No, I am not injured right now. Yes, many of you are. And, it sucks. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know I get it. I’ve been there several times. I’d like to say I won’t be there again, but I probably will (how’s that for optimism?).
An injured runner is like a Smurf on the rag – blue, moody and mean. I know I was. So, I put together a guideline for the injured runner – just a gentle reminder of how to survive and cope without losing all of your friends and/or your sanity.
Injured Runner’s Creed
1. I will not punch, hit, slap, or otherwise injure people I see running because I am jealous of them.
2. I will do all of the stupid mind numbing exercises my physical therapist tells me to do.
3. I will not substitute whole grains, veggies and healthy proteins with Cheetos and Coors Light just because I cannot run right now.
4. I will find something – anything- that I can do that makes me feel athletic (swimming, water running, walking), so that I will not turn into a complete bitch.
5. I will not become so consumed by the fact that I cannot run that I lose all perspective. I will remember the things that are going right in my life, like that my heart is beating and my husband cleaned up the dog’s poop and my kids are not arguing for five minutes, and I will focus on those things.
6. I will not hole up in my house (with Cheetos and Coors Light) and isolate myself. I will reach out to people who care about me and let them support me. I will try not to be a snotty a-hole.
7. I will try as hard as I can to laugh at myself and to keep my sense of humor. Maybe I will watch Family Guy, or fart in the bathtub, put someone’s hand in warm water while they are sleeping, or read this story. Whatever it takes.
8. I will remain optimistic because I know that this condition is temporary and I will run again.
9. I will stop reading blogs where all of the healthy, invincible 25 year olds are running 10 marathons a month and complaining only about a single blister on their pinkie toe. It’s not that I don’t admire them or thing they’re amazing, it’s just that right now they make me feel like crap.
10. I will do one thing every day that I love to do. This will show me that I love things other than running.
Are you injured right now? How are you coping?
Anything you’d add to “The Creed?”
SUAR
