Two Runs - Two Different Outcomes

I had high hopes for this morning’s run: I’m finally back from a self-imposed (injury-imposed) weeklong break from running, yesterday’s running wasn’t terrible and I do enjoy running on snow. The run didn’t go that well but maybe I was expecting too much: I’m just coming back from an injury and haven’t run for a week, yesterday’s run wasn’t very reassuring and running on snow is hard and slow.

Yesterday was my first day back to running. I headed out in the pre-dawn darkness, packed snow and ice crunching underfoot and a lingering tightness in my left quad. I wanted to do a slow 5 miles to test out my leg but maybe that was too much? Despite some dull pain in my leg I kept running and by the end of the run, I was feeling good.

Also, cruising along on the snow was fun: everything seemed so quiet and calm with a thin snow layer. The moon was out and its light reflecting off the snow made the morning brighter than usual. Rather than the normal sound of my footfall, I crunched loudly, packing down snow and breaking up ice that had formed overnight. I felt like I was juggling the snow with my feet as I avoided the icy spots and jumped from packed snow spot to packed snow spot. It really was a tremendous amount of fun.

However, today was a different story. Juggling the snow was physically and mentally exhausting. My leg was stiff and actually hurt today. I was slipping and sliding and just didn’t want to be out there (as much as I really wished that I wanted to be there). Now, my leg is sore today and I’m not sure what to do: see how it goes tomorrow or start getting used to the fact that I need some more time off.

One bad run isn’t the be all, end all of my running but it sure isn’t helping right now.

Daily Dozen:
4 miles – slow but not really easy!

Doing Nothing

I’m not used to doing nothing. I hate it doing nothing. I feel lazy and guilty when I do nothing. Even when I am doing nothing for a good reason, I still can’t shake the notion that I should be doing something.

…And this is why I am purposefully doing nothing while I recover from a muscle strain in my left quad. Yesterday and today I’ve been talking myself out of just going for a little run. It won’t hurt anything if I warm up properly. Just a short run after work, that’s all (as if somehow the time of day made a difference). I’m practically fantasizing about these runs and have to continually remind myself that I am not running for a good reason and breaking the self-imposed running embargo will likely result in more time spent not running. It isn’t worth it, I keep reminding myself….and then forgetting.

In fact, I have even strictly forbidden myself from going down to workout in the gym during work. I know I should do some upper body strength training and core work since I’ve got the time and energy but I also know that the temptation to sneak in a harmless, little run on the treadmill would simply be too much for me. It’s for my own good that I skip the workouts altogether.

I don’t say this to be one of those “braggy” runners – “oh, I can’t NOT run, that would be impossible, I once ran through this injury or on that bloody stump.” I’d rather be a smart (and lifelong) runner than one of those always injured, always in pain runners who limp along bandaged together with tape, pain relievers and constant icing.

Then again, one little run wouldn’t hurt…right?

Daily Dozen:
Nothing and I am OK with that.

Finally!

Early tomorrow morning, before the sun comes up, I will officially be off the injured list. It has been 4 weeks since I've had any pain in my right foot, 8 total weeks since I've run "for real" (I don't count the disastrous results of the Jonas Cattel Race), and tomorrow, I have a short 30 minute run, 2/1 run/walk.

Although I am excited to get back to running, I am also a bit nervous. I feel like I am starting over all over again. The week before the stress fracture in my foot, I had run 20 miles to prep for a marathon and now 2 months later I'm reduced to a 30 minute run where 10 of it will be a walk. By all accounts, the first run coming back from injury rarely goes well. How am I going to react if it goes badly? What if my foot doesn't hold up? What if I no longer have what it takes to be a runner?

I've been looking forward to tomorrow morning for weeks. I've imagined what tomorrow's run will feel like, how it'll make me feel, and I know I shouldn't have such high expectations but I just can't help it. It feels like the night before a big race!

I'm going to sleep tonight an injured runner with my fingers crossed that tomorrow morning's run will meet my expectations and put to rest my doubts and anxieties over my running.

An Injured Runner

I am currently recovering from an injury that has prevented me from running. I *believe* I have a stress fracture in one of the outside bones on my right foot due to overtraining for a marathon and this injury has stopped me from running (with the exception of one foolish incident) for over a month.

The reason I say "believe" is because I have not had this confirmed by a doctor, mostly because rest has relieved the pain and it is my understanding that there really isn't much a doctor can do for a stress fracture other than prescribe rest.

I felt a sharp pain in my right foot while running the Army Ten Miler (ATM) in early October, still finished the race but ended up hobbling and limping for the next three days. I wasn't sure what had happened but I knew that resting it was the only thing that was alleviating the pain - drugs and ice had no effect. At first, I told myself that I would be up and running in no time, after all, I had another ten mile race and a marathon planned. As the days went by, it became evident that I would have to nix the marathon plans but I still foolishly attempted the ten mile race (family bragging rights were at stake so I had to give it shot). I only made it 4 miles through that race before the pain became sharp and I dropped out (my only DNF so far - bummer). I keep telling myself that I planned it smart but the DNF still stings.

However, three weeks from the race and I've had zero pain, ache or discomfort in my foot for three straight days now. I am very much encouraged by this improvement but I have publicly vowed that I will not be running for the entire month of November. Yet, my outlook on running has certainly improved and I'm starting to come up with a running plan/schedule for building my running back up so I can run the National Half Marathon in March.

If I can just hold myself to the self-imposed running ban, I know I'll be back to running and happy to be doing something I love. In the mean time, the treadmill incline button and the free weights have become the best friends I am using the make my formal best friend, running, jealous. Think its working?