Dipping my toe in

September 22, 2009 was the last time I ran.  That was the run where the pain in my hip made it more obvious than ever that I needed time off.  The following several months were filled with doctors appointments, anti-inflammatories and a lot of disappointment when the verdict was that I shouldn't run anymore.

June 2010 is when I found out I was pregnant, and as pregnancy progressed two things happened:  Physically, it was clear that my body was not going to allow me to work out vigorously as it grew.  Mentally, I felt invincible and convinced myself that if I can grow a person (miracle of miracles) then someday I could try running again.

June 4, 2011 I made it a point to finally get out for a walk.  Exercise had been non-existent for so long, and the craving to strap on my ipod and watch and try to elevate my heart rate, in combination with a sleeping baby, made for the perfect opportunity.  So I ventured out for a few laps around our Circle, aiming for 30 minutes.  It felt great.  And I didn't want to push it, but I got curious, and wanted to dip my toe in.  So, for 60 seconds I started to run.  Ok, jog. Ok, it might have been just a faster walk with some bounce to it.  But I did it for 60 seconds, walked for 60 seconds and then did it again.  Pain free, I quit while I was ahead.  2 minutes total of something like a distant second cousin of running.

And the  next day I did it again, but on the second day it was 6 minutes total interspersed with walking.  My hip still feels ok, my back doesn't hurt, but I was feeling some pain like weak pregnancy muscles...odd tiredness around my incision scar.  Nothing major, probably just some stretched out muscles and ligaments that had been roused from their slumber.  Still to be safe, again I quit while I was ahead, and today I rest.

Its too early to be excited, or to know whether I will ever break into a comfortable stride again, or run the local 10k that I've had my eye on since we moved in 7 years ago.  But it feels good to know I at least tried again, and lived to tell about it.  I've been trying to get my mind back to where it was SO many years ago when I started exercising.  Before it was a daily part of my day it was a very Govt-guideline sounding 3-4 times per week which was "good enough".  Thats all that fits right now, and thats finally ok.