![\"Chelsea](\"https:\/\/bartonriveryarn.com\/annetarsia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/IMG_1904.jpg\")
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You all know that I stay busy.\u00a0 I am a business owner and practice optometry full-time, teach knitting nationally, released “Annetarsia Knits” this summer, and am a serious long-distance runner.\u00a0 “When do you sleep?” is a question I am often asked. I’ve managed to juggle all of my demanding projects with the aid of great family and office staff, and a super-intense personality with good multi-tasking ability.<\/p>\n
However, this summer something started gumming up the works.\u00a0 When I got out of bed in the mornings, I noticed that my right hip was sore.\u00a0 The sensation would go away momentarily, and it didn’t hurt during the day or when I ran, so I wasn’t worried.\u00a0 I cut down my mileage, did stretching and iced after running – so when it didn’t get better after a few weeks I took notice.\u00a0 This was right at the point when I should have been training seriously, ramping up the mileage, but I quit running completely, and went in for deep tissue massage.\u00a0 Still no improvement.\u00a0 Then, it started getting WORSE, and I began limping.\u00a0 That was it.\u00a0 I went to see my doctor.\u00a0 He noted that my right leg was shorter than the left leg (which was new), and did x-rays, which proved normal.\u00a0 Relieved that there was no injury involved, he sent me to the podiatrist and physical therapist.\u00a0 They both agreed that the right leg being shorter was causing the problem, but weren’t sure why.\u00a0 We decided to try PT, and if that didn’t fix it, go with orthotics.\u00a0 Either way, they were sure I would run again.<\/p>\n
I’ve had 2 sessions of PT, and it turns out that my right pelvis got tilted a bit, and the surrounding muscles tightened in response, shortening that leg. The running had nothing to do with it, which is why “not running” didn’t help the situation.\u00a0 So we are trying to relax my muscles, which involves a lot of heat and deep tissue accupressure.\u00a0 It’s working, though.\u00a0 I am already walking without a limp, and the soreness is from the treatment more than the tightening.\u00a0 Boy, it’s hard for me to relax, though.\u00a0 I’m really having to work on that – which is counter-intuitive, right?\u00a0 But relaxed is not my default state!<\/p>\n
In knitting, I talk about detours.\u00a0 Knitters often think of them as mistakes, but I don’t see them as anything bad. They have the possibility of leading somewhere wonderful, if you will just take time to learn from this unexpected place you have landed.<\/p>\n
This is a detour, and I am going to be a better person and a better runner for having this experience.\u00a0 Sure, I am sorry to not be able to run the Portland Marathon.\u00a0 But I’ve done that before, and I’ll do it again, even better.\u00a0 This experience is teaching me lots of things, and is forcing me to change habits, let go of what I “should” be doing, and find another way to get where I want to go.<\/p>\n
I am going to run again.\u00a0 That is a given.\u00a0 But I will do the work to get my body balanced, first, and start over – even though it won’t be easy and it won’t be fun.\u00a0 But, ripping out a bunch of knitting isn’t easy or fun, either, and I’ve done that before!\u00a0 I’m not afraid of detours, and I am willing to slow down!<\/p>\n
Today I am wearing Chelsea’s Cowl.<\/p>\n
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