Oh, Deer!

Subtitled: Interrupted Run. This morning I started to run at least 34 minutes, to fulfill the penultimate day of my 34 day challenge for diabetes awareness. It did not go well.

I started out in the dark, as I like to do, wearing my road guard vest, along with leggings, long sleeves, and gloves. Things were fine for the first three or four minutes, then I saw a young deer in a yard up ahead of me.

“Hello, deer,” I said but stupidly did not stop. Of course the deer ran way across the road.

And there were cars coming in both directions! One was far enough away, but the other had to slam on his brakes, which he (or she) fortunately did. I saw the deer make it up into another yard and away. The car paused for a minute or two, no doubt making sure of the same thing.

You would think I would be relieved the poor deer had escaped death, but apparently that is how my mind works. I was traumatized by the thought of what might have happened and the knowledge that it would have been my fault. In my defense, I am having a very emotional time these days, for various reasons with which I will not burden you at this time. Additionally, I have long suffered from depression and anxiety.

Be all that as it may, I started having the worst attack of vocal chord dysfunction (VCD) that I have had in a long time. VCD, in case you did not know, is a breathing problem in which muscles in one’s throat tighten in a most uncomfortable fashion. It sounds like an asthma attack, and it feels pretty awful.

So there I stood on the sidewalk, gasping for breath and making the most hideous noises. How I longed for somebody to stop and say, “Are you all right?” Then they would have said something like, “Calm down, it’s all right. Everything is fine.” I kept saying that to myself, but I didn’t believe me. For heavens’ sake, the deer did NOT get hit! What the hell, me?

Eventually I got my breathing under control, but I still wanted to cry. I tried to start running again, but my body did not want to, even less did my mind. Finally I started to walk back home, feeling really stupid but trying to be gentle with myself.

Then I saw the skunk.

This is the second time I have encountered a skunk while walking in the early morning. The first time, the animal was in a stance, legs spread out, hunkered down, looking like he meant business (although it was dark, so perhaps I exaggerate his air of intimidation). This one was just standing there. I sprinted across the street, and he moseyed on in the other direction.

So that was pretty funny. I walked back to my house, took off my road guard vest and put on my sweatshirt, picked up my water bottle, and proceeded to continue my walk till the desired 34 minutes was accomplished.

Diabetes is a serious problem for many. And exercise is a good idea for everybody! I am not nominating anybody, but I am encouraging all my friends and family to challenge themselves! Even if you don’t do the full 34 minutes or days, do some exercise and make a post about it! Let’s all encourage each other to be a little healthier!

34 Days, 34 Minutes of physical activity for the 34 MILLION diagnosed with Diabetes in the USA.Let’s bring awareness to this issue that plagues our nation.According to the CDC, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes and of those, 90-95% have been diagnosed as type2. “You May be able to manage diabetes with healthy eating and being physically active.”

RULES:*Once nominated, your 34 days begin the following day.*Post a “selfie” of your post workout sweat everyday for 34 days*please nominate a friend you think will FOLLOW THROUGH with this challenge. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP SPREAD THE AWARENESS.*HAVE FUN, work on you for the next 34 days for 34 minutes!!!! BE CREATIVE!!!