What is the irrefutable rule for coming off a lay-off? Do not overdo it. What is the most common rule disobeyed by runners coming off a lay-off? They get anxious and excited to be back in harness and they overdo it.
On Sunday I skipped the “floor” exercises and gave my sore muscles a little break. I kept my date with Eddie Murphy in the exercise room. He and his gang of bumbling Beverly Hills Cops kept me on the Zero for 54 minutes and three and a half miles.
Sunday afternoon it was so sunny and warm that I went out for a walk – just a walk, mind you – about one mile out and same back, of course. Yes, my left back-of-the-knee got a little sore like it sometimes does when I walk, but hey, I know the rules. Take it easy, right?
On Monday I did exactly two miles on the Zero in just over twenty-six minutes. I felt pretty good. It was still really nice out – almost 60 degrees so I decided to go for another walk.
We are blessed to have the converted rail-road bed out our back door. On our side it has been upgraded as an access road that the Morris County Municipal vehicles use, and AKA the West Morris Greenway that goes over to Horseshoe Lake Park in Roxbury. On the west side of Pleasant Hill Road is the Black River Wildlife Management Area trail.
Since I had already done two miles on the Zero I did a slow/easy pace on the Black River trail. I was taking it easy but my left knee was sending signals. There’s not much you can do when you are a mile out -you’ve got to get back despite the pain.
On Tuesday I was a chastened runner who was paying the penalty for disobeying the “take-it-easy rule. Thank God for the Zero which gives you a pass on your injuries. I spent nearly an hour in the exercise room, humbled by the irrefutable laws of nature. Today was another day of penance – forty-seven minutes on the Zero. I did sneak in a few HIT’s but, hey! They didn’t hurt anything. I’m a runner, you know.
Maybe tomorrow I can go out on the trail again.
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