Starting Over

It has been 4 weeks since the Dr. put me on the disabled list. Due to what he described as “extreme shin splints” I have not been allowed to run for 4 weeks. 

Gains and Losses

Unfortunately, I was not very active on my down time so I lost a lot of fitness and gained a lot of weight.  I did make it to the gym a few times but not enough to maintain what I had.  

What’s next

For the past 3 days, I’ve run 2 miles each day.  The first 2 runs felt great although I have clearly lost a lot.  After today’s 2 miles, I was actually a little sore but the shins are fine.   It is sad to think that I was averaging 40 miles a week and now I am sore after two 2 mile runs.  

Since I don’t think I can recover in time for the St. Louis Marathon, I am looking for a new challenge.  Hoping that I won’t have to travel but there are not a lot of options when it comes to long distances.  For now, the plan is to see how the next 2 weeks pan out and to see where my fitness is truly at.  The fitness level will hope determine the next goal race. 

What did I learn?

I need to make sure I am doing my warm ups, cool downs, and core work.  When I was increasing mileage, I was faithful to the routines.  As time went on, I starting skipping them and eventually stopped.  Time to go back to the basics and good habits. 

10 things I love about running.

Even though injury has me on the sideline right now, I still love to run.  In joining the trend of list 10 thing I love about running, my list includes the:

1. Challenge – everyday is a new challenge to see how much better I can be.
2. Simplicity – can be as simple a throwing on some shoes and heading out
3. Trails – heading out to the trails puts everything into perspective.
4. Running Community – Doesn’t matter how fast or slow, how far or short, a run is a run and runners respect that.
5. Me time – love getting out on a run and forgetting all concerns during a run
6. Family connections – Only thing better than running on my own is sharing a run with a family member
7. Feeling of accomplishment after finishing a hard run.  
8. Reality Check – running keeps me from going insane.  
9. Immunity Boost – running boost the immunity system
10. Runners High – both during and after a run

One week away from hitting the roads.  I can’t wait.

Double Whammy!!!

For me, talking about mileage and health have always been the destruction of a successful "good streak." 
 
I've been enjoying my best running/health streak in years and have silently attributed it to my silence of success.  I am averaging 40+ miles a week and haven't been sick for well over a year.

All things good came to an end when I stupidly  inadvertently brought upon my demise. 

Day 1: The wife asks me if I am training for a full since my mileage keeps increasing.  She asked so I had to answer.  First time I had talked about my running in months. 
Day 2: A co-worker simply asked how I manage my sick time with so many kids.  My response, "I don't get sick very often so sick time is used for them."

Two simple comments.  I did not bring up the topics, I did not embellish the answers, I simply told the truth.  The end result is BAM!!!!!!!!!!
 
Day 3: Shin "pops" on a run and I hobble home.
Day 4: Although my legs can't run, the nose sure can.  Use half a box of tissues.

Fast forward (3 tissue boxes later)
Day 8: Try running 4 miles.  Body feels great (minus cold symptoms) but shin is still not ready. 
Day 9: Limping big time from the 4 miles
Day 10: Still can't run.  Time to shallow my pride and call the Dr.

So tomorrow is the orthopedic surgeon.  Praying that he tells me everything is fine and I just need to suck it up. 

Coincidence, maybe,  Cursed, probably. Time to get healthy again and quit talking.