Oh, The Agony

When you tell a runner they may not be able to run their upcoming races many emotions erupt.

• Denial
• Doubt
• Freak out
• Agony
• Sadness
• Hope

Over the last few days I’ve circled around and around these emotions.  Crazy to think that a ankle roll could cause so much damage.  My ankle blew up to an ugly size and a friend lovingly called me club foot.  And because we work in the golf industry this has a double meaning making it a bit more humorous.

Knowing how important it was to keep off the foot as much as possible I’ve taken some time off work.  Wish it could have been more time, but I think it has proven beneficial to get home to ice and elevate the ankle as much as possible.  When I woke up this morning and saw that the swelling was down, that my foot actually had some of it’s shape back, I was elated.  There is the slightest glimmer of hope that I will reach the start lines of the 3 half marathons I have planned next month after all.

Being confronted with an injury can definitely ruin your mood especially when the new shoes that you ordered the day before that injury occurred arrive via FedEx on a beautiful fall day that you’ve left work early to rest that injury.   Ah, the temptation.  Of course, I did not give in.  I’ve learned over the years and through past experiences when to risk a run and when to just be still.

So yes, emotions run high and low with an injury, but the pure agony of not being able to do the thing you love is the worse of them all.