*Insert sad-face here*

So it's been three weeks since the Road2Hope half, and I spent the week following the half a bit sore but got in a few runs, including one 14k with Sam and Emma along the beachfront on a gorgeous Saturday morning.  I will hold that run near and dear to my heart for awhile.....

After that run, I realized my hamstring was not getting better and really needed to be dealt with.   Initially, I figured a week off would make it as good as new, so I enthusiastically embarked on a week off and headed off to my hot yoga classes with an renewed sense of vigor, thinking I was doing what my hamstring needed most.  I forward-folded like there was no tomorrow and put everything I had into Extended Hand to Big Toe.   And I stretched and rolled that lacrosse ball under my rear like it was a Immunity Challenge on Survivor.

At the end of my week, I realized my hamstring was even worse.  It's not the hamstring per se, but the tendon(s) that attach my hamstrings to my ischial tuberosity/sit bones in my bum.  High hamstring tendonitis, or as I like to call it, a real pain in the ass.

I now realize that stretching my poor hamstring ligament was maybe, just maybe the worst thing I could have done?

So I did nothing for another six days.

Then last week, I went on my first run in 10 days.  It was cool but the first speakable snow had fallen over night, and I couldn't resist the temptation to get out there.  I had been mentally building an epic playlist for my "comeback" run and it was everything I'd hoped it would be.  Except my hamstring was not better.

Enter the following day, when I could barely touch my toes without buckling my right knee because my hammie was so tight.

So I did more reading.  And I faced reality.  I need to stop running and heal.  And then I curled up under the covers and had a big ugly cry.  Google "high hamstring tendonitis recovery" and you'll see why.  Recovery is anywhere from 2-8 months, but the average is about 5 months.

But surely, they're talking about the serious elite injuries, not just the regular folks like me.  I am (*blindingly?*) optimistic that with a month off, the tightness will be gone and I can get back to doing what I love to do so very, very, very much.

Yesterday was hard.  It was a glorious sunny morning, and I would have loved to hit the road.  I had a couple of more cries and I'm sure they won't be the last.

In the meantime, I will be starting some physio and will find out if a recumbent bike is possible.   There is the possibility of yoga too, so long as I behave and make sure I don't stretch out my hamstring.  The tendons near the sit bones apparently don't get a lot of blood flow, hence the slow healing, but are oh-so-easy to aggrevate and re-injure.

So, in the meantime, run well my friends.  I will still be reading your updates and cheering you on.  I will use your determination, drive and spirit as motivation to make this healing time as effective as it can be, so that I can return to this sport I love so much.