Forward is Forward

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"Forward is forward, no matter the pace." is the slogan on a shirt I have from a virtual 5K my family participated in to benefit the non-profit organization "To Write Love On Her Arms" in April of 2020 (twloha.com). This morning, I ran for the first time with intention since January 11, 2024, almost 6 months, and it is just about the first-year anniversary of my meniscus surgery which was completed on August 17, 2023. When I went out the door this morning, I certainly had no goal for pace.
I have been putting in the work since May when I signed up for The Running Blueprint program (compedgept.com). Although, to be 100% honest, getting sick in late June, followed by going on vacation in July has made me a bit of a slacker. I missed a few days of workouts here and there, but up until that point, I was faithful to follow the plan. I do feel like I am back on track with the exercises. My eating has not been as great, but that's a story for another day. I've done the activation, the strength, the core, the pliability. I moved on to the harder areas like shock absorption and even started alignment work this week. Now it was time to put it all into action.

The walk to run program calls for five minutes of walking, followed by one minute of running, repeating this pattern five times for a total of thirty minutes. After beginning the alignment exercises (Bulgarian Split Squat, Romanian Single Leg Deadlift, Runner Band Pull, etc.) yesterday my left foot, actually, was painful at bedtime as well as slight discomfort in my left knee so I was anxious to feel how a run would play out this morning. I was surprised that it seemed to go so well as I didn't have extra pain during the run, nor did I feel the need to stop. I wouldn't say it felt effortless or as if I was "walking on air," but it wasn't terrible. Throughout the day, I also was not in a great deal of pain. Therefore, I would say that Day One was a success! The plan calls for three days of running, increasing the ratio of running to walking as the weeks progress. It was not fast and I'm sure it was not pretty, but it was forward progress and that puts a big smile on my face. 

There is still work to be done and I cannot continually slack while still expecting to make improvements, but I can put in the work and trust that God will see it through. "I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (CSB) Even if I feel like things are moving slowly, I can take heart that FORWARD progress is happening. 


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