“Even in Failure, There is a Lesson”

Friday Feelings, Inspiration, Motivation for Female Athletes, Women

Unexpectedly in November, I earned entrance into a race in a city I dreamed about running in one day. I hadn’t planned on running another half marathon only four months after my last one at the age of 59, but with the chance to finally run the streets of the Big Apple, I started training all over again and said to myself, “I can do it! I’m still young enough.”

They say the real work of a marathon or half marathon happens the training months leading up to race day. Once you are at the start, you must celebrate what you’ve done to get there, not worry about the run ahead no matter the weather or circumstances. Better yet, I wanted to run this race in New York City because my sons lived there and it was St. Patrick’s Day. I knew my husband would love drinking some green beer with our sons as I ran past them, Plus, I wanted to impress them.

I was on schedule, running my half marathon plan even in the very cold weather of January and February feeling pretty good until my last 12-mile test run when I changed my stride as a young whipper-snapper ran by me with a much more gracious stride and pace. Little did I know in doing so, I re-injured my right hip just trying to run faster – even though my mile paces were faster than my Boston half marathon times.

My mother said to me recently, “No matter how old you are, you always learn new lessons.” She was talking about her life, not knowing this statement was perfect for my own scenario. I planned on ramping down my running, eating right, and getting ready for the big day when my hips just wouldn’t let me run a short four miles without pain, and then another 1 mile in bad pain three days after the last one. I can tolerate pain, but this type of pain was the stop-your-running type of pain, not you are sore or tired today feelings. You know when you know. Right?

I consulted my smart Orthopedic PA son and was told to stop running, take Advil, ice it, and be patient until three days before the race to defer my bib for 2025 if the pain persisted. So, I’ve been getting massages, sitting in hot tubs, taking Advil religiously, drinking lots of water, allowing my overactive zest for sports and life to settle down, and telling myself to respect the advice and my knowing of the situation.

A quote came across my desk at the same time I was contemplating my decision. It said, “Even in failure, there’s a lesson. It continued, “If you are facing a setback, don’t despair. Instead use wisdom and energy to rise again, stronger and more resolved than ever. Lean into the pain of your missteps and failures – acknowledge them, learn from them, and finally use those experiences to re-strategize, rebuild, and relaunch yourself.”

The last line of the quote says, “Your failures do not define you; they refine you.”  Aah, that’s a grand statement.

So, for now, I’m taking five more days of rest until I decide to defer or run. No matter what I know I will get to NY to run this half marathon either in nine days or next year. “Patience Tracy,” I said, “Listen to the lesson.”