Lessons Learned from a Running Layoff
It’s a harsh truth; but Injury, illness, or some other setback is coming for us all. No matter how balanced our training regimen, no matter our athletic ability, and regardless of our weekly mileage. At some point, we’ll find ourselves on the IR list.
For some of us, present company included, even a few days away from our running routine can have us feeling irritable or just plain “off.” An extended stay on the IR can leave us depressed and downright angry. Unsurprising news, if running plays a big part of your life.
Over the years and the miles, I’ve had injuries, surgeries, or other bouts that have kept me and my feet on the couch rather than on the road or trail. But it had been a minute. And, like jury duty, apparently my number was up once again.
Two-plus months of zero running.
Once given the “all clear” and the ground rules, I knew what I was in for. I’ve been up and down the comeback road before. It’s still a little lonesome. It’s humbling, too. But, being forced to slow down taught me another couple of lessons. Or at least reminded me of some I probably already knew.
Coming back ain’t easy. The older I get the more runway I need to get back into my normal running routine. “Normal,” of course, is an individual thing. Your mileage may vary, as the commercial said. Either way, it doesn’t make the hills any easier. But slow miles is still better than no miles.
I’m paying more attention to little things that hurt. Is that pain really just soreness earned from yesterday’s miles, or did I push it just a little too far, too fast? Are my former running muscles recruiting friends to the comeback party, or am I conjuring another injury? Or, is this just what it feels like when you start running from scratch?
I got some religion about cross training (again). The science is there to support the need for cross training, of course. But a runners gonna run, right? Until you can’t. Admittedly, I don’t get the same charge from a workout that isn’t running. But the layoff got in to a weights and flexibility routine I actually enjoy. At least there’s that.
I actually can be (almost) patient. My caffeinated personality isn’t exactly designed for things that require much of a, “wait and see” approach. That’s probably why I’m not that good at fishing. The tincture of time, as my doc put it. Sometimes, that’s hard medicine to swallow.
I really missed running. Yes, the slow, humbling road back to running is beating me down a bit. The humidity isn’t really helping, either. Being at the finish line for most of the spring races was good medicine, too. But watching everyone else – including my wife and dog – get the miles… it’s kind of a drag. That FOMO is really real.
Running, I’m glad to be back.
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