Florida in May - hot hot hot! First day there, 3 of us went out to run and one to walk at 9am - too late - too hot. The resort has a one mile "walking/jogging" track for its guests. I ran 3 miles and was dripping in sweat. That wasn't so bad, but the hot humid tropical air was an energy sapper slowing our times 'way down. We all dragged ourselves back to the condo and dove into the pool.
Day 2 - Out by 8am - our clothes were clearly not appropriate for tropical weather running but we had a good 4 mile run and planned a shopping trip for lighter running shorts - ones that "wick" - at the local outlet mall. But first, a trip to the beach for an afternoon of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and some shelling on the beach. And then it happened - I went one way - and my left knee went the other way.
I don't know if it happened while swimming in the water or walking in the sand on the beach - I only know that I felt that feeling twice before - after bowling and after running on the beach at home - significant discomfort with every step and an occasional sharp pain involving a nerve - as if I was getting an electrical zap! Not being one who has much experience with injury or pain, I was at a loss as to what to do. I spent the rest of Day 2 elevating and icing - granted it didn't hurt that I was elevating & icing while sitting on a lanai at a pricey resort & spa sipping wine coolers - but still - I wanted to run!!
Day 3, 4, 5 - It's amazing what 2 Tylenols and 3 Advils and ice packs will do to alleviate pain. I ran 4 miles each day. Not great (I've run 6 miles at home) - but every day in late May gets hotter and more humid in Florida, so 4 miles is decent.
What was most important was my time - 4 miles in 50 minutes - a record for me. Running in hot humid heat, running with a mild injury, running on vacation when most people take off from exercise - but this was my plan and I stuck to it. My daughter-in-law/coach/inspiration wrote an article about running after injury; although hers was much more severe (cast & knee surgery), she made an amazing comeback and has run many marathons since then. She has told me that injuries heal faster when one is in shape, healthy, and eating well. I can attest to that. I'm home now - vacation's a happy memory - and it's been a week since the injury; with applying the same regimen, my knee is almost back to normal. I'm ready to run 6 miles, hopefully more. Falmouth is only 8 weeks away. It seemed like a lifetime back in January...... I can't wait.
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