Plans for next year - if possible

stats of the week: walked 17 km, zwift cycled 32 km, gym 2.5 h

I tried taking a few jogging steps during my walk, but it felt as if I were handicapped. My legs simply refused to move forward. Maybe it’s still a bit too early, just six weeks after the incident, to expect to be able to run again. What makes me remain skeptical is that the same kind of pain that started all the trouble is still there: a slight strain in the adductor area. As long as this persists, I’ll refrain from running. I’m too anxious that the severe pain might return.

It so happened that we managed to get bibs for four Superhalfs next year: Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia. We got into Copenhagen and Cardiff through the ballot, I was just quick enough for Prague, and we are fortunate to secure Valencia since we already had bibs for this year.

Still, I can’t quite bring myself to fully enjoy our luck. There’s a lingering doubt about whether I’ll truly be back to proper running by then. For now, I focus on strength training and brisk walking. That in itself feels like progress. At least I’ve been able to stop taking any kind of pain medication, and that’s something to be grateful for.

Slowly worth living again

stats of the week: walked  39 km, gym 3.5 h

I have to be happy that I am able to walk every day and spend time at the gym. After two injections the worst pain is gone and nights are calmer again. Days are becoming worth living again.

My daily routine consists of visits to the physio and receiving acupuncture sessions. The body's reaction to the injections was rather frightening. For some 5 hours I wasn't able to lift my right leg. When leaving the car I fell down to the pavement. Also the lower leg felt almost completely numb. Luckily the symptons were gone until the evening and so far I can regard the therapy as a success. It is still a very long way to get back to running. The right leg doesn't yet feel reliable and I still have to be cautious on staircases.

Next Sunday I will sadly look at Valencia where we wanted to take part at the Half marathon and complete our 3rd Superhalf. Luckily the flight and the apartment could be cancelled without costs, so just the bibs are paid and lost. Now I hope that organizers keep to their regular mode and offer bibs for next year with priority to those who had a bib this year. And I hope I will be able to run next year being another year older.

Forcing myself to get up

stats of the week: walked 13 km, gym 2 h

Meanwhile, I’m humble enough to appreciate that at least this week’s stats aren’t a total void. I actually managed to drag myself into the gym and even walk slowly on the treadmill. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve officially entered the grand finale of life. The injection therapy does take the edge off the pain, but my right leg clearly didn’t get the memo about cooperating.

Stairs have now become an epic quest. I graciously accept the assistance of the handrail, rather than bounding down like I once did. Hard to make a running comeback when you can’t even trust your own muscles.

For now, I suppose I should be grateful that my days are mostly pain-free… nighttime, of course, likes to keep things interesting. But don’t worry. I’m not waving the white flag just yet. It’ll take a few months, but I will be back.

Whole Autumn Life cancelled

stats of the week: no sports for weeks

Happiness in France lasted only a week. Suddenly, I developed an injury that made even short walks impossible. I was tormented all day and night by severe pain in my right thigh and hip, unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Getting proper medical help in France turned out to be difficult. The hospital ambulance sent me home with pain medication but without any consultation. The orthopedist ordered X-rays and an ultrasound, again without consultation, and the earliest available appointments would have taken weeks.

Only the local general practitioner was truly committed: he arranged an appointment with a cardiologist (who found nothing) and advised me to undergo a CT scan. At that point, we decided to return home to Germany, where we were able to get immediate appointments for an MRI and with an orthopedist.

As so often happens, two doctors came to two different conclusions. The radiologist diagnosed a slipped disc, while the orthopedist believes the cause is a blocked sacroiliac joint. Either way, the pain has remained severe for three weeks now.

Because of this, all our autumn plans are cancelled. Obviously the run in France, the hike in the Pyrenees, the trip to Mallorca, and sadly the half marathon in Valencia as well. It seems it may take several weeks, if not months, before I can return to running.

Happily back to France

stats of the week: run 28 km, gym 1.5 h
stats of the previous week: run 18 km, cycled 42 km

Recovering from the 4th leg of our Tour around Germany took some time and is not yet done. Thighs are still sore and adductors hurt. Getting back to running doesn't feel easy. 7 weeks to Valencia Half Marathon now, hopefully enough time to build up some distance. When running through my home forest for the first time after two years I tumbled heavily but luckily only the left wrist still hurts. I hoped to take part at 2 running events but both are already sold out: The Ventoux Trail Run and Grand Raid Camargue. Instead we will take part at the Course des Vendanges at Puyricard what we enjoyed two years ago. This is near Aix-en-Provence and we will combine it with a dinner there like last time.

It's good to be back to our pretty french village, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, in the very North of the Provence. Tourist season has not yet finished. The Bar du Pont is still busy, foreign visitors abound, obviously many from Germany, like us. A sign at the bar now says that dogs are no longer allowed at the terraces - a surprising and not really friendly move by owners Patrick and Valerie. But nobody seems to pay attention and dogs are regularly seen on the front terrace. Monday evening with Pizza Roberto is the main weekly event now, very well visited, and meanwhile decorated with french banners and lamps above the place.

The Bistro - the other bar - is still closed after its sudden shutdown in summer. Rumours tell that it had to stop business due to hygiene deficits. Better not think about details.

Forced to rest

stats of the week: run 20 km

The short and bad news is: After 3 days of proper running I strained my thigh heavily when bowling with the family. Cured it with RICE as usual, rest, ice, compress, elevation, took lots of Ibu and still hope that the leg will be recovered till the continuation of our German Border Cycling Tour.

For the following two and a half weeks please look here:
deutsche-grenzerfahrung.blogspot.com

Back home in Germany

stats of the week: run 25 km, cycled 70 km

We are back home in Witten/Germany and immediately I felt like I had never been away. Light running feels better meanwhile but I still keep to short distances of 8 km being the longest so far. I aim to complete one or two half marathons in autumn. So I should stay able to run distances of 10 km and a bit more. Next week I hope to build up my mileage when we spend a week's family holiday in Belgium. Luckily the high temperatures are gone and the rainy weather makes a perfect setting for running around.