I have not put a lot down on this topic in the blog, but the fact remains: I am a runner. Running is one of those things that feels natural to me. Pace after pace, big long strides, feet connecting with the dirt. It's kind of my thing, and it has been for a long time.
Past:
I ran competitively throughout middle school and into high school, racing middle distances and specializing in hurdles. I was pretty good, if only for within my school/athletic conference. The only problem? After puberty, running hurt. My feet, specifically, the inside bones of my feet, would feel as though they were being ripped apart, as if running was the last thing I should be doing. I complained occasionally to my parents but kept it mostly under wraps, because I didn't want to be told I couldn't run.
My second year of high school, my track coach suggested trying cross country, to build up some muscle and increase endurance. I was a 100lb lightweight until age 16, stick thin and metabolism through the roof. (My freshman year I distinctly remember coing home from track practice and being starving, so what would I eat? Frozen cookie dough, of course!) Anyway, I was strong for my size, but he was right - I lacked the endurance that would make me a better middle distance runner. At his insistance, all the while thinking "this is crazy," I went for it. I turned out to be a pretty natural long distance runner. My first season was great - thanks to switching to real trainers instead of sneakers, thus starting my 7-year love affair with the Mizuno brand. My feet still hurt. By the middle of the season, my parents would drive me home from meets and I would cry and massage my feet.
My second year of high school, my track coach suggested trying cross country, to build up some muscle and increase endurance. I was a 100lb lightweight until age 16, stick thin and metabolism through the roof. (My freshman year I distinctly remember coing home from track practice and being starving, so what would I eat? Frozen cookie dough, of course!) Anyway, I was strong for my size, but he was right - I lacked the endurance that would make me a better middle distance runner. At his insistance, all the while thinking "this is crazy," I went for it. I turned out to be a pretty natural long distance runner. My first season was great - thanks to switching to real trainers instead of sneakers, thus starting my 7-year love affair with the Mizuno brand. My feet still hurt. By the middle of the season, my parents would drive me home from meets and I would cry and massage my feet.
Somewhere along the line, I visited an orthopedic surgeon who told me that I had bunions on both of my feet. It was one of those things that I viewed as tragic, and like any other girl in high school who had enough self esteem but still maybe some body issues, I felt that my feet were my major flaw. They were ugly (in fact, a long way down the road, when B first saw my feet without socks, he remarked "What is wrong with your feet?!) They caused a lot of pain. The doctor told me that there wasn't anything they could do until I was finished growing, so I continued to run and live off of ibuprofen in the mean time. (I know, I know...) Several cross and track seasons passed, along with injuries to my knees and hip flexor - results of a combination of pounding from sprint hurdle races, long distance workouts, and the odd gait I had developed to deal with my bunions. I went through two bouts of physical therapy including twice a week visits in the off season to get ultrasounds done on my aching knees. (Felt incredible, by the way - like tiny electric people massaging the inside of your bones and muscles?)
Although I had dreamed of running for a division III school and seriously considered it once I got to college, I realized that my schedule was already packed pretty tightly...and I wasn't sure that I wanted to live the next four years exactly the way I had the last four - running around from one commitment to the next, driving myself insane. I ended up doing this anyway, but filled my time with things other than competitive sports. I ran on my own and with friends, outside, throughout the cold midwestern winters, and continued to dutifully complete my old physical therapy exercises. I enjoyed my "running club" of two, me and my best friend (then and still!), the crazy girls who ran through ice storms and blizzards, then stretched in the hallways of our dorm. I didn't think about returning to running competitively until I attended a music festival in Michigan after my second year.
On a whim, I registered for a 10k, 6.2 miles, that was happening three days later. At that point the farthest distance I had ever run was 5 miles, and I was honestly worried that I would not be able to finish. Race day was hot, it was incredibly early (for me) to be running, and it was so different from any race I ever ran in high school.
For one thing, there were runners of all ages. For another, I was running with men. This might sound strange but I had never run with men before. High school sports are totally separate, and most of the time we didn't even see the boys' team run - they went to different meets than we did. I had never run recreationally with a male, other than a couple times with my boyfriend. Suddenly I was surrounded by men and women and runners and walkers and baby joggers!
Long story short, the race went surprisingly well, and I discovered the joys of road racing. Here's me, along with some other folks from the festival who ran, after the race. I'll never forget the feeling of pumping along past mile five to the Jackson Five playing from one of the cheering stations, feeling impossibly good.
Since running that race, I've competed in quite a few road races. The major change in my running and my approach to the sport came when I decided to have surgery on my feet to fix the bunions. It wasn't just an issue with dealing with pain now, which was bad enough: I had to buy shoes a size bigger and was ingesting a really unhealthy amount of anti-inflammatory so that I could just function, let alone run. In addition, however, not having surgery had long term ramifications: I stood a very good chance of developing arthritis within a decade or so. I had the surgery completed two days before thanksgiving in 2009. While it was awful at the time because I chose to do both feet at once and was in double air casts for six weeks, I firmly believe it was one of the best choices I have ever made. To double-down on my commitment to listening to my body and doing what is best for it, I swore off wearing shoes that were cute but uncomfortable. Anyone who knows me well knows that shoes are my thing. Some people collect stamps, others collect antiques - I collect shoes. So it was a big step for me to take, no pun intended.
I've managed to live the last three years almost entirely pain free. I rarely have to take ibuprofen. The best part about the surgery was that fixing the issue in my feet changed the alignment of the rest of my body, freeing up my knees and hips to work the way that they are supposed to. I repeat: Having the surgery was the best decision I have ever made.
I should also note a major change in the gear that I use. In November of 2011, I needed a new pair of shoes but the new mizunos wouldn't be released for another two months. In a twist of fate, I tried on the New Balance minimus trail shoe and fell in love. I ended my 7-year run with Mizunos and have been running in my NB's since. I love that in addition to feeling like my feet and knees finally "work" in a way that feels natural, my shoes are an extension of that. They feel natural and like part of my body. Feels good.
This post has gone on looooonnng enough. If you made it this far, congratulations!
Next post: Running, part II: Present.
Although I had dreamed of running for a division III school and seriously considered it once I got to college, I realized that my schedule was already packed pretty tightly...and I wasn't sure that I wanted to live the next four years exactly the way I had the last four - running around from one commitment to the next, driving myself insane. I ended up doing this anyway, but filled my time with things other than competitive sports. I ran on my own and with friends, outside, throughout the cold midwestern winters, and continued to dutifully complete my old physical therapy exercises. I enjoyed my "running club" of two, me and my best friend (then and still!), the crazy girls who ran through ice storms and blizzards, then stretched in the hallways of our dorm. I didn't think about returning to running competitively until I attended a music festival in Michigan after my second year.
On a whim, I registered for a 10k, 6.2 miles, that was happening three days later. At that point the farthest distance I had ever run was 5 miles, and I was honestly worried that I would not be able to finish. Race day was hot, it was incredibly early (for me) to be running, and it was so different from any race I ever ran in high school.
For one thing, there were runners of all ages. For another, I was running with men. This might sound strange but I had never run with men before. High school sports are totally separate, and most of the time we didn't even see the boys' team run - they went to different meets than we did. I had never run recreationally with a male, other than a couple times with my boyfriend. Suddenly I was surrounded by men and women and runners and walkers and baby joggers!
Long story short, the race went surprisingly well, and I discovered the joys of road racing. Here's me, along with some other folks from the festival who ran, after the race. I'll never forget the feeling of pumping along past mile five to the Jackson Five playing from one of the cheering stations, feeling impossibly good.
Since running that race, I've competed in quite a few road races. The major change in my running and my approach to the sport came when I decided to have surgery on my feet to fix the bunions. It wasn't just an issue with dealing with pain now, which was bad enough: I had to buy shoes a size bigger and was ingesting a really unhealthy amount of anti-inflammatory so that I could just function, let alone run. In addition, however, not having surgery had long term ramifications: I stood a very good chance of developing arthritis within a decade or so. I had the surgery completed two days before thanksgiving in 2009. While it was awful at the time because I chose to do both feet at once and was in double air casts for six weeks, I firmly believe it was one of the best choices I have ever made. To double-down on my commitment to listening to my body and doing what is best for it, I swore off wearing shoes that were cute but uncomfortable. Anyone who knows me well knows that shoes are my thing. Some people collect stamps, others collect antiques - I collect shoes. So it was a big step for me to take, no pun intended.
I've managed to live the last three years almost entirely pain free. I rarely have to take ibuprofen. The best part about the surgery was that fixing the issue in my feet changed the alignment of the rest of my body, freeing up my knees and hips to work the way that they are supposed to. I repeat: Having the surgery was the best decision I have ever made.
 |
| Post-2011 10k, with running buddies from college |
I should also note a major change in the gear that I use. In November of 2011, I needed a new pair of shoes but the new mizunos wouldn't be released for another two months. In a twist of fate, I tried on the New Balance minimus trail shoe and fell in love. I ended my 7-year run with Mizunos and have been running in my NB's since. I love that in addition to feeling like my feet and knees finally "work" in a way that feels natural, my shoes are an extension of that. They feel natural and like part of my body. Feels good.
This post has gone on looooonnng enough. If you made it this far, congratulations!
Next post: Running, part II: Present.
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