{country run}
Perhaps I shouldn’t generalize. Maybe it’s the runner in me, maybe it’s the PT, or it could be that I’m just stubborn and hard-headed (a.k.a. stupid) that I persist in running at times when I shouldn’t. But there are worse things and as I asked a friend yesterday, “what am I supposed to do, just curl up in a fetal position and let life go on without me?”
I ran ten miles yesterday at six a.m. on solitary country roads with a migraine still left over from the day before and a bunged up right foot that has been bothering me for almost a month. It was my best run ever.
I’ve chosen not to go to the doctor about my foot because I hate going to the doctor. Among the numerous misdiagnoses and countless unnecessary medical procedures I’ve undergone over the years that equate to a roller coaster of emotions and an enormous waste of time, I’ve figured out a few other reasons that keep me from going. The reasoning goes something like this:
1. it’s not life threatening (ie. cancer, stroke, heart attack)
2. not a broken bone (had stress fractures before, couldn’t run on them, no way, no how)
3. not something that can be cured in 7-10 days with antibiotics or prednisone (ie. strep throat or wicked poison ivy)
4. not a condition requiring surgery
5. all signs point to a training issue. x-rays would be a waste of time and money (and the first thing a doc would order), it’s an issue that could be cured with rest among a few other tricks, something a therapist could assist with–oh wait, I AM a therapist, let’s just skip all the other nonsense and cut to the chase.
You see how that plays out? Here’s what else I know: I’ve never stayed injured forever. The body is capable of much more than I am aware as evidenced by yesterday’s run. Whining about it solves nothing. I have my first half-marathon coming up in a few weeks.
But the number one thing that makes me a terrible patient is that I don’t follow the advice I would give myself if I were one of my own patients. And it is that one little gem that gives me great compassion and understanding when my patients don’t follow a lick of the advice I give them. When they occasionally follow my recommendations to the letter I am astounded, flabbergasted, amazed.
If I screw up the race it’ll be my own fault but at least I know this, I ran those ten miles at an average 8:52 pace with a messed up body so I’m happy. I didn’t mean to go at that pace but don’t have a Garmin and I was just trying to get it over with so I could take a hot shower and ice my foot. The time encourages me and gives me something to look forward to, something to work with when my foot is better because this won’t last forever. It reassures me that even though I’m old and getting grayer by the minute the body responds favorably to the demands placed upon it (with a few minor setbacks along the way which is normal), which brings me to a quote I ran across from SKORA running:
“that which you persist in doing becomes easier. the nature of the thing has not changed, it’s because YOUR power to do so has increased!”
p.s. I WANT a pair of their shoes!!
Do you run injured or curl up in fetal position and wait it out? Ever run in a pair of Skora shoes?
backyard runner 