In August, I went on a hike and a beach run, and for a few days afterward I could barely walk due to an intense pain in my left foot. I went to the doctor and found out I had tendinitis, and the start of a heel spur. I was given a boot for walking so my foot could be stabilized while it healed, and I was told to stop running for a couple of months.
I enjoy running, and I really love setting goals for myself, such as time and distance. So, on that day I went for my beach run, I knew I had come a long way in my running goals, and when I got hurt, it derailed me physically and mentally. I was incredibly disappointed, and being on my foot all day at work with the constant pain was like a continual reminder that I had reached a hurdle in my journey. I was in a slump, but once the two month mark was over, I got myself back to the gym and focused on other 'foot friendly' activities, like weights and bike riding.
I started 'running' again in January, and had to start from the beginning. Slow speed, short distances, and just trying to feel happy for whatever I accomplished. I set new goals, and just took my time.
Now, I take a kickboxing class, I try to factor in weight training regularly, and I am finally back to running longer distances (well, only up to 3.25 miles, but still). My weight never actually moved during my time off, which I am thankful for, but now I am determined to see the scale continue to drop, and even more than that, I can visibly see changes in my body.
Sometimes, I feel like there aren't any changes...until I unearth old photographs and compare them to the here and now...tonight I found this picture, taken in San Francisco, in 2008. The picture on the right was taken in November 2013. It's still horrifying to see the 'before' pictures, but they help me really open my eyes and see...they are the reminders that I need sometimes, not only to press on, but to reflect and see where I've come from. And to be excited about where I am going...
