Post Achilles Surgery Week 19 – Don’t Call it a Comeback, I’ve Been Here for Years!

Good morning! This week’s title comes from a song that used to get me fired up when I was a kid and still can today. First to guess it gets a tip of my cap. I’m going to start wearing a cap whenever I race, like the great Dave Wottle did. Who is Dave Wottle you ask? THIS GUY.

So many great things are happening this week!  I have one more day of 5 minute intervals tomorrow and then it’s on to MILES! My PTs heard my cries and have modified my training plan a bit. They’re letting me skip the first week of the 2nd part of my rehab plans (it only allowed for a 4 mile week), so I get to run 8 miles next week!

5 minute intervals. I can’t wait to not take breaks!

Good news Part 2 is that my PTs cleared me to run the Armed Forces Day 5k at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. I promised not to race though. My PTs have been great throughout this whole rehab thing. We’re having a party when I’m finally cleared!

I’m really happy that the Armed Forces Day 5k is the race I’m coming back to. The D-Day Memorial really a beautiful place to run a race and it’s very meaningful to me. I enjoy hanging out with veterans (young and older, but especially the older ones) and learning of the great sacrifices made by previous generations. Many risked or gave their lives so that we could go on enjoying the freedom that we have today.

There’s even MORE good news! I’m down to one day a week for PT. My PTs have asked that I work out with a trainer for strength training 2 days a week now instead of one. Strength training is starting to be something I enjoy rather than something I feel like I have to do, so this is cool with me.

Today my father celebrates his 63rd birthday. The older I get, the more I appreciate him. Sometimes I think he’s crazy and we certainly don’t always see things the same way, but it’s nice that I never have to doubt that he loves his family more than anything else. He probably doesn’t read my blog, but Happy Birthday Dad. I love you!

The boys haven’t changed a bit.

Well, that’s all for this week. I’m trying not to make too big a deal about getting back to running miles this week, but I’m about as excited as I’ve been since Ben was born. I guess there’s a fine between wanting to share my excitement and seeming like an attention hog.

I’m hoping that friends will join me for my first official miles back. Maybe there will be coffee. Maybe there will be beer.