As previously posted, I’ve taken the past week off due to shin splints. During my hiatus, I noticed my mind and body were going through withdrawals because I wasn’t running. I was more irritable and not sleeping very well. I was going to run after work yesterday, but unfortunately I got home to find that ALL of my workout pants were in the wash. I was extremely disappointed because I was looking forward to my run.

So today, with fresh, clean clothes, I laced up my shoes, hit my power song, and was off for the four-mile comeback. For the first mile or so, I felt really good - my troublesome shin wasn’t causing me any problems. By mile two, I was feeling the effects of not having run for a week - fatigue and tight thigh muscles, as well as it being drizzly, cold, and desolate down at Tom Lee Park. Honestly though, what could I expect? I had basically returned to zero and was now fighting my way back to where I was prior to the injury. I kept thinking to myself as I approached the final 400 meters, how sweet victory would be and to have finished my run. Though I was extremely tired, I knew this was the run that was going to set things right.