My Aching Back!!!

Hit my first real obstacle in my latest leg of the journey.  Yesterday, while putting in my heavy lifting day, something went wrong on my last set of dead lifts.  My back twinged.  And I didn't have the good sense to just drop the weight and quit.  Two reps later, I had a full-blown muscle pull.  Ouch.  Yesterday was a very painful day.  Sitting, standing, and lying down all hurt -- but everything else was OK :)

Today is a little better.  I got up about 5:15 because the pain made lying in bed too hard.  I knew it was a run day, so I thought I'd get up and see if I could get at least limber enough for a walk.  20 minutes of heat and a very long time of stretching gave me the confidence to at least try the run.

To my surprise, I made it the entire 3 miles.  I didn't run very fast, but I made it.  And after a good cool down, stretch and ice session, I'm facing the day reasonably well.  But this pain is going to be with me for quite a while.  If you ever wonder how you're back is doing, just try to put on your socks!!

Anyway, back to the run.  As I was running, I was thinking.  Technically, I was jogging, I suppose.  But I really like to think of myself as a runner, so I'll keep up this little fib about what I was doing!  Anyway, the thinking part was the important part of that sentence.  And I was thinking about the last time I battled injury.  I had strained my calf and was so frustrated because it just wouldn't heal.  But it was from that moment that I decided (with the help of some coaching) to take a break from running and start to swim.  I had never done any lap swimming up to that point in my life, but I knew I needed to learn how to swim so I could participate in the triathlon I promised myself I would do.  So I used that calf injury as a reason to start swimming.  And totally fell in love with it.  What a great blessing that was -- and it all came from an injury.  (I haven't swam now in 2-1/2 months and am very frustrated by that, but that probably another blog post!)

What new life will come from this injury?  Beats me.  But I look forward to finding out.  What new adventure is coming out of your struggles and challenges?  I don't know that either.  But I trust that God will meet you in that journey.  And if a little coaching would help, let me know.  I'd be glad to journey a few miles with you -- even with a sore back!!

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