“Few things are more powerful than learning to trust that your path to a fulfilled life — and the glorious destiny that you are meant to share with the world — is part of your soul’s blueprint.”
~Rod Stryker
Over the past few months I have been gradually working my way back into my running regimen. I have had all this pain going on with my hip then I injured my arm riding the bicycle with my son. But this week has been completely pain free and I have been able to do all my training comfortably. I have the New York Marathon coming up soon so this recovery is right in time.
“After winter comes the summer. After night comes the dawn. And after every storm, there comes clear, open skies.” ~Samuel Rutherford
I woke up Wednesday morning with the track fresh on the brain. I haven’t done any speed work in almost a year and this was my favorite type of training before all my injuries started occurring. Over the past few months I have also been training at my gym regularly for some photo shoots I have had for a few places. Only this type of training I’m doing now is completely different from what I was doing when I developed all my burnout and hurt. I have taken it all back to my roots, which is my mainstream gym training without all the crossfit, and its working wonders for me. I feel great again and my transformation is going awesome without bothering my running.
“Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active; it is concentrated strength.”
~Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
“Have respect for yourself, and patience and compassion. With these, you can handle anything.”
~Jack Kornfield
When Wednesday came and I woke up completely ready, so I decided to take a break from my weights to do track work. I worked all day, I got to the track at around 5ish and placed my earphones on. I glanced around and wondered if I could still do this, and just how long I would even be able to since there was a killer storm approaching, then I took off. My legs felt like lightening as I ran. I wore my Garmin, and I haven’t been wearing it much because I have taken on the simple approach but I somehow felt the need for it today. The first lap I glanced down at my watch and I was holding such a fast steady pace, as soon as I looked at it I would look away and immediately think another thought. Nothing was going to rain on this for me… Nothing, then the bottom dropped. It began raining, but I kept going and going. I loved feeling every drop on my head as I lapped around feeling free, feeling healthy again, feeling like ME!!! Then the lightening began and I took that as a sign that maybe I shouldn’t over do it this time and I headed to my car and scooted home…
“Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.”
On my drive home I felt completely exhilarated! It has been so long since I have been able to run this way without the discouragement of hurting in my hip or even feeling like running again… Going through a total burnout like I have gone through has been hard for me but on that drive home I totally realized so much of a blessing in it all…
This disconnection in running I have had has given me so much more of a realization of how and why I love this sport so much. This disconnection has allowed me so much knowledge… Honestly, I feel I have gained more not running and sitting, watching and listening to people. I have learned what it is I want, what it is I need, and who it is I truly want to be in the whole scheme of things! On that ride home I asked myself what I have been asking myself for the past few years and heck for most of my life… Stephanie, just who are you??? And after this track session it hit me like a ton of bricks and I could answer this as confident as I ever have been! I AM TRULY A SURVIVOR and I can overcome anything…
If you really believe in what you’re doing, work hard, take nothing personally and if something blocks one route, find another. Never give up. ~Laurie Notaro
To end this entry I will say if there is any advice I will give my fellow runners it is to CHILL THE HECK OUT! I mean this in all the best way, because when you are injured our mind’s play massive tricks on us and we do stupid things. DON’T do them, relax alittle and embrace your pain as dumb as this may seem, give yourself time to heal! The understanding of your injury will be clear to you when the fog settles, and this is something I DO KNOW to be absolutely true!!! Most of all though runnahs, Never Give Up, Never Give In, Never Stop Trying, NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!