Nursing my wounds...

  
     My first 5K race that I ran in is coming up at the end of March.  I originally hadn't planned on running it again because I have a good friend who is getting married that day and I was intending to go to her wedding.  Unfortunately My Hottie Hubby cannot take off of work to accompany me, and no kids are allowed at the reception. So, that leaves me S.O.L.  It sounds like it's going to be one wild reception.  Now that I know I'm not leaving town, I can run in that 5K again and try and beat my original time!  Woo hoo!  I don't think it should be too hard to do since I have several races under my belt now and know what to expect.

    I have a great training plan from my Build Your Runner's Body book that I am looking forward to trying out.  It is an eight week plan which means I would need to start it this week.  Here's my problem.  I went running on Saturday and a little ways into my run my foot started hurting.  I shrugged it off and finished my run.  My foot hurt for the rest of the day, but the next morning it felt totally normal!  Great.  Just to be safe, I took Sunday and Monday off.  No pain experienced either of these days. So, yesterday the Little Dude and I went for our run.  I did my brisk 5 minute warm-up and literally as soon as I started running, I felt the pain in my foot again!  No! No! No!  I still finished my run which in hindsight sounds pretty stupid, but I am determined not to get sidelined.

     Here's my thinking on this, and to some of you it may sound a little hokey and out there, but I can attest to the efficacy of this.  I believe it is my brain that is causing me this pain.  My Hottie Hubby has a book which has helped both of us immensely with problems such as these.  It is called The Divided Mind by Dr. John Sarno.  In a nutshell, what it asserts is that in order to get your mind off of some deep emotional pain or trauma, your brain will create pain and problems within your body to keep your focus there.  It in no way is saying that the pain isn't real because it is, but it's your brain that is creating it.  And the only way to rid yourself of the physical pain is to face and confront the emotional pain.

     I have used this practice successfully twice.  I had problems with uveitis many many years ago.  Bascially my eyeball would get really red and was extremely sensitive to light.  During that period in my life, I had HUGE problems with my family.  They hated my hubby and there was so much stress going on.  I finally confronted all of that and I haven't had a flare up since 2007.  Before that I would get several in one year!


     The second time I used it was within the last few months.  My Little Dude was not planned.  In fact, we had never planned on having children.  So, my pregnancy created a lot of turmoil within my relationship with my husband.  He was having a difficult time accepting that things were going to change and worrying about every aspect of our future, and I felt completely unsupported during my pregnancy.  He was supportive by being there physically, but I didn't feel it emotionally which is what I really needed at the time.  And I went through my entire labor alone.  It was just my mid-wife and me with my husband and in-laws waiting in the other room.  And my labor was HARD (that's a whole other story).  Anyhow, I had been experiencing a sore groin.  It wasn't so bad that I couldn't run or work out, but it was annoying.  I had never told my husband how I felt during that time.  Then recently we were talking about it all and it just came pouring out in waves of anger and tears.  And then the pain was gone.  Just like that.  And let me finish this off by saying we both couldn't imagine our lives without our Little Dude.  Sometimes you have no clue what you're missing.

     So, now that leaves me to sit here and think about what am I avoiding confronting?  It could be a number of things.  I was laid off from my job earlier this year and I now find myself at a precipice of where to take my life.  Do I jump in feet first and try to start my own business, or do I continue to take the safe route and not live the life I truly want?  And then I have so much anger toward my sister.  That's a really long story, but maybe it is time for me to just throw it all out on the table.  Regardless of what it could be, I am not going to let it keep me from doing something I enjoy and love!

     Have you had any experiences with mind-body connections?  I'd love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments!

Run On!
KB