Exactly 16 years ago, I was up in the Boston area running my very first marathon. (Yes, that one!) It was the 100th running of that fabled race, and to celebrate the occasion, the Boston Athletic Association, the race organizer, opened up 5,000 spots to a lottery. So running novices like myself could race alongside the world’s top thoroughbreds. (I had the good fortune of getting in through connections at work.)
I finished the 1996 Boston Marathon with a great big smile on my face, and since then have completed eight more marathons and one marathon relay. It was during the training for what would have been my 10th marathon, in New York City in 2010, that I encountered the painful hip injuries that resulted in two arthroscopic surgeries (the first in July and the second in December) and sidelined me for about a year and a half.
It would be nice to some day do another marathon. (O.K., maybe half marathons might be more appropriate.) But today I am back to basics: I am learning how to run all over again.
My “training” began only three weeks ago on the treadmill in physical therapy, where I would alternately run and walk for 10 to 12 minutes. Each time I would slightly increase the running portion. I have had to make a few changes in the process, like modifying my gait so that I land more on my mid-foot than heel. (Heel-strikers, like myself, are more prone to injuries than runners who land on their forefront or mid-foot, as pointed out in a recent New York Times article.)
Trying to unlearn years of bad habits is tough, though equally as difficult (and disheartening) is building up endurance again. In my first trip to a local track, where I am now training once a week, I found myself “winded” after just a quarter of a mile. (Only a couple of years ago 10 miles was a snap.) But I am improving, thanks in part to the weekly spin classes that I am also taking. This past weekend I managed to run just over a mile without needing to stop.
I just need to remember: slow and steady. Like my very first marathon.
Hi Janice,
I’m glad to see you are getting back into running. This is a long, slow process, isn’t it?
I also had gait issues, after my first hip arthroscopy. To fix it, my physical therapist had me walk on the treadmill twice a week, for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. The treadmill speed was set at 3.5 mph, which is equivalent to walking quickly. I actually blogged about that in this post “The Gait Debate,” Oct. 4, 2011. Here’s the link: http://www.athirdwind.com/?p=241
Best of luck in your recovery, and stay in touch.
I started light jogging this week and it’s feeling a lot better. Since my dr didn’t prescribe PT or a strengthening protocol I’ve just been cobbling stuff together and strenthening the leg. My walking gait is off a little bit. Now just to go slow and not get ahead of myself 🙂 I see the surgeon in June for a final blessing LOL
glad to see you’re doing well!
Thanks, Janice. How are you doing these days?
Hi,
You are inspiring!
I am a runner also, and was training for my 3rd marathon (london marathon to be specific), however have pulled out for the following reasons. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with bilateral cam impingment. Issues have been with my right hip and my MRI shows I have a ‘cleft’ otherwise no cartilidge damage (eg. no signs of labrum tear). I have read loads about hip impingement, and perhaps if I was to see the positive side I am not experiencing sharp pains in the hip while running/walking/stationary, but rather a dull tenderness, weakness / burning sensation. My ortho surgeon required me to have a hip block (cortisone injection) which doesn’t seem to help, but rather has weakened my hip joint. Anyway, will be monitoring myself for the next 5 weeks before concluding whether hip arthoscopy is for me. What kind of symptoms did you experience pre-surgery ?
Hi Helen,
Sorry about your injury.
The hip pain on my left side started out innocent enough during training for N.Y.: a dull ache around the bone after a hard 16-mile run. I decided to run through the pain and proceeded to do an 18-miler several days later. The pain worsened, so this time I decided to ice and stretch for a few days. A week later, by the time I had finished my 20-mile run, the pain was excruciating. Thought I had a bad case of tendonitis — until a dye-contrast MRI several months later showed a labrum tear. No cortisone shot; PT helped but didn’t fix.
There was only a slight discomfort on the right side, but an MRI showed a tear and X-ray found bone spurs, so I decided not to wait for things to get worse and just have the surgery. Good luck to you, and let us know how you’re doing.
Vivian
That’s was a great job well done, Congratulations. Thanks for sharing with this inspiring post, were looking forward for more updates.