Hitting the Pavement

I've been a regular runner for a long time. I'm not fast compared to most, but I enjoy running as a way to stay in shape, be outside, and do something active when I travel.

A few weeks ago, I took a bit of a tumble on a run. I wasn't really hurt from the fall, but it shook my confidence and kept me away from running on nearby sidewalks and much of anywhere else for a few weeks.

Truth be told, the day of the fall was just after Hurricane Helene and Milton made their big appearances. Both storms shook me up more than expected and I was not feeling my best. In fact, I pretty much forced myself out the door to get some exercise. However, as I took my first steps on my planned 2-mile jaunt, I had the actual thought, "I don't feel like running today." 

Moments later, I tripped on some uneven pavement and plunged onto the concrete. As one who believes that you get what you think about, I saw my thoughts turn into things right in front of me as I ended my run with a bang. I didn't want that outcome either and vowed to clean up my thoughts as I carefully walked home.

Then last week, I decided to go back to the scene of the crime to literally "get over" my hesitation to run by at least walking the same path. Moving down the sidewalk where I fell, I carefully inspected each section of pavement, certain that the offending uneven spot would leap out at me. Oddly, nothing stood out in the area where I fell or anywhere nearby. The roughest, most unlevel seam I could find had only about an eighth of an inch difference from one section to the next.

Hmmm. 

I thought back to the day of the fall. Could it be that I was so emotionally off balance at the moment of my fall that the tiniest of tilts sent me sprawling? Was I so down and distracted that it took almost nothing to bring me to the ground?

Sounds about right. And isn't that the case in so many things? When we are off-balance or out of sorts, a tiny problem in our day can feel like an insurmountable challenge and knock us to our feet. My resolve to "never" run on the sidewalk softened a little as I laughed about my realization. 

I'm back to running on a more regular basis, but plan to pay better attention when my inner voice says it doesn't want to go. On those days, maybe I'll pull out my yoga mat and work on my balance instead.

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