This next blog series will take you through the journey from broken bones to the finish line over the course of 24 weeks. This series will be raw with emotion – from the moments that test me to the moments that lift me. It will be all about the process, not the outcomes, of rebuilding fitness from rehab sessions to finish line feelings of my seventh marathon – this time, a little wiser, more brilliant, and perhaps my healthiest one yet. Building a masterpiece takes focusing on each step, no matter how insignificant or significant. Let’s dive in!
Phase 1: Return-to-Sport
4/16: Level 1 – Opportunity
Level 1 (1min run, 3min walk x10) exceeded my expectations. Happiness is a function of reality minus expectations. I was relieved to be given a new opportunity to begin again. I cherish the moments when I can find enjoyment, fear-free, get into rhythm, and not look back. Every stop-n-start over the last year has been incredibly hard – much more than I can put into words. Each one stings more and more. The only person that understands that toll is me. Finally, today, I felt the fruits of my labors come together, gradually, like a masterpiece of a puzzle. I didn’t fear anything. I got lost in my wandering thoughts. And I cherished the new opportunity, the fresh start, the crisp page in the next chapter of my journey—the return for redemption, for real this time. A breath of fresh air literally and figuratively was eagerly anticipated and the run went much smoother than I imagined. I didn’t feel the need or desire to look at my watch for any metrics. I just found my natural stride and went with the smooth flow. Honestly, I don’t love the monotony of run/walk intervals, but this time, I absolutely thrived in the new opportunity I have been given. I wouldn’t say it was harmonious, but it sure was close to that.
Success comes when opportunity meets preparation. Today’s Level 1 was the next step of preparation to toe the line of 26.2 once again. If I see every training day and recovery day as a new opportunity to do better, be smarter, and grow wiser, I have nothing to fear. Fearlessness is needed to reach beyond my best and today was on-point. I am so thankful to begin again.
4/18: Level 2 – Reignite
Find the spark and let it ignite. One thing that has been missing for awhile has been my passion for running. I used to love running to the point that it became an obsession, but once my skeleton started breaking my heart, I had to put my energy and passion into other buckets of life. I needed a timeout from anything and everything involving running. Other times, I have focused so much on metrics that it takes away enjoyment. I honestly haven’t missed the sport of running. I made a point to not let this sport takeover my life again.
In an effort to bridge the gap during the return-to-sport phase, I have worked on my mental game considerably much more than ever before. One of the themes has been feeding the athlete versus feeding the monster. I will never achieve the level of success I think about if I am always feeding the monster. In an effort to feed the athlete, I know I have to focus on finding my spark of passion once again. This means keeping everything as simple as possible, not getting hung up on any one aspect while keeping an open mind to learning, and reassessing often if the process is enjoyable.
Today’s Level 2 lit the endurance spark that I needed again. I need to keep enough flame of curiousity while keeping it tempered. I am still thankful for a new opportunity that I cannot let turn into a wildfire like before – where running was my only passion.
Level 2 (2min run, 2min walk x10) is in the books and there was not a single thing that was difficult. In fact, it was flowly, relaxed, and smooth. I wanted to keep going beyond my objective, but I knew I better not. There will be a day when I can spend many hours in my running shoes and I look forward to it.
4/20: Level 3 – Patience
Patience is the key to everything. Patience is expressing self-control in the midst of delays. As Steve Magness puts it, “A rush to be great can impede development.”
There are a few traits that I find extremely hard: imperfection and patience. Both continue to challenge me and I continue to embrace them as much as tolerable. As I make my attempt to return-to-sport (again and again), it is easy to get caught up in the feel-good moments that will backfire if patience is not exhibited. I am itching to return to long runs so incredibly much that sometimes run/walk intervals are like nails on a chalkboard. Running three whole minutes is so easy that I could probably sleep while doing it, but I have to stay in the present moment with patience and self-control. The only way to the other side is to buckle down and get through the mundane steps in the overall process. I do not “love” run/walk intervals, but it is the bridge back to what I really crave: a twenty mile solo, Sunday, sweat scorching, summer fast finish long run.
Today’s Level 3 was taken to the track – not for speed but for change in terrain. My ankles have been extra crabby this week and I wanted to soften the impact on my hip bones as well. Bone gets bored quickly so it was time to get off the pavement and find a bone-approved place. When it comes to the track, there is something so soothing. Yes, I’m always tempted to fire up the engines and hit turbo, but it is a peaceful place for monotonous loops (18 loops to be exact). The pressure-free environment teaches me to be patient stacking loop upon loop, similar to stacking weeks upon weeks for a training season. Patience is rewarding but must be exhibited often.
The run itself (3min run, 1min walk x10) went fine – smooth, fluid, and always breezy in that southwest corner turn into the straight away. No issues, other than the lacrosse boys getting ready for warmups. The cloudy skies, cool breeze, and snow flurries meant I had to dig out the winter gear again. I needed to stay warm because the temperature drop during the walk portions of the intervals cause me to shiver and that’s the worst. My ankles were much better, my calves have loosened, and my bones were content. I picked Lane 3 for Level 3, but also because it’s my third time through R2R. Third time is always the charm: my third World Major Marathon star awaits later this year. Patience in the process and with fitness progress will get me there. I’ll be ready to fully send it—guaranteed.
Re-Energized Running 
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