All’s Well That Ends Well

Post by Will

August 14, 2009 at 1:49 pm

My foot has completely healed over and I am well on the road to recovery. I just topped two months since I went under the blade for the third and final time. If you have the fortitude and stomach of iron to dare look at my two two days after the final surgical procedure click here (warning: toe nudity).

Unfortunately I have been too lazy to not only update the blog, but to take a new photo of the toe as well. If you did click on the aforementioned toe woe photo, you can also click through a short time line of other photos.

Now, the cut, which appears to have formulated a nice line of scar tissue and is in the process of reducing whatever scab remains, is done, and the MRSA officially vanquished, I have resumed training for the Baltimore Running Festival Half-Marathon. This is where the frustration has set in.

Brittany and I are about to mark our one year period of somewhat, consistent running and training for various 10K races. He started with the Marine Corp Marathon 10K (where were recipients of the most putrid turtleneck ever conceived by a human mind) then braved the frigid wind coming off the Potomac in the Jingle All the Way 10K and this spring ran the Capitol Hill Classic (where we generously donated our race shirts to charity). From then, I, obviously, went on a two and a half month hiatus from running … and walking … and standing in general.

So, getting back on track, at a much accelerated pace (which I have not kept) as been very frustrating. I have never claimed to be a distance runner so even trying to fit into the mold, in sometimes embarrassing ways, has been like the overused analogy of putting the square peg in the round hole. Fortunately, through dedication, I have considered the past year to be a personal success. Even if I do finish in the lower third, generally I have improved every race.

This past two to three weeks of training has really taken me far from any mental grit I had before. I am having trouble with the little things like finding my breathing rhythm, running consistently for even half a mile, or conjuring up enough confidence to really push myself over the top. I am a little surprised how disappointing this is to myself but, really, I am not sure I should have expected more since I had been off my feet for so long. I loss not only a bunch of cardio work, but a good bit of muscle mass in my legs, which have been tiring rapidly.

I wonder if part of it is because the neighborhood I am running in is by no means flat. Running around Shaw, into U Street, and back down the main thoroughfare of 14th was generally helpful as it was mostly level. We really only got good hill work on our long runs when we went down to the National Mall area and back.

The Historic District here in Greenbelt is pretty brutal as most stretches are inclined and there are a good amount of steep hills. I find this helpful though as I’m sure will be running from Inner Harbor up into Charm City. Just mentally, it’s exhausting as I’m overtly comparing myself to three months ago when two and three milers were not a problem.

I am also trying to stay active aside from running. I joined DC Kickball with my friend Steve’s work team (or semi-work team) The Bus That Couldn’t Slow Down (an homage to “Speed” and Homer Simpson … mainly Homer Simpson). Really, I joined to hang with Steve and meet some new people, and athletic ability is obviously not really a requirement. I was a little worried since I have a pretty outrageous and sometimes, black-hearted competitive streak. Fortunately, that has not emerged. I will save that for flag football, which I am thinking about doing this season (coming from the guy who doodles plays every once in awhile).

Today I am taking off for Ann Arbor to pick up Brittany. I am excited to see her in person (rather than the virtual existence we have been maintaing over video chat). Ann Arbor is a great city so I am sure, aside from her intense studying, she has enjoyed it. And I have enjoyed some of the on my own but I’m ready to have her back.

–

A small addendum, thanks for all that have been consistently check out the blog. I know we don’t see it in comments online but I’ve received a lot of physical comments lately. So, again, thanks.