The sky was dripping rain and dreary looking, the high
temperature for today was only eight degrees Celsius, but that didn’t make it a
bad weekend. This weekend was a blessing for me in that I got to take in a
running workshop, the first one of its kind I ever attended. It didn’t deal
with anything specific about the physical aspects of running, but I did gain
so much insight about the psychological aspects of running. I heard a sort of a
review of things that I have already used as strategies, and I gleaned even
more ideas as to what to do to conquer a course. I’m glad I attended.
I took the stuff to heart and challenged myself to run my 16
kilometer objective for today, despite the rain and wind. Running in depressing,
cold dampness is my ultimate peeve; at least that was the old mindset I had
that I decided to abandon today, as it wasn’t going to serve me. Today, I just
chalked it up as an experience, and decided not to tag an emotion on it. When the
wind blew hard against me, I imagined it simply blowing through me; being
thankful that it was helping to cool me down. When the rain was drenching me, I
instead thought about how cleansing it was compared to being coated with acrid sweat.
It was just a matter of becoming one with the elements. As damp and miserable
as other people made it out to be, I was all smiles, and had them to share with
the other joggers who were as tough/determined/crazy to stick it out there with
me on a day like today as I encountered and passed by them. I was honestly
feeling really good throughout the first half of the course, right up until when my
right calf got a bad cramp that wouldn’t release itself. This was nothing that
I could make into a positive spin, this was a harsh reality of taking these
kinds of risks. I’d be stupid to think that I was exempt from any injury from doing
this, today was just the kind of day where conditions were right for it to
manifest itself. When running in the rain, one doesn’t automatically think to
hydrate oneself; it’s still very necessary. Plus, I didn’t do so adequately
yesterday morning when it was just as overcast. The result was no doubt a cumulative
after effect of dehydration and loss of electrolytes. I’ve had minor cramps while running before, and I could walk them
out, but this baby was major, and I only risked greater injury stressing it
more through extra movement. A setback for sure, but I’m not letting this upset
me; just using it for a lesson. I’m especially thankful that my friend was
available to help me get back home.
To summarize, it has been bittersweet: I lost the ability to
run for a while; just barely able to walk, but I gained a whole new respect for
daring to run in inclemency and channeling a better way to focus through it. I’m
only going to be tougher, wiser, and more courageous after this.
I noticed today that I completed 366 recorded runs.
That equates to using a full (leap) year to hit the trails and pavement daily for jogging and running. Considering that I've been doing all this for that long without major injury or serious incident, I should consider myself lucky.
Holy crap! Noting and realizing this now, I’m
thinking that this running business is starting to turn into some sort of
passion for me.
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