I did something totally crazy yesterday.
laced up the old shoes…
I went for a run.
Running? Who, me?
If you’re newer to the blog, here’s a little backstory: In January, I had just begun training for my first half marathon, when I started to feel an odd sensation in my right knee. New shoes and extra cross training didn’t help, and by February, I couldn’t walk one block without painful scraping behind both my kneecaps. Thus began an eight month journey through two doctors, two physical therapists, countless hours of internet research, very expensive custom orthotic inserts, and more than a few tears. By the end of April, when my attempts to continue running left me nearly unable to walk down stairs, I knew I had to let go.
A month later, I discovered yoga. I started out with just a couple sessions a week, and as I began to fall in love with the practice, I increased that amount. Still, I continued to sweat it out on the elliptical on off days. After returning from vacation in Maine two months ago, where all I had done was morning yoga and oceanfront walks, I quit the gym. I devoted myself to yoga and nothing else, and I felt such peace with that decision.
Then, my knee pain, which I thought would be with me forever, slowly began to fade.
soft run/walk/bike path
About four weeks ago, I was walking to the grocery store (where else?), and I realized I felt nothing in my knees. The following day – nothing.
I did some tests. I went on longer walks. I tried walking with my orthotics. I tried walking without them. I tried soft surfaces. I tried concrete. I danced in heels at my best friend’s wedding, jumping and spinning to the cheesiest classics, “Shout” and “Cotton-eyed Joe.” I even ran barefoot on the beach for pictures.
Every morning, I expected to wake up in pain. And every morning, I felt nothing.
So yesterday, I chose to do an experiment. I went for a run.
Why am I posting a makeup-less pre-run self portrait? I was excited, I suppose.
It was a short run, and I alternated running and walking to keep it gentle on the knees. But the length, speed, distance, timing – all of it is irrelevant [and I didn't wear a watch or HRM, so I don't even know the details]. Only two things matter: One, I woke up this morning without any pain.
Two, running again felt like coming home. The breeze, the scenery, the movement through the outdoors. The only thing I feel is missing from yoga is fresh air.
I don’t know have any idea where this will take me. Tomorrow morning, I will happily be doing a seventy-five minute Ashtanga podcast. But in a few days, perhaps I’ll go for another run. And we’ll see.
Do you have an injury-recovery story? Are you dealing with one currently? Tell me the details; I can sympathize.
Related posts:
Oh yay! :D
Congrats on your short run! You must be thrilled :D I’m so happy you’re feeling less knee pain. You have a true glow in that picture–gorgeous!
Congrats on your run! Hope you stay pain less and, if you like it, can increase your run time!
Great news about the run – that is so exciting for you!! Beautiful scenery too :)
Nice! Did you hurt your IT band? That’s what I injured and it caused similar pain in my knees….especially going down steps. It takes a lot of stretching to make it not hurt after long runs. But yeah, congrats! Perfect time of year to be able to run again :)
i have a injury recovery story…last winter, i would do jump roping so so much, it was a ED over exercising ritual and really bad, i would do it so much that i ended up spraining my ankle, amd i hardly could walk…i didn’t want to tell my mom or doctor because i knew they wouldnt let me exercise obviously, so i kept doing my jumping jacks and jump roping everyday, walking miles on my foot, and it ended up even worse, so i eventually went to the doctor and had to be off my feet for a few weeks to let it heal…it was horrible, not only the pain, but my ED was so anxious about not moving etc..
congrats on your run lovie, i am glad you arent in as much pain! and you are gorgeous…no makeup, no way ;) you look so beautiful!
xx
Eliza
That’s wonderful! Congrats on your run, and it sounds like you are really listening to your body and taking it slow, which is so important :)
Wow, that’s really great news! Maybe yoga has helped with your knee pain? I’m loving yoga right now too.
Yay! I’m so glad your knees are feeling better..I know alot of stretching does the body good! Ummm my injury? I guess I’m mending a broken heart and a disordered mind? Hate to sound all sappy but we all have injurys in different forms I suppose. Slowly my family is helping me learn to love and be happy again! And as for the mind, learning the proper nourishment that my body requires, and that has helped a lot. I am finally learning whats right for my body and why I need to eat for my best not for anyone else’s. Information has been the best medication for that injury! Thanks for this lovely question!
Maggie
(Hi! I read daily but don’t think I’ve ever commented. Your blog is great and I’ve especially enjoyed reading your perspective on recovering from an injury.)
Yay! How exciting to be pain free after enduring it for so long!
I’ve had a couple major injuries along the way, including hip tendonitis that I’ve been dealing with since June (PT, rest, etc.). It’s not fully better but after many, many months of PT and lots of rest, I unfroze my gym membership yesterday and worked out for a few minutes! :) 10 minutes on the bike + my PT exercises + some upper body strength = not much of anything but still exciting after so much time off. I’m hoping to slowly build back up to being more active, while remembering to take it easy at the same time. While this injury has not been fun at all, it was a good wake-up call that I was doing too much or not varying things enough or not stretching enough or… something. And getting hurt from working out is pretty ridiculous, when you think about it.
Congrats! :)
1. We have the SAME shoes.
2. We have the SAME shirt (but mine’s pink)
3. :)
4. So glad you went on a run and felt great! You look awesome in that pic too!
Congrats! That sounds amazing, and I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! I’m scared to get back into running after my self-inflicted break but no injury (knock on wood) to speak of. Hope all is well with you :) email me when you get a chance!