The Agony After The Ecstasy

As I wrap my ankles in ice packs after my long walk today, I can’t help but look back to the past week. Last Saturday I experienced the ecstasy of running with four strong women who kept me going and made me finish hard (http://noeldlp.blogspot.com/2009/08/running-with-pack.html). Two days ago on Thursday, I experienced the agony of limping back home from my run because I aggravated the pre-existing injury on my right ankle. Every time I make that injury worse could be the end of my running days. I shudder to think about it but realistically that day will come sooner than later. I can only try to heal and attempt to run again and hope that the ankle can still give me a few more miles.

Today was my first try in healing. I made a decision yesterday that I was going to walk with my trekking poles. I already knew that I couldn’t run but at least I could try to walk and walk it was going to be. But for how long and how far? I hadn’t done a walking workout since February 19^th of this year and that was only for an hour and a half covering 6.35 miles (I looked it up in my logs). The distances on tap for today was either a 16 miler or a 9 miler on a new course which I really wanted to experience. I wanted to attempt at least the 9 miler and started half an hour earlier than the main running group so I wouldn’t be the last one out there. Since it was a new course I carried the directions with me so as not to get lost. I wrote it on a piece of paper with a ballpoint pen to lessen the smudges in case it got wet. With my walking poles, GPS watch, and radio (Katy Perry was guest hosting on the American Top 40 countdown), I set out on my 9 mile adventure. I was so preoccupied on knowing where to turn and not getting lost that I was not really paying attention on the amount of time I was walking. I just kept walking while monitoring the condition of my ankle hoping it doesn’t worsen. Tam and Deb were a welcome relief at the water stops and the only reason why I didn’t get to Liz is because she was on the 16 mile course.

Well, I managed to finish 9.25 miles on this day of healing and as of this writing, my ankle doesn’t feel too battered by the time and distance that I covered (2 hours, 16 minutes, 19 seconds – 14:45 pace per mile). It was not as satisfying as running and I barely broke a sweat but at least it gives me some peace of mind that come October, if I’m still not able to run, I can still possibly walk the half marathon.

Post walk notes: While waiting for my friends to finish their run, I tried running a few times with a shuffling gait in the parking lot and managed one to two minutes without pain, so there might be some hope that I will be able to run again. When and for how long? That is the question.

Thanks so much to the AREC members who showed their concern and encouragement.