Fitness

What’s up with running?

I was climbing out of the passenger seat of my car on a Thursday, after helping my dad unload supplies in the February cold, and felt a weird pull in the quadriceps muscle on my left leg. I didn’t think much about it, until I went running on the treadmill the next day, when it hurt and it hurt BAD. That was 13 days ago. The pain has somehow migrated down to my knee, and I’ve self-diagnosed a case of “runner’s knee.” How you could possibly have a case of “runner’s knee” when you’ve never run more than 1.5 miles at a time, I don’t know – but somehow I’ve managed to do it.

So I’m giving myself another week off, and keeping my knee quiet and elevated, and I tried out some essential oils from my friend Heather to help with the pain. They really did help ease some of the soreness, and my knee smells minty-fresh all the time! Stay tuned for more news on the knee to come.

I’m really bummed that I’ve had to put yet another pause in my attempts to become a runner. This means I likely won’t be in shape for Dam to Dam in June, and even the 10K I registered for at the end of April is looking dicey. But I’m still trying for the Des Moines Half Marathon in October. After all, I have a 13.1 sticker I want to put on the back of my car. And my inner four-year-old is motivated by stickers.

But it’s more than the stickers. I really do want to know I can be a runner. I want to know that I can push myself to do something I never thought I could do. I used to joke that I only ran somewhere if someone I loved was on fire – or there was a really great shoe sale. I don’t want to make that joke anymore. I want to know that I’m strong enough and fit enough to run anywhere I want. I want to know I have the strength and discipline to train my body and take the best care of it I can. I’ll never be a size 4, but I want to know I can be a bangin’ size 10. (I once was a size 10, thanks to Weight Watchers and a traumatic breakup, for approximately six glorious days in 2001. I’d like to get there under less dramatic circumstances this time.)

So, come next Tuesday, I’ll start running again. Probably slowly and carefully, but I’ll start again. Want to start with me?

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