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Don’t Be Bitter
I’ve pretty much come to terms with the fact that I can’t run right now and won’t be in the near future. Recovery from surgery is my top priority so I’ve been OK just knowing in the fall my feet will hopefully be pounding the pavement or treadmill once again. However, sometimes I still get insanely jealous and bitter about my situation. Like this weekend.
Since I was supposed to be attached to the couch and unconscious this weekend, I didn’t give much thought to a race I signed up for being this weekend. But my surgery got rescheduled which made me realize the Soldier Field 10 Miler was this weekend, the first race I signed up for and the one I was possibly most excited for (finishing at the 50 yard line sounds awesome!). I woke up Saturday angry and annoyed that I wasn’t running it and all my friends were.
The rest of the day I put on a happy face and entertained PartyDog but inside I was upset, anxious, annoyed at my body and just overall bitter that I wasn’t running it. And I couldn’t sign up to volunteer since I was planning on getting surgery so I was basically a bump on a log.
Sunday I woke up feeling the same, reading all the race recaps: the weather was awesome, the race was awesome and it was really fun. I made myself stop reading recaps and logged onto Facebook for some distraction and saw this:
OMG! That’s my love Guod! I forgot he was running his first half-marathon on Sunday. My anger, bitter and resentment immediately turned into me punching PartyDog screaming OMG DOUG FINISHED HIS FIRST HALF!!! THAT IS SO AWESOME!!! After obsessing over every single picture from the race he was in via Facebook and Instagram, I shared via Twitter how proud and excited I was for my friend to complete such an accomplishment (and that awesome post-race hair he’s got going on).
Then I remembered how I felt the same way when my girl Kim ran her first 5k! So the lesson learned from all of this is that while you may be injured and on the sidelines, there are other people out there doing incredible things. The way I look at it, for every runner at a race there is probably a runner sitting at home (or at the race watching) injured and dying to run. If you’re injured right now, try to find joy in your friends accomplishments or try to find joy in volunteering and cheering runners on at races. Right now might not be your time to shine but you’ll be running again at some point-you just have to wait for it.
That’s all the nonsense I have for now!
19 Comments to Don’t Be Bitter
It’s definitely a struggle to not run when you are desperate to. My race got canceled over the weekend and I was pretty much in an I HATE EVERYONE WHO IS RUNNING RIGHT NOW funk because of it. Hang in there lady, you’ll be back on the pavement eventually
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:50 am
hahaha I love that. Thanks girl!
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you don’t care about my half that i finished?? Just kidding. BUT you were my inspiration! Hopefully that makes you proud again since you inspired someone else to go out there and do something amazing (not to mention something I never thought I could do)
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 8:49 am
GF I was SO proud of you for your first half you have no idea, I made Max read your recap you wrote and look at your pics. SO AWESOME!!
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This is great to remember!! I just was out of running commission for 3+ months, and it was great to see other people being so successful, though it was frustrating at times!
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:05 am
It is awesome to see other people doing rocking things!
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OMG! Congrats to GUOD! Running a half is a big deal, you should be SO proud! And i’m sorry you were bummed this weekend. If it helps, Matt was having a terrible time at SF10. That always makes me feel better, anyway.
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:05 am
HAHA, I read your recap and LOVED it. Weirdly it didn’t make me bitter at all. Is Matt interested in running with my race bib for the Rock N Roll half? He would make a pretty kelsey…
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guod Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Thanks! I’m already looking at other ones…hopefully for the Fall! Hopefully when Kels and PartyDog make it out to Boston her and I will be able to do a race together.
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Stop harassing my readers Guod.
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guod Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
It wasn’t me it was my hair.
The bitterness sucks and I totally felt it when I was out last March. I felt like such a jerk for snarking on other peoples accomplishments but I honestly couldn’t help the way I felt! I wanted to be running!
I’ve never volunteered at a race but I’m thinking of volunteering at the Chicago Marathon in October. It should be fun.
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:21 am
Hey I plan on volunteering at the Chicago marathon!! I spent the $150.00 and signed up but now of course I won’t be running it, but I plan to volunteer too! volunteer date!
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I feel your pain
I signed up for 4 races, the last one being the Chicago Marathon, and just weeks later was injured. So I feel your pain- I am the queen of jealousy about other runners running when I cannot. I’ve had to attend 2 of the races I signed up for to cheer on my hubby, and both times I’ve shed tears… pathetic, but true. Anyway, are you going to sell your marathon bib? I remember buying a race bib for another race and getting the name changed, and I want to do that for this one so I don’t lose all that money. Also, I should volunteer with you and Lindsay on race day!
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Kelsey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Awe I’m so sorry to hear that. Injuries in my opinion are more tough mentally than physically, especially when all you want to do is lace up your shoes and run.
I didn’t know I could sell my bib! I would love to know more information on that….
YES! Volunteer with us, it would be fun!
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Aw dear, you are so sweet. You are the only person I know who understands my excitement over good runs – I’m glad I can still tell you about them
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yay Guod!
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guod Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:08 am
Thanks Lindy!
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