• The More You Know

    Date: 2010.01.12 | Category: running, Uncategorized | Tags:

    On Sunday I had intended to run 12 miles outdoors.  It shouldn’t have been a problem, but it had snowed earlier in the week (Wednesday night).  By Saturday, the snow had cleared from the roads.  But to my surprise it had not cleared from the trails on Sunday :(  There were varying amounts of snow on the trail, from 1″ to 4″, all pretty uneven from tracks of other people, which is a recipe for a sprained ankle.  In my moment of stubborn delusion, I hoped that maybe the rest of the trail had cleared, so I trudged on — but that was the stubborn runner talking.*  After a slow mile out, and pain in my calves, heels, and finally (the breaking point) my left knee, I turned back.  I was really disappointed and frustrated.  It had been hard getting myself out there to begin with — after a week of promises that it would be 30° F, it was about the same temperature as last weekend (11° F), and to be honest, I kinda just didn’t really feel like it after a 6 day work week.  I was frustrated, but decided that if I ran 8 miles on the treadmill at home, I’d get 10 total in.  That means I can switch next week’s run (planned 10 miler) with this weekend’s.

    The 8 miles on the treadmill weren’t bad, and I ran between 9:30-9:40 minute miles.  I do try to limit the long runs on the treadmill.  I have a theory that the treadmill changes my gait and causes inflammation in my IT band.  I think it may have contributed to a flare in the past.  So, I am crossing my fingers that a) it won’t snow any more and b) that the snow will completely melt.

    * I have another theory about running.  I think most runners are stubborn people.  This is a prerequisite for the sport.  Running is hard, especially at first, and if it weren’t for stubbornness, we’d all just give up after 1/4 a mile.  This is what carries us through a 5k or 26.2 miles.  It’s not all good though (aka, the aforementioned stubborn delusion)- runners feel pain in their legs and ignore it or talk themselves into believing it’s not a big deal, causing them to get injured.  My brother was running on a trail and encountered a rattlesnake.  Instead of stopping and turning around, he considered jumping over it (presumably in order to complete his planned run).  Luckily, he didn’t jump over it, but ran a different route and ended up making a 6 mile run into a 13 miler.  I think I get the same thoughts when I get out there — there is little that could make me turn around and stop …and there is little that could stop a runner on his or her run.  A rattlesnake is not one of them.

    I don’t regret stopping the outdoor portion of the run at all.  It was the wisest thing to do, and I would have really kicked myself if I ended up falling or spraining something.  But doing the wisest thing isn’t always the thing you want to do at the moment.

    The more you know.