Recovery Diary :: Day 36

Maybe it was because I was so incredibly low yesterday that when I woke up this morning I kind of just said f*ck it, I am going out for a run.  I'm going to take it easy - but I just got to see what I can do.  

I made a bargain with myself: the minute I felt any pain I would stop - no matter what the time said on my Ironman.

I started out feeling really great.  One of the hardest things for me to do is to mind my form; land on the pad, then the heel, pad, then heel; relax the shoulders - 90 degrees angle...the dialogue spun around in my head and then eased.  I was moving well - I mean really well.  I tried to keep the pace REALLY slow remembering what my therapist said about pace increasing stress on my knee - but I felt good and so I naturally fell into my natural slow pace for long runs, which is about 10:30.

I noticed how much the cars on the road really stunk.  Ha,ha - I realized I hadn't smelled that for weeks.  I missed stinky SUVs! ;-) Go figure. Honey, I felt good!

At the point at which I passed the critical 20 minute mark I was high.  My breath after not running for over 5 weeks was surprisingly stable and I felt that I could really relax into it without worry...pad then heel, pad then heel.

It was around the 28 minute mark that I started feeling the ITB.  OK - so I stretched my personal bargain a little and ran past the initial tug of pain about 1.5 minutes.  Then,with all the will I could muster, I stopped and walked the rest of the way home...without pain.

I am thrilled with my progress.  Once I got home I did my stability ball core exercises, drank a protein shake and reveled in my accomplishment.  I do have a little bit of ITB soreness, but nothing to worry about.  The important thing is that I not get discouraged and keep working at it without going overboard (so hard).

Tomorrow,I go to the gym for strength, then on Wednesday AM early, back on the road...I can't wait!

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