Up and running.

4.3 miles today! Coach prescribed a 30 minute ladder workout. Jaco, PT extraordinaire, prescribed 20 minutes of running. So what's the problem? Well, the ladder workout was to be done in the pool. No aquabelt, shoes on. Fake running. In typical efficient mother mode, I decided to compromise and hit the tready. Schools out for summer, so I am paying by the hour for any precious workout time. I hate treadmills with a passion.. but it was noon and I avoid the midday sun whenever possible for fear of looking like a catcher's mitt before my time.

I gave it a little incline, jogged a while, and then fired that torture device up to 10 mph for the intervals and smiled the whole way through because it didn't hurt. The circuit class ladies doing their Curves thing stared at the crazy girl grinning away as the sweat flew.. but I was so happy to be running, and running hard, and not hurting that I couldn't help myself. I shortened the stride a little, kept the turnover high just like Jaco said, and it didn't hurt. I tried out some brand new Saucony Tangents, shoes that have carried me through many marathons without injury (or socks) and love them. This injury stuff is expensive: new shoes, superfeet, ART, MRI, xrays, copays, peanut butter m&ms, cortisone, master's fees, goggles.. But the pain-free run, well you know, priceless.

October is only four months away. This is the first real moment of optimism I've felt in a while about my IT band and the potential for a return to training. Patience continues to be a challenge every day, and I won't get back on the tready tomorrow... but did I mention that it didn't hurt? :)