~annejuliet
if you’re anywhere near my life these days, you hear me be sad and frustrated about the whole ankle thing (and probably want to punch me in the face). i think the fact that its a big fat giant mystery is what kills me. but the other night, about 3 seconds before i was walking out the door to get 6 miles in, roosk’s husband, our local fitness junkie, called. after about 20 minutes on the phone, the end result was a change from outdoor running clothes to indoor gym (GOD DAMN YOU BUSY HORRIBLE PLACE WITH ALL THE PEOPLE I HATE YOU) clothes and a new positive perspective.
this new perspective was not so much new, it was is something i tried to believe in for the past week and during any other injury, but somehow, hearing it from someone else, maybe from someone with the experience he has, made all the difference. at least in that moment…which ultimately bought me an extra day off the pavement for recovery. i ended up at the gym, did some leg weights, an hour on the ET, then about 30 minutes on arms and abs. it was a pretty long workout, especially one that started so late and in the middle of the week. but, i think i was taking out my frustration. and it actually felt like it was contributing to my training for the first time in over a week.
i felt strong and like i was doing the right thing.
then i took yesterday completely off again with intentions of another great workout today at the gym.
the result? my ankle feels 85% better. the swelling has gone down significantly, pain is going away and i can actually extend to my tip toes with little/no pain. it feels weak, to be sure, but mostly, i’m amazed at our bodies. how fast they can heal. i’m under no illusions that it’s done healing. i already falsely concluded that once, but i feel confident it’s well on its way now.
i also ordered new shoes. i’m feeling like blaming my shoe change. the brooks that i ran on for the past 5 years did me nothing but good. then i switched to asics after an assessment at my favorite running store. but i think that was a mistake. if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
the whole minor (and can i stress this more…MINOR) drama that this has become in my life has continued to pound in the lesson of mind over matter. my mom believed whole heartily in the power of the mind. and i really do too. i have gotten into an unhealthy mind game with myself over this whole thing. it has very truly brought me DOWN. but, i need to realize (and i am) that a week (or two or three) off is not destroying all previous hard work. and that i can still get in good, worthwhile workouts in without actually RUNNING (even though i REALLY REALLY want to…who am i becoming?). and even if i don’t make the goals that i originally set, i can readjust and still have a fun and successful race day.
so, i figure, based on my potential need to reassess goals, and based of a post from the NOLA ladies who are about to go run their half this weekend, it might be time to set a spectrum of goals, beginning with one that is 100% achievable and ending with a stretch.
- i will finish the race
- i will finish and enjoy (almost) every mile
- i will finish with a 10 min pace
- i will finish in 2 hours
so, i am vowing now, to be happy with any one or all of these achieved, including…simply finishing.
stats (tuesday)
ET: 60 min, 6.45 mi (though, i don’t think the mileage on ET’s are particularly accurate), incline 9-13, resistance 9-13
strength: lets 5 min; arms/lats 15 min; abs 10 min
