Five things i’ve learned (or re-learned) from this current running fiasco

High School Track
A new pain in left calf yesterday.

 

Five things i’ve learned (or re-learned) from this current running fiasco.

 

1. It’s not about competing.

Although competition is healthy and motivating, at the end of the day all that matters is being able to run pain free.

2. Running’sĀ ups and downs are a metaphor for life.

Planning for things is simply that, a plan. No plan is perfect. We must constantly adjust our course. To get injured six weeks before Nationals and Worlds was unforeseeable. i finished last at last week’s Nationals and may not be able to run in France. Life goes on whether we’re happy or not..

3. The real joy is being healthy enough to run.

The things we take for granted are astonishing and embarrassing. Simply being able to run as a 56 year-old is a huge blessing. To have the motivation. To find the time. To enjoy the highs and push through the lows.

4. Be thankful for injuries and pain.

They are signs. And it can always be worse. Be thankful for both. Feel blessed with your stress. It means you are still alive.

5. Injuries (and disappointment) and how we handle them define us.

Others are constantly watching and judging us. What a priceless opportunity to teach the people we care about.

Heading out for a bicycle ride this morning. Heading to Gold’s Gym to work on core.

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Stay calm and follow the plan

Foot x-ray
Three weeks ago – Doc said, “Keep doing what you’re doing, everything looks great”.

 

You make a plan based on current data and realistic, yet ambitious, goals.

i leave for Nationals tomorrow. Based on yesterday’s ankle pain, competing seems impossible.

i ask myself, “Why don’t you cancel your trip if you are in pain?”

Watching this Olympic video clip makes the answer self-evident.

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Nervous about your health when you awaken?

Disney Character props on truck
What a surprise to see this on yesterday’s run.

 

Disney Minnie Mouse Character prop on truck
Jogged right by.

 

Duke Energy Trucks repairing restoring residential electric
Duke Energy restoring electricity to our neighborhood.

 

Damaged Florida power line
The Disney Character prop was too high and clipped the power line, snapping off the top three feet of pole.

 

Live electric wire on sidewalk
Live wire landed on side walk.

 

Nervous about your health when you awaken?

i was yesterday.

Hadn’t run in 11 days (nursing chronic, undiagnosed pain), so walked and jogged an easy four miles.

No pain in right calf. None in ankle either.

Yay.

Nationals in three days.

Departing for World’s in 20.

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Hope and faith round two

Biking on Sanibel
Eight miles one day.

 

Bicycle path on Sanibel
Ten miles the next.

 

Hope and faith round two. Hope the calf pain will go away. Not sure i have faith it will happen before Nationals in 12 days.

And even if it does, the physical conditioning is diminished due to inactivity.

Such is life.

As a small compromise, Chapin and i casually biked the past two mornings.

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