This blog post has been at least a month in the making. It stemmed from having to take two full weeks off from running due to having a small, benign cyst removed from underneath my arm, in the lower armpit latissimus dorsi area. I was Little Miss Grumpy Pants, but I had to continue to remind myself that although it seemed minimal on the outside (what's a few stitches, anyway?), the healing was much greater internally (gnarly little bugger). The location just added to the frustration. The pain wasn't debilitating, just an annoying kind of pain, but the initial healing process did limit my range of motion. After reminding myself a few more times to embrace the downtime, I started to reflect: Why do I run? Why do I workout? Why do I get so gosh darn grumpy when I can't? There are so many things in today's world that one could be addicted to. The word "addiction" is often perceived to be negative. But what if your addiction is something healthy, like exercise? Sure, there are extremes that could make a "healthy" addiction negative; however, let's focus on the healthy addiction that's positive. I have an addiction to exercise. Specifically, I have an addiction to running. In general though, I just love to move; I enjoy doing something every day that challenges my body, and often times, my mind too. I thrive on trying new things and mastering the old. I would not classify my addiction as negative. I incorporate rest days into my training regime. I ensure that my caloric intake matches my training level. I listen to my body. Sometimes you need an unplanned day off. Rest, then, is part of the exercise addiction equation. Your body needs time to rest, recover, and heal. This need could stem from sickness; it could stem from completing an endurance race. No matter what the need, you have to allow yourself that time. The tricky part is aligning your mind and body. You have to accept in your mind that downtime is not failure. You only fail if you quit. Taking care of yourself is not quitting. A day off, or even a week off, is not going to kick your addiction to the curb. In fact, the sheer notion that you can't partake might actually make you crave it more. And I did. I craved it more. My legs were fine. My hips, knees, and feet were all fine. My muscles were geared up and ready at the start line. And I had to say 'no, not today'. It's like saying the "w" word in conversation around the dog and not following through (yes, I just compared myself to a dog). The moment I laced up my shoes for that post-op test run, two long weeks later, and successfully had no irritation or pain where my sutures had just recently been removed, was a hallelujah! It was more than a hallelujah though. It was a respectful thank you to my body. I find new reasons every day to run and workout. At the end of the day though; at the end of a long list of reasons, I run because it makes me happy. I exercise because it makes me happy. Sheer joy. Sometimes I even giggle when I am on the move. It's an adventure. So, take a deep breath, and be encouraged. Find your happy.
