Thursday, March 13, 2008

One Armed Wallpaper Hanger


I ran 3 yesterday on a trail that I thought would be easier on my feet than pavement. It was solid ice and snow that had melted and re-froze several times in the shape of everyone's feet (and bikes?) that had been there maybe all winter. Miserable and I got blood blisters on both feet. I'm no trail runner. Just call me Tenderfoot. I tried to enjoy the scenery but couldn't take my eyes off the footing for long. Still, there were gorgeous chunks of ice floating down the Raccoon River and the sun was making them sparkle.

Since I am slower than 99% of the population out there that choose to run, it also stands to reason that the only other foolish person out there was a chick who quickly passed me. I'm not in the best spirits right now, something to do with all the self-evaluation that occurred during a lone 6 hour car ride. Being so slow (and stupid for running on that stuff) just adds to it.

I'm busier than a one-armed wall paper hanger right now. Hope to get some work outs in but need to buckle down on a few things. Be back soon.

34 comments:

Wes said...

Stupid blood blisters :-( Mud and water? OK. Snow and ice and muck? Uh uh!!

Sometimes its good to see yourself through our eyes :-)

Razz said...

yeah. I don't think I could do trail running. I'm not that brave or coordinated.

Laura N said...

Stupid? I'd say determined. You needed to run, and you thought it would be more helpful to run on the trail. Just because you didn't know the consequences before hand (from lack of experience, not stupidity) doesn't mean you screwed up. It's a total bummer about your feet, but get that club out and start beating those negative thoughts away. And so what if you're slower? How about we put you in the small percentage of the population who run, period?

It's a mental blip, Nancy. You'll pull out of it soon enough. You are THE BOMB. Don't you forget that.

K80K said...

Don't feel bad about your run. Sometimes you need to experiment and they all start with the best of intentions. Just so happens that this one didn't have the desired outcome. Brush off and move on. Lesson learned. Hope the blisters heal fast.

RunToTheFinish said...

i always think I want to run on trails...but then I trip or sink in a hole or get all muddy and i Ireally don't enjoy it.

Nat said...

We all know you rock. I hate runs like that too. (Hang in there. It's ok to be slow. You get to run with cool people like me ;)

Good on you for trying it. Not sure I would have.

Marcy said...

I absolutely agree with Laura and in fact I probably would have done THE SAME THING! It's definitely not a "dumb thing I tried" Don't beat yourself up over it Nanc!

Brooke said...

Oh no, my friend, I am the slowest runner out there.

Jeff said...

You're still way ahead of the 90% of the population that does little more than move from the couch to the fridge. Besides, speed is over rated.

Unknown said...

You are still far faster than the 99% of the population the never gets off their butts for anything except another candy bar. It might be just me, but it sure seems like the people at the back of the pack have a lot more fun than the people at the front.

J~Mom said...

Nancy you know I am right there with you girl!! Try not to worry about time and just aim to have a good time while doing something fantastic for yourself. Believe me, I really want to be fast someday but for now I am just having a good time!! :>D

Lily on the Road said...

oh Nancy, my heart goes out to you. Don't beat yourself up...it has just been that kind of winter...you are doing so well,

We are ALL allowed a "blue day"....pity parties are okay, but only for 10 minute increments....that' it, it's over....you are just rocking....!!!

upright and smiling is the way I always see you!!!!

E said...

You probably would have passed me so don't let it get to you!

Unknown said...

I do my outside long runs on a trail. I do not run on it when the ground is frozen anymore because I have injured myself when it was hard and uneven. I suggest that you consider trying it again when it's warmer outside...it will probably be much nicer when the ground isn't hard and uneven.

Unknown said...

Oh - and I was discussing today with someone about how frustrating it is that we easily get into the "I'm slow therefore I suck" mentality. Instead, try thinking "I ran x amount of time and that rocks".

J said...

Dang, blood blisters? Yucky. You just don't let anything stop you, do ya? Love your tenacity!

Sarah Kathryn said...

Oh honey (can I call you that, LOL!?) ... blood blisters...? :( But good GRIEF, WHY are you giving yourself a hard time?! You went TRAIL RUNNING. And for all the right reasons.

You are one of the most enthusiastic, cheerful, fun ambassadors of the sport *ever*. Please don't get down on yourself. I just love how you love to run, and how you run in all kinds of conditions.

Never mind that you are cute as all get out, too. And you obviously rock at your job, or else why are you going on those cool trips?! I want to be you! :)

No getting down on yourself - you just have those end-of-winter blues you northern folk get. We get end-of-winter blues down here in Flori-duh, too; just for different reasons.

sRod said...

Hey, you are not slower than 99% of the running population. Some marathons stay open for 7 or 8 hours--and I know you don't run that slow!

David said...

I'm really excited that you are going to tri a fun sport!
;-)

You're doing great keeping up the momentum and interest through the winter. That trail run sounds like something to leave until the big thaw, though.

Brianna said...

Doesn't matter how fast you went - you RAN - you got out and did it! And you faced snow and ICE, of all things, to do it. You rock!

Sorry to hear about the blood blisters, though - maybe you and Java Mom could have a sad feet party. :)

Amy@RunnersLounge said...

Still looking forward to next week Nancy!!!

Shelley said...

Virtual hugs coming your way ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )...hope i didn't squeeze you too tight, just enough to get the blues out. I had them earlier this week too.

Hope you feel better soon :)

Kent said...

As someone who is way too familiar with blood blister, get them taken care of. Don't worry about the speed, you are faster than 100% of the runners and walkers who weren't tough enough to go out there!

akshaye said...

You are faster than 100% of the people who dont run! And its always better to be safe.

Andrew is getting fit said...

Blood blisters! Yowzers!

Damn, you are an inspiration!

Nitmos said...

Trail running is much more difficult than road running, IMO. You engage other stabilizer leg muscles normally not needed on a flat surface. It;s a good work-out, though, if you don't get injured.

Mendy said...

Nanc, you did better than I would. I wouldn't have attempted it. Laura nailed it, you're "determined" and your doing something SO good for yourself. Even though you say you're slower than 99% that run, look at the high % of people that don't even attempt it, or think you're nuts for running anything over 4 miles. Jeez... the people I work with think I'm this amazing athlete just because I can run middle distance, when I sit back and read blogs of the fast folks -whom I'd like to be with one day. I just shake my head to them and say "I'm at the bottom of the barrel of this sport".

You're doing great! and you're very motivational to all of us in some aspect. Time is irrelevant. We're all learning from each other, no matter our "pace". That's why I LOVE this place!

Jamie said...

Not stupid at all! How were you to know the trail would be crappy. Congrats for getting out there and getting 3 in despite the conditions. And just think how awesome that trail will be in spring once everything melts away. Hang in there!!!

Michelle said...

I have done a few trail ones (one during a race) and I don't like running on trails, either. I know pavement is awful for the joints, but I would rather run on roads any day.

When I get to feeling bad that I'm not a faster runner, I just think about all those people out there who never even get out the front door. You are a champion because you do run, not because of how fast you run!

Sam said...

Don't beat yourself up about being slow. Take a look at how far you've come and remember why you started, I'm sure it wasn't to win a race.

AnnaBanana said...

Ouch!
But the trouble times end up making good memories - You had the courage to start & you ROCK for that!!

I'm at the back in the pack with my14 min/mile & it's not so bad being slow - it's kinda fun back here.

(Internet kiss to make the blisters better! - *SMACK*)

Sonia said...

Oh man this sucks Nancy but you're not stupid! You just wanted to ease up the knees.... maybe try the trails again when they are not in that yucky state! You're great!

teacherwoman said...

You are not any slower than me, chica! I had a few teachers try to get me to run a 5K with them tomorrow, but I declined once they tried to convince me that they are slow... only running about 10 minute miles! HA!

Viv said...

Nancy, I do love that one armed wallpaper hanger. Nancy, puhlezeze check that at the door missy, too slow..no such thing you were out there on an ice skating rink. PS just so ya know I am the slowest, and don't you try to take my title :-D