It hurts when I pull my hamstring

Too much, too soon.

We've all heard these words murmured as runners.  Some have said it themselves, while others have not yet experienced this awful reality.

This running injury is driving me nuts!! First I was told that I had tendinitis, now I'm told that I have pulled my hamstring... (right before running a half marathon relay.)

I had been hurting since my epic 5 mile run on last Saturday but I thought it was just "long run" soreness.  It's normal.  After all, this was my longest run in a long time.

But apparently, it was "too much, too soon".  I didn't follow the running rehab rules:

I didn't build up slowly.

I didn't only add 10% to my longest run.

I didn't run at an "easy" pace.

I didn't stop when it hurt.

It's time that I start following advice that I give others.

I was leading our relay team yesterday.  I didn't run as fast as I am capable.  I actually wanted to quit before I reached the point of passing it off.  The only thing that kept me going was these girls.  I knew they were depending on me.  I was the one who invited them to run and I didn't want to let them down.  Had it not been for them, I would have had my first DNF but my team was inspiring me for 4 miles (the longest 4 miles of my life).  They pushed me through it and for that I am thankful.  (Courtney, Jess, and Keisha - Thank you for the opportunity and being wonderful and understanding!)

(See photo below - courtesy of Courtney).  Aren't those awesome shirts and lovely ladies?    

I fully believe that there is no sense in continuing to run on an injury.  I respect all of the ladies I have seen listen to their bodies and not finish or start races that they had been training for. So for me, it's time to refresh and reboot.  I have to learn patience and learn that that's part of determination.  I'm going to work with my CrossFit coaches on upper body strength and spin and elliptical (can that be a verb?) at the gym until I can start rebuilding.

What injuries have plagued you?

What's your best advice for injured runners or athletes?

How do you remind yourself to take it easy?

Determined

Today I completed 5 miles for the first time in several months.

 

It wasn't my fastest but also wasn't my slowest either.  I started out running 4 years ago at a 12:00 min/mile pace.  I ran my first half marathon in 2:40 in 2010.  I was ecstatic with those results at that time but I have also taken nearly 50 minutes off of that time since then.  We all have to start somewhere that's what I tell everyone who is "amazed" at my running or feels like they could never run as fast or as far as me.  (Disclaimer:  I am not fast in my eyes but do have the determination to run far as far as I feel like anyway.)

I ran at ye olde alma mater today.

I live really close to my old high school so it's convenient.  This is also where I trained for that first half, oh so many years ago.  I was naïve and inexperienced but I was determined.  I ran up to 12 miles on this track and around this parking lot.  I didn't realize that there were other places to run and that there was such a large running community right here.

Five miles on a track sounds reee-donkulous to anyone who isn't a track star, much less 12.  I am not anywhere near a track star, nor was I ever.  I never ran track in high school or college.  In fact, I didn't start running until 4 years ago, at the age of 26, after the end of a 4-year tumultuous relationship.  I wouldn't say that I started running to get through that.  It just kinda happened.

The freedom that I gained through running made me realize that I was so much more than I had been being.  (Not sure if that's grammatically correct, but whatever.)  I had let myself become trapped and now I was free.  That's a great feeling.  A feeling that I have been missing since my tendinitis flare up and struggle to get back to running.  I didn't realize how much I needed that feeling of me, running, pushing my body and my mind.

Today, I finished 5 miles.  Ask anyone who knows me.  Five miles is my favorite training distance.  Not too far but far enough to get to that satisfying pace and rhythm.  I wasn't sure if I would make it.  That's why I ran at the track.  I didn't want to get 2.5 miles away from my car and not have a way back.  I was safe at the track.  I could stop whenever I wanted needed to.  I won't say that there weren't hiccups, because there were a few times I thought I had hit that point of not pushing it any further.

But I finished.  When my watch hit 5.00 I threw my hands up in the air like I had just finished a marathon.  You know the move.  I am glad no one else was out there because they may have wondered what race I was running on my own.  Ha!  I walked to where I had left my stuff and stretched that hamstring like no other so that I could make it to run another day.  Then I may or may not have had a solo dance party to some Christina.

I am determined.  I am determined to run. I am determined to finish.  I will get back to where I was but it's going to take some work on my part and I'm ready.

And that's not all that made my day great!  I got home to this wonderful package!  I can't wait to run the relay next weekend wearing these shirts.  If you're interested in a shirt, let me know!  I can hook you up with Beth at runningintheword.com.  (She's awesome, btw)

What are you struggling with right now?

What do you love about running?

How have you gotten over injuries?

P.S. Isn't Fall beautiful?

the marathon

Isn't it crazy that a single word can bring feelings of joy, peace, and excitement... or feelings of fear, anxiety, and sheer panic?  There is no other race that exudes so much emotion for me.

I've been thinking recently after watching this video (see Stage 4 - Isolation) ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItnxJLAOeY

...to run a marathon "successfully" you must be comfortable with yourself.  You must like your own company.

I, a single woman of 30 with no kids (this means I have a lot of alone time), have never felt so alone than around mile 22 of a marathon.  Yes, there are people all around.  Volunteers.  Other runners.  Spectators.  Walkers.  But at this point in the race it doesn't matter.  I am always inside my own head, and heart, for that matter.  Sure, you can talk to others but there is still this feeling of "I'm all alone."  It's not a bad feeling.

For me, it's...

"I did this am doing this."

"I put in this work."

"My legs and feet have gotten me this far even though they hurt like they were run over by a Mack truck."

You have to love you and you have to be proud of yourself and your accomplishment to carry yourself all the way to the end.

Heck, I am even supremely proud of my friends when they complete marathons!  I actually started writing this post when I found out that a new dear friend, Beth from Running In The Word had just completed her 2nd marathon when her first was a mere 3 weeks earlier!  I was shocked, amazed, proud, and humbled.

But I knew one thing.

I knew how Beth kept going because I know it had to be painful.  You see, Beth's body and mind are full of the Spirit.  She was praying, praising, and probably sometimes crying out to Jesus because in all reality, we couldn't do any of this without Him.  (As I do on my runs - short or long)

So what I'm saying is, I like to take credit but in the end all the glory goes to the One who has saved us from ourselves.  The One who cares for us unlike anything we could fathom.  The One who loves us unconditionally.  Therefore, I'm going to take the motto of totally awesome CrossFitter, Rich Froning - Galatians 6:14

Follow me on Blog Lovin'

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11046387/?claim=fjjwxhe4cu8">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Control

Isn't this something we all want?  Control?  We spend most of our days trying to control what happens throughout said day.

We spend all of this time worrying and trying to control our circumstances so we end up missing out on life.  Don't we??

We try to control our surroundings and our circumstances.

We try to control our careers.

We try to control our relationships.

We try to control others and their actions.

We try to control our running/exercise and goals.

We try to control our health.

We try to control timing of certain events that should be happening.

We try to control our days.

We try to control our lives.  Period.

...but guess what?!  WE are not in control.  Sometimes it's time to just Let Go and see what happens...It might be better than you planned.

I have been in such a sweet spot.  I have been content with my life.  I knew that the breaking would be coming...I just didn't know when so I have been enjoying this season of my life.

Tuesday, at Girls on the Run, our lesson was on "Being Grateful" so we each went around the circle and named one thing we were grateful for.  When it got to me, I said "my health".  This is one thing that I felt like I never take for granted but I guess I was wrong because two days later - I got strep.  Boy, was I wishing I had that health back.  I was couch-bound and miserable for two days but I had a lot of time to think.  I should be more grateful for the "things" I have been given and circumstances I have.  All too often I find myself moaning and groaning about certain circumstances that I am given, rather than just giving thanks and taking it all in stride.

Today, I'm thankful for a loving, forgiving, and gracious God that doesn't hold grudges.

I'm also thankful for a week off of school for Fall Break!

What about you?  What do you try to control?  How do you fix it?