Yesterday I ran the Inaugural Saints Stampede. This is a race I had looked forward to for months. Granted, it was only a 5K but I love St. Thomas Aquinas High School and all it stands for. As the mom of 3 alumni and one current student, who has attended countless games, activities, banquets, conferences, etc., I couldn't wait for it to be my turn to participate in a sports related way. I knew I wasn't going to win the race but I have run countless miles this summer in spite of the never-ending heat and drought. I have run those miles with friends as we talk and laugh the whole time and I have run them solo. Nothing stops me. Not even the severe storm which required a rescue last Saturday morning. This is my passion and I love every minute of it...even when it hurts.
Yesterday it hurt. I have been fighting some nagging injuries these past few months but I chose to run through them. For the most part they haven't slowed me down and my time is better than ever. After last fall's plantar fasciitis, I have learned to land mid foot rather than heel strike. I have done squats and lunges and whatever it takes to build lower body strength. My endurance has absolutely amazed me because a 10 mile run is truly no big deal. In short, I am having the time of my life which is why yesterday was so hard.
I started out too fast but I maintained the pace and adjusted for the first mile or so. My goal was definitely in reach no matter how hard the course was. The Saint's Stampede was different because it was the first time I had ever run on a cross-country course and it was brutal. Due to the drought the ground was hard and uneven. The gravel was even worse because it left me very unsure of my footing. I chose the dirt and I ran on. I usually smile when I run but yesterday the most I could manage was a grimace. I ran with friends occasionally but as I slowed my pace they moved on. The one thing I didn't count on was for my injury to raise it's ugly head. I started to feel the pain deep in my hip pretty early. Usually it starts in my right calf and Achilles but this pain was different. I have always thought that I compensated with my left hip when the calf and Achilles acted up. This time I couldn't propel my left leg forward. It was almost as if it was in a locked position. Pain was shooting down the side of my leg. My stride was awkward and uneven and my hamstring felt like toast. I kept going. I was not going to quit. After the first lap I realized I was dealing with something more serious than I originally thought. Fortunately, I've been doing this long enough to know I have options. I could have joined the walkers but I just couldn't give up. This is where the benefit of running with friends and a trainer really helps. Brandon and the Lifetime Run Club never let me quit and they all have truly taught me to believe in myself.
Just Breathe...I've heard it many times. Lifetime Lenexa thinks I was making fun of his mantras with my "deep thoughts by Brandon" comment but sometimes those mantras are all I've got.
You've got this...that's right...I've got this; I can control this race and how I react to it. I slowed my pace, I listened to my music. I began to smile. This race may have been kicking my a** but I wasn't giving up that easily.
Pace: Just Above Don't Quit...That's right. Don't quit. It doesn't matter how fast you finish; what matters is that you finish. I ran the second lap of the course and saw I wasn't the only one struggling with the terrain. The weather may have been perfect but on this day it just wasn't my time.
Save Some For the Finish...and I did. I may have limped my way around the second lap but there was no way I was going to limp my way to the finish. As I neared the stadium I slowly picked up my pace in 10% increments. When I entered that stadium I was running strong. I stopped and hugged Abby because the cheerleaders were still there to welcome the runners back to the turf and then I crossed the finish line.
Done. Just like that. It wasn't pretty but at least it wasn't a DNF. My hip ached. I couldn't extend my left leg but I was done. I tried to drive and then I cried. This was an injury that was here to stay. I'd pushed it too hard. Fortunately, I've run with Kim and her taped hamstring long enough to know that she would know who to call. Today I did not run and I skipped our Sunday Small Group. Tomorrow I meet with a chiropractor who specializes in sports injuries. I went to bed last night feeling like I may never run again, today I woke up with hope. An injury isn't a death sentence, it's just a roadblock. I plan to take a break and rehab my hip and then I plan to be back running stronger and smarter. I just hope it doesn't take too long because I am not a patient person and the fall race season is calling me.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The 'hard' is what makes it great."
Tom Hanks-A League of Their Own
You've got this...that's right...I've got this; I can control this race and how I react to it. I slowed my pace, I listened to my music. I began to smile. This race may have been kicking my a** but I wasn't giving up that easily.
Pace: Just Above Don't Quit...That's right. Don't quit. It doesn't matter how fast you finish; what matters is that you finish. I ran the second lap of the course and saw I wasn't the only one struggling with the terrain. The weather may have been perfect but on this day it just wasn't my time.
Save Some For the Finish...and I did. I may have limped my way around the second lap but there was no way I was going to limp my way to the finish. As I neared the stadium I slowly picked up my pace in 10% increments. When I entered that stadium I was running strong. I stopped and hugged Abby because the cheerleaders were still there to welcome the runners back to the turf and then I crossed the finish line.
Done. Just like that. It wasn't pretty but at least it wasn't a DNF. My hip ached. I couldn't extend my left leg but I was done. I tried to drive and then I cried. This was an injury that was here to stay. I'd pushed it too hard. Fortunately, I've run with Kim and her taped hamstring long enough to know that she would know who to call. Today I did not run and I skipped our Sunday Small Group. Tomorrow I meet with a chiropractor who specializes in sports injuries. I went to bed last night feeling like I may never run again, today I woke up with hope. An injury isn't a death sentence, it's just a roadblock. I plan to take a break and rehab my hip and then I plan to be back running stronger and smarter. I just hope it doesn't take too long because I am not a patient person and the fall race season is calling me.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The 'hard' is what makes it great."
Tom Hanks-A League of Their Own
