Today’s run was one of those runs.  One of those runs I’ll remember forever…..

I’ll remember it because it was so sweet.  So sweet because I hadn’t really gone for a run in about five weeks.  There’s a saying that goes: distance makes the heart grow fonder; as a runner, I say: “Injury makes the comeback sweeter.”

InjuryComebackSweeterPoster
 

I went for a six-mile run on December 20th, and finished the last mile with pain in my right calf.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t just a minor calf injury, but inflammation that had found its way back to my lower back and pressure was being put on my sciatic nerve.

The pain moved around on my right leg, and I didn’t try to run again until I took my new Yaktrax Run out for a test spin a couple of weeks later.  After half a mile, I had to stop and walk home.

I’ve spent the last five weeks rehabbing with lots of core work, spinning on my stationary bike to keep my cardio fitness level up, taking the occasional Advil, and decompressing my spine on my Teeter HangUps.

I’ve felt pretty good the last few days, and when I woke to about an inch of snow this morning, I decided I had to get outside.  Since my Cruiser friend Shawn is a teacher and didn’t have school today, she was able to meet me for a run/walk.

I strapped on my Yaktrax like a giddy teenager getting ready for her first date, and hit the trail.  I walked on the cloud of snow toward Shawn’s house and met her half-way.  We walked for a mile, and then decided to try running.

I felt great!  We ran for about a mile, then took a walk break, then ran some more.

YaktraxPinkBrooks
 

Shawn and I covered four miles and probably ran about 2.5 of those miles.  We took it easy, and I kept a close check on how my back and legs felt.  We didn’t break any speed records, but it’s never felt so good to be outside running!

ShawnDebSnowyRun
 

As soon as I got home from my run, and while I was still warmed-up, I hung upside down to stretch my back out again.

TeeterHangUps
 

Here’s hoping I’ll be back on the trail again in a few days for another run/walk as I get back into the swing of things.  Baby steps will be needed, but I’m willing to do what it takes to get back out on the trail with my friends.

 

  • Questions:
  • What’s the longest you’ve been side-lined from a run due to an injury?
  • How often do you run?
  • Have you tried an inversion board? ~ My doctor said he only recommends it to about 25% of his patients, and that my type of injury responds best to it.