What a Difference a Day Makes.

So, relieved of my anxiety about having a hernia (see previous post – I don’t after all), I am treating my lower abs issue like a muscle strain. The relief of knowing it’s not a hernia is palpable, and the pressure/tightness/whatever has subsided a lot. Probably in part because I’m not poking at it constantly. I got the news Tuesday, and did light workouts that afternoon and Wednesday, and yesterday I ran an easily-paced 10K.

It was nice to get out on Christmas and go for a run. The last couple of miles, the strain was barking at me a little bit, but not painful. Today it’s still there, but diminished. I’m taking some NSAIDs to hopefully bring down any lingering inflammation. But basically, I’m going to treat it like the nagging injury it is, take things light but not sedentary, and let it heal on its own.

Considering it’s been bothering me for about six weeks now, I’m frustrated, but I believe it will get better with time. That’s not necessarily a safe assumption. I hurt my shoulder about two years ago, and it’s as bad as it’s ever been. I think I damaged a ligament or two. But I’m not going to do anything about it, because it doesn’t impinge my normal range of motion, or diminish my strength. There’re just some awkward type movements that hurt.

So. I hate running in the cold and I hate running in the dark. But the sky will be lightening rapidly now, though it will probably be getting colder. Damn seasonal phase-lag. But I have a half-marathon to run in March, and I intend to be fit for it. Which means I’m going to have to get my miles in during the winter. I’m not going to try to stay in peak condition at all times. I’m going to try to keep up 10-12 miles a week and work out at the gym a couple days a week too.

Fitness is a lot like sobriety. Regular practice. A commitment that feels vaguely spiritual in nature, at least to me. Running and fitness make me feel like I’m using my body, and maintaining my body, the way it’s “supposed” to work, whatever that means. Whether we were designed or we were simply optimized for a particular ecological niche over millions of years of essentially random evolution is not particularly important to me. I’m here. And I’d like my body to work the way bodies are supposed to work.

That requires effort, time, and good fortune. I’ve always had good fortune. I’ve arranged my life to have time. So I need to put in the effort. I’ve found that willingness, in my life, in the past few years. I’m grateful for that.