For those of you that know KP, you know her to be a determined, strong AF, fast AF, strava-addicted, badass runner with a heart of gold. For those of you that think you don’t know her–you probably DO. She’s the chick that’s always running at the head of the pack, with the most absurd bounce in her step, and the biggest smile on her face (I see many of you nodding now… good). If you haven’t had a chance to chat with her, put it at the top of your New Year’s resolution list ’cause she’s fast and bright (did I mention she’s an architect? Or a sewer specialist? I’m not sure…), and she’ll light up your morning. Without further adieu with some wisdom on friends from NP and the importance of staying healthy… Kristen Peterson!
I have been on again off again injured all year. Running, which has always been my constant, was now instead unreliable. My hip decided in the spring that it didn’t want to work after the Shamrock Marathon, and it took until summer to finally start feeling myself again. I got back out on the trails and was feeling confident again when I wiped out, hit a rock, and split my knee open. I was forced to take time off again for several weeks since I couldn’t even bend my leg, let alone run. Finally, by the end of summer things felt good again. I got some solid trail runs in every weekend with Joey and whoever else could be convinced to run around in the woods for hours and decided to sign up for the 50k I had been eyeing. The race was tough mentally and physically, but I got a 50K PR and came in 3rd place for females, so it brought back some of the confidence I had lost over the year. I was back, or so I thought.
(Pisgah Mountain 50k, New Hampshire)
Fast forward a couple of weeks…my foot started hurting on a run in Baltimore (not worth the Strava CR..no one better break that anytime soon). Then I couldn’t walk. I had a stress fracture in my 2nd metatarsal. X-rays showed that I had a previously healed fracture in my 3rd metatarsal in the same foot that I somehow didn’t know about, so I realized this was something I needed to take seriously. I was sidelined again..except this time it felt long term. 12 weeks. No running. How was I going to do it? I couldn’t just do nothing while all of my friends stayed active, so I joined a gym, attempted swimming (which was more like controlled drowning), went to spin classes, and did some of the strength work that I always previously avoided. Not going to lie, NOTHING feels like running.
Running is everything to me. It is how I met all of my friends here, it is how I challenge myself and feel a sense of accomplishment. It was the one thing I used to feel in control of, so needless to say this stress fracture really derailed me and broke down my sense of confidence. I haven’t felt myself without running, but being sidelined has helped me realize one thing. The friends that I have met through running, the connections to Boston, our community, Janji, TBC, November Project, THOSE are my constant. They are still there regardless of whether or not I can run–the cappuccinos, Brookline Lunch, talks about anything and nothing, and endless support.
This year has been a struggle for me to handle, but I am grateful that 2016 has brought me friends who are there for me and remind me that I can’t judge who I am as a person based on how far or how fast I run. I’m still struggling with accepting it, but at least now I’m working on it. Watch out 2017.
Many people come to NP and make friends that last a lifetime. Just ’cause you’re injured doesn’t mean those friendships go away. Goals are important, but staying healthy is more important. Injury is something we have to deal with, but we actually have to deal with it. Showing up is great, but showing up with purpose is better. Take care of yourselves in 2017. Be like KP. Set goals. Reach to crush those goals. And if your body says ‘no’ listen to it, and come back stronger. Your friends we’ll be there waiting. We’ll all be there waiting.
More specifically we’ll be waiting at Clemente Field Monday morning at 6:28am. See y’all there.
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