I wanted to write today’s Motivation Monday about how my goal for my various athletic endeavors this winter is to have fun. I want to take the pressure off of myself to nail a specific time in a race or to ski a perfect mogul run, with the knowledge that I usually perform better that way. I was going to adopt Brooks’ “Run Happy” ad campaign and make it my own personal mantra.
Then, on what should have been a lovely late-afternoon fall run yesterday, I had to face a frustrating fact that makes me feel anything but happy and laid back: Months after I thought rest, meds and cortisone shots took care of my ankle business, which stem from a bad sprain I got while running in Rock Creek Park last year, my ankle hurts again. Like, bad enough to say “Ouch!” out loud to myself while running uphill last night. This came after doing some pre-hab exercises and quietly taking a week off from running to see if I could curb the problem myself.
I could tell you all about the parade of imaginary horribles that marched through my head, despite my best efforts to stop them (Stress fracture! No National Marathon! No ski season, despite getting pretty new boots last weekend! Gaah!). But since it’s Motivation Monday, I’ll tell you what pulled me out of the rabbit hole of frustration and self-pity instead. Motivating me today:
Knowing that my running doc will give me a plan to make things better when I see him tomorrow (yes, he got me in tomorrow!) – and a plan that will let me keep running if at all possible. Do you have a sports ortho you trust? If not, I highly recommend finding one. Takes 75 percent of the stress of a running injury out of the recovery process.
Having a Plan B. And C. And D. I coped with being unable to train for the Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 25 until August thanks to a flareup of my old hip injury (likely caused by the aforementioned ankle sprain) by focusing on open-water swims until I could run again, and then plotting several backup races if I wasn’t well enough to run by October. My backup plans this time: If I can’t do the National Marathon in March (I know — this is so far off!), I’ll run the National Half-Marathon, and set my eyes on Marine Corps or Philly next October. I’ll throw my hat in the ring for the full 4.4-mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Swim rather than the 1-miler I was getting excited about.
Pushing the positive, even when it’s tough. This is a tip Deena Kastor gave me when I got to pick her brain for a Women’s Running story about how she stays motivated. I will push the positive by reminding myself that injuries come and go, and that I’m more of an athlete than just a runner, and more of a person than the amateur athlete I sometimes am on weekends and during workouts.
What’s motivating you this week? Let me know by posting a comment below. Also, wish me luck at the doc tomorrow!
Amy, so sorry your ankle is hurting again! That sucks!! Try not to let it bring you down-I know easier said than done!!
Motivating me……I’m motivated to break my stupid 2:30 Half barrier…. I don’t know what I was thinking that I could do it yesterday on a hilly course-but I did take 15 min off another hilly race, SF….so my motivation is to break that 2:30 barrier. I’m getting older so it wont be as easy but I’ve run sub 2:30 before I will do it again!
“more of an athlete than just a runner” – So very true! Your dedication to swimming always surprises me – a 4.4 mile swim race!?? whew, that’ll be a challenge for sure
I’m glad you have a good Doc to help out behind the scenes of all this running stuff. keep us posted on how that appt goes tomorrow!!
sorry to hear about your ankle! :-/ glad your doc was able to work you in though – he seems like a good doc, especially to accept your running needs. hope the appt went well.
i’m currently enjoying “relaxing running” – whatever i want, when i want. basically, running shorter and taking more days off without feeling bad about it since i’m not chugging towards a race. i need a few weeks of no-pressure to re-build my mojo.