This blog may contain trace amounts of whinage and sniffling and may cause any of the following side effects; empathy, disdain, irritation (general), apathy, and in rare cases extreme happiness (sicko). That should satisfy the lawyers, now onto some bloggin!
I have been a runner for all of my adult life. I started out as a competitive runner in high school and college and continued racing on and off throughout my adulthood. I have run 2 marathons, several halfs and I believe last year was my 10th Hood to Coast. I love running, it makes me happy. I've heard all of you non runners and your very witty and almost never unique quips about us crazy runners. I get it, I'm not super normal, but I can't change the fact that God wired me to love running.
In November I was in New York with a bunch of our church staff and I walked like 100 blocks in one day. Btw, I know I exaggerate sometimes, but this would not be one of those times, we literally walked a hundred NYC blocks. And my brilliant self was wearing street shoes, albeit comfy ones, they were not super comfy after that much walking. Anywho, I have had a nice case of Plantar Fasciitis ever since. It's a pretty common injury to most long time runners and I started right in doing all the stuff that runners do when they get this dreaded thing. No improvement. I bought a DVD off of some fancy running website, did all the stuff that guru told me too, short of drinking the Kool aide. No improvement.
Finally, I decided to go to a physical therapist. He is having me do a series of stretches and exercises and when he explained things, it makes sense. He also does this delightful thing where he scrapes the scar tissue with this device I shall call "The bad tool", it hurts like a mother. I'm all bruised when I leave, but my heel feels better. Last session he said that if I can continue to do all the stuff he's having me do and be pain free then I can start the "return to running" program. He said it would be an exercise in patience. Perfect, because I am so very patient... yikes.
So, armed with this new hope and a smidge of sunshine today, I decided to go for a walk. I've been walking, but this time I felt like maybe today would be my last walk and next time I would be run/walking. iPod was strapped in place and off I went. First song on my shuffled playlist: "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. Ha, good one. Thanks Bruce, I know that, but I kinda can't now.
Off I plodded. I motored up Titan, which is the decent hill that starts most of my runs/walks, stopping to do my mandatory stretching. Turning the corner, I spot a jogger. This is always trouble, I'm like Seabiscuit in that when I smell the competition, I just want to beat them. This person was running toward me so the urge to run faster passed when they passed, but the song that came on: "Ready to Run" by the Dixie Chicks. Why yes I am, Chicks from the Dixie, but I cannot.
Then I turned around at the half way mark. I was clipping along pretty well, at least as much clipping as can happen when you're walking. (sigh) Bam! Another runner, this time she passed me and yes you heard correctly, she. Ouch, that one stung a little, I'm not gonna lie. Song on the iPod: "Take me Home" by Phil Collins, the point in the song. "No, I, I, I don't mind, no I, I, I don't mind". Well actually Phil, I kinda do mind and this iPod as Jiminy Cricket is getting on my last nerve. If I want a little conscience as my guide, I'll get a cool one that tells me cool stuff, so yeah.
So, I picked up what was left of my pride and my plantar fascia and I slumped my way home and as I rounded the corner of my street and my house came into sight up on the iPod comes this song: "Everlasting God" by Lincoln Brewster. First lyrics are "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord". Oh yeah, busted again Dudster! Just go ahead and try to do things your way, see how that works out for you. I guess maybe the iPod knows a little something, it kinda schooled me today. I will wait upon the Lord, but I will also act in faith and do what I can. I heard that message this week from John Stumbo. And by the way, my plantar fasciitis is pretty freaking small in the grand scheme of things in this life. I will figure this out with my trusty PT and I will run again. I will blog about it to be sure. Until then, I will be charging 5 bucks a pop for anyone who would like to listen to my playlist on shuffle and get a good talking to.
Dudster
No comments:
Post a Comment