A Passion for Running

Welcome to the home of Mark aka The Running Blogfather – a 40 year-old dad, husband and marathon runner who's beaten injury and is on the comeback trail!

from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and back again

passion for running category: inspiration,running,running blog family on Thursday, November 3 2005

It’s been over a year since I got my ankle stress fracture at Royal Victoria Marathon.

Since getting injured, diagnosing the thing, healing up, and beginning my pose method+barefoot running journey, I’ve had more ups and downs than I care to mention. I’ve often felt myself to be on a roller-coaster ride – one day on top of a mountain and the next at the bottom of an ocean.

Today, I was somewhere in a trench in the Atlantic. Why? Because I’m once again battling some kind of injury. This one didn’t happen while running, but the last couple of runs have certainly aggravated it – and that’s putting it lightly. After Monday’s run with Aaron, I went home in alot of pain. The pain is in my foot and it’s bad enough to make even walking difficult.

So, once again, I need to figure things out and once again, I probably/wisely should go see someone.

As I read over my last days, weeks and months worth of blog posts, I see so many ironies. There are those “I feel great today. I rock. I’m there” kind of posts and, if you skip ahead a bit, you’ll see the, “I feel like crap today. I’m injured and things are wrong” kinda posts. And then the whole thing starts again.

Today, after we traded a couple of emails, Aaron mentioned I seemed “a bit bummed” and I was instantly reminded how I had relatively little to complain about. After all, I’m not recovering from double knee-scoping.

But this all still sucks and today was one of those days when it was very hard to keep my eye on the big prize of one day running with good injury-preventing form.

So, all this stuff sent me limping home from work wallowing in my own crapulence. A sad sack of self pity.

And then, someone made my day. Someone performed a wonderful random act of kindness. That someone is Sean.

Sean, your words had perfect timing and reminded me that I am not just a runner. I am a guy who cares about something else. And, although I can’t take all the credit for the things you mentioned in today’s post (Aaron and I are a team), I can’t help but feel grounded when other people express thanks for something I’m involved with besides running.

Thanks Sean.

I think I’ll go play with my kids.




12 Comments

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Comment by beverly

Thursday November 03, 2005 @

Sorry to hear you’re down … and I hope that turns around soon.

The line I liked in Sean’s post was about your “natural ability to foster community spirit.” Yep, that’s undoubtedly always been your gift. Or hey, wait … did you go to school for that?? ;)

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Comment by susan

Thursday November 03, 2005 @

He said it well. You are the glue for us, Mark. I’m sorry, too, that you’ve had such an inconsistent year…but things will turn around for you. And all of this will have been a great learning experience.

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Comment by mia

Thursday November 03, 2005 @

Except for all the kudos about what a great guy you are (and I echo them, completely) this could have been about me. I’m having the same feelings lately! And yes, thank goodness, we have our kids to go play with. :)
xoxo
Mia

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Comment by Sean

Thursday November 03, 2005 @

Mark, it was the least I could do. Things will turn around, injuries will heal. I won’t forget going through rehab for a dislocated knee years ago. The key to recovery was taking things slow. I’ll admit, it really did help to have a professional guiding the recovery and helping me figure out when I was ready for full activity. Feeling good and being ready can be two completely different things. Even though I thought I learned that lesson years ago, you see me break my own advice (probably in the next year)!

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Comment by Dawn (aka Pink Lady)

Thursday November 03, 2005 @

Sorry bout things, Mark. Injuries, aches and pains suck. But on the bright side – time with loved ones is precious!

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Comment by Adeel

Friday November 04, 2005 @

It’s not an easy sport Mark. It may well be that you struggle for another year or two before you put it all together. Look at me, after all. I’m where I was eighteen months ago.

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Comment by Adeel

Friday November 04, 2005 @

Mark’s a smelly jerk who’s trying to silence me.

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Comment by Mark

Friday November 04, 2005 @

Thanks everyone. I appreciate that.

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Comment by Mia J

Friday November 04, 2005 @

I join the rest of the commenters in saying that I’m so sorry you’re down!

During my freshman year of college, my dreams of becoming a soccer star were dashed when I had to quit the team after getting a second surgery on my knee…I can relate to the ups and downs of injury but am happy to say that being religious with PT and taking care of my body has paid off. After years out of competitive soccer, I continue to enjoy playing AND have managed to indulge is my new found passion for running – much to the surprise of my doctors.

And yes, always play with the kids…they will always help us find our ground :)

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Comment by DGC

Friday November 04, 2005 @

OMG – I can completely relate to what you appear to be going through. Hopefully your current hiccup is just that and not something big.

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Comment by alejandra

Friday November 04, 2005 @

gahhhh, the injury gods are working overtime! i feel your pain man.

we shall overcome!!! ;)

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Comment by jank

Friday November 04, 2005 @

Wounds heal, compadre. Some take more time than others.

Kids, on the other hand, are only kids once.

On the bright side, wallowing in crapulence makes days without the wallow that much sweeter.

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