Monday, June 1, 2026

(No) Medal Monday


Many things have humbled me this year. We'll all this one to the list: my first DNS (did not start). I have been in awe (and somewhat prided myself) at the fact that I have been able to start every race for which I registered. (Well, not the COVID races, but that was outside my control.) I got hungry this year, and I registered for both the Shiprock half marathon and another one at about the same time. I saw no reason why I could not race one and fun run the other. Enter stress fracture and I'm not running at all.

I shed some tears when I cancelled our flights and hotels for this weekend. I could not find anyone to whom to transfer my race bib, but at least the race benefitted a local to the area charity. I have flight credits for the money I spent on our plane tickets. Maybe we will be able to find a new place to go. Maybe not.

The whole things stinks, but it is what it is. At least I am not back to walking outside for a decent amount of time. I found a bone stress injury physical therapist and have started back into the early phases of rehab. (Return to run is still months out.) I have many things for which to be grateful, and I am still grieving.

We planned to spend the weekend starting a gym membership (so my husband has an air-conditioned place for workouts, and so I have access to more machines for rehab). Our dear friends who knew about our cancelled plans, though, drove all the way across the valley on their one free Saturday for the summer to come visit us and cheer me up. We went to the park and watched their son run around and feed the ducks. We went to Henhouse Cafe and ordered Arizona's largest pancakes. We talked about life and dreams and hopes and healing.

Was it the weekend we planned? No, but in terms of eternity, it was probably far better. Our friends continued to show us their true character. I remembered that there are many places to find joy outside of running. We still got to enjoy some good food at at new-to-us restaurant. God is good. All the time. All the time. God is good (even on a no medal Monday).

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