I know, I know. You just read the headline and are humming some Bob Seger. I am, too. But it doesn’t seem like yesterday. And it wasn’t long ago. It was this morning. I got up at 4:15 a.m., checked the radar and decided to go out for my morning run. It was hot, gooey and windy. You could tell a hurricane was to the South. I headed out, still wondering if my I.T. Band was going to hold. It did and I ran 5.03 miles.
I can tell you that running with the easterly wind was easier than running against it. In fact, I could’ve outrun Usain Bolt at one point. I finished up, lighter from the sixty gallons of sweat I lost, and got ready.
I’ve had trouble with my right I.T. Band in the past. The first time, it knocked me out of running the St. Jude Marathon (which was probably a good thing; I had not trained well for it and would have suffered). Now, it has manifested some pain up in my hip area. I’ve quit running before because of this injury. This time? No way. I’ve dialed back my mileage, added more stretching and continued to watch what I stick in my mouth (I’ve cut back on a couple snacks I normally eat). Add to that, I’ve added some cross-training exercises. I’m still making good choices.
It’s harder than quitting. Trust me, I’ve already tried to freak out about it. But it’s not enough to make me stop. But quitting means losing. Or in this case, gaining. I refuse to gain back my weight.
Overcoming an obstacle like an I.T. Band injury is never easy. But sometimes life is most rewarding when you run against (and overcome) the wind.