"Work Smarter, Not Harder"
Running. Some people may just think it's a word, but to me it had become my entire life. I never hung out late with my friends, I closely watched what I ate, and everyday I spent hours working out. To me, if I didn't run for a day I thought my life would have ended in a fiery explosion. During my sophomore year of track season I was working harder than ever. I was getting pr's every meet. I thought the more I worked out the better and faster I would become. So when, just about a month into the season I felt a stabbing pain in my left foot I knew something was wrong. But instead of listening to my doctor, my coaches, and my parents I decided to keep running on it. BIG MISTAKE. I ended what would be my last track race for many years to come in tears and with a slow time. After that race my foot was so swollen and bruised that I could barely walk on it, and my running shoe wouldn't fit. I went to the doctor, and sure enough I had two stress fractures on my 3rd and 4th metatarsal. I came home in a boot and knee scooter, and with the mindset that my life was over. Without being able to run I made myself sick. I had migraines for almost two weeks straight. At school, even though I once excelled, without running I couldn't seem to pass a single test. I was crabby, angry, and cried whenever I thought about or saw someone running. I was depressed and felt like no one understood me or knew what I was going through. 6 weeks later, I went back for another MRI expecting to be able to run again. Instead they found 3 new fractures in my foot. I was completely devastated.
These new fractures finally prompted my doctor to wonder why my bones broke so often. They ordered a bone scan and were surprised with the results. I have osteoporosis. That's right- a disease that only old people should have. So why, when I am 16 should I be diagnosed with this life altering disease? The horrible thing is that I am mostly to blame. One big reason for osteoporosis in teen girls is the female athlete triad. It is caused by disordered eating, excessive exercise, and amenorrhea (loss of periods). You do not have to have all three symptoms to get osteoporosis. I excessively exercised since I was 10 because I believed that was what I had to do to be good at a sport. I never dieted, but I closely watched my weight because I believed gaining weight would slow me down.
So here's what I would write to a younger me:
Eat more, and more of the good stuff: Hello chocolate cake:)
Hangout with friends more often and have sleepovers even if that means you have to push your run back a couple of hours
Change up your exercise, try swimming, yoga, biking
"Work smarter, not harder"
The opportunity to run is one of the greatest things in life. I know that without running my life will never be as full or self-rewarding. So I plead, take care of your body and give it enough rest and love so that you can live your whole life running.
- Anonymous
