TitaniumJohnny: The Crash and Journey Back to Running – PT 6

As Independence Day approached, I focused on boosting my speed and running farther. It wasn’t easy, but I made slow, steady gains. I always ask myself, “Are we trending in the right direction?” Meanwhile, the weather in Houston, Texas was getting hotter and more humid, making outdoor runs tough. Still, I kept pushing forward, determined to improve.

As July arrived, April seemed like a distant memory. My running group and I took on the Bud Heatwave, our yearly challenge that lived up to its name. How did I perform in my second 5k since the accident? I shaved off 2:30 minutes per mile compared to April’s race. This progress was so motivating that I signed up for the Lunar Landing 5k just over two weeks later on the 20th. It marked my third post-accident 5k (13 months after the incident). I improved again, running 1:01 minutes per mile faster than the July 4th race. I was clearly trending in the right direction.

With consistent running about four times weekly, I added strength training to my routine. These sessions were challenging, involving heavy lifting. The titanium in my leg and arm protested throughout, but the discomfort eased after a couple of weeks. This strength work was crucial for building my quads, essential for braking on downhill sections in upcoming events like the Ragnar Relay Run in Comfort, Texas (October) and the Franklin Mountains Trail Run (mid-January 2025). Strong quads would help prevent nasty falls on trail descents. During this time I still had to make sure I got adequate recovery for the volume and intensity (strength training) to avoid excessive edema in the lower leg. The recovery time has improved as the lymphatic system reroutes it’s pathways from ankle to knee.

August’s outdoor training was brutal. The heat made long-distance runs extremely tough. Though I’m not a fan of treadmills, finding them dull and unstimulating, I eventually gave in and did some indoor runs. Relief came in September as temperatures dropped, making outdoor runs enjoyable again. This timing was perfect for a night beach run in Galveston – the Galveston Sand Crab 5k. It was my fourth post-accident 5k (15.5 months later). I improved again, running 30 seconds per mile faster than the July 20th race. The positive trend continued.

My current goals are to achieve a sub-10:30/mile pace in my next road 5k before year-end, enjoy the October Ragnar Trail run, and prepare for the King of the Hill run and 10k in the Franklin Mountains in January 2025.

But Wait There’s More In The Next Installment:
Next Race | 5k sometime in November   | Did I hit a sub 10:30/mile?

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