There is certainly lasting glory after completing a half marathon. You find yourself with a huge self-esteem lift and carry your shoulders a little bit higher.
What I didn’t take into account were the injuries.
A couple of weeks after running the grueling 21 kms race, I felt a painful twitch at the top of my left knee. Thinking it was a bruise, I was curious to find there was no ugly, blue prominent mark.
Finally, I called on my worse fears and went to the physio. Yup. Post halfie injury.
It was text book stuff apparently and it has a name, patella tendonitis.
What? Paella? Isn’t that a yummy Spanish dish?
For the past 2 months, I’ve been nursing an inflamed tendon, sticking to the routine stretches strictly instructed by Jeff.
And of course that also means absolutely no running.
Right smack bang in the middle of pavement pounding season.
How to kill me slowly.
Firstly, I had to sadly decline a fine invitation from Matt at Dad Down Under to join him in a 10km run in the Sydney CBD. I was so ready to fly like the wind and have a cold beer with him at the end of it.
But last Sunday was the beloved City2Surf run. And missing out on my favourite running event hurt my feelings.
Simply for the fact that it’s a race that first got me believing in myself; helping me prove that just because I was now a mother, I could still have goals and challenges; I could still learn and enjoy how to be a runner.
Life teaches lessons through all different paths and avenues. My knee injury, for all of its pain and dissapoint, was a very unlikely one.
Luckily this year, I had a childhood friend come up from Melbourne to hang out for the weekend but also decided to sign up and walk the City2Surf.
Pre-injury, the plan was for us to meet at the finish line.
When I told her I was injured, I realised that a 14 kms walk was a perfect opportunity for us to enjoy the sights, have a chat and catch up.
As I waited for her at the starting line, watching all the keen competitors doing their serious stretches, fixing their caps and sunglasses, rubbing in last minute Deep Heat, I decided to soak in the atmosphere.
It was like being the only sober person at the party. I started seeing things from a very different perspective.
Basking in the unusually warm winter sun, I took better notice of the community spirit that was happily bouncing around me.
Maybe I was getting a little high from the smell of the Deep Heat but taking it down a couple of gears from “Challenging” to “Chillaxin’” helped me see that graciously sitting out this year’s City2Surf wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
I had the past 3 events under my running belt, with now a half marathon to add.
I was fine. I just had to stop think that I was chasing my next big personal best with every single bloody run I signed up for.
Taking time to appreciate past achievements is as good as planning for the next. And there will always be another. Just not right now. And that’s okay. For now, let’s just do some basking.
Basking in some IBOT with Essentially Jess
Nurse that injury back to health properly before you start any strenuous exercise again! Don’t want it to be a permanent injury. You’ve certainly achieved a lot in running and deserve a little break to just rest and relax. Big hugs xox
Ai Sakura recently posted..Letter to My Girl #11 | There is Magic in Everything
ouchies that sounds painful Grace. I hope it’s better and you’re back to pounding the pavement soon! x
Aroha @ Colours of Sunset recently posted..I Birthday on Tuesdays
What a great lesson to learn! and well done you for your running achievements! I experienced a similar change of perspective the first time I was injured doing ju jitsu – I was really worried that having to sit out for a couple of weeks would lose me the momentum I’d built up and I would lose motivation. But sitting and watching the classes actually gave me some distance and also was a great opportunity to watch others and pick up some tips.
Emily recently posted..The Great Dummy Debate
A wonderful, joyous perspective Grace. Hope that the Spanish-rice-tendon is letting you run again soon, until then enjoy that basking xxx
Shari recently posted..You don’t have to win every battle …
By the looks of things – you were blessed with a fab day and a friend to accompany you in the basking.
I think it’s cool that you took the time to experience both sides of the race x
kirri recently posted..Reclaiming your confidence, the easy way
God Grace – there’s absolutely nothing worse than gathering up all that hard gutsy earned momentum and having to throw a bucket of cold water over it 🙁 So sorry to hear you’ve been stopped in your tracks. I really hope your recovery will allow you to return at a gentle place and ramp up again in no time – at least you’ve got the spirit to dedicate time to both rehab and then training again. Hope it flies by x
Pip recently posted..Exercise. It’s Been a Love-Hate Relationship.
Love the attitude Grace.
If you keep pushing yourself, it can be easy to forget why you loved it in the first place. Glad you get a chance to take a little break xx
EssentiallyJess recently posted..Paper On The Roll #IBOT
Hey, I’d be pretty happy with myself if I’d achieved all you have. It seems impossible to me! But why not see your injury as a badge of honour- you really earnt it the hard way! xx
Twitchy recently posted..The Money Pit Files #4: Planning for a Teen Future
Oh gorgeous Mama G, I bet it sucked not to do it, especially knowing you could do it, in every way except with that injury (eg mentally) Glad that you got a catch up! Have a great rest of week and just a month til I see your gorgeous self in the flesh!! 🙂 xx
Emily @ Have a laugh on me recently posted..Ten things men think but are usually smart enough not to say out loud!
Oh Grace, you poor love, good to see you’re taking care of it though. And what a lovely way to catch up with your friend. Take care xx
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen recently posted..The Zen Files
Nice that you got to catch up with your friend during the race in the sun! Hope your knee recovers well! x
Stephanie recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Pretty
Hi there Grace, love that sunny shot, how golden is that sunshine. Well, slow down to speed up is the message. OMG that works in all of life too!
Seana – Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel recently posted..Mother’s Help Required – Or a Mother’s Little Helper
Similar thing happened to me a few years ago. Mine was from Relay for Life running. My knees have not been the same since 🙁 I am sure your dedication and motivation to keep on running will help you fix yours.
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit recently posted..Day 1411 – Donate Plasma
Eeep. That sounds painful. Injuries can be incredibly frustrating, can’t they? Hopefully you can enjoy taking things a little slower… you know, and smell the roses and all that stuff? No? X
Bec | Mumma Tells recently posted..Family Matters
Ouch! I am only too familiar with patella pain, having dislocated my right knee three times and torn all the ligaments in my left once. Hope you’re up and running again soon!
Janet @ Redland City Living recently posted..Iron Man’s New Gadget
What an awesome way to catch up with a friend. I am so glad that you were able to find a positive in not being able to run it this year. I hope that the injury starts to heal for you soon.
Tegan recently posted..Parenting with a Mental Illness: Dorothy
You relax for now, girl…you need it. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, p90x and Shaun T’s Insanity home work outs did a lot to strengthen those pesky ligaments (and drop the pounds safely). Now I’m running circles around boys under 10! Take care.
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