It seems like years ago that I used to run, and maybe even longer to when I used to update my blog about my running. Well, as you can see below, running has not been on the agenda for the last 16 months, but I finally feel that my back is strong enough to take those first real baby steps back to running. I tried a few times in recent months to jog a little, but each time I could feel the back telling me I shouldn't be doing this, so I eased back, and left it alone. No point in damaging myself further, lets be honest, I ain't getting any younger.
I'm back in Ireland now, after my 3 1/2 years in Argentina, and while the weather isn't better, being back in Banbridge does give me a familiarity with old routes, and as I'm not quite back to work yet, I have time on my hands. After a weekend over in Devon visiting friends from BA, Monday morning saw the sun out, and my runners getting dusted off. Now, when I say I went for a run, it was more of a slow raising of the legs slightly beyond a walk, but I'll claim it. Obviously my muscle fitness in the old legs is weak, but the cardio fitness is even worse. I'll confess, the little I did hurt, but, thankfully, not in the back. I only ran for four minutes in total, two minutes out, a rest period, and two minutes back - My chest was killing me, breathing was tough, and the cardio fitness non-existent.
The great news is I was able to do it at all. It will be a long haul to get back towards a level where I can be comfortable running any distance, but that is to be expected. These were baby steps, and will be repeated in a gradual progression. After 16 months out, I can look ahead with hope, along with trepidation, but at least I can look forward.
