Tuesday, April 27, 2010

If You Want it, You Can Get It

Do you suffer from DLS? Is your muscle growth uneven? Does one shoe wear down faster than the other? Do the joints in one leg ache? Then you might have Dominant Leg Syndrome. One day, in the future when DLS is recognized by the American Medical Association, and the FDA approves a drug I'd love to be a spokesperson. DLS could have ruined my life, but XYZ saved my life.

In the 8th grade, teenager Julia broke her left leg. I was tending goal in a fall soccer game, and an over zealous forward fell on me and bent my foot in a direction that feet don't go. It was a clean break, on the growth plate and two months in a non-walking cast, six weeks in an air cast and seven years later my leftie is still playing catch-up. My right leg is like the muscular big sister, while my left follows in it's footsteps wanting to be JUST like it's bigger sister. But it can't, and it probably never will be



As you read, Sunday was the Trolley Run. It was a great race, and as far as a recap it was such a quick race, that I hardly took note of details. Admittedly, I've gotten kind of selective on my races and favor the distances to get the most bang for my buck. This race was different though, this race was to be my measure of growth over the past year. When I look back, the whole racing experience for me was so novel and now it's second nature.



At packet pick up last year, I was confused and anxious that people could smell my newbieness. I was intimidated and scared and still not convinced I'd actually be racing the following day. On race day, I woke up four hours earlier and paced around my apartment. Everything was calculated: what I would eat, drink, at what time and when. I ritualized everything, and double checked everything. On the shuttle to the race, I was praying and meditating to calm myself. I listened in to people's conversations, convinced everyone was a stellar athlete and would be laughing at me. Five minutes before gun time, I stood in my wave listening to a guy talk about how easy this race would be, I can still remember his exact words: Downhill, and with a tailwind? What else could we ask for? I'd like to ask for a little confidence, please? At the finish line, I thought I was going to die. I seriously thought that, like this is it: I'm done. For four miles, I doubted myself and my ability. I knew I'd be disappointed in myself, but I walked when needed anyway.




This year, I overslept, I hope this isn't becoming habit. Snacked on a powerbar on my way there, lead a group of confused runners to the buses (oooh yah, I'm a pro, follow me), warmed up, danced in my corral waiting for gun time, snapped pictures, ran the entire course, finished and drove home. It was weird, I felt like this is what I do now, no big deal. I grabbed a roll at the finish, and as I was walking to my car I saw the guy from my wave last year, yeah that guy who said the race would be so easy. Funny how strangers can mean so much to you, and they'll probably never know it.

The weekend was full of new things for Goliath and myself. After our most recent vet appointment, we've decided that we should try to get G to gain some weight by switching him to an active food. Like me, Goliath has a natural diet and since he was a wee wittle puppy has been on some form of Nature's Recipe-but they unfortunately don't make an active food. So after some discussion, we've put him on a mix of his old food and Blue's Wilderness, which is designed for working breeds like Huskies. AND due to his most resent escapades of destruction, I made the decision to buy him a kennel. Yeah...I know. When we brought him home, I said I'd never kennel him. My perspective is that I took him to be a family member, and I would never put my child in a cage. Regardless, it really is for the best. He started chewing on things that could seriously hurt him. So there's that. Neither of the above Goliath is very fond of: he spits out the Wilderness and avoids the kennel.







Today, we ran five. Yesterday, I ran almost six alone. Today, we ran on the trail. Yesterday, I ran on sidewalks. Take a guess at which I preferred? Why don't I let my graphs tell you:


Ridiculous. I hate running on sidewalks. I hate all the onlookers in cars, all the stoplights and getting plumes of exhaust in my face. Ick. On the trail today, I couldn't help but be happy. It was beautiful. Goliath stayed in stride, even though his yawning was a little blow to my ego. Oh and I my new shorts are just fab. I love them!




Today's Milage: 5.01
Time: 41:13

3 comments:

Her Posh Palate... said...

I love that you saw someone from the race last year!

We run on sidewalks and streets almost every run but we try to do the lakefront trail about once a week. Basically Chicago is one big shit cloud so it sucks regardless.

Michelle said...

Don't feel bad about the kennel! It's for his own safety. I had to kennel my dog for a while, but then she grew out of it. It may not be permeant!

Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin said...

I used to wake up early for all my races but now I sleep late too!! A habit i'm definitely trying to break.