The podiatrist operated on my right foot just shy of one year ago and on the other in late May. Each recovery lasted eight weeks — two on bed rest and six on crutches. I've been back to my pre-surgery activities since late July but have not returned to running, which I abandoned in my early twenties.
With some trepidation, I agreed to accompany my friend Christine on Burlington's annual Santa run. She is an avid runner who regularly participates in all sorts of costumed races, which have included a superhero getup and a Christmas-lighted tutu. No longer a runner and never a silly costume sort of person, I dragged my feet about signing up and felt considerable anxiety once I did about being the slowest Santa on the course.
Christine, who lives across the lake, came over an hour and a half early. We picked up coffee in full costume and watched the crowd of Santas accumulate.
At 10 a.m., a voice boomed over the Christmas carols. The sea of red began bobbing down the street. We were off.
As I topped the first (and largest) hill, my anxiety about being too out of shape to run disappeared. I felt great. Absent was the throbbing pain in the bottom of my feet that I learned to tolerate in my running days.
I ran the whole 5K and crossed the finish line feeling a little lightheaded but mostly elated.
