The first run back after an injury is never particularly satisfying. How far? Not very. How fast? Slow. After a week or two of enforced rest you’re a bundle of nervous energy, and you want to get out and pound the pavement pretty hard and turn out that new 10k PB you’ve been dreaming about for the last couple of weeks.
Once you’re out things aren’t so straightforward. Everything’s harder than you thought it’d be. You’ve put on a bit of weight with the time off, you’ve not been sleeping so well, and your muscles aren’t used to moving like this. Your SHOULDERS hurt. Has it really been that long?
It’s ok. The first mile’s always a bit crap. Your body needs time to bed in, switch from desk/caffeine/commute mode into the lean mean efficient running machine you know it is. Keep going. Slow and steady.
Your injury starts to hurt a bit. Suddenly 6 miles isn’t looking so clever. Or is it? Maybe it’s just a ‘goodbye’ twinge – ‘So long and thanks for all the ice!’. You’ve got to do 6 miles. You’re already behind on your training schedule – no time to slack now. You’ve done the rest, it should be fixed, keep going.
It’s getting worse. Another mile and it’ll be ok? Yeah?
No. You’ve been down that road. Go home. Rest some more. Book sports massage. Do strength exercises. Try again.
Maybe I am learning from last year’s mistakes after all.
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