Sprained Ankle

Lately, I've been waking up at 5:30 in the morning, not by choice. Sunday was one of those mornings. Usually, I try to close my eyes and give myself at least 7 hours of sleep, while thinking about what I plan on doing that day. So I decided I am going to put on my running sneakers and go on a long run.

I started running around January. It started with just walks to the park, then jogging about 1 mile, then 3 miles. One day I even ran/walked for 10 miles without planning it. Running has become one of many hobbies that I am enjoying. I even started working out with a personal trainer to increase my endurance and strength, read about running without injury... so a funny story about running without injury.

Now I am hobbling around my apartment with my very much bruised and swelled up right ankle wrap in ACE band and ice. This isn't so much of a problem, except that I am going on a small getaway trip that involves hiking, a trail-run following the trip, and a Sunday dance class. Painfully aware that none of those will help me heal quickly. 

The first few months of running I did not have a particular goal or ambition, just an urge to run. I run after work when I have a stressful exhausting day, I run after work when I have a pretty light shift, or I run when the weather is nice. Running gives me mental clarity - My gaze focused on what's ahead of me, my breathing (embarrassingly) loud but rhythmic and my mind goes quiet. It feels like I've gone on a meditative state. I've also noticed that since I've started running, I spend less time (or perhaps I have less time) sitting in front of TV and munching away any snacks I can find (this is why I never keep any bulk junk food at home). I am eating and feeling healthier too. The benefits of running were a great positive re-enforcement.

Of course, the type-A personality in me has to go and sign up for a trail-run in May and a half-marathon in September. I've been mindful about very slowly ramp up my distance and occasionally my speed. I wanted to do the half-marathon just as a goal to work towards to finishing it but never the intention to compete. I've learned long ago (back in the high school days on Track &Field) that I am not an athletic runner but I do enjoy the discipline, the physical wellness, and the simplicity of the sport. 

Here I am, laying on my couch most of today and wondering when I can get back to running again, and feeling a little gloomed that I have to build up my mileage from the beginning again. Then realizing the purpose of my running was to enjoy it. I have once again, revert to my old self of wanting-to-do-everything-at-my-maximum-capacity. Often time, I find myself stumbled more by external pressure rather than an internal peace, pure, simple joy of just being or doing, Just like last Sunday, I stumbled, literally, over that fact. So here it is, on this blog, a testimony of some kind perhaps, to remind me the benefits and origin of why I run rather than the mileage and pace I am at with my running.