
The experience was one I will never forget. Not only did it take Peace Corps Nurse 2 1/2 hours to get to me from the PC headquarters, but the entire day felt just out of a SITCOM.
But back to my injury: When I finally arrived at the hospital in Panama City, and confirmed that the excruciating pain I was feeling was in fact due to a fracture in my arch and not an over dramatic/low-pain tolerance cry for attention....that's when the fun really started. Doctors and nurses asked me HOW THIS HAD HAPPEND. As I spoke, they huddled around, inching closer and closer like toddlers at a library story-time or groupies around basketball players. They got a kick out of the fact that I had sustained my injury from RUNNING....not running from anything or anyone, not running somewhere specific, and not even with a soccer ball (on the soccer field). They rolled their eyes, snickered, grunted, and some straight up laughed in my face. As they walked away, I could hear them mumble under their breath-- "crazy Americans" (as if I wasn't 2 feet away on the stretcher). They didn't get it.
Running as a sport, for exercise, for fun, and even more so as a social activity is relatively new in some places. But even here, in this FIRST WORLD country we live in, there are many people that still find it CRAZY and have a hard time wrapping their head around the sport.
the way they take you to a place where no one else can." At that moment I realized that at one point or another we have all fallen in love, reeeeaaaaallllyyy liked someone, or been completely infactuated with another person. At those times, we may have been at a loss when our friends asked us WHY HIM (or Her)? Though we may have tried to put together a "good" list to justify our reasoning, our attraction, or emotions---sometimes we were just unable. We just knew it felt right.
But we all have to admit, it's a lot nicer when our friends and family support our heart's choices, and when they understand our passions. This weekend was a quintessential example. I participated in the Escape to Miami Triathlon, I was happy to be surrounded by friends who are as crazy as me, (some even crazier) who I don't have any explaining to do to, who weren't running from anyone--well maybe if they didn't want to get caught by someone specifically ;)--and even kept circling around to the same area 3 times (without being judged), who were all there because they know about that PLACE I'm talking about...that place that FEELS SO RIGHT! | ![]() That moment when all the pain you felt disappears, you forget about the blood pooling in your shoes from the blisters you just got, you take a deep breath and smile cause you crossed the finish...one race stronger, one day healthier, and feeling weak but more alive than ever....that's what this picture captured. Photographer: Andres Hernandez Photo assistant: Jose Luis Navas |