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April 11, 2007
TUUUUMMMMBBBBBLLLLLEEEE
In case it's not clear, my title is "tumble." Just when things start to shape up, leave it to me to tumble down a flight of stairs and toss my running to the wayside. I swear I am not a clumsy klutz, but last week I took quite a fall. I decided that skimping on sleep and trying to make up for it in large dosages of caffeine doesn't work. I have been extremely busy with my teaching obligations, thesis, and classes. However, one thing has become glaringly clear to me this year: I am simply too old to pull all-nighters and deny myself sleep. It used to be easy when I was a motivated, unmarried, grade-obsessed, nerdy 19-22 year-old. While I am still a nerd, I am no longer motivated, single, or grade-obsessed (come on, we all know that everyone gets an "A" in graduate school!). I say this now, of course, as I am about to embark on yet another long night of reading, studying, writing, and editing. *Sigh*. At least I know one thing for sure: I will avoid hopping up and down the stairs in my zombie like state!
Which brings me to the fall: last week I was flying down the stairs when I lost my footing and crashed down on the right side of my body. I have some lovely bruises to underscore the brutality of the fall. I was so stunned when I made it to the bottom of the stairs that I was too afraid to move. Initially, I thought that I broke my arm and my ass . . . NOT cool. After a few minutes of contemplating my sudden paralysis, I slowly stood up, limped around for about 5 minutes, and started to cry. Just when my running starts to pick up . . . BUT I quickly gathered myself and said a big "thanks" that I was not broken or injured. I did take the rest of the week off.
So this week I ran a moderate 6 miles on Monday, I took yesterday off, and I am about to sneak in 6 miles before bed tonight. If all goes well, I am going to attempt a hard workout of 10 half mile repeats tomorrow . . . I can already feel the anxiety! My friend, H., gave me some goal times to meet and I am afraid that they are way too ambitious, but I guess I won't know until I at least try. Still, this speedwork stuff really scares the hell out of me. I wish I could say that I look forward to my speed dates, but I loathe them. Don't get me wrong, I seamlessly enter into a robotic flow when I get into them, but I dread the idea of running the first interval. The rest of the week should go something like this: 8 miles Friday, 3 miles Saturday, and 13-15 on Sunday (marathon race pace for some of them).
I suppose I ought to quit procrastinating and get running!
Thank you for all of the lovely comments!
Posted by bridget at April 11, 2007 9:14 PM
Comments
"...a big "thanks" that I was not broken or injured..." ... or paralyzed... a scary read..., PHEW-lly with a great happy ending, PHEW-lly, PHEW-lly.... There's got to be other ways to take the week off :-)
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at April 12, 2007 3:27 AM
Corrado - I completely agree! There are definitely easier and far better reasons to find an excuse to take a week off than to crash down a flight of stairs :)
Posted by: bridget at April 12, 2007 11:21 AM
Thanks for the welcome! Hope that the running is going well!
jacob p.
Posted by: jacob phillips at April 12, 2007 12:04 PM
Geez - glad you are okay after that fall! Sounds bad!! Hope the half mile repeats went well - I'm sure you ran fast and smooth and effortlessly. :) Take care of yourself!
Posted by: Beth at April 12, 2007 1:47 PM
I hope your speed workout went well and you are feeling better after your fall!
Posted by: mary at April 14, 2007 1:06 PM
Bridget! Silly girl! I'm SO glad you're okay! Good grief! Yes, you are a grownup with lots of other responsibilities. Staying up all night when you're 20 and there's nothing else to do in the whole world besides finishing the danged paper, that's still doable.
Anyways, I'm so glad nothing was permanently damaged!
Posted by: Meghan at April 16, 2007 12:06 PM