« Apologies, Apologies | Main | It's Been a Long Time »
August 15, 2006
Walk This Way
I sang Aerosmith's song "Walk This Way" as I walked on the treadmill this morning. Of course, what is the most pervasive problem to obsessively singing this song? The only lyric I actually know is the chorus: Walk This Way. I don't remember exactly, but I don't think the song is meant to be inspirartional from an athletic perspective. Isn't it about a boy wanting a girl to "walk this way"?
Anyway, THANK YOU for all of the comments! I haven't cried in a long time (and maybe I need to), but I felt a tear sneak out of my eye when I checked back in and read everyone's encouraging words. Not to sound completely sappy, but it really touches me in the soul to know that people who have and have not met me can relate to this experience and understand what it feels like. My best friend, Carrie, said: "own up to the past, embrace it, and then let it go." I cannot think of better advice right now.
It is Tuesday - almost afternoon - and I still have not heard the results of the MRI. While I am holding out hope that I have a serious overuse/muscular injury, I have accepted not running for quite a while. And to be completely honest, I *really* am okay with that. The way I view this situation is that I have two choices: 1. I can get super depressed, feel sorry for myself, eat tons of candy and shut down. OR 2. I can view this as an opportunity to heal, and I can be grateful for the things that I CAN do. The doctor said I can walk. So I have been walking. AND - to my complete suprise - I have been enjoying it! I throw on my ipod, sing some songs, close my eyes, feel the wind. I am sort of re-learning to appreciate the quiet times and more subtle forms of exercise.
It was funny, though. When the doctor told me that I could, and should, keep up a "light" exercise routine, I bowed my head for a minute, looked up, and searchingly asked, "Well, how do you define 'light'? Because when I think of 'light' in non-running terms, I think of jumping on a bike and hammering for 45 minutes." He cracked up and said that our definitions were not in unison. "Light" means walking briskly, but not race-walking. It's funny how running 10 miles/day becomes such the norm for some of us . . . to most people, such a norm is the equivalent of a DSM IV "insanity" diagnosis.
I'll update as soon as I find out the results of the MRI. Maybe I will come up with some enlightening things to say about walking . . . and once I can wrap my head around the fuzzy background that this injury probably stems from, maybe I will have some enlightening things to say about that too . . .
In the meantime, I am mentally preparing to run sub 3 next fall ;-)
Posted by bridget at August 15, 2006 11:17 AM
Comments
Sorry to come into this so late. I'm really sad to read about your troubles, but I don't know what to say - I know what you're going through, I've been there (we all have, haven't we?), chin up, you will get through it - all platitudes, yet all true. Please let us know what the MRI says. Hopefully it will be good news.
Posted by: joe positive at August 15, 2006 5:01 PM
Walking...you kow I love to walk and am always here to take a walk with you. Allows you to appreciate the beauty and take in the vibrant city that is Chicago. The past is the past and all that matters now is the present. Love you tons!
Posted by: Katie at August 16, 2006 8:59 AM
love you!
Posted by: carrie g. at August 21, 2006 7:04 PM
cerebral training going ok ? :-)
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at September 12, 2006 10:28 AM
bridget!! you better have changed your email address, or you are in BIG trouble. write me back!!
Posted by: katie at November 1, 2006 2:17 PM
hope you have a good 2007!
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at December 31, 2006 3:11 AM
Bridget, awesome blog, and you are truly a good person with a good heart and obviously a great deal of compassion. If you get a chance, please visit my running web site, Faithful Soles (be sure while you are there to read "The Greatest Marathoner", it will really inspire you in not just your running, but in your everyday life). I have a categorized and searchable Running Blog Database on there and would appreciate it if you would link your blog to it. I also have my own blog, but most of my information is on the main web site. Thanks and continued good luck in your training.
Posted by: Robert at February 13, 2007 6:38 AM