Whew.

I did it.

It wasn’t easy, but it was easier than I thought it would be.

After proving to myself that I could run a long distance (I covered ten miles on August 11), I wanted to give myself a different challenge. 

I wanted to see if I could run, as I had in the past (before the injury and the surgery) if I could run on numerous consecutive days.  I wondered if my legs, specifically my repaired Achilles, would hold up to this multiple day effort.

The multiple days part, I knew, wouldn’t be a problem.  I exercise, in some fashion, every single day.  That exercise is most often running or lifting weights.  Sometimes it is riding the stationary bike or taking a 3-mile walk.  Occasionally, I go in to my “boxing gym” and work the bags and such.  I’m used to consecutive days of exercise, I’ve been doing this for decades.  But, I have not run on numerous consecutive days since I got hurt years ago. 

But, I figured, this was the time to finally try.

My goal was to complete a three mile run for five consecutive days.  I also decided to add the additional challenge of doing each run slightly faster than the one the day before.

And, I did it:

• Sunday, August 16 – 3 miles (35:16)
• Monday, August 17 – 3 miles (34:37)
• Tuesday, August 18 – 3 miles (33:57)
• Wednesday, August 19 – 3 miles (33:19)
• Thursday, August 20 – 3 miles (32:44)

My running formula to go slightly faster each day was simple.  On Sunday, I ran the first mile at 5.0 miles-per hour.  Mile 2 was run a 5.1 MPH, and Mile 3 at 5.2.  For Monday’s run, I started slightly quicker (5.1) and followed the same formula as I did the day before and would do each day this week.  On Thursday’s run, the miles were run at 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6 MPH).

The 15-mile week matches my longest total distance week in my recovery thus far.  

I’m not running fast.  These are slow runs, but they are runs.  And, as I slowly comeback, that’s my goal.  I am getting faster and stronger, but I’m trying to be smart and do this all slowly and intelligently.

Slow progress is progress.

Today though, I’ll take it easier – I’ll ride the exercise bike for 30-minutes.  

I visit my orthopedist today for what should be my final post-surgery check-up.  On Tuesday, my physical therapy comes ends.  I have been taken care of by exceptional professionals.  I love them all.  It’s because of their great work that I am this far on the road to recovery and once again being a marathon runner.