First Run Since VLM 2013

I had my final operation, to remove the metalwork from my ankle, in early July, and literally my first step after the operation was dramatically less painful than beforehand.  I can't tell you how good it felt just to be able to walk around my house and up and down stairs with so much less pain!  I was given crutches, and I literally used them to get to the car and then abandoned them, as I just didn't need them.

Looking at the x-ray, and seeing the metalwork, it's hardly surprising how much pain it caused whilst it was in place!

I rested up for a couple of weeks after the last operation, and then set off on a mission to get myself fit again.  I have started doing high intensity circuit training, alongside sessions on an exercise bike and (less frequently) a rowing machine.

I built this up over a couple of weeks, and was finding it all ok (tough, but in a good way!) and only occasionally getting twinges of pain in my ankle when doing high impact activities like jumping jacks, so  I spoke to my physio about having a go at running, and she said I could do it if I felt confident, but stick to a treadmill and be guided by pain.

I don't think I have ever been that excited about having a go on a treadmill before!!  OK, actually I don't think I have EVER been excited about using a treadmill.....I hate the things....but if it meant I could run then great!
I started off at a gentle jog, and within a couple of steps I knew it wasn't good.  A third of a mile in, the pain was quite bad, and I thought I should maybe stop.  But, just to clarify, I did mention I am stubborn didn't I, and  I was determined to do a mile at all costs.  So I did.  And the cost was, I was in agony (and tears) as I hobbled to my car.  Since then, I have had increased pain in my ankle, knee and more significantly my hip.  I completely stopped all exercise for a few weeks because I felt so miserable again!  I have no plans to run again anytime soon, and am back seeing the physio, who has modified a few of the exercises in my circuits to help strengthen my bad leg.  I have wondered a lot whether the big op was the right thing to do, given that I only did it on the proviso that if I didn't I wouldn't be able to run again without re-injuring myself, and here I am 10 months later, still unable to run.

All of this being said, it is looking less and less likely that I will be at the start line of VMLM 2015 as I had hoped.  I'm totally gutted about it, but I just don't see how at this point I could ever build up the mileage in time.