Starting My Decision Process

10/26/2008

 

Hello,

You have to figure that this phase of my blog might not be all that exciting given that I am not doing much of anything (in terms of running anyway). I am recovering well. I have had a couple of post-op appointments and my doctor (Dr. Michael Steinbaum) is pleased. I am optimistic as well, given that the amount of swelling and post-op pain is much less this time than any of the other surgeries that I have had. Since I began to slowly let people know of my return to training, the number one question that I get is why and how come you have had so many surgeries?

 

The why is easy, because I can! I am still relatively young and I miss the challenge of training. I got so used to the day-to-day struggle that competitive runners experience. To take that out of my life has been a shock to my system and quite frankly to my mental wellbeing. I am one that needs to always be striving for something and running has always provided that for me. As for the multiple surgeries, I have no one to blame but myself. After every procedure, I rushed back into training. Racing was how I made a living and I needed to get back on the track ASAP. I was never able to fully recover properly and now I am paying the price. This last surgery repaired a tear that went vertically and was all of the way through the tendon. I suppose that you live and learn, but ironically, I am not sure that I would have done anything any differently. My training and attitude was all out all of the time. Could I have been smarter? Absolutely, but I know that I left everything on the track when I walked away from the sport.

 

My workout plan starts next week. I am going to begin with some light core strengthening work and then I will work my way into the pool over the next couple of weeks (yuck!). I am likely to remain in a walking cast of about 6-8 more weeks. I thought my legs were skinny before, you ought to see them now! In the coming weeks, I will begin to organize my thoughts in terms of a running program. I am very much undecided on the coaching front. I will need some guidance, but I have not thought too much about what direction I will go in. My old coach, Irv Ray is in Riverside and I’d like to have someone close. More on that major decision to come.

 

Thank you all for your kind emails. John Sprague emailed me to remind me of a relay that we ran years ago at the Easter Relays. Thanks for the trip down memory lane John! That was a fun race. Perhaps we can do another sometime…..am I classified as a “Master’s runner” yet. I HOPE NOT! Take care and happy running.