Normally I type really quickly, sometimes so fast that people think I’m fake typing because it sounds like I’m just banging the keys nonsensically.  But today I’m pecking at the keys with only one finger and it’s taking forever.  Why would someone who can type so fast only use one hand?  I think the answer to that question is obvious…because my left arm doesn’t bend in the direction necessary to reach the keyboard ever since I broke my elbow 4 days ago.

How does one break an elbow?  I don’t remember all the details, but it did involve an 8 pound medicine ball, Ian, a volleyball, an 18 inch high box, Steve, free burritos, and a basketball court.  When it first happened we searched for some ice, but we couldn’t find any.  Fortunately there is still a lot of snow here, so that worked just as well.

People thought I was faking at first, but a day later I still couldn’t bend my arm in any direction.  It was just frozen at a 90 degree angle.  Steve decided that the best way to figure out if anything was broken was to put my cell phone on vibrate, place it on my elbow, and then wait for him to call me.  If it hurt, it was broken.  That idea was quickly vetoed, although not as quickly as his theory that I just needed to let him pull on my arm really hard and straighten it out.  I opted instead for the emergency room.

That was three days ago and running during that time has been interesting.  Training had been going pretty well before this incident, and I really haven’t missed too much since it happened.  Deena is preparing for the women’s Olympic Trials marathon in Boston on April 20, and I am getting ready for the Broad Street 10 Miler on May 4.

I think the most important thing you should take from my story is a newfound appreciation for arm movement.  If you ever start to doubt the importance of swinging your arms while running, have someone smash your elbow with a hammer. Then try to run 6 x mile at altitude with Deena.  The importance of arm movement in running will instantly become very clear.

Typically I apologize for my blogs being too long, but this time it will be the opposite.  Today I will have to cut it short because the slow one fingered typing is driving me crazy..