Recovery is a process, one I’ve still only just begun. But there’s reason to have a positive outlook. After weeks running various shorter distances, I finally made my return to the 32-miler, with the help of an unscheduled rest day. I don’t know exactly what it is about that distance, but it’s my favorite and I’m so glad to be able to run it again.
At this point, however, it won’t be my usual run. I don’t think my body is ready for it, and my schedule certainly isn’t. A minor scare with my right calf reminded me not to push myself too hard, and my calendar contains plenty of reminders that I don’t have time most days for a quick 32-miler, let alone a slow one.
And that’s the thing: although my endurance is returning at a decent rate, my pace is coming along much more… well, slowly. The weather and my stubborn refusal to “train” (i.e. do anything other than long runs) are to blame… the latter more so than the former.
Even my endurance isn’t 100% yet. Sunday’s 32 included over a mile of walking, and despite resting the day before that there was no way a run today would have gone very well. A far cry from back-to-back and back-to-back-to-back 32-milers.
Still, I was giddy when I got home from my run yesterday, a great feeling to have after a run. And I know that if I keep at I’ll be back to 100%, maybe even in time for Boston. Even if I’m not, I’ll be having a great time.
Just like I will be tomorrow, when several inches of fresh snow and I spend several hours bonding, joined at some point (I hope) by the sun.