10 Dollars for Cancer Research

[Full Disclosure: This post was meant for 2/28...ashamed to admit that I'm just publishing it!]

Objective: Proper running form

What a feeling! Ummm yeah of excruciating pain!

Today was my first running practice. And it was extremely painful. It really shouldn’t have been except I was overzealous and decided to run on my own, a few days before the actual Team in Training (TNT) kick-off. FYI TNT warns ya to enjoy your rest before kick-off and resist the  urge to begin training by yourself. Hmmm…yeah…not me.

You see, I had purchased my first ever running shoes a week before at a amazing store called Jack Rabbits. They videotaped me running on treadmill to see if I needed any corrective shoes. Apparently, I my feet landed straight and I only needed neutral shoes. I was so happy that some part of my body was cooperating! Anyhow, I ended up buying sneakers and other triathlon appropriate attire. Lol, I have to admit I felt like an impostor in the store. Everyone was dressed like they just came from a run and there were posters everywhere calling out to fellow athletes everywhere. And all I kept thinking was, “Wow. If only these people knew how sneaker averse I am.  I’m a heels girl raised by a mother who doesn’t own on pair of flat shoes! I’m not an athlete!”

When I went to the checkout, I met one of the nicest cashiers ever. I told him how I would be training with TNT for my first triathlon. He was totally supportive and told me about his experience in a triathlon. I thought, “This guy is normal and down to earth. I can do this!” I left the store on cloud nine. Lol that famous Flash Dance scene…. “What a feeling!”…was totally blasting in my head. Ohhh how I missed my iPod. It was stolen several months before, even though I totally engraved it in my name. Doesn’t the thief feel guilty every time he or she looks down and sees my name?! Yeah I know. Highly unlikely.

The following evening I decided to had to try out the running shoes. I love trying out new things more than I hate running.  So I jogged off and on for 30 minutes that day. It actually went better than I thought it would. Granted I had like no stamina, but I literally expected not to be able to run at all. Maybe at this point I should say jog, not run. The next morning I felt no aches and was stoacked to go running some more.  So the next evening I went jogging again. Except this time, I began feeling really sharp pain on the left side (I think the lateral plantar fascia) of my left foot. I felt like such a wimp and was like, “No pain. No game.” And continued running. The night didn’t end well.

My left foot was still achy, a week later at the first running practice. FYI I’ve decided to use the word running instead of jogging, since that’s how the TNT training schedule refers to it. Anyway, I had tried my best to avoid working out before the first practice.  Any walking I did was in heels, which ironically made the foot feel so much better. But it was the first running practice and I was going to try my best to run! I jogged on and off for a couple minutes. Then the pain started creeping back. I began limping halfway through the practice, luckily right at the same moment the group stopped to do some running drills.

The drills were pretty cool. To help us understand a proper running form, the coach had us run incorrectly first. For example, we had to run with straight legs. Wow, I wish I wrote these drills down weeks before because now my memory is failing. I wish I could write down the drills in detail because it was so insightful. I’ll ask the coaches at the next practice to review the drills again and then share it with you guys.

After the drills, it was time to head back home.  At that point I was in excruciating pain. I mean pain I had never felt associated with my foot before. To alleviate the pain, I limped all the way home. I walked for at least 20 blocks that way; it was awkward to say the least. A couple blocks before I reach home, lol I had mini meltdown. And was like, “Oh my gosh! This was only the first practice and I’m in this much pain? How the hell am I going to do this? What was I thinking? Everyone already assumes I won’t pull it off anyway…”

Luckily the cell phone Gods heard my self-loathing and prompted me to call a close friend. My mom would have been my first choice but she was out of the country. As predicted, my friend was a perfect mix of maternal nourishment and tough love.  She felt for my pain, but was like, “Come on “girly” (lol yes that’s what she calls me) you can do it! Don’t give up!”

Girly girl--to be exact–was how I felt. I mean there was one time in my life, albeit a damn long time ago, when I was a tomboy. I resigned, despite the tears (yes there were tears) that I wouldn’t give up!

But ouch!