Runners Diary

I wake up before the sun comes out in the summer to get that long run in before the heat gets to me. It doesn’t matter whether my bones and joints are feeling good or not, I know I have to go. I pop in my usual Tylenol and Ibuprofen to get me through the run before I head out the door. It’s about 6:45am and there’s no one else up, besides a few other runners I pass on my way. It can be a shorter faster run, a long millage run, or even just one of my two runs for the day. Now this is just base training I’m talking about here. This is to get ready for the hard cross country training that’s going to be starting once school starts up again. Hard hill workouts, long runs, and many races. I try and enjoy these summer runs because I know September through November isn’t going to be easy; but this will get me ready for it.
I head out and coach myself through it, block by block I make destinations to make it too to keep my pace up. The first ten minutes the pain is unbearable but I know I have to keep going. My shins are on fire and I want to stop, tears sometimes fill my eyes but I push myself. Every street light I see in the distance I hope for a red light so I can take a break. I run and run and try not to think of the pain or the time. I try and think of where the training is going to get me too, how much stronger I am going to be if I keep pushing myself. Finally its turnaround time; I get to head back home. The pace usually tends to pick up and the legs start to feel fatigue because I know I’m almost home; I can see my house in the distance. My arms start to pump faster and faster, my legs are dragging behind me but I know I can’t stop now, I’m almost there. I hit my driveway and the feeling of relief fills me. I am finally done; at least my first run of the day. I can barely walk my shins are so sore; I lie on the ground in pain and tears and ask myself why I do it. Everyone in my house is just starting to get up while my workout is already done. Afterwards, as I sit and ice my shins and aches and pains I remind myself why I’m beating up my body. Why do I push myself so hard that I am always getting therapy on my shins, after I already dealt with stress fractures at least once before? I think about those goals I have set for myself and if I want to be successful I need to put in 110% every workout and make this my first priority. I remind myself that this was my choice and that I don’t run because I have too, I run because I want too, and because I just love the sport!