Post-Injury

Today, I woke up at 5:39am to go for a run, my first run in about two weeks. My body is almost healed from my fall off my bike a few weeks ago. The bruises have been fading, my right side is no longer sore, and the scab on my left knee fell off to reveal pink, wet skin. It's still gross, but it doesn't hurt as much when I bend my knee or put weight on it.

So, I woke up, put on my running gear, and headed out the door. I started by running up the hill of Oak Street and almost made it to the end of the block. Then, I did my usual routine around the Panhandle. I was doing well at first. Then, after a quick sprint to make it across Masonic, I had to stop and cough and felt like vomiting but, thankfully, didn't. I don't think I was getting enough air in my lungs. I have felt this urge to throw up before, usually after not running for a while and getting back into it. It's my body trying to adjust again.

I had to stop and walk more often than I would have liked. But, at times, I felt good, like my body was in its running groove. I even passed another jogger, something that rarely happens.

It has always been really difficult to start running again after a brief hiatus. I feel like I make so excuses for not running: my ankle hurts, I'm traveling, it's raining, my knee hurts, I'm too tired. And, after each absence from running, I feel like it's so easy to just continue not running. If I don't wake up to run, I won't feel my body ache, I won't feel like throwing up, I won't feel lame for being passed by all the other runners. I also feel like every so often, I'll try to re-motivate myself, saying that this will be the time I get back to my routine, that I will run and exercise more regularly, that I will work on making my stomach and thighs less soft.

Then, there are times when I remember how nice it is to wake up and do my loops around the Panhandle. This morning, fog was still hanging real low and I couldn't see into the park. It was gray and lovely. The street lamps glowed a mellow orange. I saw some familiar faces making their way around the park. It was just me chugging along with not more than my music and the random thoughts that float through my head. I'm going to wake up again tomorrow at 5:30 in the morning and do it all again.

Today, The New York Times had an article about "Better Running Through Walking." I feel less lame for walking.