Sometimes life can be hard work. You start to make progress and then stuff gets thrown in your way. This week I’ve had everything from major life drama to monkey sickness to a once in a lifetime house move (not mine) to severe sleep deprivation. Needless to say my brain has stopped functioning properly again. Yesterday I could not cope anymore so I ran away. Not for long and not very far but it was exactly what I needed.
I just cannot think straight
Little Miss had had a temperature of 38 to 41 degrees for two days which given her previous febrile convulsion was very concerning. Tempting to run her straight to hospital just in case, but common sense prevailed after regular childhood illness health checks were completed. High temp, yes, listless and lifeless, no, still chasing her brothers like a crazy monkey, yes. In conclusion she’s fine! Top Monkey has slapped cheek, another fabulous childhood disease. Nothing serious though and Middle Monkey came home from school on Friday having slipped over and landing on his face, injuring his chin, lips and nose.
Because my front room was now hospital ward one and also a pirate ship made out of the sofa cushions, The Monkey House was suddenly feeling smaller and a little bit suffocating. The arrival of the mini Beast from the East with swirling blizzards and snow flurries made going out less tempting. However, Little Miss had decided that the best way to communicate was through shrieking and the whinging was escalating. All I could think was that I needed to run away.
Where are you going to run to?
I didn’t have much time but Mr LMR was home. I’d tried to get a shower earlier but had been overwhelmed with Monkey demands. I had therefore decided to just put on my running gear so that, should the opportunity arise, I could just dash out of the door. By the time the opportunity presented itself I was a bit passed myself. Life had climbed on top of me and felt as though it was jumping up and down on my head, pounding my brain. As if God was shining on me the sky cleared and bright sunshine broke through the clouds. So I made a break for it. I headed for the park.
I did a short trot along the road to the park gates and turned left in the park and jogged towards the duck pond. The temperature was down below freezing despite the sunshine and my lungs tightened in my chest. My legs felt heavy after almost a week of sleepless nights. Only half a kilometre in I had to slow down and walk as I cleared my chest, caught my breath and rested my legs.
Breathe life into your lungs
Despite the initial pain I felt I took a deep cold breath and set off again. It was a little easier and my initial discomfort began to give way to a steadier pace. The first hill was hard but I knew that after that it would be easier. I began to breathe life into my body. My mashed up brain began to make sense of my week and my day. My hunched and tight shoulders dropped as I established a steady pace. With every step a piece of the jumbled up puzzle fell into place. A picture began to emerge in my mind that made more sense than the one that I had left behind. My pacer reported over my headphones that I was one kilometre in and all of a sudden the sky went dark.
As I rounded the top corner of the park the snow flurries began again. A minute or two later it was a full blown blizzard. I could have felt disheartened but instead I felt inspired. My lack of running recently has been replaced with HIIT workouts at home. I thought I should try out the new found strength in my legs and I picked up the pace. A risky move as it was speed work that had triggered last years injury. However, I tuned into my body and felt how each step hit the ground. I adjusted my stride, lengthening out and heels stiking the ground. As I sped through snow, I was lifting my knees and pumping my arms, the wind rushing through my ears. I felt like I was flying. Like I had discarded the suffocations of life like a heavy and unwanted overcoat.
Life makes sense again
By the time I was sprinting the last few meters back to the Monkey House, I felt like life made sense again. I may have been covered in snow but I wasn’t cold. Endorphins were pumping and keeping me warm. I was flushed with happiness as I stood on my front door step ready to face what was going to meet me on the other side. You see, my run was only two kilometres and took me a little over 15 minutes but it was enough. I don’t have a lot of time and my chances to run outside are limited.
HIIT workouts at home may be improving my fitness and running but they are riddled with Monkey interference and a need to forever be flexible. My run was all mine. The benefit to my brain was unmatched. I needed it and I deserved it. It didn’t magically make all of my life strife disappear but it helped my brain process it and in turn I managed it better. At the end of the day we all need to run away every now and again.
