In Our Blood
It has been six months since I’ve run a race and nine months from when I’ve been able to put the hammer down and run hard. The nemesis has been my right hamstring, which I have written about several times, and for which I had a PRP injection in May. It’s been a long road and there’s more to travel. A slow, progressive process!
But with the USATF-NE 5 Miler on tap this weekend, I finally put on my racing flats and ran some 800s at a sub-8:00 pace. The aim on Sunday is to run five miles at that pace. We’ll see. The important thing is to be there, stand at the start line once again, hear the gun go off and take off with those I have run and raced with for many years. Whatever the result, it will be an important first step.
I started running again eight weeks ago, with two-mile run/walks, slowly building up. My long run is now seven miles with 23 total miles last week. On Sunday, I did four 800s at the UVM track and coming out of the last curve on each repeat, I thought about how it will feel to see the finish line and drive toward it. I can’t wait!
These past months, I’ve stayed in the game by helping at races – one or two a month. Some of these I would normally have run. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel that bad about not being in the races. Rather, I enjoyed supporting those running and in some way vicariously experienced their effort, joy and pain!
There will come a time when I can no longer run and race. I hope it’s a good ways down the road. Time will tell how much I can return to prior form after this time off. I will have a better idea about that, assuming the hamstring holds up, after this race and then two more planned in the following six weeks. As we age, there is, increasingly, a use-it-or-lose-it phenomenon at play. In spite of not having missed even one day of aerobic activity during this time, mostly water running and StairMaster, I know every part of my body is eight months older and has not been subjected to the stress of running at a sustained pace. I’m frankly on the edge of my seat to see how this plays out!
One takeaway from this time off is a reassurance that running will continue to be a big part of my life, whatever role I play in it. Those of us who have been blessed to discover distance running know its many benefits. In some manner, we have organized our lives around this sport, and I would suggest we are richer for that. It may be hard to explain this affinity to non-runners just as it might be hard for someone who is passionate about some other activity to convey their love for it. They might say it is in their blood. And I, and many of us, might say that about running!