time off and amazing body learnings

 I've been a runner for 3 years.  After Goofy last January I took some time off to recover (this can be quite dangerous) mentally and physically.  I never really got back into it, but tried in the spring and ran 1 5k event in my hometown and then did a Relay event in May.  Then work/school took over my life.  I didn't expect to get much exercise in due to a very intense summer that I had planned, and then I injured myself in late June, so that really put the nail in my summer running coffin.

My fitness this summer amounted to Friday night soccer games with a league I joined with my boyfriend.  Very recreational and fun, be we play hard.  I aggravated my quad injury every Friday and spent the week recovering until the next game.  A few Saturdays I could barely walk.

Now that soccer is over, school is over and life is calmer, I have started running again.  Very small goals to start.  I considered doing couch to 5k, but wanted to see where I was at first - and it turns out I could run a mile without stopping on the first outing, so I'm building on that.

The amazing part:  My body instinctively returned to "my happy pace" of 10:20-30.  This isn't my race pace or my marathon pace or my any race pace (which can be faster or slower depending), it's just my comfy pace where I feel like I could go forever (I can't, never could).  I really never thought I could just fall back into that, but for whatever reason, my body knows that's a good pace for me to use going on a run.  

It's only been a few weeks back, and after 1.5 miles I still need to take walking breaks, and the longer I'm out there, the more frequent the walking breaks are - and that's fine.  I'm just happy to be logging the miles at any speed.  I just giggle when I look at the Garmin after I resume running speed and see that familiar 10:22 on my pace line.  

My body remembers. It knows what it has to do - and I'm so glad it reminds ME...cuz sometimes I need all the help I can get.  Never give up!  :)

 I live in absolute fear of injury.  I am not an obsessive person, but this is something I obsess about.  My only goal for my first 1/2 was to start and finish uninjured.  I worry I will stop and never start again.  It is so good to hear that you were able to get back at it and your body remembered "your time".    I hope someday I can see 10:20 on my pace !!!  Thanks for the reminder that you can start over!!!

 I've been shut down (doctor's orders) for injury before - it REALLY helps to have a goal you are preparing for to keep you going.  That first time I was not running but could walk and did physical therapy and that kept me "in shape" while I recovered and then I was able to dive back in fairly quickly and keep preparing for the events I had coming up. 

This time I really don't have any goal events (though we are currently looking at which Turkey Trot we'll do), but I have my boyfriend who is very motivated and a big part of our relationship has been running together, so we're both excited to get back out there.  Have a buddy is a HUGE help for me (though I ran for a year alone including that first injury break), and now that we live together it keeps us both on track.  He's already planning for a marathon next year, complete with a PR.  

I don't wish injury on anyone, but it seems most athletes eventually suffer one...cross training helps avoid this, which is where I falter, but I'm learning.

As soon as I finish my 1/2 in a couple weeks, im going straight into PS and a quite lengthy recovery. I hope my body will FORGET my comfy pace which is about 11:30 and get a little faster. I suppose when I lose the excess skin, maybe I'll get less resistance :-p


It's good that you've been able to start up again. Im really worried about a lengthy time off and finding the motivation to start again, but this reminds me that it's possible. I'm be looking for you when I need some motivation in a couple months!

 You will do it!

I had a prolonged lay-off due to an emergency hernia repair, injury, boredom and reprioritizing things for a while, and I've come back every time.

This is something I struggle with.  I've been on the couch since Saturday with an upper respiratory infection.  Today is the first day that I'm really missing exercise, so I know I'm getting better.

I continue to struggle with any break from exercise....I swear I can see my muscles dwindling away! i'm really freaking out about the down time I'll have after plastics in November.....

I needed this today.  It proves that once we train these old bodies, they remember what to do, and WILL be able to do it again!

Thank you.