Back on track as muscle injury heals
This week is one of small victories.
After pulling a thigh muscle, I took about a week's rest, and now I'm trying to ease back into working out. I celebrate silently the first time I'm able to bike 20 minutes, run 10 minutes or swim four laps without a break.
In a way, I feel as if I'm starting over, and I worry these past few months of training have been for nothing.
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My leg still bothers me, particularly at night when I'm lying down. But it always feels OK during workouts. Still, I take it easy, working out four days instead of my usual six, in shorter, less intense sessions.
My Friday meeting with triathlon coach Jim Inman, who had given me injury advice last week, is really helpful. (His company, Elite Athletic Development in Arlington Heights, offers free consultations for athletes.) I watch a short video clip on swim technique, something I've not thought much about. I learn a few basic drills for balancing my body.
We also talk about bike gear -- specifically shoes and pedal clips, which actually lock your foot onto the pedal. It increases efficiency, but as a beginner, time's not my main goal, and frankly, I'm scared of falling -- I like being able to move my feet freely. For the time being, I decide against using them.
Saturday is the week's highlight. Before my injury, I'd signed up for Brookfield Zoo's Run Wild 5K. I might be pushing it by participating, but I want to try, even if I have to walk it.
On race day, I keep a slow pace alongside my sister, planning to walk if it starts to hurt. But I manage to run pretty much the entire way, stopping for a water break. My leg feels great! I finish the 3.1 miles in about 33 minutes.
It's an awesome day. Aside from enjoying the perfect weather and seeing animals during the run -- how cool is that? -- I get a huge morale boost from the race. After I finish, much of the anxiety and insecurity that's plagued me the past few weeks starts to disappear. My body hasn't forgotten that prior training, after all.
For now, I'm still trying to find a balance between pushing myself harder and knowing when to stop. On Sunday, my leg starts to ache while I'm riding my bike. I stop and go home, giving it a rest. Jim says it could be awhile before the injury completely heals.
But overall, I feel the week is a success. Recovery is a slow process, but day by day, I'm feeling stronger physically. And a lot more confident, too.