Thursday, August 26, 2010

Coming Back From The Stress Fracture, Again...

My leg hurt for nine days. And then it stopped. I didn't run a step for five weeks.

In fact, I could honestly say... I hardly missed running at all in those five weeks. Now, for those of you who know me, that sounds unimaginable. I am an addict after all. But, the first week was spent on vacation in Florida with my father and daughter, and after that, my next four weeks were filled with very consistent, endurance-type cross training. My sixth week introduced short runs after my cross training workouts.

Not a day went by that I wasn't doing a workout of some kind for over an hour. And then I picked up road biking, which held an interesting allure for me--allowing me to go for four hours or more. I'd never gone more than 20 miles on a bike. Ever. For the heck of it, I went 35 miles one day, and the next thing I knew, I'd signed up for a century. Between water workouts, biking (and a few other things, like kayaking), I collapsed into bed each night satisfactorily spent. I simply wasn't full of jittery energy wanting to burn it off with a good run.

This Sunday, I will attempt to complete my first biking century (starting from Longview Lake in Missouri). I don't really know what to expect, but I did manage a 74 mile ride without any issues two weeks ago. I'm oddly excited about it--happily nowhere near as stressed as my first marathon, but edgy and wondering, will I make it? Will it be too hot? What will it be like? Did they HAVE to put the bulk of the hills in the last third of the ride? Will peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste good at mile 80?

And, of course, Chicago is still on the map in six weeks.

12 comments:

  1. Good luck!!!

    I know what you mean about not missing the running while recovering and cross training. I felt that way when I was forced to take a break from running due to a stress fracture. At first it was tough but once I started weightlifting and biking I got into a whole new routine of fitness. Switching back to the running was frustrating at first and then I really missed my lifting/biking but eventually had to let go of that in order to resume the running. This summer I've added a lot more biking into my routine than I have in the past.

    I have a feeling that PB&J sandwiches will taste like heaven at mile 80. I'll be thinking about you and can't wait to read what you have to say after the ride.

    PS - I've always wanted to do a century ride.

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  2. Sneakersister, Yoikes! I am just realizing what I have done in signing up for this thing... well.. I can't wait to be writing about a successful ride! Enjoying keeping up with your training on your blog. --Alex

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  3. Enjoy that bike ride this weekend, Alex!

    Way to keep training through the injury! Many would just give up and feel sorry for themselves, but not you!

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  4. Have a super ride! A hundred miles is another way of saying: hungry for a week! How many pb&js can you carry?

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  5. Rick, You are a good role model in cross training and staying fit through an injury! And, thanks for kicking starting me with that 35 mi ride :) I think. Maybe I won't be thanking you tomorrow, ha! --Alex

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  6. Lorrainio, Ya, good point! Biking leaves me starving in ways running doesn't even tap. Wish I could carrying ham and cheese sandwiches, but I'm too lazy to carry a cooler of any kind with me :) Hope you are doing well! --Alex

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  7. Thanks, am doing very well. Planning to swim a 5k swim in Lake Michigan next month, off Navy Pier in Chicago (Big Shoulders). Hoping for calm water!

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  8. Lorraine, Awesome! That is a long swim :) after spending so much time in the lake myself for those five weeks I can appreciate calm water. Best wishes to you! --Alex

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  9. ever thought of going into triathlon .. ?? .. :)


    ~jacky~

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  10. Jacky, The thought has occurred to me... but the whole concept of swimming throws me into a loop! But still.. I might some day. To be honest, tris intimidate me! :) --Alex

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  11. Hmmm. I'm sorta seeing Ironman in your future :)

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  12. Lorraine, Funny you would mention that. I thought about whether I could run a marathon after a 100mi bike ride. Maybe, though a slow one. But, I have no idea how I would swim 2.4 miles! --Alex

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