Running In Place

After my most recent panicked-obssessive-I’m-injured-again post, I took another 3 days off and by Monday my leg felt the best it has in a couple of weeks. Heartened, I decided to celebrate with a run and further, decided to go someplace I hadn’t been before. It’s a small trail system not far from where I live and I’d thought about it for awhile, so - why not? I drove to the trailhead, which turned out to be farther into the woods than I had thought and came to a parking area with a lean-to and picnic table. There was one other car, and the owners - an older couple - sitting at the picnic table. We exchanged pleasantries and I took off walking up the hill to the woods. Now here’s the thing - the “trails” I run on usually are not trails at all, they are straight, flat, groomed, graveled paths - hell, sometimes they’re even paved. Where I was now — trails. Roots, stumps, rocks, steep inclines and declines, sharp switchbacks, the works. As I walked along I thought hmmm, is this wise? But then I thought well, give it a try anyway! So off I went and WOW! What a blast. Running, hopping, ducking, up, down. All alone in the woods but never alone - always the sound of something crackling the underbrush, creaking of branches, chirping, scurrying. At one point I surprised a buck and he loped off, later I nearly tripped over a rabbit as he hightailed it across the path. I came out of the woods unexpectedly onto a large sand flat and ran across that as though I was running down the beach (sans water, which is fine with me). I took 2 of the 3 available loops, all of which end up back at the trailhead. I walked periodically on the steeper areas, both up and down, so as not to antagonize my leg too much and, much to my great surprise, I never dumped it - I never even tripped or twisted my ankle or anything. For me, on that terrain, a major feat (or blessing). So what a great run! All in all, a little over 2 miles between the 2 loops - and what a great 2 miles. The beauty, the solitude, and the ability to be out there appreciating it just turned my sour mood of the last several days around. I thought, as I often think - when I have a little clarity of mind - this is precious time.

As always, my leg didn’t bother during the run, but the next day I was back to square one. And so, today was my first visit to the PT. He started out by saying, good naturedly, that he didn’t run and he didn’t “get” running, but that his associate was a runner and that he knew that people who loved running - loved running. He took a very complete history and asked alot of pertinent questions, he tested alot of active and passive motion on me and seemed to be able to determine the problem pretty quickly. He said my left leg is currently slightly shortened because my pelvis is tipped because my hip flexor has tightened up. He was able to do a few things to demonstrate how he came to this conclusion and gave me some stretches and instructions - among them — keep running!! He said, for the next 2 weeks to limit distance to 3-4 miles per run but he did give me the ok to do the 5 mile race this weekend if I would do the stretches every 2-3 hours while awake over the next few days. He spoke with my doc and got approval to see me 2 x week for a month to start and says once we get the hip worked out he wants to work on my ITB and do some strengthening and balancing so it sounds like I’m going to get a good overhaul! It would be nice if he was a runner but I like him well so far - and his assistant is so I’m sure I’ll get some input from her at some point. It all seems good.

On a non-running note, I FINALLY got in for an interview at the hospital I applied to in the beginning of June. Why a month and a half to get an interview? Not because there isn’t an opening, not because nurses aren’t sorely needed there, not because I’m not a favored candidate - but simply because the recruiter (who is not a nurse) is disorganized, lackadaisical, and completely disconnected from the institution she serves. I’m at the point where I’m insulted to even have to deal with this woman - to have to knock on her door and get past her to get to the nurse manager (who is a great guy). Ok, deep breath - let that junk go. Anyway, I finally interviewed and got to tour this unit that I am very much hoping to work on. I am more excited than ever at the prospect!! It’s a complete departure from what I’ve been doing (hospice —> high acuity cardiac care). It’s going to be a big challenge because I am going to have to relearn alot that I have not put into use in the past 4 years, learn alot of new stuff, and learn a new way of thinking and responding to situations. I vacillate between Yeah, I know I can totally do this and oh, maybe this isn’t something that I’m cut out for. And, you know, cardiac ICU isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to be half-assed at. But it’s a great new path, and it’s going to expand my experience in some significant ways, and I’m going to be dynamic again in a real significant way after 3 months in stasis (enjoyable stasis, but even too much relaxing is not a good thing [don’t hate me for saying that!])
Oh, I don’t know what I’m obsessing about - I haven’t even gotten the job yet - why am I borrowing trouble? *sigh*

Let’s end with this:

I love these guys. They always look to the light.