CrossRoads Blog

I was thinking the other that it is amazing how in such a relatively short time, ‘getting out to the dirt and rock’ (i.e. trail running) has become such a huge part of my life. This was emphasized recently when I jacked my ankle but good, and could barely walk let alone trail run. For those who did not know – I decided one day I needed a change of pace from my normal running tracks at Thunderbird Park. So I headed over to Piestewa Peak. While it is a little busy, it is the perfect trail run for a downhill thrill, and one heck of a challenge to sputter up the thing. It’s only about 1.2 miles to the summit but has a 1200 foot elevation gain in that distance. The trail is pretty much all rock and quite narrow. However, you can pass someone so long as each person takes a side.

I had a good run up the hill. I would say half a ‘chug run’ and half power hike. Then was the fun part, an all out hump it - crazy man - run down. Sadly no sooner than maybe sixty seconds into the run down and an older gentleman decides to jump sideways as I was passing. This caused me to try to avoid landing all over him and I was forced to change mid stride. Next thing you know, he is apologizing big time and I am watching my ankle, or more like my whole lower leg, swell three sizes before my eyes. Worst, I was still one mile and one thousand feet above the car. I think it took me 45 minutes to get down from that spot versus the six or seven it should have. I spent the next few days doing the RICE method, using crutches and reading on the net everything I could on rehabilitation in the fastest time.

So this whole experience made me miss some days where I could not trail run, run at the gym etc. and I can’t tell you how frustrating it has been. I mean, heck, I have only been doing this for about a year but man-o-man has it become a big deal. I need it, like an addiction I think. I need that part of the day where you can plug in the headset, step into the heat, get sweaty and forget about everything else for an hour.

So, needless to say I will do everything I can to get back as fast as I can – push it, but not over do it that it cost more time. I need to be ready to run in the Komen at least with Kimberly. In addition to the regular runs, I will miss a couple of events that I had planned on doing.

That’s about it…. Just wanted to share my surprise really of how much things can change in one year. What was not even on my radar 14 months ago, is now something I am losing my mind because I can’t do…..