It was a Saturday in Spring, 2009. The day prior I had run, and won the WIAC Championships title in the 3,000m steeplechase and was leading the country with the fastest time (so bizarre). I had just gotten done with a run with a few friends when Willy ran past me, warming up for the 5k race he had in an hour or so. As I sat there stretching I couldn’t help but notice his stride once again; his “perfect” running form with legs that seem to churn like wheels. I yelled a quick “Good luck!”. He responded, “Thanks Twinkle Toes”. I laughed, knowing exactly what he was talking about, my distinct shuffle that I call my running form. My friend Logan turned quickly in my defense, “Hey! It get’s the job done!”. Yup, it sure did.

I welcome the nickname Twinkle Toes with open arms, but some times my stride throws me for a loop. Let’s be honest, most of the best distance runners out there skim across the track with their effortless long strides which make them look like they are hardly working. The only distance runner I know that has a shuffle is Kara Goucher. Truthfully, I wouldn’t be upset if anyone compared me to her because not only does she seem to be a sweet person and she understands what it’s like to be less than confident but she sure is fast! I remember watching Kara in this Nike ad where she explains how her training partners tell her it looks like she is cutting the grass when she runs. That makes me a snow plow. I’m sure she would have that problem if she was in Wisco too. J

The majority of the time I embrace my stride but those few moments when I falter and dream of that beautiful, swift, non-shuffle which would make me look like a speed demon out on that track I am reminded of the one huge benefit of having these twinkle toes: I’m rarely injured. I would say that that is a pretty big bonus and maybe it is worth the trade off (injury free or look fast? Hmmm… how about BE fast and injury free?!). I haven’t been totally blessed, however. Year after year the winter hits and my left leg does not respond pleasantly. This year is no different. A month and a half into the winter month my left side decides to poop out on me a bit. It’s nothing I cannot run through most days, however it results in me icing the crap out of my leg. It even affects my wardrobe! I have to wer certain types of jeans in order to hide the ice….or should I say frozen veggies. I have a system that is working out really well for me so far: 30 minutes mixed veggies, 30 minutes no veggies, 30 minutes corn, 30 minutes no veggies, 30 minutes mixed veggies. Rinse and repeat. Who would have thought my next fashion statement would be flared jeans and frozen corn, peas, and lima beans? Few can pull it off. I’m still trying.

This week, despite all the icing and the flared jeans, my shin was feeling very much under the weather. I could manage to get through normal runs, but seemed to be favoring my right leg. My neighbors were probably wondering why I was running around town trailing my dead left leg along as I shuffled through the snow using only my right leg. I was seriously preparing myself for a nickname change, from “Twinkle Toes” to “Righty”(as my right leg would be so buff and muscular beyond belief because it was the only leg I could manage to use). This leg issue (luckily I still wouldn’t call it an injury) made me throw in the towel on my workout after a few laps. Regardless of the reason, it is upsetting when you have to end a workout prematurely. I know that I feel like I failed a bit and I wonder if maybe if I was more mentally tough I could have finished. That is the runner mentality, however, some times it’s the wrong one! That’s why you have outsiders around you who can give you some common sense (thanks Coach!).

The day following my towel throwing (yesterday), I waited until after work to see if my leg was going to allow me to hit the pavement again. As I left my office to start my car (people in cold weather like to get the car nice and toasty before they enter if it is at all possible) I noticed how bright it was out and had to give my watch a double take to make sure it was actually 4:30). The sun was out! I was so pumped that I decided to forgo my after work errands to try and catch some of those rays on a hopefully pain free fun. It’s always funny that when I am completely healthy I have a more days where I would give anything to sit on my butt and eat bon bons (ehh… steak fries, yeah steak fries with barbeque sauce) than go out for a run, but when I am injured all I want to do is run. The mind is full of trickery!

I laced up the shoes and took my first step out the door. I decided that I wasn’t going to baby this stupid shin any more and become my alter ego “Right” so I forced my left leg to hold up it’s side of the bargain, the bargain we made when I first started running, that it would switch off steps with my right leg. Even though my shin was a bit uncomfortable I made progress on getting my normal shuffle back in tune, and woman did that feel good!

You always want what you can’t have. I want that beautiful stride when I got my Twinkle Toes and I want my Twinkle Toes when I’ve got a bum leg. The grass always does seem greener on the other side. Right now, I’m going to focus on my own yard.

Feel the passion.

Use the passion.

~Twinkle Toes

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