While out of town with my family last week, I ran almost every day. It was a way for me to clear my head, to think about my dad, and to honor him by doing something that he was always so supportive of. The first morning that I was home, I went for an early run while it was still dark outside. I ran in the moonlight for a while before the sun came up, and then ran some more admiring the farm on the beautiful fall day. As I ran past the fields that my dad had worked in for so many years I let it go and cried, and mourned the loss of my dad.
While at my parents’ house I tried to be strong for my mom and my family, but being outside alone on the farm was a place for me to let go. I don’t think Dad would have minded that his little girl was crying, but he wouldn’t want me to wallow in pity either; rather to go on and live life to the fullest.
Yes, I ran almost every day while on the farm, but I didn’t lift weights, do lunges, planks, or any of my other usual exercises. And that brings me to the title of today’s post. Oh geeze, am I sore! Monday I hit the gym for my own workout after I saw my morning clients. By mid-day yesterday I was quite sore. The exercises that made me particularly sore were dips, pull-ups (assisted of course), and lunges.
Yesterday after I finished training my morning clients, I went out for a run. Just as I was finishing my fifth mile, I caught my toe on a raised place in the trail where a tree root had most likely caused it to crack and raise.
The next thing I knew I was flying through the air, much like Superman but without the grace, and landing on my left hand, elbow and shoulder. Apparently I rolled as part of my fall, because by the time I got my wits back I was on my back looking at the beautiful blue sky. I rolled back over to my knees and as I started to get up I noticed a black SUV had pulled to the side of the road and stopped to check on me. I sheepishly waved to the lady driver that I was okay as I stood on wobbly legs to assess the damage.
I started to run/limp home, but quickly remembered to take a picture of the evil crack in the trail as proof that the trail jumped up and tripped me. This morning I woke up still sore from Monday’s workout, and stiff from yesterday’s fall. Raising my arms over my head to demo an exercise for a client this morning was a challenge. Let’s face it folks, I’m a mess! Or as my hubby always tells me, “You’re your own worse enemy.”
- Questions:
- What exercise makes you the sorest? ~ Lunges
- Have you ever wiped out on a run? ~ Twice before yesterday and have a huge scar on my knee from one of the falls
- What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Lunges never fail to make me sore! After Richmond, I’m planning to hit the gym hard. My strength training has been non-existent in the midst of marathon training. I know I’m going to be so sore after the first few sessions!
What a beautiful picture of your parent’s farm. I’m sure your dad was with you on all of those morning runs, just like he’s always been. Hugs to you!
After the race is the best time to build your strength in preparation for the next race.
Any interest in joining Bill and me for the Hungry Mother Half Marathon on April 5? It looks like a great trail run! I’m going to start working on Meagan, too! 🙂
Yes, I know that Dad was with me…
What a beautiful place your family lives. So glad to hear you were able to get out and run, such a healing process. More hugs to you!
Thanks, Amy. My husband and I did a really cool, yet very difficult trail run that he plans to write about (he loved it so much he did it three different days). It will be his first post as a guest blogger… stay tuned. You are correct, running is so cathartic for me.
What a gorgeous place to run! And how evil of that crack to trip you…that’s just kicking you while you’re down! Lunges are definitely a killer in the soreness department.
I know, right?
It’s always a morale boost to hear that someone who is in such tip top shape, still gets sore from lunges and stuff…means it’s okay for us regular folks be sore too..
The farm looks beautiful!
I truly need to hang out with you whenever I need to boost my ego!
It’s been a long time since you were at the farm!
Ok you asked….reverse walking lunges and side lunges make me most sore. Those and now warrior 3 held with eyes closed.
Fall 1 …mile 32.5 jogging backwards talking to Bill when I stumbled to my butt and rolled on my water bottle.
Fall 2 running over loudoun county parkway headed it mile marker 25 looking up hill when the rubber seam jumped up and tripped my feet and sent me to the ground scrapping my hand and rolling over my water bottle onto my back.
So it’s Bill’s fault that you fell on your butt! 😉
That same rubber seam on the bridge over LCP tripped me one time when I was running with Bob and Terri! I went flying through the air with my arms outstretched, but somehow managed to get my feet back under me before I fell.
Definitely squats and lunges make me the sorest!! I’ve never wiped out on a run (knock on wood)! Sorry to hear about your dad.
Gorgeous fields photo. Running must have been a nice sanity saver during that difficult time.
Ouch about the fall. Hope the stiffness has eased up today! I am a master faller- be it on the trails or roads! My most embarrassing was in Hawaii when I was a teenager. I was out for a morning run and fell on a lifted sidewalk. A cute guy stopped to see if I was ok, stating how bad it looked. He was a beach lifeguard so wanted me to come to his stand for first aid. I declined as I just wanted to get out of there! I still have the scar, over 10 years later, on top of my hip bone!
What makes me the SOREST…probably squats. But I honestly think this is because I’m used to bringing The Hurt to my legs, so I can probably tolerate MUCH more discomfort in my legs than my upper body. Plus, most of my workouts, work, and teaching are leg-centric, so if my triceps are battered, I can usually get by coaching and spinning without too much fuss. In other words, the leg soreness is the most noticeable.
I’ve wiped out plenty of times on runs…the worst would have to be when I busted my ankle, although that fall was pretty minor. I stepped badly, rolled my ankle outward, and busted out a string of curses (mid-fall) that I have NEVER said aloud otherwise, as I plummeted to the ground. Apparently, it took me only milliseconds to realize how serious the injury was.
I’m not sure about MOST embarrassing, but running into things (fire hydrants are the WORST) while group coaching is always pretty embarrassing, since I generally have a pretty large audience at that point…
Ouch! It’s no good when the trail jumps up and trips you! I hope you’re feeling better.
I get the sorest from….. swimming for the first time in 3.5 years! (which I did about 2 weeks ago) The next morning I couldn’t lift my arms above my head without grimacing. I have wiped out on many runs in the past (I trip on flat surfaces…) but luckily there are usually not many witnesses. My running buddy is used to me regularly half rolling my ankle, nearly falling, and then catching myself. I’m also really good at running into things like truck hitches (when running on a sidewalk that’s next to a parking area) and fire hydrants. My poor shins!
I bet your shoulders were very sore after swimming for the first time in 3.5 years! Have you been swimming since you’ve gotten back on the running trail, or was that cross-training out of necessity?
I did swim again last week, even though I was mostly back to running normally. The first week was cross-training out of necessity, the second week was because I enjoy it 🙂 For whatever reason, I have a hard time packing up my suit, towel, cap and goggles and driving to the pool. Apparently it’s too much effort?