Rehab

So its been along time since I posted anything here.  Havent felt like writing about surgery or recovery or how it felt to gimp around on crutches and be a burden to everyone and anyone around me.  That was then - this is now

I bike rode to work today.  2 Miles.  Felt great.  Im sitting at my desk with a little sheen of sweat on me.  That feels good.  I read on some female runners blog recently, she just wrotem: I like to spit.  I knew exactly what she meant.  Theres a primal feeling of sweating and spitting  (and even throwing up like after Chicago) that negates all the proper formalities you live with the rest of your life.  Ive never in my life seen a woman squat and pee in the grass other than at a Marathon.  And it was ok cause we were all apart of the same community.  The community of sweaters and spitters and pee-ers. 

So is that what I have missed most?  Bodily fluids.  No - its the permission to have them.  You see someone in a restaurant sweating profusely you call am ambulance.  On the race course you pat him on the back and say "looking good" and then you run your fingers through your hair and mix his sweat with yours.  Its all the same.  Runners sweat.  

Ive missed running.  Biking.  Fighting fatigue.  My life has been too easy.  As silly as that sounds, gimping around on crutches for 6 weeks then in a ski boot for another 5.  Ive slept late, gained weight.  I broke out my 36 waist jeans the other day.  The 34s were feeling just a bit too snug.  I did that when Kelly wasn't home, shamefully burying my 34s at the bottom of the drawer. 

So now I can bike ride.  Its a start.  I can renew my membership at the gym.  Start shedding some of this winter fat.  Doctors appointment on June 24th.  Maybe he'll green light some running.  Maybe. 

I drive through streets that I used to run. Look at hills I used to climb.  Pass the track in Red Bank I used for speed work.  I wonder, one more?  Please.

In a fit of foolishness I registered today for the NY MArathon.  I couldnt run it in NOvember (could I?) But if I get accepted I could defer to next year.  Maybe the goal of all 50 states wont happen (did you really want to run Idaho?) which I say with some relief.  I was thinking, I'll never run New York again?  And, you mean I have to choose only ONE of those great Marathons in California.  And, I have to wait till Im 50 to run an international Marathon. 

So Im at work without a car.  A bike out front.  Have to go to the bank today.  Do I bike ride home and get the car to go to the bank or just bike ride there.  Stand in the bank lobby sweating.  Wanting to spit but refraining.  Ive done it before.  Jogged to the bank.  Bike rode to the bank.  I bike rode to the bank once and went through the drive-thru.  They processed my order but then asked me not to do that again. Ok I'll come sweat in your lobby.  Wheres the spittoon?

So Im at work without a car.  And Ive stopped sweating.  And I feel good

Comments

[Brian]

Welcome back bro.

[Pop]

Go get 'em, Mike. You've got the spirit still burning and that's half the battle.