I ran again today. The first time in over 6 weeks. I ran so slow it makes me laugh, but I ran.

I was like all Forrest Gump out there once I got past the fear of re-injuring my knees. The first mile was very cautious, but after that I didn’t want to stop! Just a little more… just until the next intersection… just go until the next mile is complete…

Before I started the run, I had made a deal with myself to pay attention and listen to my body. Don’t over do it! I did listen, but it was so amazing being able to run (even slowly) on my knees where I was concerned I’d never run again. I did listen… mostly…

Perhaps you’re not a runner and think this is crazy and maybe it is a bit, but as a runner, this is a big deal. It’s like being set free from a long captivity, like getting outside on that first warm Spring day after a long cold and dark winter. It’s refreshing and I’m grateful!

I ran 5 miles. I stayed close to home, just in case. I believed the knees were doing better when I could feel other body parts start complaining louder than my knees had previously. The patella, the plantar, the quads all started to chime in as if to say “hey wait, where have you been?”, it was great.

I forced myself to quit at 5 miles, then did a 2-mile walk to celebrate.

The bike has been a great way to keep my cardio in shape as there were no issues with breathing or heart-rate. I’m going to experiment with mixing the bike in my routine going forward as I have felt the benefits from it.

Happy Fall 2019! Running is back on the menu! 🙂