Running Is The Toothbrush That Cleans The Tartar Off My Brain

After almost two years without being able to run, and for a long time not being able to stand on my feet for more than an hour. I was slowly becoming disabled by a really bad case of plantar fasciitis. 95% of people with this condition can get over it with physical therapy and corrective orthotics. I fell into the 5% group who needed surgery.

I choose not to go with the traditional surgery of cutting the plantar fascia as you would cut a slit in a rubber band but not go all the way through. Instead, I chose Topaz which used radio frequency to burn the fascia. I had 28 holes punctured into my heel with a needle, and then the radio frequency wire was inserted into each hole burning the facia for 4 seconds each. 

Rehab, and time, it worked, I finally healed my heel. Yet I was paralyzed with fear, I couldn't run or do any exercises. I had been cleared by my doctor, I could work out, and run. Yet the fear of ending up with a two year struggle of pain had me frozen. I was terrified, I didn't want to go back to misery. I was stuck. Then I read a Brad Feld's post: I've Been Afraid To Run He went through a horrible episode of not being able to run to his full potential and not being able to breath after the run. His situation seemed life threatening to me, and super scary. Mine was just two years of a pain in the ass, that was slowly crippling me. After he was cleared by his doctor, he got back out there even though he had been afraid to run. For some reason his story broke the hold fear had on me. I got off my computer and went on my first walk/run. 

The past eleven months have been an extremely tough year for me, both physically, but even more so mentally. Today when I was on my run it started to happen. The cobwebs, clutter, self-pity, negative, self-centered, bullshit in my brain started to dissipate. Oh yeah, that's why I love to run. It's the one exercise that seems to clean my brain. Running is the toothbrush that cleans the tartar off my brain. 

Running has given me mental clarity. It clears out the crap, and opens up the doors of creativity in my mind. I like the side effect of making my heart and lungs and my whole body stronger and healthier, but it's the benefit it gives my mind that I have dearly missed these past two years. It's truly great to be back out there.