10 Good Years

Running has become a big part of my life. I certainly never thought those words would come out of my mouth! About ten years ago, my sister got me started with the Couch 2 5K App. It did not take me six weeks to get up to the goal of 3.1 miles.  In reality, it was more like six months.  I remember the first time I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes without any walk breaks. I literally cried, I sobbed. This was a huge accomplishment for the one always identified as the "chubby girl". While I was not completing my 5Ks in the suggested time of 30 minutes, mine were more like 39-45 minutes with intervals of walking and running, that was okay with me. So began the love affair of just getting out there, covering miles of roadways and reuniting with God and nature. It was my time with God, and I loved it! I completed several 5Ks and even a Half Marathon. I had mileage goals, and I was actually achieving them! At 38 years of age, for the first time in my life I became "athletic". I use quotes because I continued to struggle with nutrition and still can't bring myself to actually identify to anyone that I am a runner. No matter how much weight I lost, 42 pounds at the most, I still saw myself as the fat girl. I never had the runner's body. I was never as fast as other runners. I would go back and forth between being proud of myself and then comparing my progress to others. Somewhere over the course of those ten years, I began to run with a friend. I was very hesitant at first because in my eyes she was an amazing runner - one of those "crazy" streakers - that I knew I could never live up to. Thankfully, she was persistent and eventually talked me into running with her. I was hooked on running with a buddy. She knew just when to push me and when to let me slack. We vented to and encouraged each other. 

This brings us to the present. I had my first injury and then the surgery that followed in August. I was determined to take it slow and eventually build up to the miles I was accomplishing pre-surgery. While injured and waiting for surgery, I would ride bike instead of run. It was a good alternative, but I was anxious to get back on my own two feet. At least there was still a way I could meet up with my friend. After surgery and the recommended rest time, I started to build miles slowly. I began by alternating a walk and a jog for a mile. It was slow and it was painful, but it was progress. I have not walked the same since before surgery. I have a limp. My gait is off, and my legs are so sore and heavy by the end of the day. I was determined and slowly built up to running 2 miles with my friend and walking the mile back home. We would meet up about three days a week. While running with her this January, we were almost at Mile 2 when my calf felt like it cramped up. There was such pain, I barely made the walk home. I decided to take a break from running all together at that point. I made myself do a strict routine of mobility exercises and stretching, along with strength training workouts. I did not focus on my legs, trying to give them a rest. I did, however, continue to walk at least a mile a day, as I made a new mileage goal for myself in 2024 and was driven to achieve it. For three weeks I stuck to this routine before deciding it was time to visit the Orthopedic Doctor again. 

At my visit in the beginning of February, X-rays were taken (see image). The arthritis in my left knee (surgery leg), had grown significantly since August, as seen in the narrowing of the space between bones. leading to eventual bone on bone contact. They could not tell from the X-ray, but they thought I possibly tore the meniscus in my right knee after hearing the pain I was having now in my right knee/calf area. The Orthopedic Doctor strongly recommended no running. I cried for a good hour on the way home, sitting in my van outside of my house until I could pull myself together. Running has become a huge part of my routine, not to mention the social aspect it has filled in my life. The Doctor wanted to start with a 5–6-week Physical Therapy routine, mostly done at home with visits to the office once a week. My first appointment was on February 19th. The Doctor's route of treatment involved eccentric exercises to strengthen the muscles that support my knee. The Therapist said she doesn't think that is my issue, my thigh and hamstring muscles appear to be strong. Her advice was "No walking or running." My mouth hung open and I asked "Forever?" She assured me she would "get me back there." After this visit, I was feeling somewhat hopeful. I was also a bit discouraged because, like I said, I had new mileage goals for this year and even joined a virtual mileage challenge. When I make a goal, I am determined to accomplish it. However, I also desire greatly to run again one day. I told the therapist I would submit to whatever she says, follow the plan and trust the process.