There was a moment in my run this afternoon when I thought to myself, “I don’t care if I don’t get any endorphins, as long as that stitch doesn’t come back!”
It was a long run. Not as long as my longest run so far, but long enough. I ran hills. Not the hill up to Herkimer College, but a couple of very long hills in a residential area near the college (I usually refer to it as the suburbs, but I know that is not accurate). I was running slowly but with determination. I felt pleased with myself to be going uphill for such a long period of time. This was great preparation for the Boilermaker!
And then the stitch started. It was sharp. It was painful. Oh dear. I took deep breaths and stretched my arms over my head. Stretch, breath, repeat. It did not help. Was that a rumble of thunder in the distance? Was I about to get poured on? I had a vision of a kind motorist stopping for a drenched runner to offer a ride home, because of the thunder and lightning. There was very little traffic, so I knew that was a remote chance. I did not hear the thunder again, if it was even thunder to begin with. It did not rain.
Eventually I was running downhill. This was not horrible. Miraculously, the stitch went away. Oh, the dear sweet sensation of NOT being in pain. Who needed endorphins? I had lost the stitch.
I avoided hills for the rest of the run. I never did get any endorphins, but I reached the coveted “I Can Rock This” stage. It did not last, but no matter. I ran. I SHALL be prepared for the Boilermaker.
Note: in this blog, when I say “Boilermaker,” I mean the Boilermaker 15K. I find it too cluttered to specify the 15K every time I mention it.
I realize that this is much shorter than my usual Running Commentary posts. I was noticing stuff as I ran and as usual narrating in my head, but now I just can’t seem to type in any of the good stuff. All I can say is, it’s Tired Tuesday. I managed to run, I managed a post. I’m done. Thank you for reading.
Mohawk Valley Girl 