My Wierd Marathon Injury
Ok you athletic trainers and anatomy buffs, I have a wierd running injury for you. Since the marathon I have run three times. Each run has been spread out by several days and while running some of the same muscles I was feeling the most pain and anguish from during the end of the marathon become tense again immediately. One muscle in particular that gave me enough trouble this morning during the first few steps I took to cause me to turn around immediately and walk back inside my house, forfeiting the run altogether.
I have a dull ache in my right calf muscle but not in the middle or lower area, it’s on the top outside of the muscle close to the back of my knee. It’s towards the right side but not totally on the side. Running on it causes it to cramp up quickly and i’ve been able to make it through runs without it causing too much pain but this morning it was really getting my attention.
I’m assuming, like most muscle cramps, that I need to just let it loosen up, maybe ice it and give it some rest – ???
Why I Run
1. I’m scared of the potential humiliation I could make of myself at a gym
2. I can see myself covering ground and it makes me feel like i’m getting something accomplished every moment
3. I can use an mp3 player and tune everything else out
4. It requires very little coordination
5. It’s easy to do in private, whenever, wherever you choose.
6. It covers all the fundamentals in one fell swoop – cardio, toning, upper/lower body, calorie burning…
7. I don’t have to drive somewhere special, I can go right out my front door.
8. I get to shop for new shoes every few months
9. I don’t have to concentrate on the activity which frees my mind to be able to process life
10. Someday, when I have a dog, I can bring my dog with me
11. Most of my high school friends were track/cross country runners
12. I have quite the sweet tooth and have never been willing to limit myself too much on food
13. It gives me a chance to enjoy the outdoors
14. I get to say I’ve done things like run marathons
I’m a Marathoner!!
Well folks, after weeks and weeks of training and waiting and wondering what the experience of running a marathon was like, I can finally claim the official title of marathoner. I completed the Baltimore Marathon at 4:47:03. Here are some highlights of my experience:
The SWEET black underarmor fitted long-sleeve we received with our running goodie bag.
Eating pasta the evening before with Rob and Leigh Prom (a couple we know from church)
FREEZING for thirty minutes before the race started and envying the trash bag wearers
Running with Philip for the first five 1/2 miles, commenting on how rough the roads were and how much we liked our spiffy new athletic sunglasses we’d purchased at the health expo the evening before.
