Softball Doom!

Well, the sport finally got the best of me. After arriving at the field last night while the first game was finishing up, I stretched (which I NEVER do!) in preparation for game 2. Nathan stuck me at 2nd base and I was hoping to see some action. Much to my demise, while going to the base for a play, I felt a burn in my upper thigh. "Just stretched it a little", I thought, and went on playing. During the second inning, the burning got a little more intense. Now, John, my loving husband, was saying, "You need to sit out, you are going to hurt it more, tell Nathan to put someone else in to bat for you". "ARE YOU CRAZY????!!!!!" My competitive heart was saying to just 'shake it off', so up to bat I went. Can I be honest with you before the painful start comes? . . that was the WRONG move to make. Hind sight is 20/20 though, right? OK, up to bat. If I walk, they can put a runner in for me (which, again, my loving husband had already arranged with the coach) First pitch, STRIKE! Oh no, I have to swing, I absolutely WILL NOT be struck out. Second pitch, ball; o.k. this is good. Third pitch--it's a good one, I gotta take it--HIT to the short stop. As soon as I put my foot down to run and took that lunge, it was over with. I didn't even wait to see if he caught it or not, I headed straight to the dugout. I was officially done. I have never had such intense pain and burning in one part of my body that lasted with absolutely no relief. It felt like my upper thigh was on fire and it radiated to my hip and down to my foot. It hurt to touch, move, LOOK AT! I would rather birth 3 more children. . .at least that pain gives a few rest periods and you have a reward at the end. John, being the great doc. that he is, helped me get around, brought me ice for it and was my 'moral' support (i.e.-sit and don't get up--act your age!) Today has been a little less painful. I definitely still know that it is there, but I'm trying to 'shake it off', be a good sport about it--even though at some moments I just want to cry. Needless to say, I guess I won't be playing next week, but perhaps the week after that I'll get to go back on the field **don't tell John!** :-)