Week 2 of Comeback Running: The Trials and Tribulations and need for fashion.

Happy Sunday Guys!

I keep attempting to post an update, but I can't capture a consistent emotion to describe the last week of running.  I expected that when I returned to running 5 weeks post fibula fracture I would feel like this:

Days 1-3 sore and slow
Days 4-6 speed back
Days 7-12 marathon pace back.

Instead it's been:

Days 1-3 I can RUN but this hurts like someone beat me.
Days 4-6 Why am I breathing like a water buffalo??
Days 7-12 Love, hate, love, hate…but it's coming around.

I make this face often when I look at my Garmin

So, overall BETTER is the best operative word I can use to describe the past 12 days. Here and there I get glimpses of my old self. It's very hard because part of me wants to behave and run 8 pace. And the other part of me says: Uh, you've never run 8 pace, why start now? So I have settled on mostly 7:30's.

There are 2 camps of people that love to voice their opinion.

CAMP 1: Why are you running so fast so soon? And why are you complaining so much about running my 5k pace? It's insulting.

Dear Camp 1: This is all I know. I have never run a 9 paced training mile in my life.  I'm not insulting any pace. But we all have our go to pace and mine is 6:50-7:10. This does not mean your pace sucks. It means I want my normal, just like you do. I am just as happy for you if you run 5 pace or 13 pace. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy! Easy peasy. Don't read into it!

CAMP 2: LaBella, what the hell are you doing? Are you going to train already or what?

Dear Camp 2: I know most of you are my sub 2:45 friends. I know you want me back out there as much as I do. I am behaving and following my coaches advice and training schedule. Calm down. Give me a week or 2 more. I'll be right there, promise! We'll do a half soon.

Both camps have passion for our sport. That we can all agree on. There are never any hard feelings. I love you all! Well, most of you. lol.

Today I had my longest run post injury. 1 hour. I ran 8 miles at 7:35 pace. I finished the run in great spirits. Almost giddy. Why? Because I realized I will get to run 3x that distance, plus some AND do so a whole minute faster during my next marathon. That is exciting! I say, "GET" to because I haven't lost it. I still have the drive, passion, focus and slight psychopathic tendencies needed to succeed.

Despite having way too many 0 mile weeks, beat up cardio, and a tight body from my gym addiction I never once thought:

*I'm done
*I don't want this anymore
*I can't do this
*what if I'm not the same?
*what if it happens again?

NEVER!

Instead, I thought:

*how much longer?
*what muscles can I work on to enhance my next training cycle?
*How far do I need to ride my bike to equal a 15 mile run?
*Sodium and sugar are banned substances. I don't need to fight anything else within myself.
*Doubles, I'll do gym doubles.
*How many runs in a G trainer will justify the cost of the shorts?
*I'll nail all stability and balance exercises
*I need a comeback outfit. YES! This is very important. And another blog!

I am sitting here rotating my ankles 10x each way. Flexing my toes up and down. Just waiting. Waiting to experience the euphoria and have that sense of accomplishment I will get from my next long run. (Lord knows, I won't get that from a track workout haha).

Later taters!!

Laura