S
South Sound Sailor
I'm 15 weeks post-AVR. 5 weeks ago, with my surgeon and cardio's encouragement, I started running again. I couldn't run 1 mile without stopping. My legs felt like they were completely lifeless, like I was dragging them. I had almost zero ability to catch my breath and no luck at all finding an easy pace no matter how slow I ran. I stuck with it, mixing running and walking. My goal was to run 3 miles without stopping. I hoped to achieve this goal by the end of June.
This morning , 5/17, at 5:30 am, I ran 3 miles!!! Doesn't matter how slow I ran it (OK, 33 minutes) but bottom line is I ran the whole way without once feeling like my legs were lifeless or that I was having breathing problems. I could have easily gone a bit faster, probably around 10:30 a mile pace but I was having such a great time at the 11 minute a mile pace that I stuck with it. My next big goal now is to run 5 miles non-stop at a 10 minute pace and I'm shooting for July 15.
Several years ago I ran 3:40 in the Chicago marathon, an 8:30 per mile pace; my PR. I may never experience a race like that again but what happened this morning was almost equally sweet and inspiring.
To anyone who is reading this post who is fresh out of surgery, especially you runners, all I can say is hang in there! It does get better. Thanks to all the experiences and stories I've read on vr.com, I now firmly believe that the determination to keep a positive outlook on life is the primary factor in a speedy and healthy recovery journey.
This morning , 5/17, at 5:30 am, I ran 3 miles!!! Doesn't matter how slow I ran it (OK, 33 minutes) but bottom line is I ran the whole way without once feeling like my legs were lifeless or that I was having breathing problems. I could have easily gone a bit faster, probably around 10:30 a mile pace but I was having such a great time at the 11 minute a mile pace that I stuck with it. My next big goal now is to run 5 miles non-stop at a 10 minute pace and I'm shooting for July 15.
Several years ago I ran 3:40 in the Chicago marathon, an 8:30 per mile pace; my PR. I may never experience a race like that again but what happened this morning was almost equally sweet and inspiring.
To anyone who is reading this post who is fresh out of surgery, especially you runners, all I can say is hang in there! It does get better. Thanks to all the experiences and stories I've read on vr.com, I now firmly believe that the determination to keep a positive outlook on life is the primary factor in a speedy and healthy recovery journey.
