Running After Stress Fracture

After ten weeks off from running due to a stress fracture in my shin, last well I was officially cleared to run again by my physical therapist. In fact, I got my first few miles in at that very appointment when I ran for three miles on the treadmill.

After finishing up with no pain, my physical therapist gave me the all clear. Well sort of.

He said I could go on a long run, but I had to promise to stop if I felt any pain. On Sunday, I set out on my first long run in months.

 

My goals: Listen to my body.  Go slow. Try for 5 to 7 miles.

 

I know it seems a little funny, but I was actually really nervous before my run.

What if I could barely make it a mile or two?

Would I be able to tell if the pain is coming from the bone?

What if I end up getting hurt all over again?

 

But all my nerves went out the door, well the moment I got out the door.

 

I put on my headphones, felt the sun on my face, and off I went.

I am so happy to say that my first run went amazing! It felt so good to be back out there.

While my pace for seven miles was really slow compared to what it was before I was hurt, I sincerely am just thrilled that I was able to run seven miles pain-free.

My seven-mile pace was an average pace of 10 minutes, 12 seconds per mile. Before I was hurt, my average pace for a run like that was 8 minutes and 30 seconds.

Needless to say, I have a ways to go before I’m back to where I was!

 

But I’m really not worried about that. My only feeling is gratitude.

 

Gratitude that I was able to run without pain. I feel like I have a place to move up from and I’m motivated to increase my distance and my speed.

But more than anything else, I’m motivated to stay healthy. And that means not overdoing it.

 

That’s not to say I didn’t still have that little addictive voice in my head kicking into overdrive as I was running.

 

I was so tempted to push for more. Why do 7 miles? Why not 10? What’re a few extra miles going to hurt??

Maybe I would have been fine. But maybe those extra miles would have been too much for a shin bone that is still fragile.

Either way, I shut that little voice down.

I don’t want to gamble with my health. The risk is too high. And that walking boot I was stuck in for a couple months was too heavy!