Back to 5 (Ks) & Biting Through the "Tough" Times

30th September, 2012
Biting on my first marathon medal before eating dinner after finishing my first ever marathon,
my first ever Berlin Marathon

Two months ago, I blogged about what I thought was a "simple" road block on the way to running my fourth full marathon- what would have been my second year in a row of running Berlin Marathon.

OUCH! Bad Little Piggy! (#BAM2013 Training Update)
a blog documenting how I detected and dealt with my first running injury: Morton's Neuroma

Well it turns out to be my first running injury, and it was the main reason, that I had to stop running in the last crucial months of my marathon training.

This injury might also break (not literally!) my 25 month streak of consecutive running. 

If I don't run tomorrow, this month of September will be the first month in the last 2 years, that I have not run, even a single run.

My Nike+ Stats 2013...so far
Last 4 runs in August, and since 23rd of August almost 5 weeks of no running.

But I am determined to literally (!) get back on my feet again, and run at least 2-3 kilometers tomorrow with one of my new pair of shoes, and new orthotic insoles.

Leaving Injuryville
27th of September, 2013

I am strong and firm believer of  everything happens for a good reason, and yes, I agree, it is often revealed later why things happen the way they do, and it's role in how it shapes you as a person, and what direction you would like to steer your life.

Often, I've observed from experience, that such situations and circumstances truly brings out the best in a person, if one let's go of the negative emotions and makes space for the positive.

This week, specially this weekend, I've let myself feel, talk, and write (out) all the negative emotions I felt over the frustrations I have with my injury, and not being able to work on goals as a result of it.

As September nears it's end, I am making a promise that in October, no matter what the outcome of my babysteps to going back to running may be, I will stay positive in my reactions, thoughts, and actions.

Autumn 2011

beside me through highs and lows, mijn liefste P
28th of August, 2011
first ever 5K in Amsterdam Bos

8th of April 2013
after finishing the Paris Marathon
my 3rd full marathon in 2 years of running

betweem kilometer 25 - 30
at the Seine
8th of April 2013

I owe this, not only to myself but mostly to my supportive family, friends and loyal supporters, who have been with me from the adventure of my first 5K to challenging myself to run full marathons.

a partner-selfie commemorating
my ♡Positive Promise ♡ for October
29th of September 2013

Leaving Injuryville

“Remember, it’s the pace that kills, never the distance.”
― Bill Jones, The Ghost Runner: The Tragedy of the Man They Couldn't Stop

No you are not lost!  If you are looking for updates on Happy Feet in the Netherlands' Running Adventures, you are in the right place.

I simply "borrowed" the image above from the #30BikeRidesChallenge I am currengly doing @ The Lightness of Being on the Bike.

This project has kept me sane the past weeks, and kept my feet happy!  It seems fitting that the first post announcing my baby steps to a running come back should include a picture from how I pedaled home my new "babies".

This is NOT a sponsored post

Barefoot Blog Series (so far):
1.) Don't Panic, Keep Things in (Statistics)/Perspective
2.) Baby Steps to Barefoot Running

As much as I want to continue with barefoot running, I am not ready to do so in the cold seasons. Perhaps this can be a challenge I can take on for the future. After my experience this Summer, I am sure that I'll be spending a lot of running barefoot next year, as early as Spring!

I know there are a lot of whats (Morton's Neuroma on my right foot) and whys (they are still finding out why!) regarding my (frustrating!) injury ,(expensive!) theraphy , (surprising quick)  recovery (quicker than I thought...but while in it July-September, it seems like it lasted forever!) etc..

I have been ill though this week after taking care of the youngest daughter, who still has colds and coughs. Now, I should actually be finishing packing (last minute again!) for our Berlin weekend but here I am!

A collage of my  first ever marathon and my first back to back marathon.
Berlin Marathon 2012
&
Amsterdam Marathon 2012

So, I hope for now you will be satisfied with a short introductory post to my new shoes. And when I come back I will give you a more detailed blog (series!) of the crazy weeks/months of being in Injuryville!

What I can leave you though from my experience in being injured: everything is indeed conquered one baby step at a time.

Women's Brooks Defyance 6

Women's Saucony
Powergrid Triumph 10

Courage to Start

Flashback Friday
Marathons from 2012-2013
clockwise from the top : ING Night Marathon ran June 2013, invited to run 2014 Edition
right: Berlin Marathon & Amsterdam Marathon September & October 2012
left: Paris Marathon April 2013

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face….
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

While I summon the courage to start running again, I baby step my way to fulfilling a  long dormant dream of a blogazine ~ Paper In Europe: La Vie Magazine ~ Vivre sa Vie.

Most of the goals I've set in life, I've visualised in the process of falling asleep.  It was an easy task to do when I was a little girl. Well, I did not even consider it a task! For me visualising before sleeping is the most beautiful dreaming in the conscious state.

As I grew older, and responsibilities grew, visualising became challenging.This is the reason I was grateful to have found 365 projects which I featured at My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands. Photography gave me an opportunity to capture the essence of happiness in the simple daily moments.

This in turn provided my visual nature to have photographs as aid when I felt hopeless, and forget that dreams do come true: if you can dream it, you can achieve it!

image source: Simon University @ Pinterest
Helen Keller quote

After running 2 years, finish line photos & photos of my race medals became concrete reminders for me that I do have it in me to fulfill what I set out to do even with a lot of obstacles thrown my way.

image source: Simon University @ Pinterest

This weekend, I will be at a starting line of a special run, a run for myself.

Smash(ing) September

The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.

- Gloria Steinem

Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.

 - Malcolm X

Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, Epistles (Book 1)

Keep Calm series
Hulk Doesn't Keep Calm Hulk Smash
September
source: The Keep Calm-O-Matic

I'm sharing (my personal meditative!) cathartic quotes and the poster of the Hulk because all together, they made me laugh a liberating laugh (finally!), and I hope my fellow runners, who are currently rehabilitating from injuries will get a laugh out of them, too.

This image is also something I want to look at when I start obsessing again about my current situation.  A situation, that I can't change. 

I have been acting absurdly towards my first serious running injury.

Exaggerated, my family would definitely say, my erratic behaviour in the last weeks mirrored that of  Dr Bruce Banner and his alter-ego The Incredible Hulk, upon learning that I should not run/race, until I have lost the pain on my foot.

In my defense, this is the first time, since I begun running two years ago, that I have been injured. 

Now, with a clearer mind (after a lot of crying! haha), I realise, I have been very lucky, that it's (Morton's Neuroma) been detected at a very early stage.

Sunny smile after stormy tears.

It's been a difficult weekend. It's been an inspiring weekend. As I said, "Goodbye to August, and welcome September!", I also said, "Goodbye Berlin Marathon, and welcome a whole month worth of other adventures."

I've been inspired and motivated not only by my family, and friends but a lot of beautiful souls out there.

Meditation to quite the mind, being in motion, being active in many other different ways even without running, are just some of those things I am reminded, that I could still do.

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. ~James E. Starrs

“The water doesn't know how old you are.”
― Dara Torres, Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life

There are several unpublished blogs  expressing all the contradictory feelings I have had over not being able to run, not being able to fulfill the running goals I set out to do this year.

Not to mention those unpublished blogs of the crazy running months (5 half-marathons, 1 of which was a DNF, my first DNF; 1 full marathon, a 15K, a 10K, a 7K all ran between January-June 2013) , which all followed after we lost our home due to a fire that broke out above our flat.

January 2013
Egmond Half-Marathon medal

January 2013

February 2013 my first DNF race

March 2013

April 2013

May 2013

May 2013

June 2013

June 2013

Running for me is not a mere hobby.  Everything encompassing running helps me cope with my manic-depression, and live a life of quality with my family.  Yes, you could almost say, it's how I medicate myself.  It's my healthy addiction.

Since running, my head is less busy. It still is very busy! But I experience more and more pockets of serenity, sometimes catching me silently aware, that I smile and have tears in my eyes all at the same time.

Since running, my anger has lessened. I still have a lot of issues! But I experience more and more the lightness in my being, I never imagined - o nly hoped, fervently wished - I will attain.

Since running, my  perspective has widened.  I still fall into the same pattern of thinking!  But I experience more and more how I can easily welcome a new positive thought in place of the negative paralyzing ones.

Running, in short, has given birth to the person, I like.  Running has made me like myself (again).

A collage celebrating new beginnings: March 2009
My 37th birthday (20th of March, 2009), and the day we moved to Holland (9th of March).

Mijn liefste P.
My beloved by my side in the middle of running Paris Marathon, 2013.

Yes, I have to face the facts, that I will miss fulfilling running goals set this year, but I have already "won" so much more than running goals achieved in 24 months of running, and will be achieved (#positivethinking!) in the future. 

Yes, indeed, I have so many years ahead, years to have fun setting and fulfilling goals and dreams. :)

Well,since the pity party is over, let's all welcome what I know will be a smashing September! :)