Thursday, May 17, 2012

Another try ,that turned into a tribute

Back at it...

Well I decided to give it another try,this blog writing thing. Now we are easing out of our busy season at the flower shops,so time for some internal refelection or maybe some external ranting.
After 6,count them ,6 months of achilles struggles I am bound and determined to conquer this setback one way or another. I have been faithfully keeping up core work all winter when I couldn't run and gradually trying to get back into running. The spring was looking pretty good.I have been able to do some barefoot runs since March.In Minnesota that is triumphant. But every time I think I am getting back to my real running,my achilles rebels. It is like some evil twin badgering me over and over. I have never realized so completely how much a running injury can change a person's life. As most of you know from my whining on facebook, I pretty much wear my heart on my sleeve,which is not necessarily a good thing.
This year was supposed to be my marathon year. I had a goal.I was determined to reach it. God had other plans;and apparently still does. I will be the first to admit I am independant and rebellious by nature. This is not good .Oh yea,and stubborn.About the only thing stubborness does is make me a consistant runner when I am healthy.When you are injured ,it is a definite liabilty.
Refocus,refocus,refocus.Ok so now I am refocusing. I have already admitted this will not be my marathon year. Once spring sprang and all of my running friends were training and then racing,I admitted out loud,ok-I won't be able to do a marathon this year unless the heavens part I recieve a miraculous healing. But even after that I still wasn't humbled enough.
As I struggle to make sense of this injury my heart breaks for friends with more serious problems.
This spring our community has experienced several of these life changing moments. This includes and 8 year old boy who was healthy last spring ,being diagnosed with brain cancer and then passing away last month.
It's all about perspective.I read about all of my running friends on facebook who accomplish miraculous feats of grandeur,and I want that too. We all do. But each of us have our individual struggles. I think of Nora,Kate, Angie and many more and realize that what life really is .. is overcoming the day by day struggles that will not change or heal or ever go away.
You are all so very dear to me.And although we may never meet in person, I treasure each of you in a very personal way.
The truth is ,that every time you can get out that door and go for a run,you are overcoming obstacles in your daily life. Every run may not be smiley,but it IS an accomplishment,no matter how big or small.
We all want to be Jason and Shelly. We all want to be Shacky and Vanessa. That is why we love and respect them do dearly. But few of us will ever get their opportunities.
I am so touched and thrilled by Chris' first ultra, excited for Krista's upcoming ultra and SO excited and proud that Trisha is diving in head first for her first ultra.Go for it!! Each one of you !!
Embrace whatever you can with all you 've got!!! Do it for the rest of us!!!
The rest of us really do live vicariously through you !! We really do!
 And you are all such a great encouragement and inspriation when one of us is down. Thank you ,to each of you .
And yes,I am running an ultra-hoping for next year. My friend Renee Bjork has inspired me.I will right there with you in spirit Renee,Trish and Krista!! Give it all you 've got girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 comments:

  1. Well said Sally! I understand about everytime I run I am overcoming a daily struggle. Weather it is the end of a relationship, the decision to take control of my life from an addiction, the decision to be healthy and the chance of setting myself free for those wonderful moments of a morning run! Thanks for the great words, I can relate. :)

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  2. Thank you so much! It is so inspirational and motivational to be encouraged by each other.It is very important.And I truly am running ultras in my head when I read everyone's race reports!

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  3. Love it... hope to see more posts from you, as you capture a lot of my same thoughts.. love this social community we are all a part of :-)

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  4. Thanks Jeff. I love this social community too.:)

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  5. Awwwww. This little post gave me goose bumps. Thank you so much, Sally!! Patience is so hard when it comes to running injuries. I'm glad you have been able to find support amongst our run smileys. You WILL run your ultra. Consider all the challenges thus far preparation. If you can get through this frustrating time you can do anything.

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  6. I knew I liked you. Not only are you my age (54.5) but you are a sensitive and caring person. I am glad you are blogging.
    I think for those of us who cannot run, we need to find new challenges, even if only for a while. A friend of mine, once a running addict, cannot run anymore so she embraced biking. She still misses long trail runs but finds a lot of joy in riding.
    Sally, that Achilles thing will get better, I know it will. Until then, lets enjoy whatever we can find to challenge ourselves with.

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    1. Hugs Ewa-you are a sweetheart!! Someday we will all run together!

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