It started as the desire to complete just one 10K to say I did it. A few weeks into my training, a relationship came to an end and I lost my job. Those training runs quickly became my best friends as I sorted through the losses and uncertainty. Now, more than 4 years, training for 5 half marathons, and one knee surgery later, the challenges I have taken on in running have helped me understand that I can take on, and conquer, whatever lies in my path ahead.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Questions

Feeling some pain and swelling after the 5 miles Sun., so I didn't run my easy 2 yesterday. I'm going to do them today no matter what, but I wonder if it's part of the process or if it's a problem.

This recovery process is as much mental as anything. I find myself analyzing every twinge and wondering is this "recovery pain" or "injury pain", swelling from just getting back into it or swelling because something's wrong. My thinking needs to get in shape as much as my body does.

Monday, May 19, 2008

The Mile that Counts

Every time I add a mile, it's the first time I've run X miles since November. Yesterday it was 5 miles. I did it on the 5K trail by the Chattahoochie, since it's soft. Kept a 10 min avg pace - high 10:05, low 9:53 - and it was the last mile.

As I turned the loop for mile 5, the mile I haven't done since November, I was telling myself "this is the mile that counts, the one that's going to get you back." Yeah I know - when you aren't listening to music you talk to yourself a lot - or I do anyway.

The run felt great, the knee feels ok - it's still a little swollen today.