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.”
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!
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.
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.
0 Responses
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 🙂
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.
I love your pictures of NYC skyline and sunrise! So pretty!
Congrats on the run!! 🙂
LOVE IT! The first run after my stress fracture I tweeted that everyone can go ahead and call it a comeback!
Sounds like Sad Foot has turned into Foot-I’ll-kick-butt-with!
Good to hear you’re doing better!
That photo of Central Park is freaking amazing!
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 =)
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!
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!
Yes! Such a happy positive post! And I like your mug!
i’m glad you’re feeling better! I think things are starting to look up for me as well. But I’ll get to that later! :p
You’re the comeback kid! Congratulations! What a great post! Take care of the foot…
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!
fantastic!! training domination is about to begin. 🙂
WAHoo!! Feeling alive is a good thing 🙂
YAY!!! Call it whatever you like, girl! I’m so happy you’re feeling better!!
Welcome back and yay for feeling good!!!!
Welcome back! Isn’t running in the fall just the best thing ever?
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.
The Chron’s is going away. That is so motivating and exciting to read at the same time!!!
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.
Aw glad to hear you’re feeling better. I’m ALL about the comeback. I live for comeback movies, and I sometimes feel like I pretend my life is a constant comeback just to motivate myself haha :-).
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woohoo! Glad to hear a great report!
yay for your comeback! 🙂
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! 🙂
hooray!!!!! i knew your foot would cooperate. did you drink a lot of beer? that’s what cured ME! anddd i miss running with you. why does the UES have to be so far from me?? hmph.
So happy you are feeling better and had a good run!! Can’t wait to join you for a Central Park run in Nov!!
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?? 🙂
can i come too!?!
Awesomesauce! Jealous of Central Park runs though.
Yay for no running related assplosions!!! You got this, Ali. You rock.
YAY Ali! Good for you on all of the above. 🙂
BTW–got my sweat shirt, and I LOVE it!! Best running shirt ever!
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
Love it! Glad to hear u had a good run!! (Slightly envious because I’m tapering!! haha) & I love me some spin class.
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.
Awesome!
Oh Happy Day! Glad you are back and feeling better!! Now its time to take on Vegasss!!!!!
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.
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!
You are SO cute!! Look at that smile, I say you’re back. After my marathon I felt the exact same way, bleck.
Take time to reflect and you come back strongeR!
Congrats! I hope everything stays this way for you! Awesome picture of the sunrise btw, makes me want to journey from Boston to NY again!
Get it, girl!
And is it bad that I don’t even think twice about all the sports bras I have hanging up around my apartment? I no longer even notice them. Whoops.
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!
Congrats on the comeback! : )
BTW I am super jealous you get to run around central park. That’s a dream of mine!
I think a comeback is definitely a positive thing! Glad you had a great run – thanks for sharing another amazing NYC morning photo!
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!
Your face looks cute! Seriously, you pull off the cheeks well and it is really barely noticeable. Yay for a great run!
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!
Yay yay yay!! Be careful with that foot!
I feel like I should hear LL Cool J in the background when I read this blog. “Don’t call it a comeback! I been here for years…” 🙂 I too am praying for a comeback soon.