Hurray, I am Back on Track!

Thank the Lord I have returned to some type of a regular running routine today.

Five weeks ago today I injured my left knee (again!). I hurt it while running a 15-miler with my friend, Dr. John Thweatt. We were both pushing a great run, when around mile 5 I felt my knee twinge. I knew immediately what I had done. I slowed down to complete the run, but by the time I finished I knew I had strained it the same way I did two years ago.

The next Monday I was in Dr. Bailey’s office at Alabama Orthopedics. Soon thereafter I was at the mercy of Wendy, my knee therapist at Performance Fitness. Since then I have been working strenuously in physical therapy to get my knee back in shape.

Thursday morning I decided to see what I could do after taking so much time off. I walked a quarter mile, then I jogged a quarter mile. After four laps, I jogged a complete mile with no problems. Then I concluded with a half-mile walk and a half-mile jog. This morning I decided, no matter what happened I would jog at least three miles.

Mile one was a bit laborious. Mile two I felt stronger. I could sense me knee was getting back in running shape as I completed mile three.

After my run (actually it was a fast-paced walk that built into a slow jog) I returned to my study to spend time praying. While giving thanks for my progress I recalled how I have injured some part of my body during each marathon training plan the last six years. You name it, I have injured it—from my sciatic nerve to my Achilles tendon to my left knee to my big toes to my left knee again to my hamstring and now back to my left knee. Injuries are a part of running. If you run, especially at my age, you are bound to damage something. Pain is a normal part of training.

Thanks to my recent pain I have had to rethink my goals for 2007. Here are a few changes:

• Instead of running 1200 miles, I retrofitted my goal to 1000 miles. Today I completed mile 860. With ten weeks remaining in the year, surely I can average 14 miles a week. Who knows, I may do well enough to ratchet my goal back to 1200. For now it is 1000 miles, however.
• Instead of running the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis on December 1, I may run the half-marathon.
• Instead of running three marathons this year (Georgia, Nashville and Memphis), I may shoot for two marathons (done) and one half-marathon (see aforementioned goal).
• Instead of competing for a personal best at this year’s CrossPoint 5K, I am looking forward to just finishing with a decent time and feeling strong.
• Instead of running a race a weekend between now and December 1, I plan to run a race every other weekend or every two or three weekends. Next weekend is the CrossPoint 5K. The next weekend includes the Vulcan 10K. Thanksgiving Day I will run the Jewish Community Center 10K. Hopefully after that I can attempt to run something in Memphis.

You might be wondering why I put so much effort into my running. If you knew what it did for me mentally and spiritually, you would understand. For those who run, they know what I am talking about.

Not everything I am writing about today has to do with running, either. Injuries that come with marathon training are a natural part of the experience (especially at my age). In the same way, setbacks that come with life are a natural part of life as well.

Thinking of the problems of life reminds me of one of my mom’s sayings. She is known to say periodically, “If you live long enough you are going to die.” I would add, “If you run long enough you are going to face injuries, and if you live long enough you are going to face setbacks.”

If there is anything I know about injuries in running and setbacks in life it is this:

1. God uses every hardship in life and even injuries in running for our good. Romans 8:28 proves that. Speaking of Romans 8, have you ever noticed what Paul says in verse 37. He says, “No, IN all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution, etc.)…we are more than conquerors.” It is IN the injuries and setbacks we conquer life.
2. Very few setbacks and injuries are permanent. Those that are permanent, I have learned, serve a real purpose. Sometimes that purpose includes protection from our selves, from others, or from other more serious problems.
3. Setbacks in life as well as injuries in running enable us to appreciate the many ways God has blessed us. To be quite honest, my injury has forced me not to take so many things for granted; to be more grateful.

I could write more, but I will stop there for the time being. I trust you see the picture I am trying to paint. Life is going to have its mountains, its problems, its setbacks. When they come, you don’t quit. You wait. You pray. You press on. You do what you are supposed to do. With time, things will balance out, even though you may have to make some adjustments. It is the adjustments, however, that force us to grow.