NYC is awash with rain, fog and a constant drizzly mist this week (I guess this is what we get for marveling over last week’s gorgeous running weather!).
Even though I pay for a monthly gym membership, I usually choose a rainy run over the treadmill. Logical? Perhaps not, but I guess we runners are crazy like that and I actually enjoyed my 7.75 mile wet, sloshy run this morning. The legs felt good after some cross training yesterday, and any soreness following Saturday’s race and mileage is gone – hooray!
Here’s how last week looked:
- Monday: rest
- Tuesday: 7.25 miles (steady state)
- Wednesday: 7.55 miles easy
- Thursday: 7.2 miles easy
- Friday: spinning and elliptical, lifting, PT and stretching
- Saturday: Healthy Kidney 10K race (6.2 miles, 48:08), 6 miles warm-up/cool-down (12.3 miles total)
- Sunday: 5.75 miles easy
Total: 40.5 miles and feeling pretty good about this base-building period. I’m excited to get in some more speedwork before my next 10K on June 11.
Rainy runs are always better when you have a warm breakfast and coffee to look forward to:
Anyways, I’ve been thinking about the term “normal” lately. Here’s why.
The past year and a half has been pretty challenging for me, medically speaking (more details on that here). A lengthy hospital stay, almost a half dozen ER visits (good lord, this sounds ridiculous…), a handful of CT scans, no less than 100 doctor visits (yeah, this is even more ridiculous…) and an annoying medication regimen has made me wonder many times:
Why can’t I just be normal?
I try so hard not to complain or feel sorry for myself – I know it could be so much worse. I’m alive, healthy (I swear), able to run and live my life pretty much the way I want to. But sometimes I just can’t help but wonder what it would be like to not have to inject myself with blood thinners before long flights, make sure I take my medication and wear compression socks every day, and stress out when some leg pain even slightly resembles that of the DVT I experienced in September 2009. What would it be like to have just one day when I don’t think about any of this?
But there are also moments when I’m proud that I am so not normal.
I am able to share my experience with others to help them prevent what happened to me. And because I’m not “normal”, I was able to share my story with the news media (!) recently. If you have time, please check out my story by clicking the link below (I couldn’t get the video to embed!) and look for it on Fox News where you are (and trust me, this is the only time I would ever tell people to watch Fox News 🙂 )
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4693730/dvt-nowhere-to-run/
Question: What the hell is normal, anyway?
Screw normal. Everyone, I swear, has their pain-in-the-butt medical quirks that make life miserable at times. Unfortunately, yours is a much bigger deal, but everything, from the waiting in the doctor’s office to the tests makes you who you are – NOT a boring person. And a not-boring person who can throw down a very solid running week!
I can’t believe you made me watch FoxNews. Bummed Sean Hannnity didn’t make a guest appearance.
I promise it will be just the one time re: Fox News! 🙂
i love this for so many reasons. i really believe that at some point in their lives EVERYONE thinks – why can’t i be normal. and the reality is that there is no single normal. and instead of looking at “what’s wrong” it is so helpful to look at what you have overcome, what makes you so strong and resilient!!! i agree with sara – medical issues are something else entirely, not just quirks but may even make life harder, more complicated, and scary at times. but again, you have withstood it and here you are doing a lot of things you love and that in itself is an amazing thing 🙂 i love that each and every one of us has a bunch of winding paths that got us to where we are this moment.
you are SO right. Well said, Lacey!
grrr… i spelled her name wrong! *sarah *** ^
FIE ON YOU
I prefer a little rain to the treadmill as long as it’s not super chilly… it’s kind of fun (says the kid in me).
That’s awesome about the report on you! It’s nice to be able to get your story out there… 🙂
I feel you 😦
I thought of you while writing this. We can be gloriously abnormal together 🙂
OHMYGOSH you are FAMOUS!!!! Love the video SO MUCH!! You look so gorgeous on it, and your story is inspirational 🙂 Being not normal just means you are UNIQUE and special anyway!
thank you, Emma!!
Wow, that news clip was really neat! You are doing a great job of sharing your story and helping others. Agreed with those above that mention that we each have our medical issues and problems. People just don’t always tell you about it. Trust me, no one just feels normal all the time.
Thanks, Jenn! Totally agree 🙂
What a moving story and kudos to you for getting out there and sharing your story with others. You have a lot to be proud of! I admire your strength and determination!
And normal?? Well, I certainly don’t know what that means 🙂
Ha, oh the many times I’ve wanted to be normal myself. But according to my momma–someone else who’s not so “normal,” God gives us these things for a reason, and he only does it to people he knows can handle it. So I guess we’re just the lucky ones : )
Super cool to be on the news though! Gotta spread the word!
yo momma know’s what she’s taking about, clearly 🙂
O0o0 girl I don’t believe in being normal anymore. To be being normal means eating fast food, and not taking care of your body. I’d rather do what’s best for me 😀
you are right to say, WTF is normal anyway!?
AWesome job on the race lady! You kick butt and run about the same pace as I do- wish I could have a running partner!!
word up to what sarah said. i hear ya on not wanting to deal with medical crap (especially the stuff as serious as yours, which is SERIOUS stuff) but if anything it drives you to work harder in your field so you can educate others about health – what a wonderful way to give after going through so much. am i right?
impressed by your foxnews coverage! my friends are famousssss.
you are so right! My friend is a guac-making champion 🙂
Ahh – the question of the day! What is normal? I wish I had the answer. I think we all have to define our own normal…what makes us happy and fulfilled, what keeps us strong and healthy. “Normal” changes all the time.
There is no “normal” as much as there is what is normal for an individual. So don’t worry about what the rest of the world considers to be normal. You are YOU! 🙂
Kelly- just watched your video and I just learned so much. I know you’ve written about dvt before but I really enjoyed the video and you did such a good job!!! I actually just showed it to my husband too… his brother was diagnosed with dvt too awhile ago so he knew all about it. I’m so happy you are healthy now and kicking so much A!#@$#@ on your runs!! Can’t wait to hang out in June!
thank you so much Lizzy – so glad you liked it. I’m excited to hang!
I, too, avoid Fox News at all costs. That said, your video was cool! I love your hair!:)
haha. thank you 🙂
Amazing story! I think we all want to be normal but we are just all special in different ways. That is awesome you got interviewed by Fox News! I hope it helps to raise awareness to others!
I forgot that I knew you had a PE….CRAZY!! I’m so glad you’re okay, even if you wish you could be normal. 🙂
Ah, Kelly, you’re famous!! 🙂 That’s so cool.
In my opinion, normal doesn’t exist. Or maybe normal is for people who never take any risks and don’t live a very full life. I think our problems, our quirks, our struggles, our ups and downs, are really what build character and make us who we are.
There’s no doubt you’ve been through a lot medically, and that is no small or easy thing…I think you need to give yourself a lot of credit for getting through that with such a strong mentality. You never let it hold you back, and you still enjoy your life to the fullest.
I don’t really think the “it could be worse” thing helps very much, because I think it makes us feel like our problems aren’t a “big deal” which just leads to guilt. It might work for some, but I try to remember that everyone is different and has different circumstances, and something that might be life-altering and crushing for one person might be an everyday occurrence for someone else in the world.
Sorry for the long tangent – just meant to say that you are incredibly brave and strong, and that being who you are is way better than being “normal” 🙂
You know, that’s a perspective that I haven’t really thought of. Thanks, Corey! You always have really great insight 🙂
Can I have your autograph?? Hehe, but seriously – I know that dealing with this stuff for the last 1.5 years hasn’t been fun, but if nothing else – I think our struggles help us to appreciate the things we do have, even more. I’m so glad that you were able to run a marathon this past fall and that you can now imbibe in a glass of wine (or two!) with your lady friends.
So sorry our run didn’t work out this morning. Have a great Wednesday!!
yay, wine (hmm, let’s drink some soon together??). No worries re: the run 🙂
You are so amazing for sharing your story! You also look beautiful! I’m so jealous of your legs! You are way better than “normal”, you’re extraordinary and a great inspiration for all of us:)
thank you so much!! 🙂
Wow, thanks for sharing your story. That must have been absolutely terrifying. Caronae (another blogger) also went through a similar situation and it just seemed horrible.
2 comments:
#1-you ARE normal. Everyone gets down about things in their life; that’s a normal, healthy emotion. I have a friend w/ similar serious life-altering health issues and the past year has been rough. Every time we hang out, she’s almost close to tears; she’s just emotionally drained.
#2-Our trials make us more *compassionate*. Not that we were jerks before (!), but now, we have a more mature perspective. While I have not been through the exact trials that my friend or you have had, I have been through long periods of time when things didn’t look like they were getting better. All I can do for her is encourage her and give her a chance to talk about it and take her out for some fun sometimes (a break from the stress).
You are such an inspiration! And beautiful on camera. You have an amazing voice and positivite energy, you are so much more than normal! xo
thank you so much, Gillian, for the kind words 🙂
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