And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

I ran. 

After 204 looong, sad days, I ran this week. 

My last real run was New Year's weekend. I missed half of winter, all of spring and a good part of this hot summer. And not only did I not run at all in over six months, because of my very stubborn hip stress fracture, I haven't done much of anything -- until very recently. 

My hip has been feeling pretty normal-ish lately, so Sunday morning I wanted to test it out. I got up at dawn, just like real runners do, and made my way to the track. I needed a very level surface with no hills, sneaky sidewalk cracks or curbs to hop on to. I was SO nervous. 

Trea and I walked a couple of laps, and then I decided to run one. I have been waiting for this moment ALL YEAR. Now, I'm not delusional; I know 6 months of sitting around has turned me into a couch potato and my legs have no recollection of running a marathon. I didn't expect the heavens to open with angels singing. But I did expect to feel...that runner feeling. You know what I'm talking about. Is it freedom? Peace? But I just felt paranoid about my hip. And chubby. And weak. And exhausted almost immediately. 

I huffed and puffed around that track, and I was SO ready to get back to the starting line so I could stop and BREATHE. I felt like I had Frankenstein feet that weighed 50 pounds each, and my glorious return to running was a labored, stiff-legged shuffle. I was so focused on my stupid lungs and my stupid burning calves that it took me a second to realize...my hip didn't hurt! AT ALL! 

I walked a lap to catch my breath and make sure my hip was OK, and then I ran another lap. This one felt a little stronger, but it still felt like starting over. It was hard. After an entire half mile, I was spent.  But the important thing is that I RAN. Yes, I'm starting over, but I'm so happy to be able to run, even if it's just a little bit. 

Later that day I started having some serious hip pain that scared the daylights out of me. But I'm pretty sure it was a result of doing lots of housework when I got home and not sitting down for 5 hours after running for the first time in forever. I overdid it. As usual. So I stayed off my feet for the rest of the day, and the next morning I was as good as new. But that taught me a quick lesson that I'm not at 100% yet. I have to take this slowly and be very careful not to re-injure myself. So I've devised a plan. 

For a while, at least until I get my strength back, I'm going to only run and walk just a little bit at the track once a week. Then on other days, I'll swim, bike and elliptical so I keep things low impact on the old lady bones. I've also started some light strength training at home now that I can do lunges and squats without feeling like my hip is going to snap. I'm paying very close attention to glute strength and those pesky hip adductors/abductors or whatever they're called. I'm doing everything I can to create new habits and mix things up instead of only focusing on running. 

But tomorrow is a run day, and I can't wait to get back out there! I dug my Garmin out of storage, dusted off my iPod and am impatiently waiting for 6 a.m. It's so good to be back!