- I’m only going to lose one toenail.
- I now know which restroom stalls at work have handicap rails.
- Everyone is telling me to rest, and they have no expectations for me to do anything. Not a damn thing.
Everyday life
Lack of foresight
So I totally didn’t realize a new belly piercing would have any effect on my running.
I was concerned about the daith piercing (inner cartilage of the ear) because I wear headbands and hats while I run, and I knew any pressure on a new piercing like that would hurt.
When I opted out of the daith and decided on the navel jewelry instead, I didn’t think twice about running. I’ve had my belly pierced before (one on the top and one on the bottom) and don’t remember having any issues. I was 15 or 16 and I ran cross country and track without a problem. I don’t remember which month I got the piercings, however, and if it was between seasons.
Last night I tried to run the 8 steps down my hallway to test out my leg. I focused my mental “eye” on the back of my right knee, where the tendons are strained. I was going to try to pinpoint where the pain was, if there indeed was any pain. But as I took the first two steps I was caught off guard by the pain at my navel. I have no idea if my leg even hurt, because my tummy was like, “Ow!”
I guess my mommy tummy jiggles just enough to upset the new piercing when I run. Great.
Now I have another thing to worry about when Miwok comes around in … 25 days.
There I go, being impulsive again.
“Is this an ‘I’m not running so I have to make a drastic change’ thing?” my coworker (also a runner) asked.
“Yes. Yes, that is exactly what it is.”
She hit the nail on the head.
When I’m injured, I do impulsive things. I have to make a change. Right. Friggin. NOW.
I don’t know the psychology behind it, I just know that every time I’m benched for two weeks or more, I have to find something to change.
Last time I had a popliteus strain, I chopped 8 inches of my hair off and donated it to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths. I also got highlights, breaking a 6-year hiatus from any hair dye.
This time, I strolled into a tattoo and piercing parlor.
I’ve been wanting to get a daith piercing, which is the inner cartilage of the ear, because I’ve heard and read that this piercing reduces the frequency and severity of migraines and headaches.
A daith piercing
I figure, if it doesn’t work, at least I have a cute piece of a jewelry in a kind of unusual spot. And if it does work, it would be soooooo worth the pain and aftercare. I get migraines about once a month, and they’re completely debilitating. The auras leave me close to blind and the headache that follows is so bad it’s left me in tears before. My migraine medicine makes me nauseous.
But… I chickened out.
I may go back and get it done, but the 6-month or longer healing time and fear of pain (that cartilage is THICK!) was just too much.
So, I pierced my navel instead.
It’s cute. I dig it.
Upon returning to work (I did this on my lunch break), I told my coworkers I chickened out of the daith piercing but got my belly done instead. And that is when my coworker figured me all out: Running controls my impulses; not running leads me to do wacky things.
Anyone else have this problem?
This will be brief
As I write another epic running story for my small community newspaper, I can’t help but think I’m in the wrong line of publication.
My dream is to write for UltraRunning, Outside, Running Times or Runner’s World magazines.
The best stories in my paper have been about runners, because that is what I know and what I’m passionate about.
Write your passions!
Follow your dreams!
One day, someday, I will only run, write, and be a mom ❤
New year, new blog
I haven’t blogged in years. The last time I wrote a blog post, I called myself a born-again runner and I was two weeks post-op (LASIK). I only had one kid. My occupation was “data entry expert.”
How much life has changed!!
Today I call myself an ultrarunner. I haven’t been to an eye doctor in 3 years. I have two kids, ages 3 and 5. I’m the editor-in-chief of a community newspaper.
A few things haven’t changed, though.
I still march to the beat of my own drum. I’m still a multi-tasker (even more so, now). I’m still a military wife and the head of the household.
And I’m still loving my life!!
Here’s to 2016 and the opportunities it holds. *cheers*
Gazelle Runs Ultras 