Sure, You Can Call It A Comeback

I never understood why professional athletes are always like, “Don’t call it a comeback.”

Is it because they don’t want people thinking they went away? Well, whatever it is, I’m not on board with it, and I am declaring today the start of my own little comeback.

I didn’t go far. I know.

After the marathon, I had a month of self-loathing.

A month of Crohn’s attacking.

A month of slow running.

A few days of foot pain.

But today I’m back! Mentally I’m ready to tackle whatever is coming my way, and physically, well, I’m getting there.

I worked from home yesterday, and it’s amazing what one day of pajama-wearing, To Do list-dominating and writing can accomplish. I plowed through work projects all day, resisted the urge to take Sad Foot out for a run and made it to the gym for an evening spinning class with Matt Pestorius, spin instructor extraordinaire.

At the start of class, Matt was like, “It’s a beautiful October day in New York City! Let’s ride!” And I was like, “Oh Matt, you are so right.” I’ve been so caught up in my Crohn’s-and-stress-and-foot-pain bubble that I’m letting my favorite season get away!

The ride was amazing. It flew by, the music was loud and I was dripping sweat all over my bike (and probably my neighbors — sorry) within the first 10 minutes. I spent an hour before class lifting and doing planks and things, and by the time I headed home I was happily fatigued.

Sweat cures all things. Really. It’s science.

Last night Brian came over to help me with some computer things, which roughly translates to “he sat on the couch with my laptop and didn’t explain what he was doing while I drank hot chocolate and ate biscotti.”

Holy Steroid face. DO YOU SEE IT? Chipmunk cheeks are coming!

I think we make a good team. I also think I should stop hanging sports bras out to dry all over my apartment when I have company.

This morning I was ready to make my return to Central Park. I didn’t run for two days, which I realize is not that big of a deal, but again, it’s fall, people! I want to run when the leaves are crunchy!

Isn't that nice?

I set out hoping to cover 5–6 pain-free miles.

I ended up running 7.25.

I wanted to keep my pace under a 9:00 mile.

And I did.

Today's splits = Happy Ali

I hoped my stomach would cooperate and not be completely douchebaggy.

I didn’t have to stop once. Who needs bathrooms in Central Park? Psh. Not Ali. Not today.

And that, my friends, is why today marks my official comeback.

I realize that this all does not seem like a huge deal. Congratulations, Ali, you ran today without bolting for a bathroom. Welcome to the world of normal humans. But today was the first run since the flare-up began that I haven’t had to stop or panic or slow down. That, to me, is a big accomplishment. I am pumped.

The weather this morning was perfect, the Reservoir was packed with runners, my stomach cooperated and my pace was finally comfortably in the zone I like. I do not care that my foot hurts a little bit right now. I do not care that my cheeks look like they’re housing little marshmallows inside of them. I will take Steroid face over urgent bathroom stops any day.

The Crohn’s is going away.

I promise to take good care of my foot.

I finally feel alive again. I am freakin’ thrilled.

Ali

Ali

0 Responses

  1. I don’t have chrons and/or colitis and I still think it’s a great run when I don’t have to find a bathroom!! Congrats Ali!!! YOU’RE BACK 🙂

  2. I just visited NYC and LOVED Central Park! It was so pretty and I was amazed at the number of runners. My only problem was that it was my personal Bermuda triangle, I got lost every time I was there. Mysteriously I always came out around the Natural History museum.

  3. Small victories are the best–welcome back, Ali! Glad to see you’re feeling better, but take it easy with the foot.

    My room also has sport bras, tempos shorts, and tech tees all over the place to air out! Who wears stuff once then washes it? Not I =)

  4. Great run Ali! I really like your coffee mug in the picture. It’s cute! And congrats on no bathroom stops-small victories are what it’s all about!

  5. Hooray! I’m so glad the foot is feeling good and was so excited to see you this morning! I heard you coming up behind me and thought “oh man, this person is going to SPEED by me.” So thank you for slowing down for my taper legs and keeping me company. Let’s coordinate for Friday!

  6. Knock on wood Ali, knock on wood. It’s like the flu… you feel good for one day, overdo it a little, and it comes back the next day but even worse… but I definitely hope that doesn’t happen to you!

  7. I love people’s pictures of the reservoir in the morning…so pretty!

    Yay for no bathroom stops, although I will admit that when I’m running and need to find one, I always think to myself, “If only Ali were here, she’d know the closest place to go!”

    You should make a map. Or book.

  8. Yeah Ali!! That’s so awesome and I’m so happy for you. 🙂 You continue to inspire me and motivate me and I think it’s positively awesome. Congratulations and I can’t wait to read many more stories of happy running and new goals that have been completely dominated.

  9. Woohoo!! Who cares about steroid face if you’re feeling better and working from home occasionally rocks! I love what Matt said about the fall – too sweet! 🙂

  10. Yay! Glad you’re feeling better!! Slightly unrelated question: can we take full advantage of your comeback and please go for a run around Central Park next weekend?? 🙂

  11. Congrats on the comeback. I don’t see why people wouldn’t call that a comeback but 7.25 bathroom-free miles and a sweaty night at the gym does a comeback make!

    xo Marie
    Chocolate & Wine

  12. Perfect post! Glad that you are feeling better and that you are making a comeback indeed! Hope your rest of the day continues to flourish. You look totally adorable but I know what you mean regarding steroids side effects.

  13. Fall running is THE BEST EVER. Which is why I was sad to find an article on my bed when I got home last night about an attemped kidnapping of a woman runner on the route I run EVERY SINGLE DAY with 4 mugshots of nasty men. In a nice quite, fall foliage galore, residential area. Why do these kidnappers need to ruin my day?! Luckily the police caught them, but now I feel the need to carry a handgun while running at 5am.

  14. I found your blog recently and can totally relate to your updates. Being a 28 year old runner while battling rheumatoid arthritis is frustrating to say the least…not being able to run because of something completely out of your control can be maddening. But the comebacks are the best! I get my Remicade infusion this afternoon and after a couple weeks of not being able to run, I’m hoping for my comeback tomorrow.

    Good for you!

  15. Yay – that puts a smile on my face, AL. It must have been Toni Marchette McKay looking down on you. Cant wait to see those cute ass cheeks!

  16. Great job! I’m glad that everything cooperated today! My foot has been bothering me a little bit since my first half marathon on Sunday so my husband and I haven’t run since then yet. We are most likely going to start back up tomorrow since we have another race in three weeks (the stockade-athon 15K).

    I laughed when I saw the comment about your sports bras, because I was wondering if that was what was hanging up in the background of the picture!

  17. Yay! I had my first run last night after a whole week and 2 days (but who’s counting) of zero running due to an ankle sprain (not serious but serious enough to have to stay off it for that long). It was the greatest feeling!! So kudos to your “comback” declaration!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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