So far all of 2014 has been strongly colored by the fall on the ice in January in which I broke my wrist. In hindsight though, I can see that it is really just a minor bump in the road. (I am so very thankful to live in this time, in this place, where a bone break like that may be repaired. In another time, another place, I would be compromised the rest of my life.) I didn't have to "lose" as much time and fitness as I did, but I lost a lot of "heart." I'm still working out all the Why's, but that fall really shook my confidence. If you had asked me if I thought I was invincible or immune to mishap, I would have said "Of course not!" But my feelings after the fact contradict that. That's the first time I've been truly
injured in at least a decade ... and the first since I have joined the ranks of Wife and Mother. I realize there's more at stake now. It's not just about "me" anymore. I suppose everyone comes to that realization in their own time and at their own pace. I've always been a late bloomer!
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I know it's a fluke,
but I'm proud anyway! |
So with the healing of my injury and the return of milder weather, I've been busy making up for lost time and setting a different tone for the rest of the year. Signing up for an event is the best way for me to stay consistent with being active. It's a great mind trick: "I'm not a middle-aged mom out for a jog ... I'm an athlete in Training!" (Plus, I'm too cheap not to use something I PAID for!) Thusly, I signed up for a 10k road race in April. I did much better than I thought I would, coming in at just over an hour (1:03). That time is nothing special, but in the vein of "80% of success is showing up" it was good enough to place in my age group! Talk about a confidence booster! I felt like a Comeback Kid.
Next, I set my sights to June 21 and the River of No Return Endurance Runs event. This offered courses of 25k, 50k, & 100k (15, 31, & 62 miles). Just
25k for me, thankyouverymuch! However, this event wouldn't just be a long half-marathon, but a true trail run on remote single-track up the side of a mountain and back again for a total elevation gain/loss of about 3500 ft. (About 1070 meters for you metric folks.) My goal for this event was simply "to finish." I wasn't concerned about time, or coming in
DFL.
