After my last blog post where I described nearly missing the Santa Monica- Venice Christmas Run, I had a revelation. I have some great stories about running. Okay, not exactly stories. More like adventures. No? Mishaps? Yep, that sounds about right.
I set out on my runs with the best of intentions and then things happen. I fall and proceed to laugh at myself with people around watching me (yes, this happened two weeks ago) or get lost or decide 2 miles into a run that I’d rather be shopping and stop at the mall (pathetic.). You get the idea. So why not blog about my adventures/mishaps? My hope is that this will be a weekly blog post (don’t hold your breath!) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. But that’s a lot of commitment so we’ll see.
Two Fridays ago, it was a beautiful day here (shocking.) and all day I was checking the clock and praying for it to be 3:30 when I could make a mad dash to get home and throw on my running clothes. Friday runs have become my ABSOLUTE favorite workout of the week. I like to do a good 5-7 miler down by the beach. It’s a perfect way to start the weekend! And if the weather is great, it’s even better. It’s my new thing okay?
So I get home, rush up the stairs, thrown on my running stuff and head out. (Back story: I had some adjustments made to my running prosthetic a month or so ago and its been hurting me. Same with my walking leg. Lots of pressure on my knee which resulted in a bruise I can’t seem to get rid of. I won’t get rid of it if I keep walking and running. OOPS.***) I love running on the boardwalk out to the Venice Pier. Once I’m there I enjoy a few minutes of the sunset and head back towards my apartment. (I’m so zen. Hah.) This is roughly 3 1/2 miles from my house.
I got about a mile and half into my run when my running leg started hurting my knee. But I refused to turn around. I thought oh its only another two or so miles then I’ll take a break if it’s hurting and then head back. So I pushed through the pain. I was really into the run and feeling good by the time I got to the pier. I took my usual few minutes to be thankful for where I live and then decided to head home. For some reason I chose to take streets this time and not stay on the boardwalk. After running about another mile (4 1/2 or so at this point. KEEP UP.), I was dying. I was having a seriously hard time running. And I was not happy about it.
First, I slowed down thinking that might help. Then I tried to walk. It’s pretty difficult for me to walk with the running leg so that hurt even more than running. And then I realized I had another 2 1/2 miles to go. This run, then walk, then run thing was not panning out. It hurt and would take me forever to get home. And I had plans people!
There were basically two options (the third- calling a friend- was out because I didn’t have my phone): ride the bus or catch a cab. Well the bus was out too when I realized I had no money.
And there I was hailing a cab on Ocean Avenue because I couldn’t run any further. Not my proudest moment. The driver probably thought who is this lunatic with one leg half running/half gimping a long on the side of the road? Ya well it’ll be a good story for him to tell. Plus he was nice. I was sniffling a lot. No I was NOT CRYING (I was actually laughing which probably made the driver think I had just escaped from a psych ward). I just get a runny nose when I run (DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE? It drives me crazy.) Anyway, he gave me a tissue. How nice.
There you have it. I had to take a cab home because I could not finish my run. Ridiculous. I was pretty scared to run last Wednesday but it was a great one. No cab fare required.
***BY THE WAY: This story is not meant for sympathy. I like to laugh at myself and thought it was hilarious the whole way home in the cab. So if you are feeling bad for me. Stop. It’s annoying.
