Category Archives: Flux

Discovery, Flux, Running

Carly the Runner 4.0 – Injury. Coping. Comeback.

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Meet Carly the Runner 4.0. Why 4.0 you ask? Let me explain: I have had three major injuries since I became a runner in August 2004. In order: a stress fracture in October 2006, a calf strain in February 2010, and sesamoid inflammation in January 2013. Each episode reduced my running to zero for several weeks and initiated the cycle: Injury. Coping. Comeback. Therefore, if I started as Carly the Runner 1.0, I am now 4.0. Let’s look at the cycle:

Injury.

It happens to the best of us. Mine have usually been the result of overuse. Accepting being injured is the first step, and it’s a toughie, but more use on top of overuse does not lead to faster recovery or quicker times.

Coping.

Pool Belt
Pool Belt

Through my forced transitions, I have gained considerable skill in coping with injury and anxiety while remaining a pleasant human being.** The injury causes pure frustration, arising from an inability to do an activity I love. The anxiety is a nagging foe reminding me I am getting slower everyday, and I had better put down the ice cream spoon. These internal struggles become a serious hinderance in pursuit of being my best self, but I do think I am improving on this front by finding alternatives to running such as pool running and by reminding myself that I will recover, after all, I have before.

Comeback.

Comeback Shoes
Comeback Shoes

What has made me better at coping, is likewise what has made me better at recovering: confidence that my running ability will return. In transition from 3.0 to 4.0, I trusted more fully in the ability of my body to remember running: eight years and 10,000+ miles are too much to forget over a few weeks. Thankfully, this has proven true. In week one of 4.0, I have run five times for a total of 25 miles – that’s a good memory! I also take 4.0 as an opportunity to hit reset on certain metrics – like longest and fastest runs for general training purposes. This helps me avoid unfair comparisons to how I was then with where I am now. Therefore I would like to celebrate with you the longest run of 4.0: 7.25 miles on April 6. Take that comeback!

For my real comeback challenge: the Palmetto 200 April 12-13 with the Old Guns, Young Ones, and Banditos. Next post will be a follow up on the race. Ole!

OGYOB

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**I will confess that during my most recent injury, “pleasant human being” status faltered seriously one day in early March. The weather was beautiful: sunny and warmer than it had been, and I was driving to the post office when a song I usually listen to while running began to play on the radio (“Trouble” by TSwift, if you were wondering). The pangs of being unable to run tore me apart. Worse yet, I had not gone to the doctor yet, so I had no clear idea when I would be on the road again. My parents gamely took my phone call. I think if they had known how I was going to whine, they might have let it go to voicemail.^

There was also some serious pouting when my mom came to visit for a weekend. Clearly there is still room for improvement in the “Coping” phase, but I would like to think I weathered the storm better than I had in previous transitions.

^They wouldn’t actually do that, I was being dramatic.

Flux, Goals, Running

Resolutions

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2013

Happy New Year’s Day!

No time to waste: it is time to start making good on your New Year’s Resolution. Was it to exercise more? Spend more time with family? Get outside more? Spend less on coffee? Finally start that home improvement or crafting project? Eat healthier? Floss? No matter what you selected, I hope it has an element of fun and the pursuit is rewarding.

I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on two past resolutions of my own: flossing and running 2000 miles in a year. Flossing first.

I came home from my first semester of college and was shocked to learn that I had eight cavities! Not just shocked, but viscerally upset: I cried (a little) in the car. I brush my teeth twice daily and eat a mostly balanced diet. I did not understand how this happened. No individual culprit was identified, but suspects included gum, gatorade, and diet changes. After a long procedure, I was deemed cavity cured and was encouraged to moderate and alter consumption patterns. I also took this as a personal wake-up to start flossing. Thus, my 2009 resolution was to floss daily, and I estimate I achieved a 90% success rate. I maintain this rate presently and am proud to be a regular flosser.

Riding on the success of my 2009 resolution, I committed to a 2010 goal of running 2000 miles in the calendar year. The idea for this goal came in my senior year of high school when I was only 50 miles shy of the 2000 mark. Forty miles per week over fifty weeks? Roughly seven miles per day six days a week? Reasonable enough for a long time runner, or so I thought January 1.

Finished!
Finished! On Christmas day (I ran 11 miles the next week)

My plan did not play out quite so simply. I was sidelined by injuries and other commitments, and by August, I was only halfway to my goal. Thankfully, a mentor encouraged me to continue my pursuit as I was questioning my resolve. Through the fall, I ran 50-70 miles per week to stay on pace. I completed another running goal en route: 100 miles in a single week. I loved it, but it also limited me. I forwent socializing to log miles. My friends and family did not seem to quite understand why 2000 was so important, which made it harder to celebrate my progress and the sacrifice it demanded. I reached my goal on December 25 following a five mile run, my Christmas present to myself. In total, I ran 2011 miles – one for every year and one for good luck. In reflection, I am glad I did it, but if I never do it again, that will be okay too.

What about this year? I don’t have a resolution, not yet anyway. There are some things I plan to experimentally change, for instance adding more dancing to my social calendar. This is the first full year I will not be formally enrolled in school, and I am in pursuit of a new job in a new city. These facts are guaranteed to shake things up, so I am hesitant to plan too much. I would like to resolve to keep blogging, and I think that meets my suggested criteria of fun and rewarding.

Here’s to 2013!

Adventure, Clemson, Discovery, Flux, Friends, Goals

Still time for Firsts

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Even though I was a student here for four years, there are still things I have never done. This is a post about things I have done for the first time in the last week.

Eep! I’m lost!

Last Friday, I went to the Denver Downs corn maze. The maze covers 15 acres and this year was intricately cut to commemorate the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center. I read about the maze a year or two ago in the campus paper and wanted to go, but it was one of those things I put off and put off until the maze was closed for the year. When I saw the maze was open this year, I told myself, ‘Now is your chance.’ I had a great time getting lost in the corn and recommend it as a local Clemson fall activity.

Go Tigers!

The next day proved to be equally as fulfilling. I went to the Clemson vs. Georgia Tech football game and sat in the fifth row up from the West End Zone. The seats were amazing! I have never been so close to the game nor seen it from that perspective.

 

I also treated myself to a Minute Maid frozen lemonade. I have looked on longingly numerous times as others enjoyed them, but refused to pay the exorbitant price. Last Saturday, in honor of our great seats, I thought it was finally time to treat myself. It was delicious! I’m only bummed I did not get a picture of my smiling face.

Check out these seats! – With my good friend Amanda.

On Tuesday, I crossed off ‘Get your picture taken with the President.’ I think it was a pretty good snap too! Thanks President and Mrs. Barker.

Picture with the President and his wife!

Wednesday evening proved to be another banner day for firsts. I went to Thai Spice, a local restaurant, and it was delicious! Then I did coin laundry next to the Tiger Mart. I know, you’re thinking, ‘Coin laundry? Really?’ Okay, that one is not so thrilling, but if you knew what dire straights I was in for clean clothes, you would celebrate too.

And why was I in such need for clean clothes? Because on Thursday I was leaving town to run the Southern Odyssey (see Final Countdown!). This will be the first time I have done this race, but the second time I have done a relay of this type, so it counts as a sort-of-first. The next post will be about the aftermath of the race, and if you are reading this between Friday at 11 am and Saturday at 11 am, there is a good chance one of my teammates or myself is out running – wish us luck and speed!

Invincible

Have another first I should cross off the list before I leave? Contact Me!