It’s been a hard week. I don’t like to complain a lot about my hardships in life, but last week was my week off of running. For the most part I suffered in silence.

I have a little rule I try to follow to try to avoid repetitive use injuries. I take two days off each month and two weeks off each year. I should have taken the week off last month, but you know how it goes. Sometimes it is just to difficult to break out of the routine and do something different.

So finally last week, I made myself take the week off. That is life. You just have to do what you have to do. Bite the bullet. Take your medicine. Sigh.

Actually, it turned out to be an easy decision to take the time off. I inadvertently missed stretching after a run, and then sat in a car for eight hours. Not a very bright thing to do. My hamstrings tightened up on me tighter than a drum. On the next night’s run, it was cold out, and the tight hamstrings pulled my back. (You could say that I got a weak back about a week back.) With my back bothering me, it was a good time to take a break.

But the week is over! So tonight, I loaded up the MP3 player with the latest Collective Soul, and hit the road.

The run began with Better now:

Yeah, yeah

Oh, I’m newly calibrated,

Yeah, yeah

All shiny and clean.

Yeah, yeah

I’m your recent adaptation.

Yeah, yeah

Time to redefine me.

(Chorus:)

Let the word out. I’ve got to get out.

Oh, I’m feeling better now.

Let the news out. I’ve got to get out.

Oh, I’m feeling better now.

What an appropriate song for the moment. Everything felt good. No pain anywhere. It is strange, but most runs begin with some pain. Maybe an ankle, or knee. Nothing severe, and usually it loosens up and feels good about a mile into the run. I guess those pains are to be expected when you are an old man.

But tonight, from the start I felt loose, relaxed and ready to fly. Newly calibrated, so to speak. But the song only lasted about half a mile. Get to the end of the mile and check the time: 8 minutes. Slog through the second mile and check the time: 16 minutes. So much for flying. I was off like a herd of turtles. I ended the night averaging 7 minute 48 second miles. Time to redefine me … as a snail.

Why did I expect anything different? It was below freezing and snowing. Under these conditions, I usually consider it a success to just be out running, and don’t worry about the times because I’m slower than usual in the cold (if that is possible).

But after the run and stretching, my back feels good. You could say that I’m feeling better now.