HOW WOULD.....

Well, I took those 2 days off. It didn't do too much for my leg either. It started out better when I did a whole 1.25 miles yesterday but then it got worse. The pain kind of spread too, the back of my knee hurt but then the side of my leg kind of hurt. My coach didn't even make me do the speedwork. One of the worst parts is that this is the easiest part of xc, when we sit around and watch movies and sip gatorade. If I had been hurt earlier than I could have gotten out of our long runs but no, now I just get out of a short run.

Butttt...good news! Even though my coach only let me run a total of 1000m, I felt so much better. My leg barely hurt and I'm going to keep putting this gel pain reliever stuff on it and of course icing it. I'm relieved though since I felt like I could run the whole course.
In the midsts of my beginning of my injury, I came across this post on Runner's World. I like it, because it is a good question. So I have come up with 10 ways my life would be different if I didn't run.

1. I'd have more and different friends. I wouldn't know any of my running friends, mostly because they are in different grades but I usually wouldn't talk to the people in my grade that do run. Also, being free on Friday nights greatly helps your social life. I'm so tired Friday from practices that I usually just sleep. Plus, I have to rested for Saturday morning practices.
2. I would think Porta Potties are gross. After using them about 2 or 3 times at least at every meet they don't bother me anymore. So I really don't get it when people refuse to use them. Or stand in line for 20 minutes when you'd only have to wait 2 minutes. They are just bathrooms, get over it.

3. I'd have to wear real clothes. I wouldn't have a bunch of running/xc/track shirts so I would have to wear the same clothing normal people do. That would mean I would have to find shirts to replace what I wear 4 or 5 days each week. I also wouldn't have my beautiful running shoes because there is no reason to buy running shoes if you aren't running and there's no reason to buy Nikes if you aren't exercising.

4. I would have to find some other sport. Something that requires teamwork and yelling and possibly some type of ball. Like...eww volleyball or softball or tennis or soccer. I'd have to interact with people and I might have to wear like spandex shorts *shudder* or short sleeved jerseys. And other sports are big into the matching clothes, hair, and even paint their faces. I'm so glad I run.

5. I wouldn't eat so much food. Not because I wouldn't because I would be worried about my weight (although I'm sure I might be a couple pounds heavier but that is NOT at all why I run) but I wouldn't be hungry. I wouldn't be so incredibly grossed out by fast food or pop either. I probably would eat less Subway and pasta and more hamburgers and chips.

6. I would think 3 miles is long. Just like all the non runners I know, which is kind of sad. Because I consider 3 miles a really easy day. I could race 3 miles, but if I didn't run than I might not even be able to run the whole thing.

7. I would be a wimp. Running makes me believe that I can do anything. One day, to get through a 7.33 mile run around the lake, I was literally telling myself in my head that "you run xc, you can do anything". My belief that running and xc can help me do anything spills over to the rest of my life. The pain I put up with when running allows me to be a lot braver in other areas of my life.

8. I would not have the fantastic running tan I have now. I would really miss my glaringly white feet and the white bands around my arm where my watch and LiveSTRONG wristband are. I would not have to worry about how I look in flip flops and halter dresses (although I've mostly gotten over this). But I would not have the lovely leg muscles I have now.
9. I would have more free time, but not in a good way. I might get more work done, but I'd also be more likely to slack off since I wouldn't have disipline or a schedule. I'd have all this extra energy too but I think I would be depressed or something. Running makes almost anything better.

10. And finally, the most simple reason. I would not run. These words have a hard time registering with me. There's even a page from a magazine in my room that says "I'll keep running". I wouldn't be out in thunderstorms or on New Year's Day when the roads were slick with ice. I wouldn't be out when its snowing or when just going outside makes you sweat. Sure, I might be able to walk without pain or be able to straighten my leg, but I wouldn't get to experience life without running. Running allows me to do so many different things. It also gives me a lot of opportunities. So after looking at this list, I really can't find a way that not running would help me. So I'll keep running. To put it simply, I have to.