What was supposed to be an 18 mile run, ended at 14.99 miles, which were filled with excruciating pain and disappointment. I ran in Barrington, RI early this morning along the East Bay Bike Path. I know for awhile my legs were slowly breaking down and today, it was close to crippling. My muscles and my heart could have continued on to reach 18 and my spirit wanted to overcome this physical obstacle. However, I know when to be realistic and to distinguish between the two different types of pain. One type is the pain that is weakness leaving the body, in that building mental toughness to tolerate regular muscle fatigue. That type heals. The other is when there is an ailment that has not healed for quite some time. That ailment makes my other muscles or body parts to overcompensate for it, causing a rapid deterioration of physical fitness and limiting my physical capabilities. What is most disheartening is having an injury when you should be at your peak physical fitness.
Despite the injury, I did my best to stay present and enjoyed the salty air from East Bay, the wind, the balmy 40 degree morning, complete solitude, hearing my feet hit the pavement, birds migrating back to New England, calm waters, seeing a bunny!, still accomplishing 15 miles and in pain, I felt so alive. What is great running long distances is that I get to take my mind and spirit to a place that I rarely go to test its toughness, courage, and tenacity.
Tonight is the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics 2010. Neil Young sang Long May You Run, which I will end this post with the song lyrics as my quote of the day:
We've been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather,
Long may you run
Long may you run, long may you run,
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run...
No comments:
Post a Comment