So... Christmas day 2017 saw me hobbling back to my car, with my left ITB (knee) hurting badly. A friend recommended that i definitely see a physiotherapist. I went and met one the next day. She did a bunch of tests, advised some exercises, told me to keep my legs elevated, NOT to run...basically, forced rest ! Now, this forced rest was incredibly difficult for me. I'd been progressing nicely since starting again in August and had built up my weekly mileage to a decent level.
I was down... but not out.
2018 dawned with me trying to be diligent in the exercises and maintain my form while doing them.
I had to go for multiple visits, to check up on my progress, add/modify the exercises. She increased the duration and intensity of a few and added a set of stretches to do at the end. She also did some dry needling and even did some taping to relieve the stress.
Now, mind you, I’d gone to see a physio earlier in the year (post my feb injury) but hadn’t been very regular with the treatment of exercises. I think it was also a factor of stress at work, which prohibited me to be diligent (between mar to aug).
All of January, I tried to be patient. It was difficult. The pain by itself wasn’t bothering me… it was the fact that I’d been running so well and then it was a screeching halt, in a shower of pain :(
Now, I have extended family in a land far far away… and while we don’t get to visit each other often, technology has helped to bring us all closer. It’s good to follow the happenings and their travels from afar. It offers us a chance to express joy and happiness, express solidarity and support, depending upon the occasion.
On the first of feb, we received an email from my cousin. My cousin, who is very articulate, beautiful, kind, has a wonderfully supportive family, was advised surgery. Now, to my mind, anything that requires us to get into the bodyshop, is not a pleasant experience. I’d stay away from hospitals as much as possible and given a choice, I would even avoid doctors for minor ailments. Surgery, major or not, is still an invasion of our body. This wonderful piece of machinery which is (mostly) self sustaining. It’s a marvelous piece of engineering, which grows and weaves itself, as we treat it. But sometimes, it needs extraneous intervention, to keep it going, irrespective of how we care for it. This was one of those times.
I sat and stared at the email for a long time.
She’s a cheerful soul. A wonderful generous person. Always has a kind word. Always ready to lend a helping hand.
Why would this happen to her ? Why do bad things happen to good people ? Why is she being put through this trauma ? What did she do to deserve this physical pain, this emotional upheaval ?
These are questions, which were an extension of when my Dad was hospitalized. I think, I completely lost faith, when Dad passed away. I’d never been much of a religious believer anyway. Never much for prayer. I believed that He is all around us and I don’t need to go to temple to worship him. He gives us plenty of chances to doubt him, but also shows support and invisible guidance when the situation demands it. But, now, in these times of stress, He’s gone AWOL.
I couldn’t bring myself to write back to her. I didn’t have words to express my support.
With a lot of trepidation, I signed up for a 10K – in the last week of feb. This is how I would show my support, while not even telling her about it.
All of the races of 2017 had been for others, whom I hadn’t told. This would be another one. My first race of 2018 would be for didi.
I don’t know if it was a confluence of events, fate or destiny (I don’t even truly comprehend the difference between fate and destiny) which has made me do races for others. I mean, think of it – it’s really not something which is helping the other person. There is no material gain, joy or happiness for the other person. Simply put, there is no benefit to me running for someone else. But, I’ve done it anyway.
For all I know, she probably felt bad that I didn’t even write a sentence to her, showing support and expressing concern. I’m sorry didi, that I didn’t write earlier.
So, with this objective I took to doing short runs again. Short & slow runs, three days a week. My ITB rehab was ongoing and (probably) helping. I was really apprehensive, considering that I’d been out of action for 6 months in 2017, and then this had been another setback on my running quest. I didn’t want to put too much stress on my knee, but I also wanted to do well in the race… I figured, I need to definitely finish and complete the 10K, even if it isn’t the best of time for me.
So, kept faith in the rehab program and I did my training runs.
Race day arrived. Went through the pre race ritual of stretching and warm up, lined up, and started off…
I just focused on keeping a steady pace and ensuring that I kept up with the pacer. Fortunately, I found company in a lady, who was very consistent in her pace, having excellent running form. Overtook quite a lot of runners. Felt good :)
Ultimately, of course, I did finish the race, albeit not my best time. But, I was happy on finishing the race for didi !
I know for sure that my cousin will be back to 100% fitness and be a bundle of energy soon. I wish her a long and healthy healthy life ahead.
2018, had started off with me working on strengthening my lower limbs and progressed to me successfully running my first race of the season. I’d started from zero…once again.
If anything, running has taught me to keep going… to get up and start multiple times, despite injuries and setbacks.
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