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I’m Running Again!

September 4, 2011 by Aleah 9 Comments

I’m back! Yes, I’m running again. After 16 months of absence, x number of consultations with the ortho, one acupuncture session, x number of deep tissue massages, x pounds gained, nine sessions of physical therapy, and six sessions of osteopathy, I’m finally confident enough to pound the pavement again.
sangkhlaburi bridge
Sangkhlaburi has the longest wooden bridge in Thailand.

I was in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand last July when I broke my abstinence in running. I had just finished a three-day training session, I was dead tired, and I had a very nasty migraine. I wanted to have a Thai massage, but like an epiphany, it suddenly came to me: why not run instead?
So I changed into my running gear—unused for over a year, they had nevertheless gone with me everywhere I went—and my excitement at the thought of running again filled me with so much energy that I was almost hopping when I went out of the hotel. I reminded myself, however, that I had to go slow, that I was expected to have lower endurance, and that there was no expectation from me aside from just going out the door and moving for at least 20 minutes.
As expected, I was very slow, and after 9 minutes I had to stop and catch my breath. I didn’t want to stop at first—my mind was tell me that I should be ashamed of my weakness; if I could run for 3 ½ hours straight before, why couldn’t I run straight for 20 minutes now?
But I immediately stopped the negative thought. I reminded myself that my weakness was understandable, and the goal for that day was not racing but just to keep moving. I remembered what Bill Dellinge said in a site full of running quotes: “Good things come slow – especially in distance running.” I was and will be a distance runner again, so I had to take things slowly. If ever there was a lesson I learned from my injury, it was to respect my body’s limitations.
So I stopped, then ran again. And I stopped, and ran again. When I made my U-turn at the post office, though, I was surprised at what came over me. I suddenly felt so strong, so free! It was as if I could run forever. I couldn’t believe I was feeling the beginning of a runner’s high! It lasted less than a minute, but it reminded me of the numerous times I had experienced it during the peak of my running career.
I walked-ran the rest of the way back to the hotel, but the fleeting moment of that runner’s high filled me with so much energy and happiness. What a way for running to welcome me back!

Filed Under: runners high, running, Thailand

Comments

  1. Pon says

    September 5, 2011 at 3:44 am

    congrats! glad you're back! – amillah

    Reply
  2. Aleah says

    September 7, 2011 at 8:27 am

    Thanks, Amillah. It feels good to run again 🙂

    Reply
  3. Ray Charbonneau says

    September 28, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Congrats! The struggle is worth it.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    September 30, 2011 at 7:04 am

    brinkka2011 says: Informative post, Im now one of your feed followers

    Reply
  5. Aleah says

    October 5, 2011 at 2:03 am

    Hi Ray! Yes it is. Thanks for dropping by my blog!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    October 12, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    hello guys. nice forum 😉

    Reply
  7. Kenley says

    October 13, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    sorry late in posting a comment here. I have been floating around here and there. I would have to disagree with a statement that you said "I was and will be a distance runner again". Even during your time away, you were a distance runner. You will always have it in you regardless of any set backs. Once a runner, always a runner, unless of course you all out quit. I look forward to

    Reply
  8. Jules says

    November 22, 2011 at 6:22 am

    I can relate to your feeling of high. Like you I also had a series of injuries prevented me from running for almost 2 years and also commitment at work. I finally decided to start running again as I came to a point of hating the way I look and feel. It's been several weeks that I have been running and each time I go out for a run, it is such a high and I come back feeling totally energise, on

    Reply
  9. Aleah says

    November 22, 2011 at 8:44 am

    @ Kenley: Yeah, I agree with you. It&#39;s just hard to remember that when I&#39;ve been absent from running for some time. sigh.<br />@ Jules: Agree also 100%. I haven&#39;t been as constant in my running as you, but I&#39;ll really go back to it. It&#39;s time to bite the bullet, so to speak. I really miss running a lot!

    Reply

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