A bout with hamstring tendonosis has had me riding the elliptical machine at the gym since early September, but with the help of physical therapist Dan Lorenz I am making a slow comeback.
I wasn't able to join Mike, Ken and Bill for their downtown run Saturday, but I did get out to English Landing Park late in the morning. This was my fourth run since beginning PT a month or so ago. The last time there, the therapist gave me a "back to running" schedule that has me getting back into it incrementally. Essentially, he wants me to keep the mileage low and slow, so in the beginning there's been a lot of walking along with not so much running.
Saturday I decided I wanted at least a one hour workout, even if more than half of it was walking. My last run was just 30 min. long and alternated between 5 min. walking and 5 min. running. The walking and running haven't been that much different in speed. I felt pretty good Saturday, so before I'd gone very far I decided I'd walk the first .3 mile and run the rest of the mile. I kept that up for 6 miles and finished with an average pace of around 11:35.
I can't say I feel real strong, but I do feel better every time out, so I'm encouraged and cautiously optimistic. Even at slow speeds, it's fantastic to be able to run again.
Rob,
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence says it all for both of us. It's fantastic, indeed, to be able to run again, albeit slowly!