If you are a teacher, or know a teacher, then you know October is crazy, to say the least. August and September, everyone is getting back into the groove of school. October is the end of 1st Quarter (that explains a lot right there), Parent/Teacher Conferences, Red Ribbon dress-up week, Halloween Parties, etc.
Now if you are a baseball fan, or just a person who doesn't live under a rock, you know October is Post Season. Unfortunately, if I had been training for a half marathon in 2016, 2017, or 2018, I would have been golden. Not in 2019 though! After 3 years of drought, the rain finally poured, October Reigned. We were back in the Post Season.
My three worlds had collided for a perfect storm to create a completely crazy Caitlin. It didn't take long into October to solidify this fact.
October 3rd. The Cardinals played the Braves at 4. Not ideal. I couldn't run before the game, but give it 3-3.5 hours, 7:30 would be fine to run. When 7:30 hit, we were entering the 9th inning of a tied ballgame. It was also starting to get dark. Both of my stubborn sides (I get it from my mom and my dad) ignited for the decision to take a risk. First off, I have the MLB app on my phone with access to KMOX radio. Second, I have very limited data to use amongst my family, but it starts over the 7th of each month. The risk of paying my dad $15 in overage fees was worth it. Third, I knew if I waited any longer it would be too dark to run. So out I went.
It didn't take long into my run for the Cardinals to get on base in the top of the 9th. I was running like a complete lunatic with my arms above my head and fists pumping into the air. That was my pose for the majority of the top of the inning as the Cards went onto score 4 runs making it 7-3 going into the bottom of the 9th. Man, we had this game in the bag, I was getting a quick 3 mile run in, and all was right in my World.
Tsunami alert! Carlos Martinez, aka Tsunami, was coming back to the mound to close out the game for the Redbirds. We had a cushiony lead. Let's get 3 quick outs, I'll finish running my last mile, and take this series back to the Lou.
Not so fast... The Tsunami walked Hamilton and Acuña Jr. homered. 7-5, no outs. Meanwhile, I'm on the straight stretch, ready to round the corner and head back up the hill to my apartments. Albies grounded out to 3rd. I step over the speed bump, round the corner and head up the hill. Carlos pitches, Freeman hits a home run, and the game is 7-6 with only one out. Oh come on, Carlos! As Freeman hit the homer, there's a car entering the driveway to the apartments. It was mostly dark out by now, so between being blinded by the car lights and distracted by Carlos coming close to blowing the save, I forgot to watch out for the 2nd speed bump. Don't worry, it found me instead. To add insult to the present injury of the game, the next thing I knew I was catching my fall with my knees. I never even had a chance to stutter step and catch myself, however my feet hit the speed bump was perfect enough to not know until I was already down. Just as quickly as I fell, I popped myself back up and finished running the tenth of a mile to my apartment. Once inside, it didn't take long for Carlos to come up with the last 2 outs and for me to find both knees covered in blood, the palms of my hands scraped, and myself laughing on the living room floor from all the chaos.
The things I do for my Cardinals... I learned it is probably best for me not to run and listen to a Cardinals game. While the run started out great and I was killing my pace, you never know when a game can change in a split second and I might find myself knee first in the asphalt. However, I now have a cool scar on my knee. When I see it, it reminds me of the Cardinals making Post Season for the first time in 3 seasons as well as the time I did what I once thought impossible, running a half marathon.
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