The Runner Within

I got to start my strength training sessions back up today. It was good. I felt really relaxed afterwards, although it was disappointing to lose so much arm strength. I was doing arm presses with 5 lb weights and struggling by the second set. Katie, my trainer, mostly had me work on core and arms today, though, which was good. I definitely need to get back into the lunges, but I’d rather wait a week on it than cause more complications. I’ve also been attending a personal training class on Tuesday nights, for my own benefit. And it’s definitely been useful. The instructor goes over the machines and the proper form for lifts. I don’t see myself using the bar to do powerlifting or anything, but it’s always good to have a refresher on form. And it highlights how if you change your stance a little or your arm position, you work different muscles. I can tell that I’m going to have to bring a stability ball with me to Japan and maybe try to pick up some cheap dumbells in 5 and 10 lb weights… although who knows how I’d get them back to my apartment. Really, though, going 5 months without strength training will be really bad for me.

Well, I’m started to get frustrated here. I was supposed to be able to start running again tomorrow, but it looks like I have to put it off a week, again. I was feeling some pain in my leg near my sutures, and it was tender and hard there. So, my stepdad did an ultrasound (he owns his own ultrasound company, so he had an ultrasound machine at the house), and they found a loculated fluid sac in there. So, I had it drained this morning. It wasn’t infected, which is good news, but I can’t run on the leg for a week, because my surgeon wants the hole that was left behind when we took the fluid out to seal up properly. So… no more running for yet another week. Luckily, my training plan only requires 16 weeks, so it’s not dire that I start this week. However, given the various things that I have planned this summer, such as my brother’s wedding, a small trip to Vegas, a trip to NYC for my grandmother’s funeral, a trip to Atlanta for DragonCon, I will be cutting it close to not start my official training soon. I’m also really out of shape, as it has been like 4 weeks since I’ve worked out.

At least, however, I was told that I can start strength training, which is good. I already set up my appointments for Tuesday and Thursday at 5. So, I will start that this week. My trainer will have to go easy on me, however, since I don’t want that hole to not seal properly and cause further complications. Anyway, those are my current training woes. I haven’t forgotten about this site. I just haven’t had the ability to do much physical activity lately. I’m starting to go stir crazy though. So, next week, for sure!

Well, my recovery has had some bumps in the road, but hopefully nothing that will keep me from getting back to training on schedule. It turns out I had a hematoma on one side after the surgery. It began oozing thick, black-brown blood and clots yesterday. It was good, though, despite the freakiness of it, because that means that the hematoma is liquifying and draining out on its own. Today, the blood was lighter, but still brown and sometimes clotty. So, that means hopefully, that the worst is over with, and the healing will speed up. There was definitely less pain today than yesterday. The pain hasn’t been too bad, but in the mornings, I was really feeling it. Also, it has reduced the swelling a bit, which I was looking forward to. I’m expecting the spectacular bruising that was left behind to take weeks to go away… hopefully I won’t look like I have a lump of zombie flesh on me for too much longer. For anyone with a weak stomach, I appologize, but if I can’t have humor about it, then what’s the point? Both my parents are physicians, so I’m not exactly squeamish about this kind of thing, although, I would have been significantly more freaked out if I couldn’t get advice from them about it. So, I just have to wait and see what happens with it. My surgeon said (last Weds) that I could resume running in a week or two. I’m aiming to be back out there by the end of May at the latest.