Ah, What the Hell…

Part of a gym workout—whether it’s CrossFit or any HIIT program—is a run. Usually a tidy little block: 400 meters, 800 meters, maybe a spicy 1000 if the coach is feeling particularly cheerful that day.

Now anyone who has read the entire Kiki Box Set of blogs already knows that my left knee is basically shredded. A medial and lateral meniscus tear, plus a healthy helping of arthritis, has been tagging along with me for years like a barnacle on the bottom of a boat. My orthopedist and I are on a first-name basis at this point. He won’t operate yet because I’ve built up my quads so much that the knee is still functioning well enough. So every year we kick that knee-replacement can a little farther down the road.

My mom had both knees replaced in her 60s, so I’m probably on the clock.

Not ready yet.

Anyhoo…

Last week at the gym I stared at the workout on the whiteboard.

There it was.

400m run (2x).

I stared again. It stared back. I swear I heard that little spaghetti-western flute whistle right before the gunfight.

In the past 11.8 years of gym life, I’ve always hopped on the Assault Bike or the rower and cranked out the run equivalent. Everyone knew the drill.

Kiki doesn’t run.

I power walk and hike every Spartan and Tough Mudder race—every single one. I run at the end to jump the fire and cross the finish line, but the other 5 to 16 miles are all power hikes.

Well.

Last week that changed.

I ran.

This morning I rolled into the 7:30 class only to see the same workout format—but now the run was inserted into two stations.

Cue the spaghetti western music again.

Enter Kiki.

Our girl was doing it again.

It was 38 degrees and misty. Black snow still dotted the streets from the last storm. My breath was coming out in hot clouds, but I was chugging along.

And then the WayBack Machine pulled up.

It took me to 1978.

Thirteen-year-old me and my friend Jean Daly were running through the streets of Bethpage during a Saturday cross-country practice. We were bored, and we happened to be near Jean’s house, so naturally we stopped in.

Jean’s mom decided this was the perfect moment to whip up pancakes.

I remember saying, “But… we’re running?”

Her mom waved us off. “Oh, just take a break.”

So there we were.

Two runners.

And Mrs. Butterworth.

To this day I have no idea how we managed to eat pancakes, get back out the door, and run all the way up to the Junior High School in time to finish practice—but somehow we did.

I started giggling out there on the road. It’s funny where the WayBack Machine will take you.

Eventually it dropped me back at the gym.

I wrapped up the workout with 500 meters on the rower and some sled pushes and pulls, feeling pretty good about the whole situation.

And that’s when it hit me.

For years I told myself I didn’t run anymore.

Turns out that wasn’t exactly true.

Maybe I’m not fast. Maybe my knee sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies some mornings. But every once in a while, when the whiteboard throws down the challenge and the spaghetti western music starts to play, there’s still a little runner hiding in there.

And sometimes the only response left is the one that’s served me well for decades:

Ah, what the hell. Let’s run.

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Author: KikiFikar

Kiki Fikar is a native New Yorker who is passionate about taking the day to day life we all experience and sharing it in her tales from Suburbia. She will often be found at the gym, writing snippets each day for future story lines, listening to her two children create their lives, and building the perfect beachfront home and writing retreat in her mind.

20 thoughts on “Ah, What the Hell…”

  1. what a beautiful moment and an equally beautiful reflection from years past 🙂 you’re right; just running…getting to the other side of the directive is more or less the only thing we can do in life. we might as well enjoy it by taking a break for pancakes! 🙂 Mike

    Liked by 3 people

  3. “spaghetti-western flute whistle” 😆😂 Oh man, perfect accompaniment…Clint chomping on a cigar with a squint as Kiki ponders the 400 🤨👌

    So funny about Mrs Butterworth! Two “serious runners”…quick stop… pancakes? Ehh, why not? Reminds me of this annual thing here at NC State, the Krispy Kreme Challenge… runners line up, pulling their ankles up, stretching, adjusting their numbers… and then eat a box of 12 Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Annnnd… they’re off! 🏃‍♀️

    What follows is a Monty Python-esque spectacle… most make it at least 1/2 mile before their stomachs rebel and the KKs reverse course and re-emerge… the casualties are appalling, by the 1 mile mark, dozens of serious runners bent over, hands on knees, depositing mounds that the squirrels interestedly sniff at… a few pale runners cross the finish line 🏁 most are laying around campus on their backs and groaning… good clean fun 😂👏

    Good luck with the knee, my friend… Sue has been nursing bum knees for a decade, she gets these tell-tale aches and just stops 🍺

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Ok I’m sitting on my basement stairs supervising a project down here and just howling over the KK spectacle. Please never stop sharing those stories! Lol

    I wish Sue strength. It’s not fun but we get it done right?

    BTW – speaking of Clint. My maiden name is…wait for it..Eastwood. I kid you not!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I ran cross country in high school and then took it up again in my late 40’s. I loved running but the body doesn’t last forever, so I had to give it up. Now I write.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Yes!!! Thanks my friend! I spent the rest of the day tending to a slight flood in basement from crazy snow on foundation. With that cleared up and dry I shall relax!

    Hope you guys are having a great Saturday!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Good for you, Kiki … Proof that there’s always a little runner left in us. Loved reading this, Kiki. Your determination is inspiring.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Just to let you know (I’m sure you already know this), the current knee replacement technology is pretty amazing. I personally know five Army guys who had the surgery, and all of them told me they feel awesome. One of them is even back to running. It’s better to do it now while you’re still young and strong. 😀 Just my two cents, my friend. I used to run 5Ks and 10Ks, but I cut back because I’m trying to take care of my knees, and the daily training needed to stay competitive is no bueno as we get older.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Thank youuuuuu my friend. Oh yeah the technology is on our side now. No bueno…I love this. I’m just trying to stay in shape. I don’t want to break. lol hope you are doing well and having a good week so far! 😁

    Liked by 1 person

  19. NEVER EVER SAY “I can’t!” Because what you may not be able to do today, tomorrow might be a different story!

    I was a CCU nurse for about 15 years but for my first year as an RN I was in orthopedics. One thing I learned during that year is that there had already been many great advances in hip/knee replacement surgery! Since then I’ve followed their continued success and now when folks finally give in and get their replacement they mostly all say something similar: “If I knew how great I’d feel after getting surgery and working with PT (physical therapy) I’d have gotten it long before now!”

    One of my clients recently (within the last 6 months) finally got her hip replacement after putting it off for many years and she has commented pretty much the same and has progressed very well! She actually didn’t stay even one night in the hospital! It was fine and she went home the same day!

    I’m not saying that everyone will have that exact thing take place or that surgery of any kind should be taken lightly (most of the time it is one of the last options, which it should be) but I’m just expressing the improvements throughout the years. In the end it’s totally up to you and your doctor! I wish you great health success as you move forward in your health and fitness endeavors! Thanks for sharing your story!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Thank you thank you!! I just love your expertise and encouragement. This is why this community is so fantastic.

    Hope you have the best weekend! 💪🏼❤️

    Like

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