It’s been over a year since I last attempted to run. Now while this may seem all that significant to some, it is to me. Growing up I was an athlete. To be honest, it didn’t really matter what sport it was, although soccer has always been my favorite, I just loved being a part of a team and pushing myself physically to see how far I could go.
We moved around a lot when I was growing up and playing sports also gave me a chance to meet other kids. Not really sure I had friends necessarily but being a part of a team at least let me feel like I had a place where I belonged. Even though I was cut from the soccer team my freshman year of high school I didn’t let that stop me and was one of the players that helped start the girls’ team my sophomore year in spite of them telling us there wasn’t enough interest. I still remember the first game of that year when we had to wear the old practice football jerseys because the school didn’t provide us uniforms. Afterwards, one of the parents sponsored our team but that first game was definitely one to remember. We lost every game that first season, but it didn’t matter because we stuck together and never gave up.
When I was younger, I never particularly enjoyed running but as I got older and quickly came to realize my days of playing team sports were over I found solace in running, especially once I was able to again after having ankle surgery to repair the ligaments and remove a bone chip in 2012.
I slowly started to run in 2013, after being encouraged by a friend to attempt a 5k with her. I agreed and while I wasn’t able to complete it found myself hooked. At the beginning of 2014, I set a goal for myself to complete at least one 5k a month. Was doing fairly well until Labor Day weekend when I managed to fall off a curb on the last night of Dragon Con (still don’t actually remember what happened though) and sprained my “good” ankle. By October I had to concede defeat and accept that it was time to get the left ankle fixed which meant that I was through running for the rest of the year.
The recovery process was difficult, especially after becoming more active, and to be honest I probably pushed myself too hard, too fast once I was allowed to get back out and start training again. I found myself in a love/hate relationship with running and eventually found a local running group which gave me the chance to be a part of a “team” again.
Unfortunately, in February 2017 I tore the meniscus in my right knee (also discovered I have arthritis in both knees). Then I was rear-ended at the end of April of the same year. I didn’t let it completely stop me from running but it definitely slowed me down. Last year I decided I wanted to refocus and attempt my original goal of completing at least one 5k a month after having to take several months off.
I started off doing fairly well, even though I had significantly reduced my training I was still able to at least complete a 5k. But overtime the pain in my knee became unbearable and I once again conceded defeat on my 40thbirthday when I barely crossed the finish line at my last completed 5k. Earlier this I decided I was going to start training again and signed up for a 5k in June which was cancelled due to weather. (Apparently running when there’s lighting outside is a bad idea). Then life got in the way. But I have decided to recommit myself and start training next month once my schedule will be a little more manageable.
Going to start slow and build up over time. The key will be to ensure that I remember to use the SMART system when I set up my goals moving forward. But more about that next time.
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