Tuesday Shakeout: Finding myself

Thoughts on living rent free in your own head

Last Wednesday, seven full weeks to the day since I aggravated something in my hip flexor region, I went out for a 4-mile run. There is something very humbling about starting over following a prolonged absence that includes a fair amount of huffing and puffing. 

If I needed any statistical evidence of lost aerobic fitness during my 49-day convalescence, it was clearly identified in the heart rate data. For me, an easy run on flat non-technical ground at 9:13 pace generally results in a HR between 125-135 beats per minute, depending on my overall level of fitness. 

My average HR for this run was 144 with about half the time spent in the Zone 3 range that’s typically reserved for ‘comfortably hard’ efforts like tempo runs. Recovery runs should never mimic tempo efforts aerobically, but hey, seven weeks is a long time. 

More concerning was the slight pull I felt across my hip less than a quarter mile from completing the run. The sensation wasn’t as dramatic as some I had experienced during previous comeback attempts, but it was certainly present. Bummer. 

When I talked with Avery later that day, I fully expected him to suggest shutting activity down once again. Instead, he offered an interesting proposition: What if I ran slower, shorter, and more often? It’s crazy how often that dude is right about this stuff. 

This week for paid subscribers, we examine the aerobic payoff and mental challenge of slowing down. Plus a power hiking treadmill workout that will kick your butt in all the right ways.