Thoughts on the Run

Someone told me recently to not push through the pain. That if it hurts, to stop and recover. Well, in the world of running, or life for that matter, many would not move forward very far on that advice. Many people like to be comfortable and be normal. Do what is expected of them: go to college, get a job, move up the ladder, have a family, get crazy and go on vacation to Disney World. Don’t take a risk as they might experience pain or failure. If it hurts, they stop. The job gets to hard, they complain (which generally leads to quitting/firing). Conversations become too uncomfortable, they get quiet and walk away. I hear it all the time: it’s just too hard.

Then there is another part of the population that lives consciously. They look for ways to experience life that challenges how the view their environment. In my work life, this is how I live. Finding new ways to achieve goals that challenges how things have always been done. Between ultrarunning and work, I’m quite accustomed to being called crazy.

For the past week, the outside middle of my left foot has been very tender. It hurts more when I’m not running, but has definitely made itself known. The Internet tells me it could be cuboid syndrome which essentially means it’s inflamed. I have been nursing it for about 5 days now. Well, I can’t say nursing it is the right way to describe what I have been doing. Two days after it started hurting someone said:

You should take it easy.
Me: Okay. I’m going on a 5 mile run.

Telling me I can’t or shouldn’t do something just makes me want to do it more. Yes, I know I sound like a 7 year old. My thinking is that I can teach my body to adapt to the discomfort. The human body is well-equipped to make the adjustments it needs to. I was sure that there were no broken bones, so move forward. Did I mention I’m not a doctor or a medical professional? This is a good time to point that out.

For the past 2 nights I did ice my foot while drinking wine. The foot became less tender after each of those times. I’m not saying whether it was the ice or the wine that attributed to that. It seems that my foot doesn’t hurt while running … just when I stop. Wouldn’t logic say to just never stop running? That’s what I’m hearing from you out there right now! (isn’t it convenient that I can’t actually see or hear you?)

In a few days I’ll run another marathon. I stopped counting at 10 so not exactly sure how many this is and really it doesn’t matter. I mentally look at each 26.2 miles differently now. As I do 95% of my running solo, these races are my group runs. It is a special treat to myself to run with others that get what I do, how I think, and strive to do something more then “normal.” With each race that I do, I notice more of the people and sights around the course. I hear the stories of how people arrived at the starting line. From wanting to lose weight to raising money for charity to peer pressure, everyone has their own version of answering the why.

I always like the answer: just because

It tells me that they realize they are on the journey. They are taking that first step into the unknown and are ready to accept whatever it may bring. You don’t have to have a well defined answer to everything you do. Sometimes that’s what makes life so much fun. You don’t know for certain what will happen next.

I have approached a marathon feeling stronger then ever and bonked out at mile 14. That leaves me with 12 more miles until the finish line. Give up or find a way through. The first option is not allowed. Just move forward.

If you don’t do, you won’t get the experiences that are just over the ridge … the answers you have been seeking may be on the other side.