Psycho - logical Warfare

Psycho - logical.  It just not seem to me that these two words go together... and No, for those of you who are wondering... I am NOT crazy!

I HAVE often wondered, though if one WERE crazy, would they know it?  Do crazy people think they are crazy?  My bet is they think WE are crazy.

I seriously doubt that any of you are unaware that I have had a bit of a calf injury.  It has caused me to be sidelined for longer than I wanted to be, prevented me from training the way that I should, decreased my level of performance at races, and increased my level of whine. -- as you well know.

I have been taking it real easy and making a concerted effort to not re-injure myself.  I pay close attention when I am running and "listen" carefully to what my leg is telling me.  I have been told that it is OK to talk to yourself, just as long as you don't talk back.  Although I mentioned that I am not crazy, my calf has been talking to me and I have been talking back, or at the very least doing what my calf is telling me to do.

Most of my runs lately have been shorter distances and I have allowed a couple to several days in between.  I fell like I am getting better each time.  I ran the other day in Seattle.  6.6 miles around Lake Union.  It is only 6 miles, but I made a wrong turn and made the run a bit longer.  I felt pretty good.  I could feel the tightness in my calf the whole way, but it was not painful.  I simply shortened my stride and tried not to "push-off".  It worked nicely and I did not have pain afterward.  These are good signs that I am getting better.

Today the plan was to run 5 miles.  I was running along at about 7:58 per mile.  It was hot -- 90 F.  I could feel the tightness in the calf, but again, no pain.  Running pretty good, paying close attention.  Then what do you think happened just after mile 2?  ... ???  .... ???? ... ??  Nope!  The tightness completely resolved.  I felt nothing.  Nothing.  It did not hurt and it was not tight.  It was as if you had had a "stuffy" nose for a few weeks and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the air just flowed freely and you could breathe.  Or when you have a pain in your neck or back and you move a certain way and hear a quick pop and the pain just disappears.  I was excited... until .... the calf got warm.  Just in that one spot.  It was weird.  So, the psycho - logical warfare started.  Was that blood pooling up?  Had it quit hurting because I tore it completely?  Did I cause some nerve damage?  Or is it just miraculously better?  I know people have been praying for me.

So, I got a little nervous.  Decided it was not worth the risk and walked the rest of the way home.  I am still not in pain, but I think I will ice it and live to run another day.

This is some crazy business.  All my life I have used the "walk-it-off" mentality.  Work through the pain.  But now, I am just old I guess and I am told I am not 20 anymore (from my orthopedic surgeon) -- two problems with that.  One.  I have an orthopedic surgeon.  Two.  He actually said to me, "You're not 20 anymore."  -- UGH!

Oh Well.. I will let ya know how it goes.