My First Post-ATR Race!
I “ran” in my first post-ATR race on Thursday night, one day past the 4-month anniversary of the surgery. Okay, I’m probably over-dramatizing it a bit, but it felt great nonetheless. Every year the Twin Cities Marathon kicks off the start of marathon training season with a 1 mile run (TC 1) through the streets of downtown Minneapolis. It’s more or less just a chance to promote the marathon and 10 mile run (TC 10) that take place in October. But, it’s also a chance to win a spot to run in the TC 10, which otherwise requires the luck of winning a lottery spot. 400 random finishers from the TC 1 win a spot into the TC 10 field of 6,000 runners.
My girlfriend and her sister decided earlier this year to train for the TC 10. So, they signed up for the 1 mile run, figuring it may increase their chances to run in October. I had no intentions of running in the TC 1 with them, but when my partner’s sister had to leave town I decided to take her place. I’ve been jogging on the treadmill for almost 2 weeks, so I assumed I would be able to make it through the 1 mile course, one way or another. The only problem was that the race goes off in waves due to the short course and large number of runners, so they set a minimum 12 minute mile pace. That’s the same pace I’ve been jogging on the treadmill, but I’ve been doing 2 minute intervals of jogging and walking. So, I had to suck it up a bit to make sure got across the finish line before being swept off the course, yet not do anything foolish that would result in a re-rupture.
The race went great. It was nice being amongst all the runners. I guess it was another step towards normalcy. I jogged a comfortable 10:35 pace. I was just happy to be able to jog the whole course and was more than happy with the results at this point of recovery. I felt I did a good job not pushing things too hard even though the competitive juices started to flow once again. It was difficult having so many runners fly right on by, but I know I’ll get the speed back eventually. It was just nice to “run” and cross the finish line with my gal! She could have left me in her dust, but she was kind enough to run by my side.
There was a bit of a bittersweet feeling, though. I had planned to train for the marathon in October until I ruptured my Achilles. Actually, one of the first things that went through my mind as I sat on the gym floor after hearing the “pop” was that I wouldn’t be running any marathons this year. My plan now is to work as hard as possible to regain strength and conditioning and then to be in even better shape next year when the marathon season kicks off.
It’s been great hearing that everyone is doing relatively well with their recovery. The Achillesblog network has been a fantastic outlet. For those just getting started on the road to recovery - hang in there and take advantage of this wonderful network that Dennis has created. You, too, will be “running” again before you know it.
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Congrats to you for getting back out there. I too am a runner and am anxious to get back out on the road and to run in races again. I had signed up for the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in D.C., which was about 1 month ago (when I was about 5 weeks post op). My sister in law (a much better runner than I) ran it in my place, so I now have my best 10 mile time. I hope to begin training for another marathon in 2009 and to get back to shorter races this summer.
Tom,
That is inspirational !
WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!
Go Tom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
excuse me i am drunk and happy, GOOOOOOOOOOOO TOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers !
Tom,
I agree with Johnk. Congrats on the race and thanks for the encouragement. It’s also good to be reminded of the fact that PT and steady rehabilitation does pay off. It is becoming easier and easier to neglect rehab as I am able to walk around and get caught up in everyday life. Off to my heel exercises and push-ups!
Afterwards, I’d like a round of what Johnk is drinking!
Congrats..
We are all impressed ,Keep us up to date.
Have fun..
Doc Ross
Terrifically inspiring, Tom! Especially at the juncture where I am just waiting to start walking again…someday. Keep up the great work.
dave
Tom,
You rock! Nice to feel like a mile jog is in my life’s future, and that I could be doing that before the leaves are off the trees. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of normalcy in the future.
Eriedutchgirl
Hi guys,
I woke up this morning thinking that i had put a crazy comment on here whilst drunk last night, lo and behold my dream was a nightmare…………lol.
Anyway thanks to some bad American beer i have the head from hell today.
Dennis, if you are buying make mine a large bloody Mary
Thanks all for your kind words. It really was great feeling “active” again. I hope my experience can provide some positive thoughts for everyone recovering from this injury. It is a long road, but not endless. We’ll all be moving around again, doing the things we love.
JohnK - I love the drunken comments! We’ve all been their! But, if you’re going to drink bad American beer, stay away from MGD. It will always leave you with a headache! Cheers to a Bloody Mary today. I’m going to fix myself one right now as I prepare brunch for my mother.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!
Tom,
I went to watch my daughter complete a 5k for charity today and ended up walking 2k with my wife from where the car was parked, feeling quite good now and happy that Steph raised 50 pounds for Cancer Research…………..way to go Steph !
fantastic Tom! good work.
wow tom,
it’s so encouraging and exciting to hear of your wonderful progress. i’m at week four and i had no idea such a thing was even possible. as a (penguin but committed to major miles) runner myself, i’m curious about how running actually feels at your stage in the game. do you feel the strain? pain? swelling? is your surgeon on board with you running such a pace?
in any case, congratulations on your success and thanks for inspiring post!
Mona - I can still feel a bit of tightness in the tendon when I jog. It is similar to what I still feel when I walk. Nothing that’s really painful, but just a little reminder not to push it too hard. I do have some swelling after my workouts, but nothing too unusual from what I’ve read. And, it usually subsides with ice and/or elevation. I notice that my uninvolved leg has to compensate for the injured leg while I jog. I don’t get much of a forward push with the injured leg, so I think I try to make up for that with more of a push from my uninvolved leg.
My surgeon and PT both had the same advice, independently, for getting back to running. They said that you can start to jog when you can walk without much of a limp. And then you can run when you start to jog without a limp. I still have a bit of a limp when I walk, so maybe I should’ve held off a few more weeks before jogging, but I’m listening to my body as well. I’ve felt comfortable jogging and I don’t feel like I’m putting the tendon at any more risk than I do with some of the PT exercises. I’m planning to stick with short distances (1-2 miles) for the next several weeks at a relatively slow pace.
Good luck with your recovery. You’ll be back logging the miles before you know it.