I hate it when that happens

It wasn't an hour after I posted my last dispatch about the 30 day hiatus, that I flipped the TV to BBC America, which was showing "Chariots of Fire." I want to go run anytime I see that movie. And my spirituality is always encouraged by the story and by Eric Liddell's words. There is a scene where he is explaining why he has to run and win. "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Man oh man! I was a wreck. So inspiring, yet maddening. I want to run again, to feel that pleasure. To feel my body grow and groan and fight. I found myself watching the movie and thinking about THEIR Achilles, THEIR knees. Did they hurt? Did they fight through the pain? Will I ever be as graceful as they?

And how about this Liddell line from the movie:

"Lord Cadogan: Don't be impertinent, Liddell!
Eric Liddell: The impertinence lies, sir, with those who seek to influence a man to deny his beliefs!"

On the shelf, part II

Well. Apparently my rest and recovery for the achilles pain was not enough. The pain came back. Now the pain was nothing like the first time it hit me, but I also haven't run more than three miles since returning to the road. I spoke with a dear friend of mine, who conveniently happens to be a doctor, and he confirmed what I thought all along: overuse. My 40 year old tendons are struggling to keep up with the rest of my body. Here's the good news: the pain I suffer is nowhere near my heel, which is where most ruptures occur, so he thinks that the chances for an achilles rupture are slim, given where the pain starts and ends (at the junction of the achilles, soleus and gastroc muscles--what you might call mid-calf--and ends some three inches at least above the heel). So I guess I got that going for me.

What now? Rest. One month cold turkey from running, and following low-stress exercises: cycle, swim, elliptical. And a lot of stretching and weights for the entire body.

If I lay off running for a month, could I still make the December 1st St. Jude's half marathon, at least? I think the marathon is definitely out. But the half may be a possibility.

I guess we all have to deal with injuries and setbacks in our running, but I hate that I have to. I was really hitting my stride, so to speak. It felt great to be part of this community of runners. I felt IN and alive again. Now i feel OUT and damaged. My spirituality has to treat this as a lesson in not making any one thing a god to me. The irony is that some of my most poignant spiritual moments in the last 6 months have come on the road, as the sun rises and dogs bark, and a song on my iPod urges me to think of or pray for another. Working out on an elliptical trainer watching the early news somehow just doesn't have the same feel.

3d day--no pain on the treadmill

Just finished my 3-mile run. This is the third day back running after achilles rest. Rainy and too hot outside so I ran on the treadmill. I did 3 miles, 12 minute pace. I felt good---there was no pain, but a little soreness in my calf from stretching and really working calves a great deal.

After my hydration problems from the other day, I went to a local bike shop and bought a Camelbak Blue Wave Hydration pack. It was 30% off, so for 20 bucks I guess I couldn't go wrong. I had debated whether I should get the fanny pack or the backpack, but the backpack was 20 dollars cheaper and held 2 times as much water as the fanny pack, which held only 28 ounces. The one I bought holds 1.5 liters. It took a little getting used to, but I will find it easier to take this pack on an 8 mile run in August than planting water bottles all over my route.

So far, so good----and boy is it hot!

Well, I had my second run back from achilles rest and recovery. Did just under three miles at 12 minutes pace. Felt better than Monday, but not perfect. Maybe I am expecting too much. Will I always have the achilles in the back of my mind? Will I always feel "something" there? Between wondering IF I actually feel something (let's be clear: I feel NO pain) and dealing with my frostbit calf (which feels like a bad sunburn--you know how if you move or stretch after a sunburn, it feels like the skin is tight and "burning"? That's how it feels back there. So it is hard for me to determine if my calf is tight or my skin is tight from frostbite.

But the larger issue is that I am running again, ever so slowly and patiently.

What I am feeling is HOT! Today at 6 am in Panama City Beach, Florida it was 80 degrees (F) and 96% humidity--before the sun had risen in full!!!!! I ran three and was totally drenched--as if I had jumped in the pool! I was seriously under-hydrated and got the dry-heaves when I got back to the condo. A boat load of water and I felt better. I plan on running the treadmill on Friday!

Can anyone recommend a good, light, hydration pack?

Back, sort of

First run in 2 weeks this morning. Ran just short of three miles. Stopped every mile to walk and stretch. I found myself favoring my hurt leg and really trying to feel anything at all. I felt something....not pain, not pulling, but kind of a tugging in the area...I think. I'm not sure if I had phantom pain, imagined pain, imagined something. It definitely did NOT hurt, but ...

I iced it when I got home, took ibuprofen, stretched and haven't felt any pain all day. I'll rest tomorrow and do some elliptical, then run again on Wednesday. I believe my calves will be sore tomorrow, mainly from not running for so long. We'll see.

I am at my in-laws' beach front condo this week, and when I returned I grabbed what I thought was a slushy ice-bag from their freezer and wrapped it on my achilles with an ace bandage. I kept thinking that this really was cold, and later found that I had a mild case of frost bite!!!!! He had concocted a mix of slush and rubbing alcohol that did not freeze, but remained slushy but extremely cold. I now have a frost bit area on my lower calf. As Homer would say, doh!

I felt great otherwise. All this rest has really allowed those other areas of my body to recover. I feel ready to break out of this injury cocoon.

Tomorrow!

Well, my two-week forced-rest period is over and I run tomorrow! I am nervous and excited and anxious and ready to go. But I kind of don't want to go because I am afraid I might feel pain again. It will be an easy three, with as many walk breaks as I need. Taking it sloooooooooowwwwwwww. I'm running nothing over 4 miles this week and will run two days, break, run two more, break, run two more.

Since the Disney Marathon weekend is out this year for me and my fmily, I am planning on running in Memphis at the St. Jude marathon. I am also seriously considering becoming a St. Jude Hero and commit to raising money for the hospital. I just want to be sure my achilles is okay.

I'll report on tomorrow's run. eep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer.