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 [...]]]> 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.

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