Pain Is Inevitable

So I started reading a great book given to me by a friend and work colleague, not to mention recommended by numerous others: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. Murakami has basically stolen my fantasy life and is living it. He's Japanese; is a hugely successful novelist; and he spends his summer running in Hawaii (apart from the running part that sounds pretty good to me). He writes beautifully about the sensation of freedom and contentment as he runs in sunny climes, with the trade winds cooling his sweaty brow. Then after a hard day's writing and running, he enjoys a meal of fresh fish looking out to sea before going to bed, sated and satisfied. You truly can't get much further from what I did tonight.

Let's compare: Following a day's work, I started my evening at Union Square where I had a meeting about my forthcoming summer Relay For Life. The team and I discussed fundraising plans over some coffees. I am delighted to have raised more than £500 to date in sponsorship for this and my 10k, and it's really spurring me on right now to train hard.
Then I went to Yo Sushi for a quick feast of edamame and hairy prawns (Murakami points = +5). Before dinner had a chance to digest I had to go to my band practice, with 15 minutes to spare. 15 minutes of running, oh yes. While Murakami gets to enjoy the sounds of the Hula Hula along the beaches of Hawai, I dodged pedestrian and pensioner and some other unmentionables as I hared it towards the centre of town. No gentle swells of the Pacific for me, but I did hear a few honk honks from the harbour as the oil service and fishing boats trundled out to the North Sea. My run took me up Market Street dodging seagulls and spilled kebabs, to the windy Castlegate and along King Street till I arrived, breathless, sweating and collasping in a bid to get my diaphragm back to normal singing function. Two hours of practice later and I opted to run the mile home again, pausing only for a few short moments of around 10 seconds or so to cross roads on the way.

Apart from the sushi, Haruki and I have nothing in common. However I am trying to glean pearls of wisdom from his brilliant insights. And one of the concepts he floats is this: "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."

Pain is inevitable:
This I can wholly attest to. As I type this my calf muscles are literally seized up in painful cramps. Even when I was going to the gym three times a week, my muscles didn't hurt like this. From my ankles right up to my knees, every fibre of my lower legs feel twisted, knotted and sore. It's no wonder because since I started reading Murakami, I've run every night this week. So my training session on Monday became a quick mile after work on Tuesday and now today I've upped that again, to two miles, one on either side of band practice. And given that I live a mostly sedentary lifestyle, it's no wonder that I'm hurting so much.

Suffering is optional:
Now this is interesting as it implies I have a choice. Right now I am acknowledging, nay moaning, that I am in pain right now, but am I also suffering? Well if I'm really honest with myself I'm sort of revelling in it, marvelling at all the muscles I never felt do anything before and writing it all out here like I should get some extra props for my pain! Furthermore, how much can I really be suffering since I'm so puffed up and proud of myself for the extra miles I've clocked up this week already, and I'm already planning my next run?

So thank you Murakami for reminding me that in choosing to run, I will inevitably get quite sore but in continuing to run I embrace the consequences. Suffering is what happens when you have pain forced upon you.

But if I can't walk tomorrow when I get out of bed, I need you to write a sick note to my boss - thanks.