Recently, I got caught in a thunder storm for the second time in a month, under trees on the trail. That scared me until I saw a deer, duck, bunny, and various other creatures choosing to stay safe and dryer on the trail. I've never seen a deer that has been struck by lightning...so maybe that isn't as dangerous as it felt.
Lately, I have gotten a few bloody injuries. It has been light enough after work to jog the trail next to the college. I discovered that forgetting a sports bra and just jogging in a "day to day" bra is a bad idea. The first time I did that, I came home and looked like I had road rash on my shoulder from the strap falling off over and over for three miles. The second time, I discovered that seams can cut like knifes. Sorry...no pics of that guys. It's funny to come home from jogging and look like I've been in a knife fight or bike accident.
All of this hasn't deterred me. I love being able to jog again. Thursday, I felt in the zone. My face was that relaxed blubbery face that you see on the runners on tv. I felt so good after three miles that I ran it again. At about the fifth mile point, I thought..."today, I'm going to run it three times for the first time (nine miles)." It felt great! Right before I finished the sixth mile I realized that my arm was really hurting. I had a new jogging injury:
You might ask..."How do you get that kind of arm injury jogging without falling?" Well, some of my shorts don't have pockets and so in an effort to have a car to come back to I hang my keys from my ipod sports armband. Normally, I make sure that they hang under my arm, but I guess I didn't pay attention this time.
Friday, I fell on the killer trail tripping over a railroad tie that they use to keep the dirt and sand from sliding down the hills. (I'm surprised that doesn't happen more often because I jog without my glasses. I wave at everyone I "see" just in case they are someone I know.) I was disheartened...I don't own the trails...they own me.
In a year, I have:
1. fallen 6 times on the Noland trail, but only once since the cortisone shot in my knee.
2. lost 5 toenails, resulting in bloody socks, and even a bloody shoe on one occasion. Be glad that I didn't have a Blackberry Storm and didn't give you a stage by stage photo album of the death and removal of a toenail. Yeesh. It was gross. My shoe is still stained sevaral washings and a year of wear and tear later!
3. gotten caught in rain or thunderstorm four times.
4. had bloody chafing on a half dozen occasions in a half dozen different places.
5. strained my hamstring then a foot tendon enough to leave me limping for a week.
6. almost given myself a heart attack by trying to jog the trails at all, jumping over a black snake (twice), being freaked out by a male jogger coming back onto the trail after taking a "pit stop", jumping over a squirrel playing chicken...you name it.
7. bruised my arm by beating myself with my keys for six miles.
Is it worth it? It is to me. I feel like I'm flying on the trails sometimes. I really feel close to God and His creation on the trail sometimes (I've often thought if I have to die sometime...it may as well be while jogging on the trail listening to Chris Tomlin and praising the Lord). When I finish or improve, I feel like I'm on top of the world. I've lost forty pounds and reclaimed part of my youth. I feel at least ten years younger than I did last year and my blood pressure is a third of what it was then. I may even get off the bd meds for that in a couple of months. Is it worth it? You bet it is!!!!
Even though it's clear that I will never own the trails, there's a reason why the trails own me...I love being on them. :)
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