I like to think of myself as a positive person. It's something that I have to work at and be mindful of, but for me, it works.
Positive thoughts + positive speech + positive actions = Happy and productive April
Now obviously (unless you're the Dalai Lama or something) it's near impossible to be emit these positive vibes out into the world 100% of the time, but hey-I can at least try. That's why I've really been struggling lately with blogging on a consistent basis. I know that this is a running blog and injury is something that often comes with the sport, but I've been battling some injuries for quite some time now. They are relatively minor (shin splints, IT band), but are still causing me enough pain that my training has taken a serious blow.
Anyway, when I look back over my posts from the last few months, I see that a good number of them address my injuries. To me this isn't positive. It's whiny, complaining, woe as me kind of material and I just don't like it. So that's why I refused to blog unless I had some nice, uplifting stuff to talk about.
And well folks, that just ain't happenin. I have been able to run short distances-3-5 miles without any major hurting (even though my knee feels achy for days afterward), but anything over 6 miles, downright sucks. It hurts-bad.
My instinct is to tell myself to toughen up and run through the pain because really, mentally, I'm all there. But when it doesn't subside and I can't even walk for the next two days, I realize that um, maybe that wasn't the brightest idea.
So, I told Amy about my anti-negative blogging plan and she (as she usually does), straightened me out.
Amy: Nooooo dude, you gotta keep it real!! You have to blog about that stuff because all runners deal with it at some point or another. We have to blog about the ups AND downs of running.
me: But I wanna be hardcore! How can I have a blog called 26point2ers when I can't even run more than 6 miles with out wimping out!?!
Amy: Yes, you can. You just can't right now because you're injured. You have to let it heal completely and build your mileage back up before you attempt long runs.
And she's right. I hate it when she's right. Well, actually, I just hate it when I'm wrong (which rarely happens).
Now let's address the bottom line. I have a marathon in 6 weeks. I haven't run more than 13 miles at a time. We all know that it's just not gonna happen. It would be super dumb to try and run a marathon that I haven't been able to fully prepare for. It makes me just sick, but I really think that's the reality. Excuse me while I throw a temper tantrum....I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
But I've paid for the race, bought my plane ticket, planned to stay with friends and have been working so hard to raise $2,500 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. So I'm going. Yes, I am. I am going and I am going to start that race (Marine Corps Marathon). I might have to run the half, but I will be there.
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7 comments:
That sucks about the injury and feeling like you can't blog about it, but Amy is right...we all face it at some point if we choose to conquor the 26.2 dragon.
I think you are 'hardcore' - seriously, you are still going to run the race and that is saying something about your spirit and your drive, despite your finish. That is awesome...you go girl, I'm rooting for you from here!!!
~K
First, congratulations on working so diligently on raising 2.5K. I’m sorry to hear about your injury. I had to bail on my first attempt at 26.2 because of a knee injury, and I was devastated. All I did was isolate and pout, both of which did me no good.
I’m glad you are going; you will have a good time with your friends. If everyone could just run a marathon and never have to adjust goals or even sacrifice a race, then completing the ‘greatest race’ wouldn’t mean as much. Injuries, aside from hurting you, give you great perspective on the races you have done and a greater sense of accomplishment when you heal and run the next race.
Just because you have a setback, doesn't mean you are being negative. Being positive doesn't mean you are happily logging 15 miles everyday. Being positive is realizing that you CAN and WILL (and have done it!) do it, just maybe not next month.
It's the attitude that we take to life's bumps that determine whether or not we're approaching them positively or negatively.
Go April!!!
i'm in the same boat, battling injuries the last month or two. it's definitely stressful, and i actually did the same thing, not posting for a long time b/c everything i could think to write felt like whining. you're not alone, others are going through it, too.
glad to hear you're going to try. as i said in my reply to your comment in my post last week, i may not finish, but i want to at least start.
and dc's a fun city, so it's worth coming either way. :)
I'm glad to hear you're going, I think you'll be surprised how much fun you'll have and how capable you are, 'cause all that training doesn't just go away. Good luck, and heal up soon.
You are still hardcore in my book,girl. The fact that you're still going & running the half proves it! Rock that half,April!
Wow... and I'm not even injured. Awesome persistence. Love it.
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