5.5 months of running around the block, ± once a week from 28 Oct 2018 to 13 Apr 2019: a retrospective. Why not.
In short: didn’t know I could; I can, mostly, but I don’t want to.
What did I want from running?
- Better cardiovascular health: somewhat improved
- Proving to myself that I’m not currently an invalid: achieved
- Going outside: yes, including while it rained
- Having schedule checkpoint: yes
Re: the last one, I found during high school that summer vacation (at home by myself) felt less like a waste if I invented something to do. Thus, at 11 a.m., I turned on the TV to The Young and the Restless, then kept reading…. For running, I’ve tried to head out within 15 minutes of pausing being on point for my kid. Minor hackery.
What went well:
- Walking for years helped! No muscle soreness.
- During the first four months, my average rate per mile on hilly sidewalks dropped from 11 minutes to ~8:45. Now it’s comfortably ~8:30 if I run only one mile. (Fastest 1 mi during this period: 8:13, and I still walked parts of it.)
- I think I’ve taught myself to breathe more suitably.
- I got past part of my fear of reinjury. Relevant, at start: dislodgable sacroiliac, hip bursitis, floating patella, proto-arthritic ankles, plantar fasciitis, spine stuff.
(Who goes running with such a list? …Me.) Running seems to have relieved postpartum plantar fasciitis somewhat (i.e. from lugging around infant/toddler) by strengthening the arches. - The chiropractor thinks that she adjusts fewer pelvic/SI/lumbar issues lately.
What didn’t (the items below aren’t fixable):
- Some fear still causes restraint, given how normal I feel right after a 1–1.5 mile run. Best guess is fear of knee/ankle damage. Can’t rebuild or replace ankles, so far.
- It’s boring. Earbuds fall out; if I pause to look at things, I lose pace.
- Minor beta-endorphin euphoria doesn’t occur until 2+ mi, and after it, I need strict attention re: stumbling because I can’t feel my feet properly anymore. Whatever mutes the mild chronic pain subtracts too much sensation.
- The only thing I can run toward is a shower.
- I don’t care about setting or reaching run-related goals. Adding to the load of “because I have to” is unnecessary.
- I tried to take my kid running, at her pace not mine, because she likes to race me in short bursts. She cried both times about my possibly running away and abandoning her.
- There’s no room for growth. At 1 mi twice a week instead of once, my ankle joints and flexors complain.
Actions—well, hm.
During grad school, on weekend mornings I went for long walks sometimes: carry a paperback, go into the hills, wend my way back 1.5-2.5h later. (I paused reading to cross streets!)
Accordingly, I’ve gone for a walk straight up a hill: 3 mi in ~50 min, total ascent 1.1 mi, 650 ft elevation gain, avg pace 16 min/mi. I’ve learned that though my face goes red, it isn’t enough to wind me (that particular hill used to); my current fears do include being foot-shy downhillward, like the fussy Dobermann I grew up with; a brisk walk doesn’t irk the ankles the way a short run does; the steepest downhill parts didn’t induce limping today, unlike last year. And I went outside, and I looked at other people’s plants without “ruining” my recorded pace. It’ll do—I could go for such walks again without irritation about have-to.