Knowing When to Freakin' Rest Already!

FIRST: I'd like to make a correction from my first entry "Pilot: 2nd Airdate". It was brought to my attention from a source who will remain anonymous, that the time in which my boss (SHOUT OUT) finished her first half marathon was NOT 2:17, but in fact 2:15. Slight error, but it has now been corrected (Are you happy now?).

SECOND: I've had numerous people message me about my blog (even though they might not be following... FOLLOW ME PEOPLE), and I just wanted to say right off the bat, that I really enjoy these messages. Getting messages and posts really motivates me to keep going and keep running (cuz lord knows all I want to do sometimes is just stop). This chronicle, although young and in it's early stages of development, has already seemed to catch a few eyes and it's really cool to know that my words are entertaining and maybe even a little inspiring. I hope that it gives others out there some motivation to go out there and work towards their own personal goal, running or otherwise.

Okay, enough sappy crap. The real reason I write is because I think I'm funny (and totally humble about it). The weird things that go through my mind when I run are sometimes crazy, but they also make me laugh and I"m hoping they make you laugh too. Or at least smile. You don't have a heart if you can't crack a smile when you read this.

So on with today....

Today, I logged in 7.31 miles.  I was SUPPOSED to run 3... so why the crap would I run 4.31 miles over my scheduled run??

No, I didn't lose track of time. That would NEVER happen on a run. I ALWAYS know when it ends. I don't do this for fun people... and no, I wasn't enjoying myself so much I just couldn't stop myself from running. Again, I DON'T DO THIS FOR FUN PEOPLE.

I logged in extra miles because I had to rearrange my workout schedule this week. Why did I rearrange my workout schedule? Well, I did this so I could accommodate my PARTY schedule. You see, I'm making a trip out to Colorado to see a friend (SHOUT OUT) this weekend and normally, I do my long runs on Saturdays. The training regimen I do right now consists of long runs on Saturdays, followed by short runs on Sundays, rest Monday, short Tuesday, medium Wednesday, cross training Thursday, and short Friday (you didn't pay attention to any of that, but its okay). Anyway, I had to bump my long run (12 miles) from Saturday to Friday for this week because I plan on partying.... and who wants to run 12 miles hungover? Who wants to run 12 miles period!?

So in effect, I had to run Wednesday's medium run TODAY to make sure I could do my long run on Friday. I'm literally getting off the plane Friday, driving for an hour and half, getting out, and running 12 miles. I'm a crazy betch. I'd just like to point out, though, that this commitment totally shows my dedication not only to the marathong, but also to partying. A good runner AND a good friend.

But that isn't what I wanted to talk about today. Today, while I was running, I started thinking about all the injuries runners get. You've got shin splints, patellofemoral syndrome, ITB syndrome, bursitis...the list goes on. For me, I've been lucky enough to avoid all of that so far. What I haven't been able to avoid, however, is a sprained ankle. Yes, somehow, I've managed to acutely injure myself (acute meaning that I DID something to myself as opposed to chronic which means that it's an overuse thing. Sort of like, sprained ankle vs. shin splints).

Picture this: You're outside. Decked out in the most comfortable running gear. The temperature is a cool 60 degrees and the sun is out with not a cloud in the sky. The road ahead of you is clear without a distraction in sight.

NOW, picture the exact opposite. Because THOSE were the conditions I had to run in last last Friday. It was POURING rain, freezing, completely dark (the street lights just suck), and there were leaves and sticks, and crap strewn all over the ground. I drove home from work and contemplated running on the treadmill at my complex's gym.

Nope, just kidding. I hate the treadmill.

I pulled up to my apartment and just sat in my car. Since I hate the treadmill, I either run outside or don't run at all. I thought about it....really thought about it. If I didn't run, I'd be skipping a run for an already accelerated training program and I don't have much time to get ready for this marathong. I guess my decision was made at this point: I was going to run.

I did one last check on weather.com to see if the rain would let up any time soon, but no such luck. I laced my nike+ running shoes on (it's a shoe that holds a sensor in the sole so that you can log your miles), and put my newly acquired water wicking jacket on over my under armor turtle neck. I stepped outside and immediately thought of going back inside..... NO. I can't. This marathong is too important. I just had to suck it up and get out there. Someone once said that half the battle is just showing up (I really can't remember who said it...)...and there I was. Showed up.

I started to run and thought, "You know, this isn't too bad. It's kind of fun..." I was 2 miles in when I totally changed my mind. There I was, running...putting one foot in front of the other and all of a sudden- WAH! I stumble over some debris on the sidewalk and roll my right ankle. "WHAT THE F-!? GEEZ! OW! STOOPY (aka stupid)!..." I coudn't believe it. It only hurt a little and I felt more stoopy than in pain at that point. I limped for a bit (but not before I stopped my watch) and was able to shake it off and run again.

I thought everything was all good for the next half mile. I was cruising, trying to just get back home (because the RAIN WAS HORRIBLE) when all of a sudden- BLHWAGHAOA! I roll my right ankle AGAIN!! This time, all my weight falls right on top of it and I actually screamed in pain. I was lucky no one was around.

Anyway, I'm standing there, soaked, hurt, and totally frustrated. WTF, I was just trying to be a dedicated runner and do the right thing by running despite the horrible weather conditions! I tried to walk on it... NOPE, not happening. This sucks. I reach into my jacket to get my phone- crap, I didn't bring it. I didn't want it to get wet. At this point, I'm not just screwed...I'm F--KED. I couldn't walk, I didn't have my phone, it was raining, it was dark, and I was still a half mile away from my apartment....

There was only one thing I could do at this point....CRY.

Just kidding, I didn't cry. But I did feel like punching myself. Seeing as how I didn't have any other option, I just limped. Even if it took me an hour, the only thing I could do was limp home. And that's what I did...

I finally got back home, jumped into the kitchen (you'd think I'd jump into the bathroom, but this was closest part of my apartment that I could drip wet) and assessed the damage. I unlaced my shoes and pulled my shoe off. OW. I peeled my soaked sock off my foot. DOUBLE OW. I look at my ankle. DAYEM THAT THING IS SWOLLEN. Seeing as how my ankle was in a state of shock, I did what any avid runner would do. I called my daddy.

After a conversation with both my parents (If I call my dad, I get put on speaker phone so my mom can hear. If I call my mom, it's speaker phone for my dad too), I iced and just kept thinking how the hell I was going to do my long run the next day. I'm a runner, damn it! This marathong is going to come and go whether or not I was ready for it and I would prefer to be ready! I iced, and decided to see if I could maybe run on it, so I did a trial run in my apartment. NOPE, not happening. I couldn't do it, it hurt so freakin' bad.

To sort of put an end to this post, I texted my cousin (who has run, like, 5 marathongs, including Boston!) and asked for some advice. I was worried that by skipping a run...especially a long run, it would be completely detrimental for my training. I just want to do this right, you know? She said rest. REST REST REST.

For the runners out there: There comes a point when you have to decide if continuing to run is going to hurt your game more versus if you rest. For me at this point, my cousin was right. I just had to lay off the running for a while. I was not happy about this. But not because I love running- I hate running, remember? I was SO not happy because Thanksgiving was coming up and running meant burning calories. And burning calories meant zero guilt or regrets about eating anything and everything (I ended up eating that way anyway).

So anyway, I rested for about 3 days, tried to run, then realized I needed to rest some more. All in all, the time I spent resting sucked. I felt lazy and a bit like I was shirking my duty to this training program. But since then, I've managed to PR on my 5K TWICE and my 10K, which has been cool.

So lesson learned, a little time off can actually be beneficial. For me at that time, rest seemed like the most illogical concept to me. If it wasn't on my already printed training schedule, I wasn't going to do it, plain and simple. But I'm glad I listened to my body a little and let it rest and get my ankle better. My ankle is still a bit wobbly, but I can run. At right now, that's all that matters.