I am nobody’s good example when it comes to fitness. I triumphantly ran four days in a row, culminating in my longest run on Sunday. Then I went three days without running. Go ahead and judge me. On the brighter side, I ran today and it was not a bad run at all.
I had told myself all day that I would run, trying as usual to internalize the idea. I even said I would run rain or shine. Even if it poured rain! After all, “Run in the Rain” is a good title for a blog post. Except that I think I already used it. No matter, it did not rain. It was actually lovely weather for a run: cooler temperature, cloudy and breezy. This was going to be great!
I did my usual multi-task of putting a load of laundry in the washer before I set out. I prepared myself to listen to my legs, feet, and possibly back complain. I would persevere! Maybe I would make it a short run, but I would persevere for as long as possible. Imagine my delight when my legs seemed perfectly content to move. I turned left on German Street and prepared to enjoy myself.
Eight or nine minutes into the run, I got this weird cramp in my lower abdomen. How annoying! The entire rest of my body was having a perfectly enjoyable run, but one little part has to give me a pain. What was that all about? I kept running. Maybe it would go away. It did not. I kept running anyways.
I saw a small flag on the sidewalk and picked it up. I don’t like to see the American flag on the ground. It was frayed on one side, as if it has come off its little stick. I held it by the edge as I ran. Now I was running with a flag. I was thinking it could be a Veteran’s Day run when I remembered: today is Flag Day! I was right on time! This was great!
Only the cramp continued. It is so bothersome when you have a pain: it colors everything you do. I continued to run, stopping occasionally to smell flowers: lilacs once, peonies two or three times. Of course I kept these stops very brief. I considered making it a short run because of the cramp. Then again, there was no guarantee that the cramp would stop if I was not running. I did not think it involved any running muscles. I kept going. Every body part other than the cramp felt great! What the hell, body?
As I neared the end of the run, it seemed that I could definitely keep it up for 29 minutes, the same length as my last, longest run. I WOULD keep it up for 29 minutes, yes! In order to do so, I ran around the apartment building at the end of my street, then around its front drive, then past my house and back. I did it!
I felt happy as I walked my cool-down, and even happier as I drank my chocolate milk recovery beverage after my shower. The cramp did not go away, so clearly I was right to keep running. I’m wondering now if I will make this another four-day streak, running Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If so, I will strive NOT to take three days off after!
Mohawk Valley Girl 