The post=appointment conversation between my dr. and I went a little something like this:
ME: So can I run Sunday (said in hopeful high-pitch question voice)?
DR: I don’t want to say you can’t run Sunday, because I think if you rest/ice/stretch like I tell you to, then you will be fine. But I would take it easy, stay off it for a few days and see how you feel.
ME: So…I can run…(insert puppy dog eyes)?
DR: I am advising you to listen to you body. Take it easy for the next week and half, see how you feel race day, and make a decision then. Just be smart about it and listen to your body.
ME: Okay, good. So I can run. (Smile!)
Here’s the thing…I do not do well with taking it easy.
Take for example:
- When I get sick, I hate having to stay in bed after about a day…
- When I am snowed in, I start going crazy after about a day…
- When I was on crutches in 2000 following a car accident, I was over it within a week…
- And when I hurt my knee in November 2008, and couldn’t run for three months, I just about lost my mind…
Today I went to the gym for another super easy walk/run on the treadmill. It was everything in me not to rev that machine up and run. But when I was injured in 2008, I went against doctors advice, didn’t listen to my body and ran when I shouldn’t. I pushed my limits and it kept me from running for another three months. Not worth it. Lesson learned. So even if inside I was bursting at the seams to move my legs faster, I kept it slow and easy for my hips sake. Cause I would really like for my flexor and I to be friends again soon. As in by this weekend.
And now I am going to be ridiculous. This is the part where you comment me to tell me just how ridiculous my statement is, but at the same time try to make me feel better about being so ridiculous in the first place…
I hate going slow because I know I am capable of more and I feel like people are watching, and they don’t know I am injured. I would like to wear a sign that says “I don’t actually suck this much, I just have a bum hip flexor” or “Caution: Running super slow due to unhappy hip flexor” just so people know the real reason why I am that girl…you know, the one on the treadmill reading a magazine (GAAASP!!!!).
Told you, ridiculous. But in seriousness, it is hard not to feel that way 😦
How do you deal with taking it slow? What are some tricks you use that force you to slow down? Do you ever have ridiculous thoughts like mine above when dealing with injury?
I am super glad that this girl will be with me at the race on Sunday so that if I get the urge to push to hard she can be like “Whoa sista” and hold me back, but that if I feel good enough to push she will be like “Hell yea!” Either way, I am just excited to have someone to hang out with throughout the race. We have a few surprises up our sleeve but you’ll have to wait for the reports/photos 🙂