On my first day back to the track after 8 therapy sessions for my ankle, I just walked, just like my therapist and later my coach told me to. 

I thought I was ok after only stretching a little because I was only walking but my ankle started bothering me before I reached half a mile. I didn’t want to stop walking yet, I had not finished two laps yet, that was nothing but I didn’t want to push it either. I paused for a couple of minutes and stretched a little bit more before I continued. 

This time I decided to walk a little slower, maybe I had been rushing a little bit but I didn’t have to, I was just walking. This time, I was able to finish the two miles without any problems. 

Still, my coach advised me to rest for a day before walking again. This advice sounded good to me, I didn’t once think about running today or doing anything high intensity. I did three short upper body strength, core and yoga videos at home after I stretched and did the ankle exercises I learned in therapy. 

I don’t like this deal with my ankle because I really like running but I don’t worry about it too much. I know this happens to a lot of people, I know I can get through it and, like my friend said yesterday at the track, “you’re an athlete, this is what happens to athletes” (his words, not mine).

I have to learn how to prevent this from happening or when it happens how to be ready. I just learned I need to stretch more and how to stretch. I also wrote down what I did in therapy so I can do it at home and finally I got the muscle stimulator they also used in therapy. Both my therapist and a friend from the running group recommended I get it. 

Tylenol also helps a lot too. 

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Published by mariacristinasanfeliu

I’m an aspiring writer still looking for exactly what I want to write about, with a lot of creativity, imagination and desire to write. I studied Writing and Rhetoric at Syracuse University where I explored many different sides of writing through my classes and extracurricular activities in order to narrow my search for an identity as a writer. I have written for Citrus TV Noticias and La Voz magazine, both of which gave me the chance to explore different mediums in which to write in. Through Citrus TV Noticias I also gained experience in translating from English to Spanish and vice versa, which is also something that I would be interested in working on since I am fluent in both of these languages. I was also an intern at Syracuse University Press where I got hands on experience in what goes into actually editing and publishing a book. Through out the last four years I have faced a lot of challenges, which helped chape the person I am today. After being in a tragic car accident, being in comma, having a Traumatic Brain Injury, and being in therapy for over a year, I am a new me, willing to face challenges and knowing how to deal with them. I want to write about my accident and life after it to help others, show them it can be done and help in any way I can.

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