Half Marathon and Happy
Hi All, it has been quite awhile since I posted an update, and, just a few days shy of my 8 month post-ATR mark, now seems like an appropriate time. The past couple months since my last post I have had ups and downs trying to get back to my sport of distance running. Some weeks were good and pain free, some I struggled physically and emotionally, wondering why I would feel great after one run, and can barely go a mile the next week. After awhile I learned to take what my leg gave me, never too push to far, but also to make sure to keep active as possible in terms of PT and other exercises when I could not run. With that being said, I completed my goal this past weekend of running the Philly Half Marathon. It was something I signed up for the day after my ATR, as a goal to reach at 8 months, and one I thought could be realistic. At times over the past couple months I had a lot of doubt whether or not I will be able to run it, or if it was a good idea to even bother doing so at this stage. The week prior, I said to myself that I will attempt it, and try to cross the finish line. If it took me 3 hours fine. If I was struggling and had AT pain I would stop. But, I owed it to myself with all the work put in to at least try. I ended up, on a picture perfect day, exceeding my expectations and my family/friends as well. I finished the race in under 2 hours, 1:54 to be exact, at a 8:42 pace. My slowest race I have ever done by about 10 minutes, but time was really irrelevant. It was really just a 13.1 mile celebration of how far I have come, and how much I appreciated being out there. For those behind me, its a long haul and there are always going to be good weeks and bad weeks, but with hard work we all will be back to normal at some point. I still have some ways to go, and I hope by my 1 year mark next March, I can say I am 100%, and ready for the Spring racing season, putting this ATR ordeal behind me for good. Happy Healing!