The First Time

The first time I ran after having shin splints that turned into stress fractures.

I'm sure you all know what an obsessed with running fanatic I am that I love to run. I've been running off and on since the 7th grade, when my gym teacher (after trying basketball, gymnastics and softball-all ending in huge embarrassing failures) told me, "I think we've finally found something you're good at". Yes, those were her exact words, and I was SO. HAPPY. I wanted to play sports so badly, but I was so uncoordinated and clumsy and so awkward, I ended up being good at nothing...until I ran the mile in gym class...without stopping...and actually finishing before some of the more athletic boys. So...I ran with it...pun intended.

When I was in my early 20's, many, many, many not that many years ago, I bought the wrong shoes. I bought them because I liked how they looked(never do this, please, if you learn anything from me, please buy a pair of running shoes that feel great; test them out, do NOT buy them for their good looks). I ran in these shoes for about a week, until I could run no more. But guess what? I did run more...and these said shoes gave me shin splints...but I thought shin splints were for wimps, whiners, sissy-girls who boo-hooed because they didn't want to run. I was so stubborn I ran through the shin splints until I pulled my groin muscles...ever done this? No? Well, I couldn't walk up steps...I could hardly walk at all, let alone run.

I did what the wimpiest of girly-girls did...I went to the doctor. 

Apparently shin splints ARE real. Huh. And I guess if you keep running on these shin splints they can turn into stress fractures...say what??!! Double-huh. My prescription? NO RUNNING. SAY WHAT??!! That and some very powerful medications that helped to ease the pain so I could at least walk. A firm scolding from my doctor in the form of, "Are you crazy? Why didn't you just stop running when you were in pain?". Do you not know me at all??

So while I was waiting for my stupid legs to heal (this was pre-kids), I did a lot of *crickets chirping* and I ...

To tell you the truth, I don't know what I did...I think I have blocked this from my memory...

But I do remember what I did the first time I could run again.

WOOHOO!!! I CAN RUN!!! I AM RUNNING WITH NO PAIN!!! THANK YOU, LORD!!!  THANK YOU FOR HEALING ME!!!  I did this while running down the streets. I got a couple of odd looks, but I did NOT care, because I was running... I felt like Forrest Gump after he broke out of his leg braces...

And just like Forrest, I kept running.

*See the about me in my profile...yes I am a running dork. And yes, this is a true story.

 

 

It's a fill-in-the-blank-for-your-own-prompt Prompt:  

The first time I ________-ed after _________-ing.