It’s All Connected

It’s now been three weeks since breaking my small toe. The worst is over. I’d estimate the toe is 60%—am back running though still feeling it with every stride. Only using trainers and the pace is slower than normal. But I’m running! This week I hope to do a few miles in my racing shoes, since the Grand Prix 8K is just two weeks away.  If the toe has improved 20% each week so far, even if that inches down to a 15% rate, I’ll be 90% by race day.  Then if it continues from there at 5%, I’ll be at 100% a week before the Grand Prix 10K in Gloucester and back to a normal training load.

This whole thing has been a reminder of how everything in our bodies is connected.  In this case, one of the smallest bones, my baby toe, directly affects not only gait but also my perception of what I can do, even where I place my leg when sleeping, as well as what shoes I wear, etc.  Our bodies are a package deal. Each part is designed to inform all the other parts what is going on in its specific locale.  If my hand touches something hot, my entire body recoils to avoid further contact.  Our brains of course coordinate all this with amazing speed, as efferent and afferent nerves work 24/7 to navigate our safety.

It’s too bad we sometimes need a calamity, e.g. banging a foot into a couch leg,  to consciously engage this system. In most cases our proprioceptors offer effective background surveillance to keep us upright and safe with our eyes and ears also alerting us to what may be lurking or in our way. Another reminder that our full body is at work.

Maybe I’ll think about this when the horn sounds at the 8K in two weeks. I do find that in those preceding moments I take stock of what has transpired leading up to a race, informing what I might be able to do. I will probably be giving thanks that my toe is sufficiently healed to allow me to be there. Presumably I’ll avoid any mishaps on the course and be able to finish. And between now and then, keep a close eye out for places I might stub my toe!