The Hard Truth Continued

I just finished a training run this morning and am quite tired. During my recovery, a new realization popped into my mind and all I could say was..."Oh right, SHIT!!!"

So here it is. The latest addition to my list of Hard Realities I have to deal with.

Reality # 7. I've noted that I've been more focused on training for my run. And having come to realize the list of Hard Truths related to this, it occurred to me that I'll have to go through the same challenges and ordeal training for swimming and biking.

I tell you, the hits keep coming.

The Hard Truth

From my training sessions, I know my stride and technique has greatly improved but I also went face to face with some hard realities that I now know I have to deal with and work on.

Reality # 1. My stamina is shut and I’m a long, long, loooooooooooooong way from my fitness level before my injury.

Reality # 2. There is no short cut for building stamina. I knew this before, and I’m being reintroduced to it again. Shit!!!

Reality # 3. My goals should be refocused (in other words realistic. Hahahaha)
If I dare run races, I should not expect to clock in a good time.

Reality # 4. There is no escaping strength training. I know I’ll never get back if I keep putting off my weight training.

Reality # 5. No more excuses. I’m not injured anymore. I can train as hard as I need to train. It’s all up to me!!! Yikes

And last and maybe most important of all.

Reality # 6. I will have to do all of the above handicapped with the obvious reality that I will not give up my social life. To be more specific,...drinking and late night gimmicks with family and friends. Oh well, life goes on and the struggle continues.

All Clear

Like a good soldier and patient, I went to see George again for a check up last week, April 3, 2008. We agreed last Feb 28, that I should go back after a month so he can check my progress once more.

Finally, after months of rehab, George gave me my clearance, ahead of schedule. YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!! This means I can do anything I want including badminton.
It felt great! I was like last day of class….GRADUATION at last.

George reminded me though to continue my weight/strength training in the gym. He noticed that I was slacking with that part of my therapy and he was correct. I was going once a week instead of the recommended three times a week. It showed and honestly, I felt it too. My legs and knees would feel weak during more intense workouts and I would feel occasional pain and strain in my quads, hamstrings and knee. So I promised myself to be more disciplined and diligent on this aspect. I don’t want to be stupid and regret the consequences of my negligence and laziness. NO MORE DELAYS!!!

The Kind of Pain I’m Used To

Since having been allowed by George last month to proceed with training, I’ve enlisted the services of a running coach to put some structure on that particular discipline. So since March 5, 2008, I’ve included running drills and interval training to my tempo and long runs.

Having someone pushing you and challenging you does bring you to a higher level of training. Plus I get the benefits of an experienced and accomplished runner correcting my stride and my technique. I must admit that it’s quite exhausting at times but it’s the kind of pain I’m used to and the kind of pain I like. Pain is good when you know you’ve accomplished something or you’ve overcome a challenge.

Big Leap

Last week, I suddenly felt that stinging pain again on the side of my knee. I haven’t felt this in a long time and it annoyed me that it’s there again and that it came when I had toned down my workouts for fear that I might be pushing too hard. You can just imagine how pissed I was that this happened again.

I’ve decided that the only way to rid myself of these fears and get some piece of mind was to see Dr. George and ask him my questions directly. So, I went last Feb 26, 2008 to his clinic and had myself examined. George went through the whole routine and told me that my knee is doing really well and that I can start running and biking outdoors already. I was so shocked that it took a while for me to remember the list of things I wanted to ask him. Quickly I threw all my questions and here is essentially a summary of his answers.

1. I can run and bike outdoors at my own pace at any distance.
2. More than watching out for a distinct pain, I supposed to watch out for swelling in my knee. If this happens, I should just lessen my intensity and the distance I cover and apply ice on my knee.
3. The stinging pain I felt on my knee was still connected to my hamstring which according to George was where he got the ligament to fix my injury
4. Strength training is very important
5. Equally important, I can start stretching already. Any stretch (without resistance) is OK
6. I can’t swim especially where I have to use my legs.
7. If everything OK, I may be back training for Triathlons in a month.

I was so happy and excited as I told Mayi the news. The following day, I put on my gear and ran my first 10 k on the road. It felt great. The funny part was that it was my right knee that hurt and felt some strain. Perhaps I was unconsciously compensating for my left knee or maybe it became a little weak as much of my strength training was focused on my injured knee. But all in all it was fantastic and it’s nice knowing that I’m doing this with George’s GO signal.

Since then, my run and bike workouts are more regular and I've also doubled my strength training routines.

Running Scared

It has dawned on me that while I continue to try to keep my workouts and progress on schedule by keeping my intensity level up, I also have a feeling that I am being pulled back by constant fears lingering in my head. Often, while running, biking, or even doing weights, I’ bombarded with questions in my mind of whether I’m doing the right thing or not. Questions like, “Am I going too fast or too slow?”, “Is my form OK?”, “Can I do More?”, “Can I start stretching already?”, etc.

It’s hard enough working back into fitness. It just makes it worse dealing with these self-imposed issues in my head.

• Footnote – This is a delayed post that should have been published weeks ago.

Throwing Caution to the Wind

Since Australia, my runs, on the treadmill, have been regular 30-35 minute routines. I’ve also experimented with changing my speed, which Dr. George allows anyway. My runs are always followed by a 30-minute stationary bike workout to further add to my strength training. This was actually how I regularly train before my injury, with far less intensity of course this time around.

Since I got back from Australia a week and a half ago, I’ve been so busy trying to catch up with my office work and as a result have found it so difficult to find time to exercise. In fact, I’ve been only able to go the gym 3 times to do my strength training including my run and bike workouts. Today, I had a late morning meeting in my schedule so I had a tiny window where I felt I could squeeze in a run. The problem was, it was so tight that I had no time to travel to the gym and was only left with the alternative of running on the road, in the village. The debate went on again in my mind whether to go through with it or not. I knew there might be consequences but my desire to run was greater so I went ahead and did my first run on the road.

I chose a relatively easy route. I ran a straight line a much as I can and tried to prevent any lateral steps. I also controlled my speed and my stride throughout the run but with great difficulty. The urge to go faster, run my normal stride, and attack the uphill slopes was always there especially when I became comfortable with my run around my 3rd minute. But common sense persevered this time around. At the end of it all, when I completed my route, I clocked a total of 37 minutes. I’m sure I didn’t cover a considerable distance given my speed but I felt really great. I had neither pain nor stiffness in my knee. I wasn’t tired at all but had a good workout just the same.

Though it felt great to hit the road again, I don’t think I’m not going to do this regularly until I get George’s GO signal. I’m counting my blessings. I didn’t get injured. My knee didn’t hurt. And I was able to experience “runners high” again after a long, long time.

For now, I can use this feeling to stimulate my boring runs on the treadmill. Hahahaha.