I love running. Love it. LOVE IT! Unfortunately, I don't love training. Or building muscle. Or eating healthy. So....I get hurt a lot. Austin was no different. Since I just decided to wake up and run 13.1 miles without training (besides a half marathon in SF Feb 1st...where mind you...I threw up in a bush...I hadn't run since December), I got injured. Now I would like to say that this was one of those Rocky-esque moments where you trip and fall four feet from the finish and then think you are done for but get up and finish the race bleeding and sweating and its fantastic and there is music in the background. This was not so.
First of all, when I started the race, I didn't get to hear the gun, which made me sad inside plus kind of confused as to where everyone was going. Then, as I start to jog along and start my Nike+iPod thingy (which btw is fantastic), I realize my legs are hurting more than usual at this time so I look up from my iPod and realize we are going uphill. UPHILL! for a mile. the first mile is uphill. If you have ever run a long distance run, this is just not good, especially when you are ill prepared for the incline. After I get over the shock of the jerks that write race maps not mentioning this fact (about 3 miles in) I realize I have to go to the bathroom. Now, anyone who has seen the bathrooms on the race route knows, they are not so pleasant, plus they make you lose time. So, I made an executive decision. JUST KEEP RUNNING.
So I do just that. Until we come to a downhill. Now I do not know which is worse, a downhill or an uphill. (I'm from Vegas, let's just try no hills, ever). On an uphill you use more energy and your guads and bootie hurt but on a downhill...your knees hurt. You can build up strength in muscles but not exactly so in a knee cap. So I'm running very slowly downhill so the impact won't be so bad and about mile 6 I get a shooting pain up my leg coming from the very kneecap I am trying to protect. Like the bathroom issue, which has now moved to the backburner because of the kneecap, I had a decision to make: either stop running and seek medical attention or JUST KEEP RUNNING! I think we all know which one I chose.
So now I'm hobling along and I finally see Ashton who is running the last mile with me. She is bouncing along with the ferver of someone who has just taken 7 starbucks espresso shots and perhaps a hit of cocaine and bounds down the hill (yes another uphill for the last mile) to see me. She cheers and says hello and I say (this is censored, mind you), "my knee hurts and I have to go to the bathroom". She immediately switches into trainer Ashton mode and says things like "You can do it just one more mile", "You are doing great", "Look how good you look for running 13.1 mile" (which is a total lie, she is a good liar when she is trying to make you feel better). To which I respond, "serious, we are stopping"
Ashton: No it's ok we can keep going
Me: No, I can't
Ashton: But it's almost over
Me: No
So we stop running. Well I stop running and she does this run almost in place becase I am moving so slowly run/jog thing. I rallied during the last 300 meters and sprinted but due to the kneecap that some awful person stole at mile 6, I almost collapsed at the finish line. But I got my picture taken and stocked up on bananas and muffins and whatever free food anyone handed me and went on my merry way. We took some pictures at the Austin capital and got in the car. This is when it got bad. The bathroom issue was now not only not a back burner issue it was a front burner issue that had now lit the house on fire. and I had no kneecap.
After 7 hours of driving (or maybe it was 30 minutes I can't remember), we finally arrived at my aunts house and I got to use the bathroom. My wonder aunt (also a nurse) iced my knee and gave me some pills and I felt much better.
After all this, I only finished 10 minutes after my best time and I actually felt fine by my birthday which was two days later. Hurrah for fast recoveries.
Moral of the story: Running is not meant for people who don't train. Eat well, stretch and TRAIN.
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