I can do a 10K….

My toes in the ER

     Yes,  that's right, you read that right.  I CAN do a 10K.  I just have to work hard at it.  This past Thanksgiving, I ran the 5K Turkey Trot again, but this time, with an injury to my toes I incurred the night before at work. A gurney ran over my left toes, with a patient in it, no less, and the rest of my shift was spent in the ER.  Thankfully, the preliminary X-rays showed no broken bones, just contusions about to form on my pinky toe and 4th little toe in the days to come.  Honestly, I was really hoping the ER doc would say, "Oh no! You gotta keep off that foot! No running for you young lady--just lots of rest and relaxation in front of the tv and eat to your heart's content!"  Oh, but no.  Given that this nice ER doc was an avid trail runner who runs with his dog up in Berkeley hills all the time , he remained cheerful and said instead, "Well, if it doesn't hurt too bad, you can run it.  Just see how you feel tomorrow."  
Great.  And so the next day (with that stupid stubborn determination I have sometimes), I woke up to a very early cold morning with a very hurtful and swollen toe and trotted my way to the finish line in 34 minutes. Hooray.  2 minutes longer than last year, but I did it.  But let's back track and talk about my relationship with running.

     I really do NOT like running.  I don't like anticipating waking up and getting ready and going out to run.  I don't like going to the bathroom for one more (or two) quick pee before I go for a run but if I don't complete this ritual, I fear I will pee in my pants if i don't. I don't like waking up in the morning to run, but if I don't, then I will not exercise the rest of the day.  I don't like starting the run and then getting tired 5 minutes after starting and having to think good positive thoughts and energy to keep on going.  I don't like the way I run.  S-L-O-W... with my mouth open.  I have to remind myself to pump my arms, and breathe in and out through my nose as I rhythmically continue my S-L-O-W pace.  And then let's talk about sweat.  Actually, let's not.  I actually like to sweat, because that means I am working at running.  I don't like climbing and climbing uphill, but if I don't, then I know I haven't pushed myself.

Before the run.  See how cold and enthused we look?

     I am never going to be one of those people who wake up every morning, chirpy as a bird, and just get up and go and run like the wind.
     But there is one thing I like about running.  I like how it makes me feel at the end.  I feel like…. .Ok fine--I feel like "I got the eye of the tiger and now you're gonna hear me roar!" (Thank you Katy Perry for that very motivating song by the way) No seriously, I feel like that.  I give myself a nice pat on the back and say good job.  Next time I will...

My poor pinky toe after I ran.  I ended up not wearing any socks or anything on it for a few days 'cos was it ever sore!

     So this past Thanksgiving day, with a foot that hurt more to walk on than run, I surprised myself by getting up in the morning, putting on my Brooks Trance 10's (albeit very gingerly over a very ouch toe), hobbled my way to the start line, got my groove on and ran.  Hooray.  Ok, fine:  HoOrAY!!  Dennis did the 10K and he ran it very well.  I wasn't really thinking about committing myself to another run for awhile, until a hard core runner friend said "Hey good job.  So 10K, next time, yes?"  Why, yes, I can do a 10K….

 

Post run glows all around