Injury Free and Full of Fear

There is no greater feeling when you realize you are no longer injured and can finally lace up your sneakers again.  There is no greater feeling, however, with this came fear for me.  I was concerned that if ran wrong, tripped and/or fell I would end up sidelined again for another few weeks.  

A few weeks ago, while running in the woods with friends I encountered a moose.  I was so startled that I hurt my knee.  I watched it change colors, swell up and felt it aching.  I do not know what was worse, the pain that I swore to everyone was non-existent or the fact I couldn't join the other runners outside.  It was a long few weeks and a few weeks that I was whining to Emmie.  Thank you, Em for putting up with me.  

I headed out tonight, much later than planned. I put up off something that I loved out of fear.  Fear is a very interesting emotion.  You realize it is irrational and yet you cannot move past it without really setting your mind to it.  I set out tonight and felt the wind gently on my skin.  I took note of the neighbors cutting their grass.  I noticed the chirping of the birds and the sun slowly setting around me.  

Before I knew it I had gotten into my rhythm again.  My feet hit the pavement in their same familiar way.  My breathing became regular and my knee felt amazing.  I was back.  It had been a very long few weeks, but I was back.  I pushed the little voice in my head away that told me to be careful and I fully relished in my run.  I was a runner again. 

Emmie and I have discussed why we have challenges put in front of us when trying to achieve a dream/goal.  Em believes that when you really want something we are challenged to see how bad we really want it. I think she is onto something.  So how bad do I want it? I will be hitting the pavement again tomorrow with fear a distant memory and nothing but my goal in front of me.