Defn: a human male displaying evidence of devolution - exhibits distinctive "caveman-like" tendencies. This man often dribbles in public places; cannot drink a beverage without spilling it on himself, the floor or someone else; may also run into objects like lampposts & bushes; has a definite "sloopish & short legged" running style that is slow and low to the ground, often resulting in the dragging of knuckles.

These throwback neanderthals, along with their questionable diet, should clearly be avoided.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

So.....now.....what?

So: Like any good prize fighter who retires from their sport of boxing, only to come out of retirement for more money - I too have come out of blog-writing retirement for the lure of a big payday.  However, the only $$$ payday I see in the immediate horizon is a little known, and not often consumed, candy bar - that I have no interest in eating.  When suffering through a forced 6 week layoff from running I was faced with an option / choice - consider becoming a competitive eater, or, bide my time, eat smart and when I get cleared to run again - then do so, albeit carefully and gradually.  A challenge, but possible to do.

Now: when the results of an MRI came back almost a month ago - and contradicted what 2 doctors had said: Likely a torn tendon (5 to 6 months to heal, including surgery) - but hope for a stress fracture (cause that is only 2 to 3 months).  MRI results said a lot of funky Latin words describing tendons, bones, nerves, and other doctor stuff - but they said no tears and no breaks.  The docs said get running whenever I feel like I can, but be careful, smart and don't overdo it.

What: My first run was 2 very slow miles on the treadmill, that came about a week after several times on a stationary bike and elliptical.  During and after the run, the ankle was tender, but no worse feeling.  I took a few more days off and then 3 weeks ago I managed to string together a 20 mile week, almost all of it on a treadmill.  My last run of that week I ventured onto a trail.  My ankle didn't like the lateral side movement, so I was very careful about that.  I survived though.  And now I am up and running, not fast, but I am running again, and loving it.  My ankle is about 95% healed and getting better each day.  This week for the first time - it has not hurt while running on it - just mild pain when I touch it.  So: I don't touch it, or twist it.  My right knee is giving me some grief but after a chiropractic adjustment on it yesterday, realigning a bone with the kneecap - that feels better today too.

Each successive week I have increased mileage 5 miles per week and after this Saturday I will have run 35 miles this week - including a lap of the Falcon Trail on the Air Force Academy - a 13 mile trail run with about 1400' of gain.   I'll look to continue to increase another 5 miles in the upcoming weeks, maxing out at a 50 mile week, with a few less mile weeks in there to help recovery. Trying to run smart is a challenge to not overdo it, but so far, so good.

It's good to feel the burn in the quads and calves again.  It's good to run.

1 comment:

  1. Welcome back Craig! Good to see your blogging and running again.

    ReplyDelete