My Hero

Apollo Anton Ohno is my dance role model. He is a dedicated athlete who has developed muscles and discipline for going fast, but not grace and timing until he participated in Dancing with the Stars. He also has very well-developed legs that help him sprint. I have well-developed calf-muscles (notice I used positive self-talk). He had to adapt dance poses to suit him. I do the same thing. I am up on releve (toes) as much as I can get away with since it looks and feels better. One of my teachers dislikes her students dancing on their toes saying it isn't "authentic" enough (like bellydance is authentic with all the changes it has gone through in thousands of years?). She dislikes "Cabaret" (up on your toes) style. I think it suits me just fine. Sure I will still learn to dance flat-footed so I can do all the moves that way if need be, like a flat-footed maya or travelling shimmy.

The lesson for the day is listen to your body. I think my body has been yelling at me loud and clear to pass on the upcoming marathon and do the trail race later in October instead.

I love how nothing hurts on the lower half of my body now :-) No hamstring twinges, plantar faciitis, groin-pulls and piriformis syndrome. Gone is the Friday night dread the night before a long run wondering what "injury" will act up on tomorrow's long run.

Not training for a marathon doesn't make me a less of a runner. Just a more well-rounded one, stronger and fitter one ;-)