Feeling ‘Normal’ after Hip Scope

Here I am after today’s Great Swamp Devil 15K race in Basking Ridge, N.J. I may look a little tuckered out (leaning against a “Swamp Devil” figure someone had created for Halloween and brought to this race). But as I crossed the finish line on this sunny and unseasonably warm autumn day, I felt robust and ebullient — thanks in part to a strong dose of endorphins that had fully kicked in after 10 kilometers.

This was a race I loved to do before two labrum tears (the first in my left hip joint, the second in my right) sadly sidelined me for a couple of years. Just before and shortly after my two hip scopes (both back in 2011) I had wondered if I’d ever run in any meaningful way ever again.

My recovery was a slow one. I stuck with shorter distances early on and then very gradually advanced my mileage. Three weeks ago I comfortably ran a half marathon. Neither of these longer-distance races was terribly fast, mind you. (The last time I ran the Swamp Devil several years ago my average pace was sub-eight-minute miles.) But today I am just thrilled to be participating in the sport I adore.

If you or someone you know is struggling with hip impingement or in the midst of recovery, there is hope for many of us on the horizon. It just may take awhile.

Now I’m wondering: Could a full marathon be in my future?

I’ll keep you posted.