Four months since my last post! Basically, four months and boom, we're at the end of summer. Four months and I'm older...and wiser...and running! So how about a running update for the running blog?
People, let's be real. I've been injured a lot in the 20 years I've been running...because of both freak accidents and also my own bone-headed doing (over zealous training, running through small issues that eventually became big deals, etc.). And that's led to a lot of angst, heartache and cursing of this I-hate-this-stupid-sport-but-not-really-I-can't-quit-I-miss-it hobby that's really more of a lifestyle, in all honestly. But I've never felt so positive and clear-headed about the sport as I do now, and here I am, three and a half months back after 12 weeks out and a very slooooow build up.
Here's what the comeback has looked like. I started up at the end of May, with my first "run" consisting of 7 X 1 minute of running alternating with 3 minutes of walking. My husband and I went for a walk along the river to kick off this momentous occasion, but I honestly contemplated doing it in street clothes because it seemed like such a laughable thing. I put on my running clothes, however, and off we went...and later that night I felt like I had run 20 miles, as every single little tendon in my foot seemed to be whining at me, backed up by a chorus of groans from my quads and hips. And I hadn't been sitting around during my layoff, either! Running is no joke...welcome back!
The next month or so was a couple steps forward, a couple steps back. In the second week of June, I was up to 30 minute runs and on a business trip out for a run one morning when my calf pulled ON MY GOOD SIDE. The universe can be a cruel prankster...or you can have inbalances in your body. I'm going with a mix of both. This was followed by 10 more days off and another slow build back up once everything seemed better.
My husband signed up for a 10K for the 4th of July, and one morning a week before, following the first run in weeks in which my calf didn't pull, I got a wild urge to sign up for the companion 5K, so I did. Now, this may seem like a mundane thing...and it is. But up until this point I had never run a 5K without having a solid base under me, along with months of workouts. As a mid-distance runner in high school and part of college, 5Ks were my entree into the world of road racing and for a large part of my running life, I only knew how to run them HARD and when you were in shape. Something made me super excited for this silly little 4th of July 5K, though...I hadn't run with a Garmin since January (hello running by time...still the best way to ease back into running) so I had no idea what pace I had been running. But I knew it would probably be my slowest ever, and I was okay with that. Not having a whole lot of running fitness under my belt made it exciting to me to get a TRUE sense of where I was. Only goal: hopefully run it all!
With that goal in mind, the 5K was a great success. I didn't walk, and ran one of my slowest ever -- second only to the 5K I ran when I had mono...and more than 4 minutes of my PR. But it was SO. MUCH. FUN. No Garmin, no expectations and the feeling of pushing myself like that was something I hadn't felt in a very long time. My recovery was officially in motion.
About six weeks later, I was up to 10 miles for my long run (estimated, as I was still running on time and hadn't turned on the Garmin yet) and actually running with people--people I had run with pre-injury who I had so longed to get back to running with, including my good buddy Nordica (the best! Hi Nordica!). And I hit this milestone right around the time I was fortunate enough to get to go to Bend, Ore. for a running camp with my fellow Oiselle ambassadors -- check out the gorgeous photo collage here. It came just at the right time. Throughout the 12 weeks post-surgery, being ready for camp was what I was really concerned about when it came to getting back to running. I had paid for my trip, and I really wanted to be able to take part in everything at camp and not be slowed by fitness or any lingering pain.
Fortunately, I timed my build back just right and everything was fine. Camp was just the type of experience I needed in my running life at that point...for four days, we were treated to motivational talks by wonderful runners, expert-led discussions, miles of beautiful trails and lots of fun bonding time with a really inspiring group of women from all walks of life I quickly came to know and love. Lauren Fleshman gave a goal-setting talk when afternoon, and I found myself all choked up at the notion of setting meaningful goals for you and not setting goals based on what others do or believe is important. Here I was, in a ballroom listening to a runner I've been a fan of for 10 years and at a point in my running life where my PRs are eight years old and I'm again coming back from injury. I've already touched on this before, but I've had to find motivation and enjoyment elsewhere in running as I'm so far off my PR times for the time being and realize I may never surpass them. It was just what I needed to hear, though, as I try and look for other ways to feel accomplishment and joy from running.
Later that night, we actually ran a 5K sponsored by a local brewery. And wouldn't you know, I ran a minute faster than I had on the 4th of July and was elated. I didn't give much thought to being three minutes off my PR and was genuinely excited and proud for once. I'm still working on this mind shift, but it was a good step.
I'm now a month past my time in Bend, and I've just started doing workouts from my old friend who's now helped my running for 10 years. He's seen a lot and I'm thankful he's still willing to help me out when I'm not as fast as I once was but still want to try my best and see how hard I can push myself. My long runs have topped 13 miles now for the past two weeks and I can say I haven't felt this good in at least two years, but that's largely due to the fact that I was running on one foot for so long. Two feet can help a lot in running! I feel the desire to train toward a race and I'm starting to think long term again. It's fun, and I'm loving the feeling of pushing myself again and meeting up with friends. I'm not sure what's next, but it's good to be back.
