After those 16 miles, I was very tired, so I rested all day Sunday and took it easy with my workout on Monday, just doing short upper body strength and “stretchy yoga” videos. Rest is important after exercise, especially such a long one. Because of this, my coach told me to walk on Tuesday, and I felt great; I didn’t have the urge to start running again, at least not yet. 

After I finished my 2.5 mile walk on the treadmill, I  went to take my laundry out, before going to bed. I have no idea what I was thinking or looking at that I didn’t see the wet floor in front of me, and once again I slipped and fell. This time the laundry machine sort of saved me, I didn’t fall directly to the ground, but I still hit the same knee that got scratched on Sunday and hit my forehead. 

My forehead didn’t hurt, but my leg did. This time it was worse than Sunday, I couldn’t get up for a few minutes because of the pain. When I finally got up, I slowly walked to the nearest chair and was given ice to put on it. Luckily all I had left to do was get ready for bed.

The next day I woke up feeling almost like nothing had happened. A few times during the day I felt something on my ankle, but I thought it was nothing. Then I went on the three mile walk/run my coach assigned for me that day. I felt fine when I started walking but soon I started feeling something in my right ankle. That’s weird, I thought, but I still had to finish what I started. 

I shouldn’t have finished that run, in the morning as soon as I got out of bed, I felt it again, that weird feeling in my right ankle. It was the same feeling I ignored for so long last summer that led me to have to stop running for a couple of weeks. After thinking about it, I decided I wasn’t going to ignore it this time. I talked to my coach and without hesitation he told me I didn’t have so my third run of the week on Thursday. 

I already learned my lesson last year, I know when I have to stop and what I have to do to get better. First this is to take it easy, no running until I feel better, second is exercises to strengthen my ankles, the same ones I did in therapy. I also used the Tens 7000 electrotherapy device. This is what my therapist used last year to provide muscle relief on my ankle. It helped me so much I quickly purchased one and have used it ever since every time I feel any pain in my ankle or neck.

Hopefully following these steps will help me feel better and ready for the 10k I signed up for yesterday (before it started hurting). 

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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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