19 weeks ago today, I walked in to have surgery on my right Achilles tendon.
I walked out on crutches.
I was on crutches for about 7 weeks.
And then I started running, step-by-step. Slowly.
Today, I powered through a three mile treadmill run staying between 5.5 and 6.0 mph for the duration.
I broke 32 minutes, finishing at 31:51. That’s a strong effort – my best effort to date since the surgery.
I was once a marathoner.
I will be one again.
Yeah… I did three miles. (5.5-5.9 MPH the whole way.)
That’s the post.
A few years ago, no longer being a guy that could literally jump into his running shoes and bang out (seemingly, at least) any amount of miles, I invented a little running trick that I employed today.
One of the best people in this world is my dear friend Ed Hasse. He is just the greatest person ever. I treasure and greatly value the times when we are together. I especially love when we can run together.
Today we enjoyed our first ever “Social Distance” run. Ed came over to help me on my first three mile run since my surgery in January.
One might thing that the Governor’s decision to close school the rest of the year would make life easier on teachers and principals…
NOT SO!
The mileage isn’t what matters here.
Friday.
FRIDAY. A big day. A HUGE day.
16 weeks and two days after my Achilles surgery, and, with the permission, dare I say the encouragement, of my physical therapist, I set out for my first two mile run.
After running on the treadmill the other day, and thinking about how great that run was, I have had a paradigm change.
I just had my most enjoyable run yet.
I am back again.
A week ago, I shut it down after I woke up with pain, probably better described as discomfort, just above the area where I had Achilles surgery. I had been pushing it a bit, just a little, with some “boxing” at my in home boxing gym (in my garage), some long (virtual) PT sessions, other stretching, and the advent of a short, but steep, hill into my runs.
Yesterday was supposed to be my last one-mile run before ramping up to a run of 1.25 miles as I steadily progress…
But progress, or success, and even life itself, doesn’t always go in a straight line. Progress is not always forward. Sometimes, in order to go forward, we need to take a step back.
Dr. Sem's Blog 