Music Monday: (I am) The Walker

by // // Comments off

Since I’ve been fighting a chest congestion related to my allergy induced asthma for nearly two weeks, it’s been almost a fortnight since I last ran. On Sunday, I faced Iron Girl Half Marathon with two weeks off from running and a hacking cough.

Running with a wet, barking cough similar in sound to a nasty smoker’s cough certainly wasn’t pretty and probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Actually, it’s probably the second dumbest thing I’ve ever done. Remember when I attempted to run a marathon with plantar fasciitis?

But then they don’t call me Tenacious D for nothing! Well, if they don’t call me that, they will once everyone hears how I tried to run an Iron Girl Half Marathon given my mental and physical state.

Tenacious D

Although running with asthma by no means makes me Flo Jo, it does make me a hard core idiot runner. Some runners I know would have deferred given the same situation rather than produce a less than stellar finish time on their personal running record.  Not me; I had to prove to myself that I could do it, even if I passed out trying. Or more likely, wind up in the medical tent for an emergency breathing treatment after crossing the finish line.

Despite all the training I put into trying to beat those Iron Girl bridges and hoping to PR, none of that mattered when now my only hope was to finish and avoid taking a DNF. With that determination, I coughed the entire 13.1 miles and ran about a 12 minute pace. And at some point, I came to terms to being The Walker, all due to a medal and my pride.

Iron Girl Clearwater

“Ooh, crazy’s what they think about me
Ain’t gonna stop cause they tell me so”

Iron Core

Have you ever deferred a race for health reasons and/or injury?

Stay tuned for a full Iron Girl Half Marathon recap tomorrow.

About the author

Denise
From start to finish, Denise is Run DMT, a Tampa Bay homeschooling mom on the run trying to maintain an easy pace through it all between races and raising three beautiful, brilliant adultish kids (ages 23, 19, 14). In 2007, I discovered a passion for running and in February 2015, I completed my tenth marathon. I continue to train for a variety of races and even host annual 5K. In 2023, I became a certified group fitness instructor and teach P.E. in my homeschool co-op.

4 comments

  1. Naila Moon says:

    Dude needs a drink! LOL
    Hope you feel better soon. Even though you hacked your way through it, you finished as you were determined to do. I shall give you a kuddos for that but next time, just take care of yourself. 😉

    • Denise says:

      LOL That video is a trip, isn’t it?! I will try my best to rest, but I can’t promise you it. 😉

Comments are closed.