bad
foot is better than the other. I am
thrilled I was able to work through the pain and the negative thoughts, but I’m
disappointed that I let my pride get the better of me today. I truly need to be setting good examples for
the rest of you. I know for a fact that
if any of my athletes were in as much pain as I was feeling today, that I would
tell them not to run. As for that
bubble, I got nothing. Maybe it was a
sign of some sort or maybe I’m going crazy.
Till we run into
each other again…
