So despite the fact that I injured my knee less than two months ago...
And that my knee caused me some pretty bad pain running a 6k only a week before...
I thought a 6-miler sounded like a genius idea.
Or at least it did when I had originally signed up for it...
And that my knee caused me some pretty bad pain running a 6k only a week before...
I thought a 6-miler sounded like a genius idea.
Or at least it did when I had originally signed up for it...
The RunWILD Bell's Bend 6-Miler is a local trail race organized by the Nashville Running Company, hosted at Bell's Bend Park on the northwest side of Nashville.
And while the weather wasn't particularly warm for Nashville, the fact that I was going running in December and there wasn't any snow is a pretty novel concept for me.
One down-side? When I signed up for the race, I had thought it was Saturday morning. And my work party was Saturday night.
Turns out the race was on Sunday morning... AFTER I'd stayed out late with my co-workers, eating rich foods and enjoying the benefits of some of the local adult beverages...
Oh well!
No better way to get the blood flowing and to jump-start your body than to go out and run 6 miles!
And while the weather wasn't particularly warm for Nashville, the fact that I was going running in December and there wasn't any snow is a pretty novel concept for me.
One down-side? When I signed up for the race, I had thought it was Saturday morning. And my work party was Saturday night.
Turns out the race was on Sunday morning... AFTER I'd stayed out late with my co-workers, eating rich foods and enjoying the benefits of some of the local adult beverages...
Oh well!
No better way to get the blood flowing and to jump-start your body than to go out and run 6 miles!
So there I was, knowing full well that my knee was probably going to hurt at some point in the race. Praying and hoping that the main was manageable and not unbearable...
And for the first mile and a half I felt great!
And then the aching started. I shortened my stride, slowed my pace... I took great care in attempting to salvage as much of my knee as I could for as long as I could...
And I made it about two miles.
It was right around the two mile mark when the knee just started to hurt so badly that I thought about ditching the whole thing and turning around to head back to the start.
But one thing I hate to be is a quitter.
So I started doing run walk intervals. The pain was manageable so long as I broke the running up in to smaller chunks of time. Walk one minute and recover, run one minute and make up time and distance.
It seemed like it was taking forever, but luckily, the Bell's Bend Park is gorgeous scenery. I hated having to walk it, but I was glad that I finished the race.
It's another one of those life lessons that running can teach us. Learning to listen to what our bodies are saying. Knowing when to slow down. And realizing that slow progress is still progress.
And these are things I need to remind myself of. I have a tendancy to jump back into things too fast and too soon. As much as I hate to give up running or to have to start back at square one, that's what my body needs right now.
But I do think I'll make it back out to Bell's Bend for a nice walk with Rory...
At least until my knee's healed up and I can take her out ther for a run!
#runlove, y'all!
And for the first mile and a half I felt great!
And then the aching started. I shortened my stride, slowed my pace... I took great care in attempting to salvage as much of my knee as I could for as long as I could...
And I made it about two miles.
It was right around the two mile mark when the knee just started to hurt so badly that I thought about ditching the whole thing and turning around to head back to the start.
But one thing I hate to be is a quitter.
So I started doing run walk intervals. The pain was manageable so long as I broke the running up in to smaller chunks of time. Walk one minute and recover, run one minute and make up time and distance.
It seemed like it was taking forever, but luckily, the Bell's Bend Park is gorgeous scenery. I hated having to walk it, but I was glad that I finished the race.
It's another one of those life lessons that running can teach us. Learning to listen to what our bodies are saying. Knowing when to slow down. And realizing that slow progress is still progress.
And these are things I need to remind myself of. I have a tendancy to jump back into things too fast and too soon. As much as I hate to give up running or to have to start back at square one, that's what my body needs right now.
But I do think I'll make it back out to Bell's Bend for a nice walk with Rory...
At least until my knee's healed up and I can take her out ther for a run!
#runlove, y'all!