When running is a pain in the a$$

Remember 2019? It seems like 100 years ago but in November 2019, I qualified for the Boston Marathon. Then a few months later, as we all know, the world changed. The Boston Marathon is usually run on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April, except in 2020 when it was completely canceled. Then, in 2021, it was held, with a greatly reduced field, in October. This April 18, for the first time in 3 years, it will again be held on Patriots’ Day and I am finally registered to run it! Except, I am injured. When we moved to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina in July 2021, it took a lot of effort to adapt my running to the much hillier terrain. I was making progress until just after Christmas when I got Covid. I had been vaccinated and boosted so, thankfully, I didn’t get terribly sick and it didn’t last too long. But it threw off my training for a few weeks and when I got back to running, I mistakenly jumped right back into hard training, and caused some damage to my hamstring and the tendon that attaches to my left ischial tuberosity. Short version: I have a giant pain in my butt. I’ve been fortunate that, as a runner for over 20 years, I have never been seriously injured until now. It has been a humbling experience and I am practicing holding space for myself as I take the time I need to heal while still trying to get ready for Boston. My husband and I are running a half marathon tomorrow; I had thought it would be a nice step down in mileage and now am planning to run/ walk it in whatever way needed to get it done. I’m reminding myself to have gratitude for what this is bringing to my life—pool running! colorful therapy bands!— and recognizing the compassion it is giving me for others’ struggles. In comparison, mine is minor and will eventually resolve. This lesson, to not take things for granted, is one that keeps showing up for me again and again.